Jumping the Shark

[Emperor]

Jumping the shark is an idiom, first employed to describe a moment in the evolution of a television show when it begins a decline in quality that is beyond recovery.

 

The phrase jump the shark comes from a scene in the fifth season premiere episode of the American TV series Happy Days titled "Hollywood: Part 3," written by Fred Fox, Jr.[4], and aired on September 20, 1977. In the episode, the central characters visit Los Angeles, where a water-skiing Fonzie (Henry Winkler), wearing swimming trunks and his leather jacket, jumps over a confined shark, answering a challenge to demonstrate his bravery. The series continued for nearly seven years after that, with a number of changes in cast and situations.

 

Ok now that you know what is means (in case this term is new to you), what scenes/episodes from TV shows do you feel jumped the shark?

[Emperor]

Grey's Anatomy - The Musical Episode

 

The show was losing me before but this episode ended it for me.

 

Xfiles: Mulder gets abducted by Aliens. The show was never the same after Mulder left... and it limped on for 2 more years after that.

 

Weeds: The burning down of Agrestic/Majestic.

[ravenfier]

I do think I have to agree with Emperor. About the Grey's: the music wasn't the big star of the episode it was more like a supporting actor in it., but then again this upcoming session will be the last one so....

 

Generally I would say if the show is a non-musical one, they Jump the shark when they do a song and dance episode: Ie like Buffy did and it limped along for 3 or 4 more sessions IIRC.

[Majsju]

Buffy had its musical episode in the middle of the 6th season (6:14). So it only rand 1½ season after that.

 

Though, i would say that Buffy s the big exception to musical episodes killing a show, as it is still very celebrated. Mostly because it actually had good music, but also because Whedon succeeded in finding a balance, so the plot moved forward. Even some of the songs are written to either move the plot forward, or at least foreshadow things to come.

 

That said, in general I don't like the phrased 'jump the shark', as it is quite abused today. I think it is very rare that this is the reason for a shows declining quality. rather, it is a general decline from season to season. Much as a result of most shows today getting renewed season by season, which makes it near impossible for the writers to plan longer arcs. Buffy is a very good example here. Since every season could be the last, every season had to end with a fight against a big bad, and those of course had to get bigger and badder for every season, until it got flat out ridicilous in season 5 & 7. And the bigger and badder Buffys opponents got, the more difficult it became to have her evolve naturally when next season started.

[Emperor]

Ok let me be more clear. Personally... what episode from a TV show killed the series for you. The time when you just threw up your hands and said "I am done watching this". And it can't be a pilot :P Call it jumping the shark or you just got plain fed up.

[Emperor]

Buffy was a rare exception for me. I came into it late and fell in love with Joss, so it was hard for me to ever quit the show. I personally loved the musical. What almost did it for me was the introduction of Dawn... oh... and when Spike and Buffy "brought the house down".

[Krakalakachkn]

I jumped over a shark once...