History Main / JumpingTheShark

[[TropeNamers The expression comes from]] an episode of the TV series ''Series/HappyDays'' in which Fonzie, dressed in his trademark leather jacket, literally jumps over a shark while on waterskis -- a sharp break from the show's previous focus on "[[SliceOfLife everyday American life]] in the [=1950s=]." In hindsight, that was the moment where Fonzie started getting more focus, being {{Flanderized}} in the process into a superhuman, impossibly 'cool' dude. In short order, he [[SpotlightStealingSquad took over the entire show]]. Even those who liked Fonzie -- [[EnsembleDarkHorse and most did]] -- had to admit that ''Happy Days'' wasn't better with him as the main lead. It wasn't even in line with Fonzie's own character development: in a landmark earlier episode, he seriously injured himself while jumping his motorcycle for a televised stunt, admitting afterward that he was stupid to be so reckless. When he jumped over a shark, Fonzie [[AesopAmnesia seemingly forgot that important lesson]], and it was the first sign that ''Happy Days'' was going to abandon its premise in an effort to stay fresh. Eventually, in 1984, ABC cancelled Happy Days after eleven seasons.

* The ''WesternAnimation/{{Fillmore}}'' episode "The Unseen Reflection" invokes this as the culprit's motivation. [[spoiler:''Vampirita'' superfan Terri got her hands on an advanced copy of the newest book from her cousin in the publishing industry and discovered it was absolutely horrible. The title character suddenly betrays her allies because she's now dating her "sworn, genetic ArchEnemy" in a way that was never built up or hinted in the previous 22 books. Because she'd been sworn to secrecy on getting the book in advance, Terri couldn't worn her best friend Torrey so she discretely sabotaged their entries for a contest to be included as characters in the next book. [=TQ=], a fan of the rival series ''Citizen Fang'', read a single page of the advanced copy and stated it was horrible even for a ''Vampirita'' book. The series author admits she halfassed the book by completing the entire thing on a single plane trip to Milan, and by now has only been continuing ''Vampirita'' her paychecks and due to her contract.]]

* The ''WesternAnimation/{{Fillmore}}'' episode "The Unseen Reflection" invokes this as the culprit's motivation. [[spoiler:''Vampirita'' superfan Terri got her hands on an advanced copy of the newest book and discovered it was absolutely horrible, with the title character suddenly betraying her allies because she's now dating her ArchEnemy in a way that was never built up or hinted in the previous 22 books. Because she couldn't tell her best friend Tori because her cousin in the publishing company swore her to secrecy, Terri had to sabotage their entries for a contest to be included as characters in the next book. [=TQ=], a fan of the rival series ''Citizen Fang'', managed to read a single page of the advanced copy and stated it was horrible even for a ''Vampirita'' book. The series author herself pretty much admits she halfassed it by completing the entire thing on a single plane trip to Milan, and by now has only been writing the books for her paychecks.]]

[[TropeNamers The expression comes from]] an episode of the TV series ''Series/HappyDays'' in which Fonzie, dressed in his trademark leather jacket, literally jumps over a shark while on waterskis -- a sharp break from the show's previous focus on "[[SliceOfLife everyday American life]] in the [=1950s=]." In hindsight, that was the moment where Fonzie started getting more focus, being {{Flanderized}} in the process into a superhuman, impossibly 'cool' dude. In short order, he [[SpotlightStealingSquad took over the entire show]]. Even those who liked Fonzie -- [[EnsembleDarkHorse and most did]] -- had to admit that ''Happy Days'' wasn't better with him as the main lead. It wasn't even in line with Fonzie's own character development: in a landmark earlier episode, he seriously injured himself while jumping his motorcycle for a televised stunt, admitting afterward that he was stupid to be so reckless. When he jumped over a shark, Fonzie [[AesopAmnesia seemingly forgot that important lesson]], and it was the first sign that ''Happy Days'' was going to abandon its premise in an effort to stay fresh. Eventually, in 1984, ABC told Garry Marshall and the producers [[CatchphraseInsult "sit on it"]] after seeing the ratings for the show, and cancelled Happy Days after eleven seasons.

[[TropeNamers The expression comes from]] an episode of the TV series ''Series/HappyDays'' in which Fonzie, dressed in his trademark leather jacket, literally jumps over a shark while on waterskis -- a sharp break from the show's previous focus on "[[SliceOfLife everyday American life]] in the [=1950s=]." In hindsight, that was the moment where Fonzie started getting more focus, being {{Flanderized}} in the process into a superhuman, impossibly 'cool' dude. In short order, he [[SpotlightStealingSquad took over the entire show]]. Even those who liked Fonzie -- [[EnsembleDarkHorse and most did]] -- had to admit that ''Happy Days'' wasn't better with him as the main lead. It wasn't even in line with Fonzie's own character development: in a landmark earlier episode, he seriously injured himself while jumping his motorcycle for a televised stunt, admitting afterward that he was stupid to be so reckless. When he jumped over a shark, Fonzie [[AesopAmnesia seemingly forgot that important lesson]], and it was the first sign that ''Happy Days'' was going to abandon its premise in an effort to stay fresh. Eventually, in 1984, ABC told Garry Marshall and the producers [[Catchphrase "sit on it"]] and cancelled Happy Days after eleven seasons.

[[TropeNamers The expression comes from]] an episode of the TV series ''Series/HappyDays'' in which Fonzie, dressed in his trademark leather jacket, literally jumps over a shark while on waterskis -- a sharp break from the show's previous focus on "[[SliceOfLife everyday American life]] in the [=1950s=]." In hindsight, that was the moment where Fonzie started getting more focus, being {{Flanderized}} in the process into a superhuman, impossibly 'cool' dude. In short order, he [[SpotlightStealingSquad took over the entire show]]. Even those who liked Fonzie -- [[EnsembleDarkHorse and most did]] -- had to admit that ''Happy Days'' wasn't better with him as the main lead. It wasn't even in line with Fonzie's own character development: in a landmark earlier episode, he seriously injured himself while jumping his motorcycle for a televised stunt, admitting afterward that he was stupid to be so reckless. When he jumped over a shark, Fonzie [[AesopAmnesia seemingly forgot that important lesson]], and it was the first sign that ''Happy Days'' was going to abandon its premise in an effort to stay fresh.

* The writer starts [[DeathIsCheap resurrecting dead characters]], [[CloningGambit cloning characters]], exploring {{Alternate Universe}}s, {{retcon}}ning past plot points (possibly via AllJustADream), adding TimeTravel to the story, etc. See OpeningACanOfClones for a detailed explanation.

* Gordito in ''WebComic/TheAdventuresOfDrMcNinja'' literally [[http://drmcninja.com/archives/comic/11p24 jumped over a winged, flying shark]]. The alt-text defended the move with "Look, it was the only way he could dodge it". Of course, by Dr. [=McNinja=] standards this isn't that unusual an event.

* [[http://askudonge.tumblr.com/post/17637868580 This post]] in the fan-made ''[[http://askudonge.tumblr.com Just a Useless Bunny]]'' ''VideoGame/{{Touhou}}'' Ask Blog parodies the common changes done by ExecutiveMeddling that often lead to this, complete with a final panel of Reisen water skiing over a shark.

