[[quoteright:317: http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/Fonzie_jumps_the_shark.JPG]]
[[caption-width-right:317:And then it all went downhill.]]

''The way I see it, it's really not jumping the shark if you never come back down.''

- '''Chuck''', ''{{Supernatural}}'' Season Five

Jumping The Shark is the moment when an established show changes in a significant manner in an attempt to stay fresh. Ironically, that moment makes the viewers realise that the show has finally run out of ideas. It has reached its peak, it will never be the same again, and from now on it's all downhill.

Some examples of clues which may indicate that a show's made the "jump":

''Cast Changes:''

*A popular character is [[PutOnABus removed from the show]], or even [[KilledOffForReal killed off]]. Especially true if the method of removal is [[DeathIsDramatic unsatisfying]] or [[DroppedABridgeOnHim mean-spirited]].
*One of the main actors quits, so a new actor is forced to [[TheOtherDarrin play his character]] since the character is too important to PutOnABus. This is somewhat more forgivable in an animated series if the new voice actor sounds enough like the old one that nobody notices.
*Alternatively, the writers pen a [[JonasQuinn replacement character]] who [[ReplacementScrappy isn't as compelling]] as the one who left.
*A [[CousinOliver new character]] is introduced who [[TheScrappy earns the hatred of the fandom]] for whatever reason.

''Character Development:''

*TheScrappy is given more spotlight and screen time, which sometimes [[RescuedFromTheScrappyHeap exonerates him through character development]], but more often turns him into TheWesley.
*An existing character evolves in a way that [[{{Flanderization}} flattens rather than enriches him]], or which [[CharacterDerailment contradicts prior depictions of the character]]. This can have the effect of alienating fans.
*The OfficialCouple resolves their {{UST}} too early and [[ShippingBedDeath shippers start to lose interest in the show]].

''Plot Development:''

*The show's premise is [[ReTool radically altered]], such as having the characters change careers or move to a new location.
*Conversely, the show drags on too long without any sort of progress or resolution. May be the result of too much {{Filler}} or overreliance on FailureIsTheOnlyOption.
*The show experiences MoodWhiplash in an unbelievable manner - typically a result of ExecutiveMeddling wanting to make the show DarkerAndEdgier or LighterAndSofter.
** A jarring rise in the SlidingScaleOfVillainThreat, unless it is written well and\or used for comedic purposes. For example, a BigBad trying to take over the local 7-11 is usurped by one bent on destroying the galaxy.
*One of the writers [[WriterOnBoard puts too much of himself into the show]], to its detriment. He may use it as a pulpit to [[AuthorTract preach his personal beliefs]] in a [[{{Anvilicious}} heavy-handed manner]], or to display [[AuthorAppeal personal kinks]] which {{Squick}} the audience out.
*A baby is [[CompetenceZone added to an otherwise-adult show]] (for instance, the final season of GetSmart) where ill-suited addition of childish themes and endless babytalk from characters who were once-intelligent speaking adults fatally alters the character dynamic.
*The plot is resolved with one too many [[WallBanger stupid plot twists]], which turns the audience away.
* A show's CrowningMomentOfAwesome -- in the sense that the show never lives up to said moment again, despite trying.

''Gimmicks:''

*The show starts relying too much on [[SpecialGuest 'special guest stars']] (especially if they're celebrities playing themselves) which wreck the verisimilitude of the show.
*Graphical gimmicks such as [[ConspicuousCG 3D]] are used to shore up failing character development.
* TheMovie of the series is released, after which the creativity level of the actual show starts to wane.
* A major plot point is [[YoYoPlotpoint apparently resolved only to be immediately unresolved - over and over again]].

Too many [[WallBanger shark-jumping moments]] in a row can spell SeasonalRot.

This expression originates from the episode of ''HappyDays'' in which Fonzie literally jumped over a shark on water-skis.

Gary Marshall tirelessly reminds us that ''HappyDays'' went on for a number of years after the original shark jump, misunderstanding a phrase that judges suckyness, not success. Henry Winkler has elsewhere commented that he's happy with the popularity of the phrase, as its usage in a magazine is often accompanied by a photo of him during a time in his life when he had great legs.

