Jumping the Shark

A new term I learnt this week was 'Jumping the Shark' I read it on a forum that was discussing the current season of Lost, and people were suggesting that LOST had, in it's latest episode 'jumped the shark'.


My natural reaction was WTF? And being someone who hates not knowing things I started my Internet sleuthing...
apparently this term is fairly well known, although I think it might mainly be an American thing. It is widely attributed to the guys who run JumpTheShark.com. So what does it actuall mean I hear you cry. Well...

It's a moment. A defining moment when you know that your favorite television program has reached its peak.

So the next question is, what has jumping sharks got to do with that? Well it all refers to an episode of Happy Days where Fonzie, while watersking, jumps over a shark still wearing the trademark leather jacket. This was the moment that everyone realised that this show had peaked, and was now in it's decline.

Having learnt my new phrase and the origins behind it I could relax, until Friday that is. On Friday I settled down in front of the TV for an evening of relaxation when on came an old episode of The Simpsons, and what did Homer do in one short scene? Yep, while watersking he jumped a shark. I was able to smugly explain the gag to my wife, and felt vindicated that this moment had justified my web sleuthing earlier in the week. It also made me wonder how many jokes (Americana specific refernces) that we Brits miss out on. The Simpsons is already comedy classic gold, for our American cousins it must be even better.