* In ''WesternAnimation/MyLifeAsATeenageRobot''s episode "In-Des-Tuck-Able", Tuck is performing a series of dangerous stunts, including riding a motorcycle over a SharkPool. Brad provides the lampshading:

"Jumping the shark" has since entered common parlance to refer to the moment when a LongRunner work or franchise goes into unrecoverable decline. The term was originally coined in the mid-1980s by writer Jon Hein. Notably, it was only after ''Happy Days'' ended that anyone realised what the turning point had been; it's difficult to spot a shark-hurdle in real time. As Fonzie and his waterskis fade from cultural memory, "nuking the fridge" (named after an infamous scene in ''Film/IndianaJonesAndTheKingdomOfTheCrystalSkull'') may become the new term of art, but only the phrasing is new: the frustration and disappointment are as old as serialized media itself.[[note]]TV Tropes does not consider "Nuking the Fridge" a separate or well-defined concept from "Jumping the Shark" -- in fact, "Nuking the Fridge" as a separate trope ''and'' as a redirect to this trope is a member of the Administrivia/PermanentRedLinkClub because people kept trying to add it without being able to define it.[[/note]]

Jumping the Shark is the moment when an established LongRunner series changes in a significant manner, ranging from a contrived gimmick to a full {{Retool}}. This can be the result of circumstance, though it's more often a desperate attempt to [[WinBackTheCrowd overcome flagging ratings and/or attract new viewers]]. Unfortunately, it doesn't work; looking back, viewers realize that [[SelfFulfillingProphecy the change actually caused or hastened the show's demise]].

* The original creator is no longer in charge anymore. They may have left to work on other projects, they may have been fired or KickedUpstairs, they may have [[DiedDuringProduction died]], or they may have just [[CreatorsApathy stopped caring]]. Whatever the case, the creator can no longer micromanage his creation, and whoever is newly in charge will be keen to [[DependingOnTheWriter remake the show in their own vision]]. This, of course, presumes that the creator hasn't [[TorchTheFranchiseAndRun tried to sabotage it before leaving]].

"Jumping the shark" has since entered common parlance to refer to the moment when a serialized work or body of work goes into unrecoverable decline. The term was originally coined in the mid-1980s by writer Jon Hein. Notably, it was only after ''Happy Days'' ended that anyone realised what the turning point had been; it's difficult to spot a work jumping the shark in real time. The term "jumping the shark" is also rather nebulous because it can either mean the point at which the show started sliding (as with ''Happy Days'') or the point just before the show's final collapse. Complicating matters is the term "nuking the fridge", named after an infamous scene in ''Film/IndianaJonesAndTheKingdomOfTheCrystalSkull'', which basically means "jumping the shark [[Administrivia/TheSameButMoreSpecific but for a film franchise]]"; it seems to be the same frustration and disappointment as experienced by a new generation.[[note]]TV Tropes does not consider "Nuking the Fridge" a separate or well-defined concept from "Jumping the Shark" -- in fact, "Nuking the Fridge" as a separate trope ''and'' as a redirect to this trope is a member of the Administrivia/PermanentRedLinkClub because people kept trying to add it without being able to define it.[[/note]]

* The show's premise is [[{{Retool}} radically altered]], such as having the cast change careers or move to a new location. ** Career shifts may be plausible for some premises (e.g. a former top football quarterback can become a TV announcemencer), but if a character has worked at a SoulSuckingRetailJob at a clothes store for ten seasons, it's not credible if they become a fashion executive in Paris in season 11.

* A baby is [[CompetenceZone added to an otherwise-adult cast]], resulting in the ill-suited addition of childish themes and [[CutenessProximity endless baby talk]] from characters who were once intelligent adults.

* Appealing to the LowestCommonDenominator. This usually involves the introduction of lowbrow humor, {{Slapstick}}, extra {{Fanservice}}, or other forms of [[PolishTheTurd turd-polishing]]. It's most acute with {{Talk Show}}s, which might start off as intelligent and erudite but devolve into the daytime ratings king: the PointAndLaughShow.

* The show's premise is [[{{Retool}} radically altered]], such as having the cast change careers or move to a new location. **Career shifts may be plausible for some premises (e.g. a former sports star can become a TV announcemencer), but if a character has worked at a SoulSuckingRetailJob at a clothes store for ten seasons, it's not credible if they become a fashion executive in Paris in season 11.

* The setting is drastically changed to an exotic, cool locale in an implausible fashion. If a MillionairePlayboy who is a superspy moves to a new mansion in the French Riviera, that's plausible; but if a few roommates with regular jobs do the same move, it's implausible.

* The show's premise is [[{{Retool}} radically altered]], such as having the cast change careers or move to a new location.

Jumping the Shark is the moment when an established LongRunner series changes in a significant manner, ranging from a new gimmick to a full {{Retool}}. This can be the result of circumstance, though it's more often an attempt to [[WinBackTheCrowd overcome flagging ratings and/or attract new viewers]]. Unfortunately, it doesn't work; looking back, viewers realize that [[SelfFulfillingProphecy the change actually caused or hastened the show's demise]].

[[TropeNamers The expression comes from]] an episode of the TV series ''Series/HappyDays'' in which Fonzie, dressed in his trademark leather jacket, literally jumps over a shark while on waterskis -- a sharp break from the show's basic focus on "everyday American life in the [=1950s=]." In hindsight, that was the moment where Fonzie started getting more focus, being {{Flanderized}} in the process into a superhuman, impossibly 'cool' dude. In short order, he [[SpotlightStealingSquad took over the entire show]]. Even those who liked Fonzie -- [[EnsembleDarkHorse and most did]] -- had to admit that ''Happy Days'' wasn't better with him as the main lead. It wasn't even in line with Fonzie's own character development: in a landmark earlier episode, he seriously injured himself while jumping his motorcycle for a televised stunt, admitting afterward that he was stupid to be so reckless. When he jumped over a shark, Fonzie [[AesopAmnesia seemingly forgot that important lesson]], and it was the first sign that ''Happy Days'' was going to abandon its premise in an effort to stay fresh.

'''[[Administrivia/NoOnPageExamples No examples, please.]] This is one of the most subjective articles on the site, and it's likely to [[FlameBait start arguments]]. In any event, almost any show that's at least three seasons long will have enough variations in quality that you can point to some moment as "jumping the shark".'''

'''[[Administrivia/NoOnPageExamples No examples, please.]] This is one of the most subjective articles on the site, and it's likely to [[FlameBait start arguments]]. In any event, almost any show that's at least three seasons long will have enough variations in quality that you can point to some moment as "jumping the shark". This page only lists overt references to the term or {{lampshade|d}}s of the phenomenon. Most will [[SelfDeprecating not be kind]].'''

"Jumping the shark" has since entered common parlance to refer to the moment when a serialized work or body of work goes into unrecoverable decline. The term was originally coined in the mid-1980s by writer Jon Hein. Notably, it was only after ''Happy Days'' ended that anyone realised what the turning point had been; it's difficult to spot a work jumping the shark in real time. The term "jumping the shark" is also rather nebulous because it can either mean the point at which the show started sliding (as with ''Happy Days'') or the point just before the show's final collapse. Complicating matters is the term "nuking the fridge", named after an infamous scene in ''Film/IndianaJonesAndTheKingdomOfTheCrystalSkull'', which basically means "jumping the shark [[Administrivia/TheSameButMoreSpecific but for a film franchise]]"; it seems to be the same frustration and disappointment as experienced by a new generation.[[note]]TV Tropes does not consider "Nuking the Fridge" a separate or well-defined concept from "Jumping the Shark" -- in fact, "Nuking the Fridge" as a separate trope ''and'' as a redirect to this trope is a member of the Administrivia/PermanentRedLinkClub because people kept trying to add it without being able to define it.[[/note]]

* The show experiences MoodWhiplash and becomes unbelievable and unrelatable. This often happens when ExecutiveMeddling demands that the show become DarkerAndEdgier or LighterAndSofter. Abrupt changes to the SlidingScaleOfVillainThreat also alienate the fanbase -- you can't just go from trying to save the beloved corner shop to trying to save the entire galaxy.