''IndianaJones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull'' introduced "Nuking The Fridge" as a synonymous phrase. Whether or not it will see sort of wide usage is up in the air. At least one reviewer of the ''{{Twilight}}'' [[TheMovie movie]] has suggested 'The vampires are playing baseball' as another synonym and potential replacement.

Contrast GrowingTheBeard, WinTheCrowd. For a related phenomenon, see FranchiseOriginalSin. For a video game related phenomenon (going into 3D ruins the franchise), see PolygonCeiling.

When the people start claiming something is a shark jumping moment ''right after it happens'', see RuinedFOREVER.

[[http://www.jumptheshark.com JumpTheShark.com]] used to be run by writer Jon Hein, who coined the term with his friends in the mid-1980's. Maintained an ongoing list of series killing moments (granted, you could vote for ''every'' cause, and shows commonly had "Day One" as an option). The website lists actor Ted [=McGinley=] as their "patron saint", for he has the most television roles in which series slowly died off after his first appearance. The longest-lasting show with Ted in a starring role was ''MarriedWithChildren'', where he went for seven seasons after replacing David Garrison (Steve Rhoades). Ironically, the site itself jumped the shark in January 2009, when it was merged into the TV Guide website, had its content removed along with the voting system, and became a blog by writer Erin Fox. ([[http://www.bonethefish.com/ BoneTheFish.com]] is one website that bills itself as a successor to the "old" [=JumpTheShark.com=].)

There is some [[http://io9.com/5176061/how-does-shark+jumping-really-affect-audience-numbers evidence]] that jumping the shark has no real effect on a show's success.

There are really too many to list here, and it is probably the most subjective article we have, so '''we are not listing any examples'''. This pages lists references to the phrase instead.
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!!References:

[[foldercontrol]]

[[folder:ComicBooks]]
* Taken to its logical extreme in an issue of DC's ''The Atom''; Atom sees [[StupidJetpackHitler Adolf Hitler with a jetpack]], and [[LampshadeHanging declares]] that reality itself has jumped the shark.
* ''KnightsOfTheDinnerTable'' #151 is titled "Jump The Shark". It features [[spoiler: Gary Jackson coming BackFromTheDead.]]
[[/folder]]

[[folder:FanFics]]
*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 didnt jump them (ITS AN INTERNET THINGY)"
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Live Action TV]]
* In the ''ArrestedDevelopment'' episode "Motherboy XXX", Barry Zuckercorn (played by Henry Winkler, 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.
* ''StargateSG1'': In the self-referential 200th episode, Marty responds to the suggestion of doing the ''[[ShowWithinAShow Wormhole X-Treme!]]'' [[TheMovie movie]] with ''{{Thunderbirds}}''-style puppets by sarcastically suggesting that they have Puppet O'Neill jump over a puppet shark on a scale motorcycle.
* ''[[ThirtyRock 30 Rock]]''. In the episode ''The One With the Cast of Night Court'', Jenny Maroney was blamed by Harry Anderson, Markie Post, and Charles Johnson for making ''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 ''[=~Reno 911!~=]'', entitled "Jumping the Shark", featured Lt. Dangle actually 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, which can also be a major shark-jumping point for some shows.
* Johnny Keogh from ''TwoPintsOfLagerAndAPacketOfCrisps'' was killed (offscreen) in a tragic accident involving him attempting to jump over a shark whilst on holiday. This was a reference by the writer to effectively lampshade what she had to do when the actor left, new characters were introduced and it still enjoyed some success after this.
* In the ''{{CSI}}'' episode "Two and a Half Deaths" (written by the ''TwoAndAHalfMen'' writers), Captain Brass (in reference to a character winning money on a sitcom - a TakeThat against the last season of ''{{Roseanne}}'') says that that's when the show "jumped the shark."
* An episode of ''[[That70sShow That 70's Show]]'' in which Fez, imagining how cool it would be to be the Fonzie, has 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 ''BostonLegal'' after [[spoiler: Alan accepts Denny's proposal of marriage]] Denny says "It'll be great! Like jumping a shark!"
* The producers of ''{{Lost}}'' have referred to the scene at the end of season 3 where [[spoiler: Jack's flashbacks were really flashforwards]] as the moment where their show "jumped the shark," however, they are apparently unaware this is usually a negative term and that perhaps they should stop using it to refer to their show. The moment in question actually IS where the show Jumped The Shark in the eyes of many fans, although for others it had [[GrowingTheBeard the opposite effect]] as well.
* An episode of {{Supernatural}} featured a kid who is believed to be the third Winchester brother. The name of the episode? [[LampshadeHanging Jump the Shark]]. Oh yeah, and the diner where they meet the kid? CousinOliver's.
* A recent episode of ''{{House}}'' had 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? A shark. Cuddy catches the car in midair, before it reaches the shark. But maybe the writers are telling us something....
* The penultimate episode of ''{{The X-Files}}'' is titled "Jump the Shark". In it, TheLoneGunmen--the quirky trio of conspiracy theorists that had lasted the show's entire run and gotten their own failed spin off--end up thwarting a terrorist's plot to use a neurotoxin made from sharks (somehow). Unfortunately, they died in the process.
* ''[[NedsDeclassified Ned's Declassified School Survival Guide]]'' 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 ''PushingDaisies'' (somewhat rushed) finale, the VictimOfTheWeek was killed by accidentally ''leaping into the mouth of a shark''. LampshadeHanging? You decide!
* The ''{{Trailer Park Boys}}'' episode "Jump The Cheeseburger".
* ''WebSoup'' host Chris Hardwick used this phrase when their video in their [[NightmareFuel Things You Can't]] [[BrainBleach Un-See]] segment was legitimately disgusting and [[NauseaFuel nauseating]]. [[spoiler: It was a gaping foot wound, which was crawling with live maggots.]]
[[/folder]]

