Family Guy, a popular animated TV show, jumped the shark in its ninth season, with the episode “The Former Life of Brian” being a turning point. The term “jump the shark” refers to a moment when a show takes a creative downturn or loses its original appeal. The show turned heads with crude humor, satire, and themes not for kids. Season 11 faced criticism for its crude humor and satire, which may have been triggered by potentially triggering themes such as sexual assault, mass shootings, and depictions of mental illness.
Season 11 faced criticism for its crude humor and satire, which may have been a result of the Fonzie shark episode coming towards the end of the show. The writers were accused of being excessively lazy with the writing, leading to questions about whether the series had completely jumped the shark when they killed off Brian. The Fonz example is defined by the show’s start as a mild, realistic family sitcom, with Brian as a chill neighborhood tough guy with a heart of gold.
Family Guy has pioneered the adult animation genre but not all 22 seasons have been a success. Season 11 was when Family Guy officially jumped the shark, causing many fans to stop caring about the show. The phrase “jump the shark” comes from the show Happy Days, which went on WAAAAY longer than it should have, and refers specifically to the episode when Fonzie was killed off.
Season 16 as a whole was filled with too many specialty episodes, which may have been considered excessively lazy with the writing. While Family Guy is groundbreaking in many ways, Season 11 proved that even great animated shows can jump the shark.
For the most part, season 4 has sucked, taking The Simpsons at least 10 years to do so. The phrase “jump the shark” comes from the show Happy Days, which went on WAAAAY longer than it should have, and refers specifically to the episode when Fonzie was killed off. Happy Days may have been the first sitcom to jump the shark, but the phenomenon has happened to plenty of other shows.
| Article | Description | Site |
|---|---|---|
| When did Family Guy first jump the shark? | Season 11 was when Family Guy officially jumped the shark. It was a giant middle finger to anyone that still cared about the show. | nohomers.net |
| When Did Family Guy Jump the Shark? | Family Guy, as a series, is groundbreaking in many ways. However, Season 11 proved that even great animated shows can jump the shark. | cbr.com |
| Family Guy has jumped the shark | Family Guy jumped the shark the moment it came back into production. For the most part, season 4 has sucked. It took The Simpsons at least 10 years to do that. | forums.superherohype.com |
📹 Fonzie Jumps the Shark on Happy Days Episode 5 3 1977
Intense and dramatic…Fonzie attempts to boost rating in a slumping season. Now, the phrase “jump the shark” is part of our …
Who Jumped The Shark On 'Designing Women'?
The moment "Designing Women," the acclaimed sitcom about four women managing an interior design firm in Atlanta, is often cited as having "jumped the shark" occurred in the sixth season with the departure of Delta Burke, who played the spirited Suzanne Sugarbaker. Many fans argue that the show's decline began even earlier with the exit of Jean Smart’s lovable Charlene Frazier at the end of season five. The introduction of Julia Duffy as Allison Sugarbaker to replace Burke, and the failure to showcase the character Randa, led to a significant loss of core elements that defined the show.
Despite the arrival of new cast members like Jan Hooks and Judith Ivey, critical reception was harsh, with many perceiving the series as having deviated from its original charm. The show's creator, Linda Bloodworth-Thomason, had tailored roles for the original cast, making their absence feel particularly impactful. While some fans considered the changes negative, others appreciated the fresh faces. By the time of the final seasons, the show's dynamic had evolved, leading to a mixed audience response.
Ultimately, "Designing Women" aired for seven seasons between 1986 and 1993, but the view that it lost its essence post-season five became a common sentiment among fans and critics alike. Despite the challenges, the initial seasons remain memorable for their strong characterizations and feminist themes in a male-dominated television landscape.
Why Did 'The Simpsons' Jump The Shark?