* Obvious lack of investment in the production. This can be an overreliance on [[StrictlyFormula the show's formula]], an abundance of {{Bottle Episode}}s, {{Recycled Script}}s, and blatant {{Series Continuity Error}}s. Alternatively, the show goes off the rails and starts getting ''really'' weird and off-beat, especially after it's [[ItsBeenDone exhausted the formula]] (like how ''Happy Days'' introduced aliens). Either way, it breaks the WillingSuspensionOfDisbelief.

* Appealing to the LowestCommonDenominator. This usually involves the introduction of lowbrow humor, {{Slapstick}}, extra {{Fanservice}}, or other forms of [[PolishTheTurd turd-polishing]]. It's most acute with {{Talk Show}}s, which might start off as intelligent and erudite but devolve into the daytime ratings king: the PointAndLaughShow.

* Similarly, American productions being tweaked to appeal to UsefulNotes/{{China}}. The Chinese market is a ''gigantic'' money maker for movies, but what China will allow to be shown in their cinema is [[BannedInChina very strict]]. This can cause script rewrites that [[WhatCouldHaveBeen vastly change what the movie could have been]], superfluous scenes and pointless extra characters to be used in Chinese marketing, and can even [[OvershadowedByControversy cause controversy that brings the whole movie down]] if the things done to appeal to China are offensive to Western audiences. It's made worse by how overt this can be, as the Chinese government only allows 34 international movie releases per year and has full control over release dates, advertising, and how many screenings it can get -- since competition is fierce studios are often willing to pander to desperate levels to get their movie past the bar.

* The departure of the last remaining original cast member. While cast members leaving and being replaced often leads to a shark-jumping, this can be avoided if it's the right kind of show. But when this particular cast member leaves, there's no denying it's the EndOfAnEra.

* Governmental institutions sign in laws that outright ban the use of well-liked or even defining elements of the show (if the work isn't banned outright). It also happens to foreign works that try to appeal to audience living under said governments.

Contrast GrowingTheBeard, when a show gets ''better'' over time (though they may sometimes overlap. See below.). For a related phenomenon, see FranchiseOriginalSin. When it's whole networks instead of just shows, see NetworkDecay; for print magazines, see MagazineDecay. When a work gets its act together and regains its fandom even after such an event, see WinBackTheCrowd and SophomoreSlump.

'''Administrivia/NoRealLifeExamplesPlease This is one of the most subjective articles on the site, and it's likely to [[FlameBait start arguments]]. In any event, almost any show that's at least three seasons long will have enough variations in quality that you can point to some moment as "jumping the shark". This page only lists overt references to the term or {{lampshade|d}}s of the phenomenon. Most will [[SelfDeprecating not be kind]].'''

[[noreallife]]
----
!!Administrivia/InUniverseExamplesOnly (which allows references to the term):

[[foldercontrol]]