[[folder:VideoGames]]
* In ''Tony Hawks' American Wasteland'', one of the missions involves feeding imbecelic 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 (a gaming website hosted by the creators of HomestarRunner), the object of the game is to make your way through various obstacles while running down a [[PipeShooter neverending 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 [[http://www.homestarrunner.com homestarrunner.com]]."
[[/folder]]

[[folder:WebOriginal]]
* The ''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]]) SuspiciouslyAproposMusic of previous shorts. In his sign-off bit of snark, Yahtzee predicts oodles of e-mails [[RuinedFOREVER predicting this as "his shark jumping moment"]].
* In a similar fashion, episode 15 of ''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 LooneyToons end-of-show fanfare and the credits-snark going "i think i just jumped the shark..."
[[/folder]]

[[folder:WebComics]]
* LampshadeHanging on it in [[http://www.missmab.com/Comics/Vol_513.php this]] strip of DanAndMabsFurryAdventures
* The obligatory ''Penny Arcade'' strip [[http://www.penny-arcade.com/comic/2006/11/1/]]
* In ''[[http://www.bitmapworld.com/smcomic2.cgi?a=72 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 ''BrunoTheBandit'', the protagonist literally has to [[http://www.brunothebandit.com/w/20030331.html jump a shark]], to be more successful getting readers.
* ''SchlockMercenary'' uses a gag about 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. [[http://www.schlockmercenary.com/d/20050402.html]]
* The 542nd strip of ''OrderOfTheStick'' is named "[[InSovietRussiaTropeMocksYou In Azure City, Shark Jumps You!]]". In addition to the obvious [[InSovietRussiaTropeMocksYou Russian Reversal]], this is also an actual description of the strip's contents.
* ''{{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.]].
* ''IrregularWebcomic'' addressed JumpingTheShark (both literally and figuratively) in a arc starting [[http://www.irregularwebcomic.net/comic.php?current=993 here]].
* Clip-art webcomic ''PartiallyClips'' {{lampshades}} its own potential shark-jumping [[http://www.partiallyclips.com/index.php?id=1091 here]].
* A ''{{Freefall}}'' strip features a shark tank, but [[http://freefall.purrsia.com/ff1100/fv01080.htm warns people away from jumping over it.]]
* In ''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 lives, which had gotten boring, [[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]] ''SomethingPositive'' strip where the writers for Monette's show discuss future plots.
* Gordito in ''TheAdventuresOfDrMcNinja'' literally 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 ''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.
* {{xkcd}} has [[http://xkcd.com/460/ this]] comic's AltText of "Dinosaurs totally jumped the ichthyosaur when they got rid of the brontosaurus."
[[/folder]]

