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Jumped the shark

A metaphor that identifies the exact moment a TV show has reached its creative peak. Or to put it bluntly, it’s the beginning of the end of a once great show. The moment in which it becomes clear the writers are out of good ideas and the show has begun its decent downhill. It’s usually some ridiculous stunt, story line, major character change, or huge fundamental shift in the premise of the show that is viewed as nothing more than a desperate attempt to raise viewership and declining ratings. The phrase refers to an episode of the popular 1970’s sitcom Happy Days, in which one of the main characters is water skiing (while wearing his trademark leather motorcycle jacket mind you), and literally jumps over a shark.

As far as I’m concerned, America’s Next Top Model jumped the shark when Tyra chose that air-headed idiot Nicole as the winner, instead the much more talented and deserving Nik.

by HuskyMiller December 17, 2006

271👍 37👎


jump the shark

a term to describe a moment when somethin that was once great has reached a point where it will now decline in quality and popularity.

Origin of this phrase comes from a Happy Days episode where the Fonz jumped a shark on waterskis. Thus was labeled the lowest point of the show.

Cousin Oliver on Brady Bunch, Scrappy Doo.

by Anonymous October 22, 2003

3204👍 741👎


jump the shark

The precise moment when you know a program, band, actor, politician, or other public figure has taken a turn for the worse, gone downhill, become irreversibly bad, is unredeemable, etc.; the moment you realize decay has set in.

Tom Cruise jumped the shark the moment he jumped Oprah's couch.

by M. R. Traska August 28, 2005

1210👍 308👎


jump the shark

Original meaning was the point when a television series shows it has run out of ideas and must resort to stunts to retain viewer interest. Derived from a scene in the last years of Happy Days when the Fonz waterskied over a shark. Includes actions such as "it was all a dream" episodes, live episodes, lead actors playing guest characters, and putting entire cast into a parody of some pop cultural event.

It looks like "Will and Grace" decided to jump the shark. They are doing a live episode in black and white where they are all characters from Star Wars. Elton John will play Jabba the Hut who shoots Jack with a "straight ray" gun.

by Brent Thompson September 5, 2005

754👍 217👎


Jumping the Shark

The term is actually "jumping the SHARK" referring to the painful last episodes of Happy days in which arthru fonzerelli aka 'the fonze" jumps over sharks on water skis while simultaneously wearing his trademark leather jacket. Jumping the shark occurs when a show has hit and alltime low and has to do something drastic and crazy to maintain its viewers and keep them interested.

Example- Hey did you hear that Sean and Christian are moving troy/ macnamara to LA for the new season of Nip/tuck? Wow I hope there not jumping the shark with that one.

by Moreah February 8, 2007

171👍 48👎


Jumped the Shark

When a TV show has reached its peak and stops being any good.

X-Files totally jumped the shark when Mulder was abducted by aliens.

by VampyTara November 10, 2007

58👍 15👎


jumped the shark

was: a cool web site where you could vote on when shows jumped

is: a lame web page on TV Guide

1. jumptheshark.com jumped the shark when it went to TV Guide.

2. Kid: Dad, I think that Bewitched jumped the shark when Dick York left the show.
Dad (under his breath) *whippersnapper*

by LexAveNYC June 11, 2009

65👍 18👎