Jumping the shark

Jumping the shark is a phrase used to describe the moment when a television show, or any long-running series, makes a significant change in its content or format in an attempt to maintain or regain popularity, especially when that change is seen as a decline in quality. The term is derived from a scene in the Happy Days television series, in which the character Fonzie literally jumps over a shark while water-skiing. This moment, occurring in the fifth season, is widely regarded as the point at which the series began to decline in quality and creativity.

Origin

The concept of "jumping the shark" originates from the Happy Days episode titled "Hollywood: Part 3," aired on September 20, 1977. In this episode, Fonzie, wearing his trademark leather jacket, performs a stunt where he jumps over a confined shark while on water-skis. This scene was intended to showcase Fonzie's bravery and coolness but ended up being criticized as an absurd and desperate attempt to boost the show's ratings.

Usage

Since its inception, the term has evolved beyond television and is now used in various contexts to describe any attempt to maintain or increase popularity or relevance through gimmicks, unnecessary additions, or dramatic shifts in content or format that ultimately serve to highlight a decline in quality.

Criticism and Impact

Critics of the "jumping the shark" phenomenon argue that it often marks the beginning of a series' decline, as it may indicate that the writers have run out of fresh ideas and are resorting to outlandish or sensational plots to retain viewers' interest. However, some series have been known to recover from such moments, though they remain exceptions rather than the rule.

Related Concepts

Similar to "jumping the shark," the term "nuking the fridge" has been used to describe similar moments in film, particularly after a scene in the movie Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull where the protagonist survives a nuclear blast by hiding in a refrigerator. Both phrases highlight moments seen as absurd and indicative of a decline in a series or franchise's quality.

See Also

• Happy Days
• Fonzie
• Television show
• Nuking the fridge