[[folder:WesternAnimation]]
* ''{{Sealab 2021}}'', "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.
* ''FostersHomeForImaginaryFriends'', "Sweet Stench of Success", when 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 (they are in fact [[ContinuityNod references to the plots of previous episodes]]), Bloo decides that the only thing left to do is to JumpTheShark. Unable to find a shark in time, he settles for walking over a fish with a paper fin on a bowl.
* KimPossible addresses thoughts on jumping the shark, by hanging up on Ron when he brings it up.
** [[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 all as just a dream]].
* One episode of ''DoraTheExplorer'' had Dora use Jump Star to "jump the shark".
* One episode of ''{{Squidbillies}}'' shown Rusty watching a TV show in a dramatic way, showing a Mailman delivering mail into a mailbox. What is worth a mention in this article is Early commenting on the show with the trope name.
* Velma from ''ScoobyDoo'' remarks, "[[LeaningOnTheFourthWall I never thought I'd see Scooby-Doo jump the shark]]." in a "What's New, Scooby-Doo?" episode.
*One "Previously On" for a two-part episode of ''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".
* ''MyLifeAsATeenageRobot'' "In-Des-Tuck-Able" serves as the final episode were Tuck is performing a series of dangerous stunts including riding a motorcycle over a SharkPool. Brad provides the lampshading. ''"Once you jump the shark, the show is over."''
* ''TheSimpsons'' lampooned this trope by showing an episode where Bart buys a race horse (Lisa already did that), Lisa notices Marge's gambling problem (we already know that) and adds an improbable twist that horse jockeys are elves in disguise (complete with schlocky musical number). ''{{Lampshaded}}'' by Comic Book Guy when he is seen wearing a "Worst Episode Ever" shirt.
** ''TheSimpsons'' has made more direct references. One CouchGag had the family do it to land on the couch, only for Homer to lose both legs. Additionally, one of the ClipShow episodes featured a song [[LampshadeHanging 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...well, you get the picture.
** In the second season, motorcycle daredevil Lance Murdoch literally jumped over a shark (and a few other animals besides).
* During the ''TeenTitans'' episode where the Titans chased Control Freak into TV land, Robin finds himself on some kind of action challenge show being forced by a [[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.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:RealLife]]
*[[http://www.jumptheshark.com JumpTheShark.com]] used to be run by writer Jon Hein, who coined the term with his friends in the mid-1980's. Maintained an ongoing list of series killing moments (granted, you could vote for ''every'' cause, and shows commonly had "Day One" as an option). The website lists actor Ted [=McGinley=] as their "patron saint", for he has the most television roles in which series slowly died off after his first appearance. The longest-lasting show with Ted in a starring role was ''MarriedWithChildren'', where he went for seven seasons after replacing David Garrison (Steve Rhoades). Ironically, the site itself jumped the shark in January 2009, when it was merged into the TV Guide website, had its content removed along with the voting system, and became a blog by writer Erin Fox. In March of 2009, in response to the drastic changes away from what JTS originally was, several fans made a new site www.bonethefish.com as a dig against TV Guide and JTS, and rebuilt the original "vote for the moment when" style format that the old pre-Erin Fox Blog version of the classic Jump the Shark. "Bone The Fish" is a reference to Jump the Shark "boning itself" since it jumped its own shark and shouldn't be worthy of doling out criticism anymore since it had violated its original intent. The Trope for Bone The Fish can be found here at {{Bone The Fish}}
* Inverted on Animal Planet and the Discovery Channel, where one can often view clips of great white sharks jumping out of the water.
** In SovietRussia shark jump over you!
* Many people believe that the NobelPeacePrize jumped the shark by awarding the prize to BarackObama in 2009. Very few, however, have actually used that term to describe it. [[http://www.weeklystandard.com/Content/Public/Articles/000/000/017/088ytjrb.asp?pg=2 Here's one person who did.]]
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Music]]
* WeirdAlYankovic has the song "Couch Potato" in which he mentions all sorts of TV shows, including:
--> "And KingOfQueens jumped the shark the first minute. I can't believe Richard Simmons ain't in it!"
[[/folder]]

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