“Jumping the shark” is a term used when a TV show has lost its appeal, originating from an episode of Happy Days where the character The Fonz water skis on a shark. The phrase can be applied to anything that has passed its expiration date, including music and real life situations. The term can also be used when a show tries to keep the audience interested by introducing new characters or settings, but ultimately fails. The phrase was first used in 1997 and has since become part of pop culture vocabulary.
Jumping the shark is a term originally used as a metaphor for when a television series has passed its sell-by date. The term originated after an episode of the hit television series Happy Days. In one episode, Arthur Fonzarelli, otherwise known as The Fonz, literally water skis on a shark. It was at this point that viewers became disillusioned with the show and his days were numbered.
Viewers of the show felt that the series had lost its way with this disbelieving storyline and they could no longer believe in the characters. Jump the shark entered the pop culture vocabulary. The new saying was used for anything that was no longer of interest. The phrase can be applied to music, movies, or anything in real life that has passed its expiration date.
Although the Happy Days episode is thought to be the instigator of the term, the first usage was in December 1997. A website called jumptheshark.com was created by Jon Hein. He claimed that his college friend, Sean J. Connolly, first used the phrase in 1985. Hein, who now works for the Howard Stern show, sold the website for one million US dollars ( USD).
Jump the Jaws is most commonly thought of in television terms. Think about your favorite TV show, one you look forward to every week. So imagine something that changes; something is wrong, but you can’t put your finger on it. Your attention has started to wane and you no longer mind if you miss an episode or two of the show.
This usually happens when the series is long running and the creators have to come up with new ideas to keep the show fresh. They can transport characters to locations other than their normal setting, or they can introduce celebrity guests in a series of episodes. A lead actor can leave the series and be replaced with another actor playing the same character.
These are all devices used to keep the audience interested in the show and prevent the metaphorical jump of the shark moment. As a nation of media-savvy TV viewers, we know instinctively when the show has passed its sell-by date. We might hang out for a few more shows, even seasons, out of habit, but it won’t be long before word of mouth spreads and the ax falls.
The term jump the shark can also be applied to musicians. Think about your favorite artist: maybe their first two CDs were great, but on the third they may have tried to reinvent themselves to win a wider audience. This might work for some, but for others, the artist strays too far from why fans loved their music in the first place. The band may no longer speak to or for the fans, and they start looking for someone new who seems more genuine.
Jump the shark is a term that can now be used for anything that has gone stale or mediocre. He left the pop culture arena and got lost in real life. This phrase can now apply to the boss who takes it too far, or even the partner with their due date starting to pull away.
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