2007-01-05 11:10:37 · 9 answers · asked by MissyG 1 in Education & Reference ➔ Words & Wordplay
It comes from a very old show called, "Happy Days", and is actually it's own best example.
As the seasons of that show wore on and popularity started to wane, the writers tried some rather odd tactics to build excitement in the audience again. In one episode one of the characters, known for wearing a leather jacket and riding a motorcycle, went waterskiing and was called on to ride a skijump OVER a shark. All while still wearing his trademark leather jacket. Cheesy and preposterous to say the least.
And this is what the expression now stands for. Something has 'jumped the shark' when it has resorted to desperate measures to retain popularity that strain the limits of plausibility, taste, and entertainment. Instead of going away with dignity it just becomes an embarassment.
2007-01-05 11:16:56 · answer #1 · answered by Doctor Why 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
"Jump the Shark" means to take a death defying chance.
Usually this term is used in connection with Television Series
that need to breath New Life into their story Lines.
This term was coined in the 1960's long before the event on "Happy Days" when the series popularity was beginning to wane. the Producers had Henry Winklers Character Literally
Water Ski Jump over a Shark in a netted enclosure. It worked and the series continued for a few more years.
On Other Shows, it would require writing a segment that was totally out of character for the show and would catch the publics eye hoping to increase their ratings. Often, Jumping the Shark produced the opposite effect and would damage the show beyond repair.
2007-01-05 19:18:58 · answer #2 · answered by smkwtrjck 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Jump the shark refers to a Happy Days episode where Fonzie "jumps the shark". He was performing a water stunt where he jumped over a shark on water skis or something. Apparently it was the turning point for the show and ratings dropped . . . . so I guess jump the shark means things taking a turn for the worse whatever the cause may be.
2007-01-05 19:17:39 · answer #3 · answered by Freedspirit 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
"Jump the shark", I believe, comes from an episode of Happy Days in which the Fonz character jumped over a shark while on water skis. I think the episode marked the end of the shows better days so now when someone famous, usually an actor, does something that isn't as good as there usually work and it seems like their career is going way down hill you might say they "jumped the shark." :)
2007-01-05 19:16:01 · answer #4 · answered by Payam H 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
On the show "Happy Days" Fonzy was skiing and jumped over a shark. People consider this the moment the show became too ridiculous to watch. Jumping the shark refers to this point in any TV series.
2007-01-05 19:14:47 · answer #5 · answered by DrRocco 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
It's when a show ceases to be good...it comes from a TV show a few decades ago where one of the characters actually DID jump over a shark (in a bike, if I remember correctly) - fans more or less gave up on the show after that.
2007-01-05 19:18:21 · answer #6 · answered by Dilettante 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Jump the shark is a term that came from a "Happy Days" episode that was an attempt to stimulate the ratings for that show, which had sagged to low levels. In the episode they had "Fonzie" on water-skis, jump over a pen containing a shark. It has come to mean taking wild chances to bolster an unpopular or declining policy. Count on George Bush to try to jump the shark soon over Iraq.
2007-01-05 19:13:47 · answer #7 · answered by iknowtruthismine 7 · 0⤊ 2⤋
take a risk.
be a devil
stick your neck out
be a daredevil
2007-01-05 19:21:41 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
it's when a show goes bad
2007-01-05 19:17:47 · answer #9 · answered by cubbies9911 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