WHAT IS "JUMPING THE SHARK"?

"Jumping the shark" is the point in a long-running TV series where the show abandons it's core values, the plot goes off into stupid story lines, or it introduces characters that don't work, in an increasingly desperate attempt to hold on to its dwindling audiences. These changes are often the result of efforts to revive interest in a show, usually through the use of different actors, writers or producers. In so doing, the show strays even further from the qualities that made it successful in the first place.
The phrase "Jump the shark" refers to the climactic scene in "Hollywood," a three-part episode of Happy Days in September 1977. In this story, the cast visit Los Angeles, where Fonzie (Henry Winkler), wearing swimming trunks and his leather jacket, jumps over a shark on water skis, answering a challenge to demonstrate his bravery. The whole business was so monumentally stupid that it soon gave rise to the expression "Jumping the shark". Since then, it has become a metaphor.
The expression was popularized in 1985 by Jonathan M. Hein, who would later create the web site jumptheshark.com. Hein explained the concept as follows: "It's a moment, a defining moment when you know that your favourite television show has reached its peak. That instant that you know from now on...it's all downhill. Some call it the climax. We call it "Jumping the Shark". From that moment on, the program will simply never be the same".

Other "Jumping the Shark" moments have been:

DALLAS



When Bobby came back from the dead.

DYNASTY


The "Moldavian Massacre". When armed terrorists opened fire at a family wedding.

ROSEANNE


When they won the lottery and got rich.


This is Theodore Martin "Ted" McGinley . He is best known for his role as Jefferson, Marcie’s second husband in Married... with Children.
McGinley has been called "The patron saint of shark-jumping" by Jon Hein. This is a reference to the popular shows that have featured him in their declining years, including Happy Days, The Love Boat and Dynasty.
McGinley seems to take it in good humour. In one episode of Married... with Children, McGinley himself spoofed this fact by asking Al "Another picture, captain? I mean, Fonzie? ....Al?"


In Britain we seem to have a "Quit while you are ahead policy". Less writers and less episodes. The exception seems to be "Two pints of lager and a packet of crisps please".
Jonny, one of the main characters, left the show. As a result the production team had to remove his character from the story. They killed Jonny off-screen, by having him being eaten whilst shark jumping in California.


Lets leave the last word to Fonzie. In an episode of Arrested Development Henry Winkler's character Barry Zuckerkorn is shown jumping over a shark lying in his path on a pier. I notice that Arrested development doesn't seem to be on any more.