[[folder:Comic Books]]
* ''ComicStrip/KnightsOfTheDinnerTable'' #151 is titled "Jump the Shark". It features [[spoiler:Gary Jackson coming BackFromTheDead]]. It's actually one of several suggestions floated by the writers in the joke section on the back page for how the comic could jump the shark -- [[{{Foreshadowing}} several issues previously]]. And apparently, the writers were planning to do this even before that list, making this a case of SelfDeprecation.
* ''ComicBook/UltimateSpiderMan'' issue 67 is titled "Jump the Shark", as it's the second half of the BodySwap storyline between Spidey and Wolverine, a two-part BreatherEpisode following the very bleak Carnage story. To boot, both issues opened with a mini-comic of Creator/BrianMichaelBendis apologizing to the reader and engaging in a lot of SelfDeprecation.
-->'''Bendis:''' Even I couldn't milk three issues out of ''this''...
* In ''ComicBook/SpiderVerse'', [[ComicBook/UltimateSpiderMan Miles Morales]] believes his life has reached this moment as he's being chased by the police while riding in a sentient Spider-Mobile. [[WesternAnimation/UltimateSpiderMan2012 Animated Ultimate Peter]] suggests it was earlier, back in the cowboy Spider-Man's world.
* A particularly oddball issue of ''ComicBook/TransformersMoreThanMeetsTheEye'' features a bar named "The Jumping Shark" as a FunnyBackgroundEvent.
* Upon discovering StupidJetpackHitler, ''ComicBook/TheAtom'' Ryan Choi declares reality itself has reached this point.
-->"Well. Jetpack Hitler. Reality has finally jumped the shark."
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Fan Works]]
* In ''Fanfic/LightAndDarkTheAdventuresOfDarkYagami'', this is referenced and lampshaded during a boat chase:
-->"They did a bunch of jumps over a wall and a cruise boat but missed some sharks and didn't jump them (ITS AN INTERNET THINGY)."
* In ''Fanfic/JakeEnglishsMysteriousTheaterOfScientificRomanceFromTheYear3000'', season 3 ends with everyone gathering around to watch Cronus jump a shark. [[spoiler: He fails.]]
* In the short ''Series/{{House}}'' fanfic titled, well, "[[https://www.fanfiction.net/s/3136774/1/Shark Shark]]", House wakes up in bed with [[BedmateReveal Cameron, Cuddy, and Wilson]]. They quickly realize that they've fulfilled just about every shipping combination, and start to worry if they still have an audience.
-->"Maybe we can string this out...but let's face facts. We've not only jumped, but boned the shark."
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Films — Animation]]
* In ''WesternAnimation/DespicableMe2'', El Macho is said to have ended his life "riding a shark with 250 pounds of dynamite strapped to his chest into the mouth of an active volcano". [[spoiler: The death was faked, but his career as a bombastic super-villain arguably went downhill from then on.]]
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Films — Live-Action]]
* In ''Film/Sharknado2TheSecondOne'', Fin runs across the backs of several sharks to reach his friends. Martin jokes, "Talk about jumping the shark!"
* The creation of ''Indominus rex'' in ''Film/JurassicWorld'' is fueled by the executive's desire to attract new visitors, and counteract the Park's lower entry rate. This is lampshaded by one park-goer:
-->"Jurassic Park didn't need ''Indominus rex''!"
* ''Film/TheFateOfTheFurious'': Creator/VinDiesel's character jumping a car over an ''Akula''[[note]]Russian for "shark"[[/note]]-class submarine in a self-deprecating EasterEgg.
* In ''Film/PiratesOfTheCaribbeanDeadMenTellNoTales'' a zombified shark leaps over a boat trying to devour two characters.
* Referenced near the end of ''Film/GameNight''. After the protagonists have spent most of the night dealing with a murder mystery game being hijacked by a real kidnapping, it turns out ''that'' was just another ruse set up by Max and Annie's neighbour. When another set of criminals shows up, Max assumes it's a last-ditch twist and declares that the whole thing's jumped the shark. Unfortunately, ''these'' bad guys are very real.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Literature]]
* ''Literature/WhereAreTheyNowMysteries'': Discussed by name in the first book, which focuses on Tilda Harper searching for an actress from the long-ended sitcom ''[[ShowWithinAShow Kissing Cousins]]'' (about a trio of "normal" siblings and their cousins, a trio of equally "weird" siblings, coming to live with their grandfather and getting into typical sitcom shenanigans), and includes episode summaries, excerpts from interviews with cast and crew, and other reviews of the show. It's noted in narration that another set of cousins (seven-year-old twins, one "normal" and one "weird") were added to try and counter falling ratings in the last season, but it failed miserably; fans considered their arrival to be when the show jumped the shark. (The actresses themselves don't seem to realize how disliked they were.)
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Live-Action TV]]
* In the ''Series/ArrestedDevelopment'' episode "Motherboy XXX", Barry Zuckercorn -- played by Creator/HenryWinkler, Fonzie himself -- visits Buster on a dock, where his hand has been eaten by a seal. On his way to make a ProductPlacement for Burger King, he is forced to physically jump over the shark.
* In the self-referential 200th episode of ''Series/StargateSG1'', Marty responds to the suggestion of doing the ''[[ShowWithinAShow Wormhole X-Treme!]]'' [[TheMovie movie]] with ''Series/{{Thunderbirds}}''-style puppets by sarcastically suggesting that they have Puppet O'Neill jump over a puppet shark on a scale motorcycle.
* ''Series/ThirtyRock'': in the episode "The One With the Cast of ''Series/NightCourt''", Jenna Maroney is blamed by Creator/HarryAnderson, Creator/MarkiePost, and Charles Robinson for making ''Series/NightCourt'' "jump the shark" for her three-part episode as werewolf lawyer Sparky Monroe.
-->'''Harry:''' ''You'' made us jump the shark! You're the reason we didn't have a tenth season!\\
'''Markie:''' I had just bought my second home when they brought that idiot werewolf lawyer in!\\
'''Jenna:''' ''(insulted)'' Uh, that "idiot werewolf" paid for my hand reduction surgery, okay?
* The fifth-season premiere of ''Series/{{Reno 911}}'', entitled "Jumping the Shark", featured Lt. Dangle attempting to jump over a normal fish tank containing a small shark. Naturally, he doesn't quite make it over, and HilarityEnsues. Incidentally, it was the first new episode to be aired after the release of TheMovie.
* An episode of ''Series/That70sShow'' has Fez, imagining how cool it would be to be Fonzie, having a daydream of himself performing the original jump. Hyde comments that this was the worst moment in television history, and Fez confesses that he stopped watching the show after that. It's interesting, because [[AnachronismStew this is more of a modern perspective rather than one commonly held at the time it aired]]... like pretty much everything on ''That '70s Show''.
* In the last episode of ''Series/BostonLegal'' after [[spoiler:Alan accepts Denny's proposal of marriage]], Denny says, "It'll be great! Like jumping a shark!"
* ''Series/{{Supernatural}}'':
** An episode named "Jumping the Shark" features a kid believed to be the third Winchester brother. It includes a poster advertising "Fonzarelli's Water Skiing Event", and the diner where they meet the kid is called "CousinOliver's". In the end, [[spoiler:he really is their brother but is already dead, and he stays dead]].
** Referenced again at the end of the episode "The Real Ghostbusters":
--->'''Chuck:''' It's not jumping the shark if you ''[[BadassBoast never come down]]''.
* One episode of ''Series/{{House}}'' has House, bored out of his skull during clinic duty, constructing a racetrack from medical tape, tongue depressors, and cards. At the end of the track is a ramp, and under the ramp is a shark. Cuddy catches the car in midair before it reaches the shark. Whew...
* An episode in ''Series/TheXFiles'' titled "Jump the Shark" sees the Lone Gunmen -- the quirky trio of conspiracy theorists that had lasted the show's entire run and gotten [[Series/TheLoneGunmen their own failed spinoff]] -- thwarting a terrorist's plot to use a neurotoxin made from sharks (somehow). [[spoiler:Unfortunately, they died in the process.]]
* ''Series/NedsDeclassifiedSchoolSurvivalGuide'' has an episode about making and taking dares that incorporates one character jumping a bicycle over a tank with a shark in it.
* In the (somewhat rushed) finale of ''Series/PushingDaisies'', the VictimOfTheWeek is killed by accidentally leaping into the mouth of a shark.
* ''Series/WebSoup'' host Chris Hardwick used this phrase when a video in their "[[BrainBleach Things You Can't Un-See]]" segment was legitimately disgusting and [[NauseaFuel nauseating]]. (It was [[spoiler:a gaping foot wound crawling with live maggots]].)
* ''Series/{{Community}}'' Season Finale: Troy wants to move in with Abed, but GenreSavvy Abed says their friendship would jump the shark if they did. Troy responds that when Fonzie literally jumped the shark, it was the best episode ever.
%%* The ''Series/TrailerParkBoys'' episode "Jump the Cheeseburger".
* ''Series/AttackOfTheShow'' did a parody of Creator/DiscoveryChannel's Shark Week with their own "Jump the Shark Week", where each day they would jump the shark in classic fashion. Methods included being attacked by a cougar ''à la Series/TwentyFour'', having a ''Series/{{Dallas}}''-style murder mystery, having a CousinOliver show up, and having an EvilTwin ''à la Series/KnightRider''.
* ''Series/{{Wipeout|2008}}'' couldn't resist mentioning the trope; an episode featured an elimination game called "Jump the Shark", where players had to, well, jump over a spinning shark.
* In the ''Series/{{Angel}}'' episode "Smile Time", the owner of the eponymous puppet show makes a [[DealWithTheDevil deal with demons]] to keep his show on the air when it starts losing ratings. Unfortunately, he neglected to ReadTheFinePrint. While the term "jump the shark" is never actually used, Gunn's research reveals that the demons have tried this before:
-->'''Gunn:''' You see the last few seasons of ''Happy Days''?
* ''Series/{{CSI}}'':
** The episode "Two and a Half Deaths" features a scene where Brass mentions the term "jumping the shark" to Grissom. Unfamiliar with what this means, Grissom asks and Brass is about to explain what it means when a scream switches the focus onto something else.
** In the show's final episode, Grissom is clearly aware of it, as he holds up two severed shark fins to a bunch of cops and says, "Looks like someone jumped a shark."
* In the last series of ''Series/MadeInCanada'', the trope is discussed by the main characters in the episode "Beaver Creek Jumps the Shark", both regarding their own lives and the ShowWithinAShow ''Beaver Creek''. They differ on when exactly the series jumped the shark, but several of the usual candidates are mentioned -- a CousinOliver (actually named Oliver), supernatural elements, ShippingBedDeath, a MusicalEpisode, a live episode, a RealTime episode, and a guest appearance by Ted [=McGinley=]. As for their lives, they all seem to have begun their downward slides courtesy of some moment involving their PointyHairedBoss Alan Roy.
* ''Series/TwoPintsOfLagerAndAPacketOfCrisps'' once had lead character Johnny attempt (off-screen) to exactly emulate Fonzie's stunt. Given that he died in the attempt and it was a live episode, the producers were no doubt {{lampshad|ed}}ing these facts. At one point Janet even does a Fonzie impression. The title of this "very special episode" is "When Johnny Met Sharky".
* The penultimate episode of ''Series/TheColbertReport'' literally did it in the [[http://imgbox.com/a4XZZkmS opening credits]].
* In the season four premiere of ''Series/WizardsOfWaverlyPlace'', Alex lies to the reporters that Music/LadyGaga was going to jump over a shark tank while riding on a motorcycle.
* ''Series/TheGrandTour'' episode "A Massive Hunt" has Richard and Jeremy discuss how swimming is forbidden in Réunion because of shark attacks:
-->'''Richard:''' It's only shallow. If a shark comes, we can jump it.
-->'''Jeremy:''' I think we did that in 2013.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Music]]
* Music/WeirdAlYankovic's song "Couch Potato" contains the line:
-->''And ''[[Series/TheKingOfQueens King of Queens]]'' jumped the shark the first minute\\
I can't believe Creator/RichardSimmons ain't in it!''
* Fun. has an unreleased song called [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_C2w_z2fO7E "Jumping the Shark"]] that applies the concept to Nate Ruess' own life.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Professional Wrestling]]
* {{Wrestling/WWE}}:
** Lampshaded by JBL and Michael Cole on the 9/27/13 edition of Wrestling/WWESmackDown, when [[Wrestling/ThreeMB Jinder Mahal]] and Wrestling/TheGreatKhali use flutes to charm Wrestling/SantinoMarella's Cobra in the middle of a match with Wrestling/HeathSlater.
** Lampshaded again by Wrestling/{{Edge|Wrestler}} during an episode of [[TalkShowWithFists The Cutting Edge]] in 2010, in the midst of his feud with the Anonymous RAW General Manager. As he put it, they went from Wrestling/StoneColdSteveAustin stunning Wrestling/VinceMcMahon to Edge arguing with a ''computer''. This eventually led to Edge going on a crusade against everything stupid in the WWE.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Tabletop Games]]
* ''TabletopGame/MaidRPG'' specifically lampshades this for one of its example games, which due to player twinkery went completely and irretrievably OffTheRails ([[SuspiciouslySpecificDenial which, of course]], [[BlatantLies never happens in real sessions]]). After Yugami, Kamiya, and Hizumi manage to derail the game into something resembling ''Manga/FistOfTheNorthStar'':