The concept of "jumping the shark" refers to a moment when a TV show begins to decline in quality, originating from a storyline in Happy Days where Fonzie jumps over a shark on water skis, showcasing his bravery. This term is often debated among fans of long-running series, particularly The Simpsons. While some argue the show began its decline during season 10 with "When You Dish Upon a Star," others pinpoint season 13 as a significant downturn under showrunner Al Jean, when scripts became seemingly unfunny and overly moralistic. A notorious episode often cited is "The Principal and the Pauper," which reveals Principal Skinner as an imposter, leading many fans to feel disillusioned. However, some believe that The Simpsons has not definitively "jumped the shark," instead suggesting the decline has been gradual. Key to this discussion is the "golden age" of The Simpsons (seasons 3-8), which many fans remember fondly, contrasting it with the perceived mediocrity of later seasons. Even writers acknowledged potential future storylines jumping the shark within the show itself. The ongoing debate suggests differing perspectives on the show's trajectory and highlights how deeply invested fans are in defining its quality decline.
What Shows Jumped The Shark?
Shows such as The O. C., Riverdale, and Prison Break have faced criticism for "jumping the shark," a term that signifies when a TV show degrades in quality due to wildly unrealistic or poorly executed storylines. This phrase, while often overused, accurately describes moments where beloved series suffer irreversible damage to their reputation. For instance, Riverdale strayed from its initial murder mystery premise, veering into absurd territory.
Iconic series have also hit this snag, with "jumping the shark" becoming synonymous with moments that render the narrative implausible. Notable examples include Fonzie's infamous shark-jumping stunt in Happy Days and Michael Scott's departure from Dunder Mifflin in The Office. The phenomenon illustrates how many cherished shows resort to bizarre plot twists to regain former glory, diminishing audience investment in the process.
The phrase originated from Happy Days, which aired from 1974 to 1984, marking the start of this trend. Other series like Supernatural, The Brady Bunch, and Bones have similarly succumbed to this fate, showcasing ill-conceived story developments. The Independent highlights various shows that have "jumped the shark," emphasizing both comedy classics like The Simpsons and Seinfeld as well as dramas like Dexter and The Crown.
Some specific moments that exemplify this decline include the introduction of Cousin Oliver in The Brady Bunch, the unrealistic events of season nine in Scrubs, and major character changes that affected series like Will and Grace and Roseanne. Overall, these moments have significantly impacted the legacies of numerous television shows.
When Did Fonzie Jump Over A Shark?
The phrase "jump the shark" was coined in 1985 by radio personality Jon Hein, referencing a moment from the 1977 episode "Hollywood: Part 3" of the sitcom Happy Days. In this episode, Henry Winkler's character, Arthur "Fonzie" Fonzarelli, famously jumps over a shark while water-skiing, an action that has since come to symbolize a television show having passed its peak. Originally aired on September 20, 1977, this stunt was part of a storyline in which the characters visit Los Angeles.
Although Happy Days enjoyed high ratings, particularly in its fourth season, this episode marked a decline in the show's popularity. Hein and his University of Michigan roommate, Sean Connolly, created the idiom as a commentary on this specific scene, which highlighted Fonzie's bravado and Winkler's real-life water-skiing skills. Over time, "jumping the shark" has become a broader cultural term used to indicate when a series introduces absurd plot developments in a bid to regain audience interest, effectively signifying that it has already lost its creative spark.
Did 'Jump The Shark' Ruin A TV Show?
The phrase "jump the shark" is commonly used to describe when a TV show strays from its core premise, resulting in a decline in quality. It originated in 1977 with a scene in "Happy Days" where Fonzie literally jumped over a shark, marking a turning point for the series. Shows like "Dexter," "Game of Thrones," and "Community" also exemplify this phenomenon, often due to gimmicky plot twists or the introduction of new characters. The term suggests that a creative work has exhausted its original intent, leading to a loss of appeal.
For instance, "Riverdale" shifted from a murder mystery to cult-related themes, signifying its own jump the shark moment. Other examples include "House," which faltered after its third season, and various beloved series that have introduced contrived changes, leading to a noticeable quality decline. The original intent of the term was not merely to imply ruin but rather a significant alteration in direction.
