For those of you that are under the age of 30, I should begin by first explaining the phrase "jump the shark." In the 1970s, "Happy Days" was one of the most popular TV shows in America, anchored by the Cunningham family and the uber-cool Fonzie, as portrayed by Henry Winkler. Eventually, as with all TV shows, major characters began to move on, stories became silly and plots thin. During one particularly awful episode, a series of dopey circumstances led Fonzie to attempt to leap over a shark while riding water skis and wearing his trademark leather jacket (the latter point is particularly stupid since salt water would destroy such apparel, especially 30 years ago). The episode was so painfully reaching and horrible, that it came to symbolize the moment when a long running successful TV show has reached its peak and the decline as begun. Since then, the phrase has been applied to a myriad of situations, movements and on-going storylines that have seen better days.
Now, as Bugs Bunny would say, "on with the show:"
2007-04-30
07:39:42
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12 answers
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asked by
dhpirate666
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