Word Origins - Jump The Shark

The phrase “jump the shark” refers to one particular episode of the television show “Happy Days.” On September 20, 1977 an episode aired where Fonzie jumps a shark tank on water skis. Unfortunately, this episode came to be considered the point where many fans lost interest and the show was canceled shortly thereafter.

There phrase wasn’t really used until 1997 when a website appeared on the net entitled Jump The Shark. The website lists television shows and when they “jumped the shark”, i.e. when fans start to lose interest in the characters and story lines of the show.

According the jumptheshark.com, there are a few shows that have never “jumped the shark,” including:

Seinfeld
The X-Files
The Rockford Files
The Odd Couple
M*A*S*H
The Wonder Years
Quantum Leap

You can see the complete list at jumptheshark.com.