-->'''Hizumi:''' See this? This is a shark. And here I am jumping over it. I'm jumping over a shark here. Shark? Jumping. Over.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Video Games]]
* ''VideoGame/KingdomOfLoathing'':
** A [[http://kol.coldfront.net/thekolwiki/index.php/Shark_jumper certain item]], equipped in the torso slot, drops from a shark. As usual, the item description contains several "examples of what plot elements may cause or be symptomatic of jumping the shark."
--->''Still, you can wear it around your [[CousinOliver adorable new baby cousin]], or to the wedding that dissipates all the interesting romantic tension in your life. Or you can put it on [[TheOtherDarrin the new person cast to play your best friend]], or wear it to your [[NewJobEpisode new job in another part of the city]], or during [[TheWildWest the Old West]] [[WholeEpisodeFlashback flashback episode of your life]].''[[note]]This was before ''VideoGame/WestOfLoathing'' came out, making it HilariousInHindsight.[[/note]]
** One of the skills in the Avatar of Sneaky Pete [[SelfImposedChallenge special challenge path]] is "Jump the Shark", which gives you extra experience points but causes Sneaky Pete's "studio audience" to hate him (which can actually be useful to some of his skills).
* In ''[[VideoGame/TonyHawksProSkater Tony Hawk's American Wasteland]]'', one of the missions involves feeding imbecilic oil rig worker Mega's pet shark, Fonzie. ''That'' involves jumping over him on your board for some reason. Keep in mind that Mega's the kind of guy to name a shark Fonzie unironically, completely unaware of it meaning anything deeper than "That guy on that show I watched when I was like five. He was cool. ''Ayyyyy!''"
* In ''[[http://www.videlectrix.com/hallrunner.html Hallrunner]]'', a game on the Videlectrix website (hosted by the creators of ''WebAnimation/HomestarRunner''), the object of the game is to make your way through various obstacles while running down a [[NoSidepathsNoExplorationNoFreedom never-ending hallway]]. Upon coming to each obstacle, the player has the option of talking to it, fighting it, or jumping it. If the player chooses "jump" when the obstacle is a shark, he gets the response "You jump the shark. Just like [[SelfDeprecation homestarrunner.com]]."
* In ''VideoGame/{{Skate}} 3'', the player attempts to jump over a statue of a shark in the opening cinematic. He fails, which is a setup for you to use plastic surgery to create your character. You can jump it in the actual game.
* ''VideoGame/{{Jumpman}} Zero'' has a level called "Jump the Shark", which is basically a big underwater room with a shark in it.
* ''VideoGame/MetalGearRisingRevengeance'' has a trophy titled "Jumping the Shark", which you can get for destroying ten Hammerhead enemies in the game.
* ''VideoGame/WorldOfWarcraft'' has a daily quest in Krasarang Wilds called "Jumping the Shark", in which your character, with his or her bare hands, jumps on a shark and beats the daylights out of it. This is far from the most outlandish thing most characters have done by this point.
* ''VideoGame/FarCry3BloodDragon'' features a scene where Rex launches a car over a shark... well, a Film/{{Sharktopus}}, to be more exact. HUD even describes the objective as simply "Jump the Shark".
* In ''VideoGame/SaintsRowIV'', the final mission is called "Punch the Shark", even though no actual sharks are involved. "Jumping" it just doesn't quite cut it anymore.
* ''[[VideoGame/BlazBlueContinuumShift BlazBlue Continuum Shift Extend]]'' has Ragna say that Valkenhayn is jumping the shark when he prepares for his Uber-Verboten Attack in his joke end.
* As a [[SelfDeprecation self-deprecating]] joke, a TV show literally called "Jump The Shark" figures into the plot of the ''{{VideoGame/Deadpool}}'' video game. Apparently, it consists entirely of Fonzie-expy contestants jumping over a shark tank with a motorbike.
* In the intro for ''VideoGame/MegaMansChristmasCarol 3'', Proto Man has [[CapcomSequelStagnation gotten fed up with]] Christmases that go sour and the doctors acting bizarrely, with this game's PaperThinDisguise scenario leading him to outright call it shark-jumping territory. Seeing as this game was released after a lengthy delay, it's [[SelfDeprecation definitely intentional]].
* The Trope Namer is explicitly referenced in the sequel to the ''VideoGame/DumbWaysToDie'' video game, where one minigame has a character dressed like Fonzie jumping over several sharks on waterskis. Succeeding makes him grin and give a thumbs-up with a LaughTrack in the background.
* ''VideoGame/FateGrandOrder'': During a boss battle against Caren C. Hortensia, Caren keeps transforming into more powerful forms, but her final form is a [[GooGooGodlike baby]] complete with BabyTalk. Cu Chulainn complains about how stupid this is and asks if they just jumped the shark.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Webcomics]]
* LampshadeHanging on it in [[http://www.missmab.com/Comics/Vol_513.php this]] strip of ''Webcomic/DanAndMabsFurryAdventures''.
* In ''[[https://ghostarchive.org/archive/TWxCx Bitmap World]]'', the phrase is used to indicate its very silly and literal meaning. The creators insist that this does not mean their relatively new strip (at the time of publication) is headed in that direction.
* In ''Webcomic/BrunoTheBandit'', the protagonist literally has to [[http://www.brunothebandit.com/w/20030331.html jump a shark]], to be more successful getting readers.
* In ''Calamities of Nature'', a [[http://calamitiesofnature.com/archive/?c=367 direct reference to Happy Days]] is made when jumping the shark.
* ''Webcomic/SchlockMercenary'' uses a gag about [[http://www.schlockmercenary.com/2005-04-02 a shark tank and a motorcycle ramp]] as a promise that even though the strip's invoking TimeTravel as a ResetButton, it's just this once and that's not what it's going to be all about from now on.
* The [[http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0542.html 542nd strip]] of ''Webcomic/TheOrderOfTheStick'' is named "[[RussianReversal In Azure City, Shark Jumps You!]]", which is also an actual description of the strip's contents.
* ''Webcomic/{{Melonpool}}'', after a decade of time-travel history-changing shenanigans, had gotten so convoluted that the author decided on a massive retcon, whose fuzzy science rationale actually had the acronym [[http://www.melonpool.com/d/20051102.html Jump the S.H.A.R.K.]].
* ''Webcomic/IrregularWebcomic'' addressed Jumping the Shark (both literally and figuratively) in an arc starting [[http://www.irregularwebcomic.net/993.html here]].
* Clip-art web comic ''Webcomic/PartiallyClips'' {{lampshades}} its own potential shark-jumping [[https://web.archive.org/web/20060112200503/http://www.partiallyclips.com/index.php?id=1091 here]].
* A ''Webcomic/{{Freefall}}'' strip features a shark tank, but [[http://freefall.purrsia.com/ff1100/fv01080.htm warns people away from jumping over it]].
* In ''Webcomic/AbsurdNotions'', several years in, the characters buy an aquarium and get a pet Bala shark. They decide that, given that they introduced the shark as a new character to breathe new life into their boring lives, [[http://www.absurdnotions.org/page119.html the only honest name to give the shark was]] "[[LampshadeHanging Jump]]".
* This and the CousinOliver trope gets referenced in [[http://www.somethingpositive.net/sp01242009.shtml this]] ''Webcomic/SomethingPositive'' strip where the writers for Monette's show discuss future plots.
-->'''Writer:''' How 'bout this? [[TwoTimerDate Davvy has two dates in one night but doesn't want to cancel either!]]\\
'''Monette:''' [[SarcasmMode One of them can be Cousin Oliver and for the date we can water ski over a shark.]]\\
'''Writer:''' [[SarcasmBlind Why not? We don't have a CGI budget for nothing!]]
* Gordito in ''WebComic/TheAdventuresOfDrMcNinja'' literally [[http://drmcninja.com/archives/comic/11p24 jumped over a winged, flying shark]]. The alt-text defended the move with "Look, it was the only way he could dodge it". Of course, by Dr. [=McNinja=] standards this isn't that unusual an event.
* Heywood in ''Webcomic/MynarskiForest'' replicated the Fonz's jump, in the strip's background, in mocking recognition that the comic had just had two stories in a row turn out to be AllJustADream.
* ''Webcomic/{{xkcd}}'' has [[http://xkcd.com/460/ this]] comic's AltText:
-->'''Alt-text:''' Dinosaurs totally jumped the ichthyosaur when they got rid of the brontosaurus.
* ''Webcomic/BobTheAngryFlower'' [[http://www.angryflower.com/jumpsh.html ramps a shark on a motorcycle]]. Into space.
* In ''Webcomic/UnwindersTallComics'', Unwinder laments the decline of his former favorite webcomic:
-->'''Unwinder:''' ''Nutflix''? Oh goll, Mildred, that comic basically jumped the whale shark. THE LARGEST SHARK ON EARTH.
* [[http://www.sandraandwoo.com/2009/11/12/0111-shark-jumped-the-woo/ Inverted, but taken literally]] in ''Webcomic/SandraAndWoo''.
* In the end-of-chapter commentary strips by two minor characters of ''Webcomic/ErrantStory'', one of them carries a pair of water skis and announces she'll try to jump a great white, [[http://www.errantstory.com/2010-05-28/4823 prompting the other to note that the writer just did that]]. The immediate [[http://www.errantstory.com/2010-05-31/4824 followup]] was an amusing subversion, too.
* ''Commissioned'' officially announced it [[http://www.commissionedcomic.com/?p=1873 jumped the zombie]] on November 18th, 2009.
* Mentioned by name in ''Webcomic/QuestionableContent'', when Faye finally stops being even the least bit curious [[http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=951 about Pintsize's antics]].
* ''Webcomic/PvP'' combined it with BreakingTheFourthWall in [[http://www.pvponline.com/comic/2004/10/25/october-25-2004 this strip]] and also used it [[http://www.pvponline.com/comic/2005/04/01/fri-apr-01 here]].
* ''Webcomic/BugMartini'': [[http://www.bugmartini.com/comic/jumping-the-shark/ Signs Your Life has Jumped the Shark]].
* ''Webcomic/AnsemRetort'' had this to say, after [[JesusWasWayCool Jesus]] turned [[Franchise/KingdomHearts Marluxia]] [[ItMakesSenseInContext into a gay dragon]]:
-->'''[[WesternAnimation/{{Hercules}} Hades:]]''' And [[UsefulNotes/AlexanderTheGreat Alexander]] wept, for there were no more sharks to jump.
* ''[[http://robbieandbobby.com/a-brief-history-3/ Robbie and Bobby]]'' makes a reference in a short storyline where Robbie and Stephen Hawking switch brains.
* ''Webcomic/Persona3FTW'' had a [[http://personaftw.thecomicseries.com/comics/781 comic]] where the leads lament having to switch to the summer uniforms, followed by Fonzie jumping the shark. [[WordOfGod JC]] confirmed that he doesn't like the summer uniforms. Still doesn't.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Web Original]]
* The ''WebAnimation/ZeroPunctuation'' review for ''LEGO Indiana Jones'' was the first to [[TheyChangedItNowItSucks feature a new opening video]] and [[SoundtrackDissonance hardcore metal theme song]], as opposed to the ([[DigitalPiracyIsEvil copyrighted]]) music of previous shorts. In his sign-off bit of snark, Yahtzee predicts oodles of e-mails predicting this as "his shark-jumping moment".
* Episode 15 of ''WebVideo/YuGiOhTheAbridgedSeries'' had this exchange at the end:
-->'''Joey:''' Man, that duel was really boring. It was like [[SelfDeprecation waiting for LittleKuriboh to make a new video]].\\
'''Tristan:''' [[UnpleasableFanbase Let's complain about it!]]\\
Cue ''WesternAnimation/LooneyTunes'' end-of-show fanfare and the credits-snark going, "i think i just jumped the shark..."
* As the entire thing is a ShoutOut to ''Series/HappyDays'', [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W3DHdIMMa9g this Oxhorn WoW Machinima]] has a character literally jump a shark... and shoot it in the same motion.
* WebVideo/TheNostalgiaCritic refers to it on occasion:
** In the ''Film/RockyIV'' review, [[MakesJustAsMuchSenseInContext a completely ridiculous robot]] that drives in is introduced as the Shark-Jumper 5000. It appears again in the introduction of UsefulNotes/GameBoy in the commentary for the ''WesternAnimation/CaptainNTheGameMaster'' review.
** Mentioned twice in the ''Film/IndependenceDay'' review, although he didn't think the movie was good in the first place, so he was likely confusing the term for something else.
** Mentioned with a whole rant about how much the shark is abused in the review of ''Film/TheNeverEndingStoryIIIEscapeFromFantasia'' when the Rock Biter rides a bike singing "Born to be Wild". Although since he made it clear the series went downhill with the second movie, this again was misusing the term. Then again, there is no accurate fan speak term for that moment popular enough for him to rant that way about it, so it slides by with RuleOfFunny.
* ''WebVideo/SharkJumping'' is dedicated to reviewing TV shows (such as ''Series/HowIMetYourMother'', ''Series/{{Glee}}'', or ''WesternAnimation/TheFairlyOddParents'') and occasionally even movies, trying to pinpoint the exact moment they jumped the shark.
