In the world of television shows, the expression "jump the shark" has seriously bad connotations. It refers to that point in the life of a show where things have reached their peak, and everything to come is part of a downhill slide to cancellation. The Jump The Shark web site defined and tracks the phenomenon. And the first instance of jumping the shark took place 30 years ago today.
It's September 20, 1977, and on ABC is the show Happy Days. Arthur Fonzarelli, wearing a leather jacket over a bathing suit, is water skiing. In a truly preposterous scene, he jumps over a shark. Where do you go from there? Nowhere good.
A few other notable jump the shark moments...
- Dick York was replaced by Dick Sargent on Bewitched
- David and Maddie hooked up on Moonlighting
- Rick Schroeder replaced Jimmy Smits on NYPD Blue
- The Family Edition of The Amazing Race
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