The term "JUMPING THE SHARK"

scruffziller · #1 Jul 11, 2003, 07:07 AM

I know this term is in reference to The Fonz jumping over the shark in that famous Happy Days ep. BUt I have never really caught its meaning when used as way to describe another show like....... "Oh that show jumped the shark the first episode."

coreybryant · Jul 12, 2003, 05:42 PM

It's a moment - A defining moment when you know that your favorite television program has reached its peak. That instant that you know from now on... it's all downhill. Some call it the climax. We call it jumping the shark:

http://www.jumpedtheshark.com/

scruffziller · Jul 21, 2003, 02:05 PM

That is interesting. So when they say it, it is an insult.

coreybryant · Jul 23, 2003, 04:03 AM

True - but it is an opinion usually. For example if you look thru there they say that for Law & Order it was when Chris Noth left the show & that was about 9 years ago.

psi42 · Jul 31, 2003, 10:40 PM

Well I was in the bookstore the other day...and I happened to see a book called "Jump the Shark." It was basically a long index of many TV shows and described how each had "jumped the shark."

Just thought you might be interested.

~psi42



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