* In one episode of ''WebAnimation/BonusStage'', Joel exclaims, "Come quick! We're about to travel over Shark World! I don't know why we haven't done this already." In another episode, Joel states that there are "some sharks [he] refuses to jump".
* The title card at the end of the first episode of ''WebVideo/MaddMan'' reads, "MISSION ACCOMPLISHED: Jumped the Shark on the First Episode".
* ''WebVideo/TwoBestFriendsPlay'': After making two episodes independently, they were picked up by the Machinima Youtube channel. They referenced this "selling out" in their next video, ''VideoGame/DonkeyKongCountryReturns'', by having Kong physically jump over a shark enemy.
-->'''Matt:''' Jump the shark! Jump the shark!\\
'''Pat:''' I don't wanna jump the shark! ...Aw, we jumped it.
%%* {{Invoked}} and {{parodied}} in the episode [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r5HWzwa3KOo&feature=autoplay&list=ULrg8jISMx4dk&lf=mfu_in_order&playnext=1 ''Trollin' '']] of WebVideo/TheAnnoyingOrange
* [[http://askudonge.tumblr.com/post/17637868580 This post]] in the fan-made ''[[http://askudonge.tumblr.com Just a Useless Bunny]]'' ''VideoGame/{{Touhou}}'' Ask Blog parodies the common changes done by ExecutiveMeddling that often lead to this, complete with a final panel of Reisen water skiing over a shark.
* From WebVideo/RedLetterMedia:
-->'''Mr. Plinkett:''' I don't jump sharks, [[BadassBoast I fuck them for breakfast]].
* In ''WebVideo/DragonBallZAbridged'''s "Episode of Bardock", it takes Bardock a long time to realise that he's gone into the past, and once he does:
-->'''Bardock:''' Of all the ''stupid''! ''({{headdesk}}s the ground)'' Asinine! ''(punches the ground)'' Shark-jumping ''bullshit''! ''(headdesks again, [[spoiler:goes Super Saiyan]])''
* Website/CollegeHumor:
** Parodied in one of the NextTimeOn ''Bear Shark'' segments in which the shark jumps a pen full of Fonzies while on water skis. [[spoiler:[[NeverTrustATrailer The sequence doesn't actually appear in the next episode at all.]]]]
** The sketch "Jump the Shark": A new SpinOff, Tony Hawk [[CelebrityStar appears as a guest star]], [[WillTheyOrWontThey two characters get engaged]], they move to a new building, Amir gets [[TheOtherDarrin replaced]], and [[MindScrew Jeff gives birth to]] [[MakesJustAsMuchSenseInContext a baby Supreme Court justice]]. Finally, the whole cast gets replaced at the very end with a [[YoungerAndHipper younger cast]].
* In ''WebAnimation/DeathBattle'', when Wiz describes the [[JetPack Flightpack]] from ''Film/{{Robocop 3}}'' as part of their analysis on "Franchise/{{Robocop}} vs Franchise/{{Terminator}}", he mentions that it "helps (Robocop) jump sharks".
* Creator/RoosterTeeth has a T-shirt that has the phrase "YOLO" jumping a tub with a shark on it.
* ''WebAnimation/RedVsBlue'', has [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dQYLmcYpE_8 a PSA]] on how to prolong a LongRunner series (the show had passed 17 seasons by then) where Sarge decides to do "a dangerous stunt, where one of us has to jump over a tank of dangerous marine life", with Simmons pointing out they're not going to jump the shark, literally or figuratively.
* The ''WebVideo/GameTheory'' episode "Why I Gave UsefulNotes/{{the Pope}} ''VideoGame/{{Undertale}}''" starts off with [=MatPat=] saying that despite the backlash the episode "The Truth about Sans" got, he still liked it, prompting this exchange:
-->'''The Pope:''' That's the one where Game Theory jumped the shark.\\
'''[=MatPat=]:''' No it isn't! ''({{beat}})'' No it isn't!
* Apparently, [[http://www.scp-wiki.net/10-30-a-m jumping the shark]] is one of the most important duties for employees of [[Website/SCPFoundation the Shark Punching Center]].
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Western Animation]]
* Becomes a VisualPun in the [[MilestoneCelebration 100th episode]] of ''WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagic'': Vinyl Scratch and Octavia Melody are riding on a giant DJ platform on wheels to make it to Matilda's wedding in time. As they fly down the road, the station jumps over a plush shark doll [[FreezeFrameBonus for a split second]].
* In the ''WesternAnimation/OneHundredAndOneDalmatianStreet'' episode "Dal-Martians", Dolly is telling a Story about how she, Dylan, and Dawkins were able to launch a UFO-shaped parade float in to the canal. When the float launches up a ramp, it shows them flying over a shark.
* In the ''WesternAnimation/{{Sealab 2021}}'' episode "Sharko's Machine", Sharko, a CousinOliver parody who is Marco's half-shark illegitimate son, is seen jumping over several Fonzies during an absurd HardWorkMontage.
* ''WesternAnimation/FostersHomeForImaginaryFriends'':
** In "Sweet Stench of Success", Bloo becomes an advertising icon who gets his own sitcom spinoff. The preview after the very first episode is, "Tune in next week when Deo jumps a shark!"
** In the final episode, "Goodbye to Bloo", Bloo thinks Mac is moving away forever and tries to come up with something big they can do for their last day together. After Mac shoots down several of his suggestions as things they have already done before (all of them [[ContinuityNod references to the plots of previous episodes]]), Bloo decides that the only thing left to do is to Jump the Shark. Unable to find a shark in time, he settles for walking over a fishbowl containing a fish with a paper fin.
* ''WesternAnimation/KimPossible'': The title character addresses her thoughts on jumping the shark, by hanging up on Ron when he brings it up. It's in reference to them finally becoming the OfficialCouple, which [[LeaningOnTheFourthWall they may be aware could end the show]]. [[http://www.fanfiction.net/s/3387428/1/Kim_vs_Donzie This Fanfiction]] takes the idea a bit further, parodying ''Happy Days'' and then [[spoiler:revealing it was AllJustADream]].
* One episode of ''WesternAnimation/{{Squidbillies}}'' shows Rusty watching a TV show in which a mailman delivers mail [[MundaneMadeAwesome very dramatically]]. Early comments that it had jumped the shark already.
* In an episode of ''WesternAnimation/WhatsNewScoobyDoo'' where the gang goes to the set of an action film, the director ends up modifying the script to have Scooby and Shaggy launch on a motorcycle over a tank of sharks. Velma remarks, "[[LeaningOnTheFourthWall Never thought I'd see Scooby-Doo jump the shark]]."
* One "Previously On" for a two-part episode of ''WesternAnimation/SouthPark'' had scenes of Fonzie about to jump a shark cut in. Then when he makes the jump, he gets eaten, seeming to say "Not yet, viewers".
* In ''WesternAnimation/MyLifeAsATeenageRobot''s episode "In-Des-Tuck-Able", Tuck is performing a series of dangerous stunts, including riding a motorcycle over a SharkPool. Brad provides the lampshading:
-->'''Brad:''' Once you jump the shark, the show is over.
* This is referenced in an episode of ''WesternAnimation/TheAmazingWorldOfGumball''. In "The Test", where the universe becomes a sitcom starring Tobias, the show reaches critical mass with lazy cliches, until it ends on an AllJustADream twist. It turns out that Tobias had gotten injured jumping a shark. The sitcom is ended for real when Tobias is [[FacialHorror liberated of his face by Gumball's repressed venom.]]
* ''WesternAnimation/TheSimpsons'' is a LongRunner with some [[SelfDeprecation serious self-awarenes]]:
** One episode shows the characters running out of plots because they're either doing things that they've already done (''e.g.'' Bart buys a race horse but Lisa had already done that) or noticing things they should already know (''e.g.'' Marge's gambling problem). Then comes an improbable twist where the horse jockeys turn out to be elves in disguise, complete with schlocky musical number. Comic Book Guy throws a {{lampshade|d}} on it by wearing a "Worst Episode Ever" shirt.
** One CouchGag has the family jump a shark to land on the couch, only for Homer to lose both legs.
** One of the ClipShow episodes features a song lampshading both clip shows and the sort of absurd plots that normally constitute a shark jump, complete with a still image of Homer on waterskis. It's also a {{meta}} reference to Creator/MattGroening's claim that you'll know ''The Simpsons'' has jumped the shark when they introduce something like the GreatGazoo.
--->'''Troy [=McClure=]:''' That's it for our spinoff showcase. But what about the show that started it all? How do you keep ''The Simpsons'' fresh and funny after eight long years? Well, here's what's on tap for season nine: Magic powers! Wedding after wedding after wedding. And did someone say "long-lost triplets"? So join America's favorite TV family, and [[GreatGazoo a tiny green space alien named Ozmodiar that only Homer can see]], on FOX this fall. It'll be out of this world! Right, Ozmodiar?\\
'''Ozmodiar:''' Damn straight, Troy my man!
** "[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rJBmKQpZ02k They'll Never Stop 'The Simpsons']]" (which was part of a ClipShow) features an image of Homer jumping over a shark (about 28 seconds in), just before launching into a series of stupid ideas that the show could pursue in the future. Two of them (Marge as a robot, and Abe marrying Selma and not Patty) actually happened in later seasons.
* During the ''WesternAnimation/TeenTitans2003'' episode where the Titans chase Control Freak into [[TrappedInTVLand TV land]], Robin finds himself on some kind of action challenge show being forced by a [[Series/CrocodileHunter suspiciously familiar-looking host with a funny accent]] to waterski off a ramp, at which point a shark leaps out of the water underneath him.
* In ''WesternAnimation/TheReplacements'', Dick Daring jumps the shark ''twice'' in the second episode of the first season, with a Fonz lookalike appearing both times.
* ''WesternAnimation/TheFairlyOddparents'':
** A CutSong from TheMovie, "[[TrappedInTVLand Channel Chasers]]", had Timmy jumping a shark with a guy who looked a lot like the Fonz.
** The episode that introduces Wanda's twin sister Blonda has a side plot consisting of Timmy doing various "EXTREEEME!!" stunts. The very first stunt was him rocketskating over a shark tank.
* ''WesternAnimation/FanboyAndChumChum'' referenced jumping the shark during the episode "Total Recall": One of the shows they liked had the title character, an octopus spy named Agent 8 jump a shark. [[InvertedTrope They found the show got better after.]]
* Dante and Randal in the ''WesternAnimation/ClerksTheAnimatedSeries'' reminisce about the iconic scene from ''Series/HappyDays'', except in their recollection, the shark came back and [[Film/DeepBlueSea ate Samuel L. Jackson]].
* In ''WesternAnimation/TheVentureBrothers'', the Monarch references this trope regarding henchmen:
-->'''Monarch:''' You say "jump", they say "what shark?".
* The series finale of ''WesternAnimation/BatmanTheBraveAndTheBold'' is all about this trope. Bat-Mite, tired of the show's LighterAndSofter nature, conspires to get it cancelled in the hopes that it'll be replaced by a DarkerAndEdgier ''Batman'' show. He does this by using his RealityWarper powers to inflict several classic shark jumps on the show, including giving Batman a love interest and [[CousinOliver sickeningly cute daughter]], inserting obvious toy tie-ins, changing Aquaman's voice actor (to Creator/TedMcGinley, no less), giving Ace the Bat-Hound [[TheScrappy a very familiar nephew]], moving the show to Malibu, and finally making Batman use guns. ComicBook/AmbushBug (voiced by Creator/HenryWinkler himself) tries to save the day by telling Batman [[MediumAwareness that they're in a TV show]] and if they don't get back to normal fast, declining viewership will destroy their world. [[spoiler:They're too late to save the show, but at least they manage to salvage its dignity. As for Bat-Mite, not only does he not get what he wanted (the replacement is a CG-animated show about Bat''girl''), but Ambush Bug points out that since ''he's'' part of ''Brave and the Bold'', the cancellation affects him too, and a silly character like him would never be included in a DarkerAndEdgier Batman show. Bat-Mite vanishes into thin air, while the other characters have a party and Batman thanks his viewers for their support.]]
* ''WesternAnimation/BigCityGreens'': The episode "Animation Abomination" has this occur in-universe with Cricket's version of the ending to the season finale of ''Kingdom of Lore'', where the heroine suddenly turns evil and makes everything explode, thus foregoing all previously established storylines and suddenly changing the status quo without warning.
* ''WesternAnimation/TeamUmizoomi'' has an unusual variation where a shark jumps with the Team.
* Mentioned in the ''WesternAnimation/RegularShow'' episode "The Heart of a Stuntman".
* The ''WesternAnimation/TransformersRescueBots'' episode "Movers and Shakers" features Blades, while dealing with the rogue robot that was the episode's problem, jumping over a statue of a shark and even saying the Fonz's catchphrase.
* Parodied in an episode of ''WesternAnimation/{{Jellystone}}'', where a now-fearless Yakky Doodle has constructed an insanely dangerous skateboarding course; one of the obstacles is a "shark tank", which is really just Jabberjaw in a kiddie pool (Jabberjaw claims she was told there would be "hot guys").
[[/folder]]

