Where did the Phrase "Jump the Shark" come from ?

Original Desmond · 02-14-04, 07:25 PM

just wondering, phrase is used often

movieking · 02-14-04, 07:27 PM

From a Happy Days episode:

http://www.jumptheshark.com

From the FAQ:

Q. Did "jump the shark" originate from this web site, or did you create the site to capitalize on the phrase?

A. It all started here. This site went up December 24, 1997 and gave birth to the phrase "jump the shark." As the site continues to grow in popularity, the term has become more commonplace. The site is the chicken, the egg, and now a Catch-22.

Q. What is jumping the shark?

A. 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." From that moment on, the program will simply never be the same.

The term "jump the shark" was coined by my college roommate for 4 years, Sean J. Connolly, in Ann Arbor, Michigan back in 1985. This web site, book, film, and all other material surrounding shark jumping, are hereby dedicated to "the Colonel."

The aforementioned expression refers to the telltale sign of the demise of Happy Days, our favorite example, when Fonzie actually "jumped the shark." The rest is history.

Jumping the shark applies not only to TV, but also music, film, even everyday life. "Did you see her boyfriend? She definitely jumped the shark." You get the idea.

devilshalo · 02-14-04, 07:28 PM

Does this jog your memory?

wm lopez · 02-15-04, 08:26 AM

But didn't HAPPY DAYS really change when Foze jumped the trash cans and then broke his leg?
From that episode on the show never seemed the same, in fact didn't from then on the show have a live studio audiaunce?

astrochimp · 02-15-04, 10:06 AM

I loved happy Days up until Ritchie and Ralph left,the friendship between Fonzie and Ritchie was the key to the show and without that they had nothing.

kenbuzz · 02-15-04, 02:26 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by wm lopez
But didn't HAPPY DAYS really change when Foze jumped the trash cans and then broke his leg?

You're thinking of The Muppet Show

Eric F · 02-15-04, 07:10 PM

Ayyyyyyyyyyyy!

Michael Corvin · 02-15-04, 09:40 PM

wocka, wocka, wocka!

kantonburg · 02-16-04, 05:34 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Eric F
Ayyyyyyyyyyyy!

LOL

Now I have that in my head.

johnglass · 02-16-04, 08:17 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by wm lopez
But didn't HAPPY DAYS really change when Foze jumped the trash cans and then broke his leg?
From that episode on the show never seemed the same, in fact didn't from then on the show have a live studio audiaunce?

You may have a point, but "Jump the Garbage" just doesn't have a ring to it.

Shannon Nutt · 02-17-04, 04:53 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by wm lopez
But didn't HAPPY DAYS really change when Foze jumped the trash cans and then broke his leg?
From that episode on the show never seemed the same, in fact didn't from then on the show have a live studio audiaunce?

Wasn't this like in the first or second season?!

02-14-04, 07:25 PM	#1
Original Desmond DVD Talk Legend Join Date: Aug 1999 Posts: 14,213	Where did the Phrase "Jump the Shark" come from ? just wondering, phrase is used often __________________ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ DVDTALK LEGEND OTHER FORUM TEAM 7 LEADER Absorb what is useful, reject what is useless, shag anything in sight

02-14-04, 07:28 PM	#3
devilshalo DVD Talk Legend Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: Somewhere between Heaven and Hell Posts: 24,148	Does this jog your memory? __________________ Just once, I would like to be a puppetmaster and have nothing go wrong. Is that too much to ask? - Dwight Schrute

02-15-04, 10:06 AM	#5
astrochimp DVD Talk Hall of Fame Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Ontario Canada Posts: 9,521	I loved happy Days up until Ritchie and Ralph left,the friendship between Fonzie and Ritchie was the key to the show and without that they had nothing. __________________ my small dvd collection Xbox Live tag: spacemunky49

02-15-04, 09:40 PM	#8
Michael Corvin DVD Talk Hero Join Date: May 1999 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 44,667	wocka, wocka, wocka! __________________ XBOXLive FU Hackers! Now Playing Borderlands 2 Recently Finished Halo 4

02-14-04, 07:27 PM	#2
movieking DVD Talk Legend Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Newfoundland, Canada Posts: 13,069	From a Happy Days episode: http://www.jumptheshark.com From the FAQ: Q. Did "jump the shark" originate from this web site, or did you create the site to capitalize on the phrase? A. It all started here. This site went up December 24, 1997 and gave birth to the phrase "jump the shark." As the site continues to grow in popularity, the term has become more commonplace. The site is the chicken, the egg, and now a Catch-22. Q. What is jumping the shark? A. 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." From that moment on, the program will simply never be the same. The term "jump the shark" was coined by my college roommate for 4 years, Sean J. Connolly, in Ann Arbor, Michigan back in 1985. This web site, book, film, and all other material surrounding shark jumping, are hereby dedicated to "the Colonel." The aforementioned expression refers to the telltale sign of the demise of Happy Days, our favorite example, when Fonzie actually "jumped the shark." The rest is history. Jumping the shark applies not only to TV, but also music, film, even everyday life. "Did you see her boyfriend? She definitely jumped the shark." You get the idea.

02-15-04, 08:26 AM	#4
wm lopez Suspended Join Date: Feb 2002 Posts: 7,565	But didn't HAPPY DAYS really change when Foze jumped the trash cans and then broke his leg? From that episode on the show never seemed the same, in fact didn't from then on the show have a live studio audiaunce?

02-15-04, 07:10 PM	#7
Eric F DVD Talk Ultimate Edition Join Date: Mar 2000 Location: Natick, Ma, USA Posts: 4,239	Ayyyyyyyyyyyy!