What does this phrase mean?

[...of J.Temperance]

What does "Jump the shark" mean?

Sorry, I'm stupid...it's not MY fault that I was dropped on my head at birth :cry:

[stop the bleeding]

1. Where did you see that and I have no idea what that means????

????????

[kay1864]

7. It was seen here on DU

"So when did Bush Jump the Shark?"
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=104x5392933

[...of J.Temperance]

11. Hey

You behave yourself.

:spank:

[MadisonProgressive]

2. Here is one definition:

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.

[RaleighNCDUer]

29. My problem with * having jumped the shark --

it implies that he had that period of one-time greatness.

I don't think he could have jumped the shark because he's always been a putz who never accomplished anything without intervention by others, from his business being bailed out to Diebold and the Supremes saving his elections.

[thoughtanarchist]

3. Happy Days reference...

The once popular show was recognized as sliding into oblivion when Fonzie jumped a shark on water skis while wearing his signature leather jacket...

[SoCalDem]

27. Bingo.. that was such an absurd moment, and since then

"last minute, desperate ploys" for recognition have been called "jumping the shark"..

[Lautremont]

4. Somthing has turned a corner and become bad, as, it is said,

"Happy Days" did when the Fonz waterskied over that shark. I've never understood it, really - it's not as though Happy Days was some paragon of quality before that. I'm sure there must be a better example, but for now "jump the shark" has stuck.

[MADem]

12. When it premiered, it was a "hot" show--everyone imitated the Fonz

So I guess it isn't so much a question of quality, but of broadly popular appeal.

[kweerwolf]

5. It comes from the old TV show "Happy Days"

When Fonzie jumped his motorcycle over a pool with a shark.

In general, it means when a TV show goes so "over the top" that it has lost it's orginal focus and it's all downhill from that point ... but it can be applied to other fields such as politics (as in "Bush really jumped the shark with his Veteran's Day speech").

(On edit: D'uh! Why was I thinking motorcycle? It was skis Fonzie was one!)

[windlight]

6. here is a long Web site on Jump the Shark

http://www.jumptheshark.com/

[Extend a Hand]

8. I recently heard that too

and wondered what it meant. I asked my husband and he didn't know either. So at least you're not alone. :hug:

[...of J.Temperance]

13. Aw thanks

:hug:

[Horus45]

9. Jumping the Shark

Jumping the Shark is in reference to "Happy Days" when Fonzie(Arthur Fonzerelli) jumped his motorcycle over a pool with a shark in it.

In other words, it signals the end of something, because after that episode "Happy Days" went downhill.
So, Jump the Shark is used to convey that sentiment to anything.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

10. Usually applied to TV shows when it becomes obvious

that they have run out of ideas -- the point at which you know it's started a decline, and it's only a matter of time before the show gets cancelled.

http://www.jumptheshark.com/

[annabanana]

17. besides "jumping the shark"

series on their last legs will have a wedding, a baby... anything to try and extend the franchise..

[JHB]

22. Extending the franchise: see also "Cousin Oliver Syndrome"

Family-based sitcoms that last have the problem that the kids get older and thus whe whole dynamic changes. Many of them, in or about the sixth season, try to recapture the old dynamic by adding new kids (e.g., once Cindy hit her teen years, The Brady Bunch added "Cousin Oliver" in an attempt to keep alive standard "kid mischeif" plots).

The only series that are immune to this are animated shows (The Simpsons, The Jetsons, etc.), for what should be obvious reasons.

[...of J.Temperance]

14. Okay

Thanks to everybody for explaining "Jump the shark" :)

I wasn't even born when "Happy Days" was originally aired. I must say, I've not seen any of the reissues either.

[marbuc]

23. You missed out on the "Happy Days" craze?

That is quite unfortunate. I have fond memories of the show, and my "Happy Days" lunch box.

[...of J.Temperance]

25. Your

"Happy Days" lunch box, aw :)

I had a Snoopy and Woodstock lunch box, it must have been around 1988, when I was an innocent 10 year-old!

[Warren Stupidity]

15. "Jump the shark" has jumped the shark. nt.

[...of J.Temperance]

16. I must admit, I THOUGHT it had something to do with "Jaws"

With the film "Jaws" ;)

[zbdent]

18. A little addition to the reference

You have to understand, Jaws had just made its cultural impact not long before . . . so everything had to do with a shark to be intriguing (and, of course, you had SNL's "Land Shark").

So, for Happy Days to lure the viewers in during "sweeps week" - Fonzie had to "jump the shark".

For some reason, I thought he was doing an "Evel Kneivel" and jumping over a small pool using his motorcycle. Must be a faulty memory . . .

[Horus45]

19. Same here

I must have a faulty memory too, I thought it was his motorcycle over a pool also.

[...of J.Temperance]

21. Your faulty memory

I have NO memory :(

:cry:

[...of J.Temperance]

20. Ah-ha

So there is a "Jaws" underlining thing with it. Thanks for your further elaboration :)

[Touchdown]

24. Exactly. In the late 70s, it was all about sharks.

...and when it wasn't, it was about Star Wars, John Travolta disco dancing, or ick! Peter Frampton.

[...of J.Temperance]

26. Now you mention that

I'm sure glad I missed out on the 1970s *phew*

There's NO excuse for inflicting Peter Frampton on an otherwise innocent population :scared:

[Sweet Freedom]

28. His motorcycle jump

was over garbage cans in front of Arnolds. He ended up crashing into a chicken stand (or some sort of food stand.)

Maybe you're remembering that "Evel Kneivel" moment. :shrug: