Jumping the Shark is when a TV show goes from greatness and starts the slide downhill... the term comes from the show 'Happy Days' when Fonz jumped a shark tank on his motorcycle.

What are some other Jump the Shark moments?

Hmm, Im not sure of specific moments, but in my opinion, most all shows after 3-4 years have jumped the shark.

You see characters becoming caricatures of their former selves, you see plot lines being reused between characters, and things just get a lot more 'drama' (not serious, but like interwoven).

Look at the last few years of friends, ER. It happened to the xfiles. Its in the midst/already happened to That 70s Show.

the term comes from the show 'Happy Days' when Fonz jumped a shark tank on his motorcycle.


Actually, Fonzie jumped the shark on water skis...
http://home.ripway.com/2004-1/56687/fonziejumping2.jpg
...while wearing his trademark black leather jacket of course. :cool:

As Tom Bosley explained it on yesterday's "30 year Happy Days Reunion", "jumping the shark" is when a show is aired that it is so bad that it kills the series.

My contenders - any show that starts the second season with a kid or a doll (Buck Rodgers with Tweaky, Dr. Who with the robot dog, BattleStar Galactica with the kid and the dog robot, Farscape, ... any show where you kill off the main actor which everyone loved (Norther Exposure, Buffy...)).

Me, if I am watching any series and they turn it into a kids show - the end isn't far. LOST IN SPACE was a great adult show until they made it for kids, just like STAR WARS was a great series until they catered to kids. The one movie that clicked was TOMB RAIDER: TEMPLE OF DOOM.

But take any SCI-FI show and introduce a kid - it's dead already and doesn't know it.

Apparently, the ultimate death knell for any series is when Ted McGinley appears in even the most meager capacity.

www.jumptheshark.com/

Apparently, the ultimate death knell for any series is when Ted McGinley appears in even the most meager capacity.


Yep, heard the same thing ...

When ol' Ted shows up, its time to pack ...







I wonder,

What would happen if you took all those "Patron Saint of Jumping the Shark" nominees and put them all on the same show ... as original cast members ...

What would happen ?

Would your TV explode ?

As Tom Bosley explained it on yesterday's "30 year Happy Days Reunion", "jumping the shark" is when a show is aired that it is so bad that it kills the series.

My contenders - any show that starts the second season with a kid or a doll (Buck Rodgers with Tweaky, Dr. Who with the robot dog, BattleStar Galactica with the kid and the dog robot....)

Low blow!

I kinda DUG "BUCK ROGERS"'s TWIKI character....seeing as how his voice was provided by the great MEL (BUGS BUNNY) BLANC!! :nice:

As for "DOCTOR WHO"'s robot pet.....whose name was K-9, thank you very much.....the dog provided considerable comic relief & a bit of fun to a programme that was getting to be more on the order of "THE SWEENEY" what with people inflicting considerable amounts of G.B.H. on one another in stories like "THE BRAIN OF MORBIUS" & "THE DEADLY ASSASSIN" (Both favorite episodes of mine, nonetheles..)

As for "BATTLESTAR GALACTICA" and "Boxey" and his "pet" Muffy....or was it "Muffitt"? The less said the better...

How could a normal, right-thinking kid possibly, after losing his beloved dog (Or "daggitt" as the species was called on the show) suddenly and out of nowhere.....give his affections and friendship to a cheap robot mock-up of a "dog"?? (which was played by EVIE The CHIMP in the series, by the way)

THAT one I was never able to figure out!

All in the Family jumped the shark when Meathead and Gloria left and that girl went to live with them.

I think Happy Days jumped the shark even before the Fonz jumped the shark, and we have :mad: Chachi :mad: to thank for that.

One day I watched the Cosby Show, only recognised two characters, and couldn't for the life of me figure out who the other frigging three couples and five kids were. That was kind of a bummer. :p

[QUOTE=Grizzly]Jumping the Shark is when a TV show goes from greatness and starts the slide downhill... the term comes from the show 'Happy Days' when Fonz jumped a shark tank on his motorcycle.QUOTE]

I thought that the term meant that a TV show was cutting itself short by going off the air so that it stayed great in the minds of its viewers. :confused:

[QUOTE=Grizzly]Jumping the Shark is when a TV show goes from greatness and starts the slide downhill... the term comes from the show 'Happy Days' when Fonz jumped a shark tank on his motorcycle.QUOTE]

I thought that the term meant that a TV show was cutting itself short by going off the air so that it stayed great in the minds of its viewers. :confused:

Nope that is called cutting your losses ;)

I would definitely have to agree with friends and er. Friends was great and all but I really felt like it was not as funny as it use to be.

I thought Ted McGinley did wonders as AL Bundy's sidekick in Married With Children. I think he lasted more than 1 year. Now, that kid killed Married With Children. Who the heck was he?, was he adopted?, where did he come from?


BadNews88,

I just could not warm up to K-9. I preferred the Dr. Whos with Nicola Bryant, "Peri", and Sophie Aldred, "Ace" in them. I really enjoyed Sylvester McCoy, Peter Davidson and Jon Pertwee. In fact I liked them all but the Baker boys. I always thought that the Colin Baker intro was lame.

I just wish my local Blockbuster had all the Dr. Who episodes on DVD. Instead I'll just have to keep watching my 40 VHS tapes.

Apparently, the ultimate death knell for any series is when Ted McGinley appears in even the most meager capacity.

www.jumptheshark.com/


Poor guy. Hope it's not true because then that means scrubs is going to come off the air soon.. :not:

[QUOTE=Grizzly]Jumping the Shark is when a TV show goes from greatness and starts the slide downhill... the term comes from the show 'Happy Days' when Fonz jumped a shark tank on his motorcycle.QUOTE]

I thought that the term meant that a TV show was cutting itself short by going off the air so that it stayed great in the minds of its viewers. :confused:

minds of viewers are wired onto the on/off button.

Wallijonn, what is teh amtter with you?!?!?!

Sophie Aldred and Sylvester McCoy over Tom Baker, Louise Jameson, Lalla Ward and K-9?!?!?!?!?!


Sylvester McCoy and Sophie Aldred were when Dr. Who jumped the shark.

The pure brilliance of the writing of Douglas Adams and his cohorts were brilliant. the 75 to 81 period was the heyday of Dr. Who and you cast it off for purile trapping of the The Happiness Patrol and Paradise Towers?!??!?!

With the emrgence of the next series of Dr. Who which seems to be coming on March 26th. I just hope the wirting crew draws inspiration from the 4th Doctor.

You really need to look at the brilliance of the works of the 4th Doctor again.