» PrisonBreak

Recently, we were inspired by 'Parks and Recreation' to write a feature listing TV shows that overcame a rocky launch. Sadly, the reverse seems more common: shows that start strong but finish weak.

Our latest inspiration is the ongoing death spiral of 'Heroes.' (This week: Mohinder does something stupid! People's powers go awry at inopportune moments! Adrian Pasdar, pictured, looks like he'd rather be anywhere else!) Here's a once-inspired show that seems to be going down in flames after having run out of ideas.

Other times, shows peter out because of casting changes, bad writing or bizarre creative decisions. In each case, however, the audience feels betrayed and often deserts the show, leading to ratings death and what-went-wrong autopsies. Here's what went wrong on nine other good shows gone bad.

Sometimes it's easy to see when a TV show has jumped the shark.

Amaury Nolasco, star of Fox's highly budgeted 'Prison Break,' says he thinks his show ended at the right time, after its series finale this past May.

"I think it just ran its course," Nolasco told Inside TV at Monday's 'Star Trek' DVD and Blu-Ray premiere party in Hollywood. "I mean, how many more prisons can we actually break from? I think we got out on a high, before it became, 'Oh, really?'"

Here's a taste of what's coming out on DVD this week:

'Prison Break' (The Final Season)

What the Season's About: The title says it all: This is the final season of the fan favorite that was just canceled. While the series had its ups and downs, season 4 was seen as a resurgence as brothers Michael Scofield (Wentworth Miller) and Lincoln Burrows (Dominic Purcell) go after the group that destroyed their lives and discover that Michael's love may still be alive.

Special Features: Select episodes come with commentary and there are two featurettes – one about the final episode and one called "Director's World."

This week on TV: House and Cuddy's post-kiss aftermath, 'Jersey' girls and big finales for 'Lost' and 'Bones.'

MONDAY, MAY 11
'House' (8PM, Fox) 5th season finale
Well ... that happened. Now that House and Cuddy have finally acted on their long-simmering feelings for each other, they can enjoy a happy relationship, right? Au contraire, because this is House we're talking about, and despite last week's gnarly detox, he still has plenty of demons haunting him, including, yes, Amber. Elsewhere, the good, grumpy doc and company are dealing with a patient whose brain is in a war with itself. The left side's battling the right side for control of his personality, which is making his diagnosis and treatment even more challenging.

'The Big Bang Theory' – 2nd season finale (8PM, CBS)
'Gossip Girl' – No Doubt guest stars (8PM, The CW)
'24' – Kim's baaa-ack (9PM, Fox)
'Charm School With Ricki Lake' – 3rd season premiere (9PM, VH1)
'Castle' – 1st season finale (10PM, ABC)

'Ghost Whisperer'
(8PM, CBS)
The show has been quite the soap opera itself this season, but Melinda gets a more direct link to the young and the restless – and 'The Young and the Restless' – when a soap opera shoot hits Grandview.

When one of the show's former stars haunts the taping and wreaks havoc on the production, Melinda has to intervene, providing assistance to the ghost and a bit of corporate synergy for CBS, as 'Y&R' stars Thad Luckinbill and Amelia Heinle (real-life marrieds whose 'Y&R' characters are also married to each other) guest star.

Meanwhile, in the sudsy drama that is Melinda's own life, she gets a sweet little bundle of news that will lead to a big event for her and Jim.

'Prison Break'
(9PM, Fox)
It's the beginning of the end, as the show kicks off a string of twist-filled new episodes that will lead to its series finale later this spring.

First up, Michael and Sara stick out their thumbs and hitchhike their way to Miami, while Michael's bro Linc meets up with Mama Scofield, who is not only not dead, but who lets Linc in on her plans to take over The Company – and issues her little man a warning that he should not interfere with said plan.

Elsewhere, T-Bag and the traitorous Self are hot on the trail of Scylla, and are going to be quite surprised when they find out who is in possession of the oh-so-sought-after Company database of secrets.

'The Hills'
(10PM, MTV) 4th season finale
Dra-ma! Or, at least, the pseudo-real 'Hills' variety of drama.

The fourth season wraps with a visit from Heidi's mom, who, as we all know from that interview she gave to US Weekly, is not so thrilled with her baby's marriage to Spencer. Mom, and everyone else who thinks the evil Spencer has manipulated Heidi, may be in for a Christmas miracle, though, as it appears the duo's Mexico wedding may not have been legal.

Meanwhile, with her future as Mrs. Pratt in limbo, Heidi turns her attention elsewhere -- a reunion with her former BFF Lauren, while the biggest shocker of all revolves Audrina and Justin Bobby, who actually plots a surprise vacay for Audrina.

'The Big Bang Theory'
(8PM, CBS)
Between 'Chuck,' 'Heroes,' the gang on 'How I Met Your Mother' and, of course, this delightful egghead comedy, Monday night has become the must-see-night for geek TV.

'Big Bang' has only gotten better in its second season, and it's all because of episodes like tonight's gem. It's Christmastime, but there's no jingle in Leonard's bells when he finds out that Penny is dating his hunky co-worker.

And that's not the only steaming cup of holiday stress nipping at the noses of Leonard and his pals. The installment's called 'The Bath Item Gift Hypothesis' and it refers to Sheldon's maddeningly stubborn stance on the etiquette of gift giving.

'Samantha Who?' and 'Boston Legal'
(9:30PM and 10PM, ABC)
Guess who's coming to dinner?

At the Newly home, it's Samantha's new boyfriend Owen, who's going to get to know Sam's 'rents during a family meal. But Owen gets a case of foot-in-mouth disease when he meets Sam's dad -- a chicken farm owner -- and makes disparaging remarks about chicken farm owners.

Meanwhile, it's about turkeys on 'Boston Legal,' when Shirley plans a cozy Thanksgiving dinner for herself and Carl, but instead -- and here's where the turkeys come in -- ends up hosting a dysfunctional pseudo-family affair when Alan and Denny and the office gang want in on the festivities, too.

'Gossip Girl'
(8PM, The CW)
When Chuck and Blair have suddenly emerged as the most likable characters on the show, it may be time for their fellow Upper East Siders to rethink some of their life choices.

Like, say, Dan, who was so jealous of little sis Jenny's renegade fashion show success that he's decided to deploy whatever means necessary to launch his writing career. Dan's plan: Pretend to befriend Chuck's papa Bart Bass.

That alone is enough to tick Chuck off, but when the junior Bass finds out that Dan's ulterior motive is to dig up Bart's nastiest secrets for a Vanity Fair mag article (yes, we're just going to pretend it isn't ridiculous that a high schooler would be assigned a major VF expose) ... let's just say there's nothing scarier than a baby Bass scorned.