Jump the Shark

Jump the Shark is, beyond its literal meaning, a jargon used by critics and fans of tv series mainly. The term is used to describe a point in the series were the plot goes to unexpected yet absurd story lines. This is usually the consequence of the attempt to revive a series or simply give it a boost of audience by trying some spectacular trick of plot. The irony of this concept is that by doing so these shows mostly fall into the ridiculous, they jump the shark, lose their original appeal and popularity. Jump the Shark can be somewhat seen as the verge of a series appeal (lifetime?) curve, the point from which the product begins its decline.

The expression refers to a scene of a 1970 Happy Days episode where Fonzie, in swimsuit and water ski jumps over the pin of a shark.

Here below you can see the (in)famous scene.



Jumptheshark.com is a web site dedicated to discuss that very special moment when the tv series we love just.. jump the shark. Here you can browse lots of tv series and read what viewers say about the series' jump. You can debate and state your own opinion. It's nice just to take a random series and read the fun of it, what the author did to amaze the audience and what the viewers think of it. Some series -just a few of them- are awarded as never jumped.
So take a peek at Jumptheshark.com and see when your favourite series