* ''Webcomic/ForestHill'''s main arc started out as a genuinely heartfelt exploration of the effects of child sexual abuse on a community, but partway through the child characters took up nudism as a coping method. Soon every other page contained full frontal preteen nudity, including a six-year-old masturbating onscreen, which was both extremely offputting for multiple readers and somewhat undermined the comic's own point.

* In the season four premiere of ''Series/WizardsOfWaverlyPlace'', Alex lies to the reporters that Lady Gaga was going to jump over a shark tank while riding on a motorcycle.

[[TropeNamers The expression comes from]] an episode of the TV series ''Series/HappyDays'' in which Fonzie, dressed in his trademark leather jacket, literally jumps over a shark while on waterskis -- a sharp break from the show's basic focus on "everyday life in [=1950s=] America." In hindsight, that was the moment where [[EnsembleDarkHorse Fonzie]] started getting more focus, being {{Flanderized}} in the process into a superhuman, impossibly 'cool' dude. In short order, he pushed out the existing leads and [[SpotlightStealingSquad took over the entire show]]. Even those who liked Fonzie -- and most did -- had to admit that ''Happy Days'' wasn't better with him as the main star. It wasn't even in line with Fonzie's own character development: in a landmark earlier episode, he had been seriously injured while jumping his motorcycle for a televised stunt, admitting at the time that he was stupid to try something so reckless. When he jumped the shark, Fonzie [[AesopAmnesia seemingly forgot that important lesson]], and it was the first sign that ''Happy Days'' was going to abandon its premise in an effort to stay fresh.

