Q&A: I don’t have a question; I have a comment concerning the “jump the shark” question submitted earlier……….
Posted by Conference Herald on January 16th, 2010 at 03:15pm
Question by criticalthinking101: I don’t have a question; I have a comment concerning the “jump the shark” question submitted earlier……….
My comment is: Since when is a point of fact like the origin and meaning of the phrase “jump the shark” open to questions, opinions and voting? The answer to the question is a fact, not an opinion on which to be voted.
By the way, several of those who responded to the “jump the shark” question answered it correctly. The phrase originated with the Happy Days episode in which a waterskiing Fonzie jumped over a shark — an over-the-top stunt that future episodes could not equal — marking the point at which the series peaked and thereafter declined.
Best answer:
Answer by RedStapler
It isn’t that it was on over the top stunt that couldn’t be equaled. it is that the series had gone beyond being about 1950′s Milwaukee youth and about ratings.
It went completely beyond what the series was about. Jumping the shark refers to the point of no return in a series when the Series has run its course, and has lost the audience.
Give your answer to this question below!
Under Summer
3 Comments for Q&A: I don’t have a question; I have a comment concerning the “jump the shark” question submitted earlier……….
1. The Maestro | January 16th, 2010 at 3:39 pm
The “Jump the shark” phrase was named after that Happy Days episode, not because the episode (or stunt) was so great it couldn’t be topped. The episode marked when the once-good series was officially cheesy and bad. So when any show gets cheesy and bad, it has “jumped the shark”.
Example, the TV show “The A-Team” jumped the shark when the A-Team stopped running from the government and started working for them.
2. ndpndnt001 | January 16th, 2010 at 4:30 pm
If I’m understanding your comment correctly, you’re askinghow can you ask questions about a fact. Well because whoever is asking wants to know the answer. Questions can be asked about facts, opinions and most anything else. What cannot be done is what you are doing now. You cannot post a comment, only questions. You can be reported for that.
3. wonbadappl | January 16th, 2010 at 4:45 pm
The actual phrase “jump the shark” originated after a September 13th 1977 episode of “Happy Days” in which Fonzi jumps a caged shark. It was a 3 part episode. The “jump the shark” phrase now signifies the turning point for a show in which the writers need to “create” ratings points for a show. Not for a stunt that could not be equaled. For example the “who shot J.R.” episode during the Dallas heyday was not a “jump the shark” turning point. Hope this helps.
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