The concept has been widely discussed, especially on platforms like Reddit, revealing that even popular shows are not immune to this critique. Various shows over the years are recognized for their specific moments of departure from quality storytelling.
📹 What Does it Mean to “Jump the Shark”?
Explaining what happened to your favorite sitcom. Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/redcastin #Television #Scrubs …
So interesting how many are getting the whole thing backwards. Especially given how many time Henry Winkler has said “it worked we went on for 7 more seasons”. The phrase is used when a show does something really crazy to boost ratings or try and save the show regardless if it works or not. But in the case of Happy Days, it did work. And yes I watched this episode in 1977 when it aired as a thrilled 10 yr old. They were simpler times and we had low expectations. 😂
A lot of people think that episode happened during the last season of “Happy Days” because this stunt finished it off in the ratings. That’s not true. This episode happened during season 5. It ran for 11 seasons. Happy Days was the #2 rated show in the U.S. for the year 1977-1978. That episode aired on September 20th, 1977. So stop thinking that “Happy Days” ended right after this episode aired!
I remember when this was hyped in TV Guide back then…. and as a kid, I saw it and yeah, didn’t think much of it…. but this was also a time when people would have 3D movies on TV and we’d go to the 7-11 to get the “free glasses” or Burger King, McDonalds, etc. Yeah, we didn’t have cable… what are you going to do? Probably due to Jaws from 1975 being well known and such…. If this happened in 1978, somehow I bet they’d have Fonzi in space.
I watched this show back in 1977. I can’t remember (or even if it was explained then) of why the shark is in that “enclosure” area next to a populated beach in the first place. (The large aquariums were already invented back in the late 50s) — I guessed it must be similar to the Free Willy whale enclosure. (Which in true life, was a whale kept in captivity somewhere in the north seas) (far away from beaches & human population) — Even so, (forget about the water skiing jump story plot) how could this plot concept a shark held in captivity so close to a beach, be taken seriously?) why wouldn’t a shark just eventually jump out of that enclosure? (no pun intended) (There’s no obstruction/barrier/fence on the water level surface to keep this fictional shark contained)
So…I just watched a clip from an interview that Henry Winkler did explaining how this scene came to be. His father harassed him into telling Gary Marshall that he could water ski. They cut the lining out of the jacket and let him do all the skiing except for the jump itself, so stunt person. He said that, at the end where he skis up onto the beach, walks out of the skis, and does his trademark “Aaaayyyee”, he said half of that is the Fonz being cool and the other half is Henry going “It actually worked, I did it!”. 😃 When asked if it bothers him what the scene & phrase have come to mean, he said that since they usually show him skiing, he still had good legs back then and that the show continued on as number 1 for a couple more years so, no, he’s not at all bothered by it. 👍🏻👍🏻
I’m wondering, as hot as those girls were in their bikinis (actresses or extras) in the 1950s, weren’t virtually all women still wearing one piece bathing suits? I thought two-piece bikinis did not even make their appearance until maybe the mid-60s? I think Happy Days takes place in the 1950s, doesn’t it?
saw this as a kid, it never crossed my mind how pathetically insecure Fonzi would have to be to wear a leather jacket while water skiing. Of course the whole show was based on a grown man hanging out with high school kids, mostly in a bathroom. I thought he was the coolest when I was a child but now it is clear that Fonzi was a weirdo with deep mental problems.
I’ve never seen the show but I was curious why this moment was so infamous. Having watched it, I’m disappointed and a bit curious. It’s not a great scene, but it has good stunt work and it looks ok. What’s wrong with this scene? Does it go against stuff established in the show? What is the big deal with this scene. I can’t figure it out. Someone help me please?
Its funny how this scene led to a culturally significant phrase, “Jumped the Shark,” that means something has reached its nadir and its all downhill from here. Too damn funny! Anyone else notice that Richie, aka Ron Howard, is already showing in this scene the receding hairline that would quickly rob him of all the follicles on top of his pate? 😄 Being a smart guy, he realized in short order that his fortunes were to be found behind the lens rather than in front of it, thanks to that rapidly disappearing hair.