"Jumping the shark" has since entered common parlance to refer to the moment when a serialized work or body of work goes into unrecoverable decline. The term was originally coined in the mid-1980s by writer Jon Hein. Notably, it was only after ''Happy Days'' ended that anyone realised what the turning point had been; it's difficult to spot a work jumping the shark in real time. The term "jumping the shark" is also rather nebulous because it can either mean the point at which the show started sliding (as with ''Happy Days'') or the point just before the show's final collapse. Complicating matters is the term "nuking the fridge", named after an infamous scene in ''Film/IndianaJonesAndTheKingdomOfTheCrystalSkull'', which basically amounts to "jumping the shark [[Administrivia/TheSameButMoreSpecific but for a film franchise]]"; it seems to have been born out of a generation who never experienced ''Happy Days'' now having their own experience with how frustrating this is.[[note]]TV Tropes does not consider "Nuking the Fridge" a separate or well-defined concept from "Jumping the Shark" -- in fact, "Nuking the Fridge" as a separate trope ''and'' as a redirect to this trope is a member of the Administrivia/PermanentRedLinkClub because people kept trying to add it without being able to define it.[[/note]]

** One of the ClipShow episodes features a song lampshading both clip shows and the sort of absurd plots that normally constitute a shark jump, complete with a still image of Homer on waterskis. It's also a {{meta}} reference to Creator/MattGroening's claim that you'll ''The Simpsons'' has jumped the shark when they introduce something like the GreatGazoo.