The phrase originated in describing the show Happy Days. In one episode, the Fonz (heeeeeey!) jumps over a shark on his motorcycle. From that point, so many people considered the show to just stagger downhill in quality that the action became a euphemism for when something peaks and starts heading downhill. In fact, a number of basic elements have been found that contribute to shark-jumping: Birth/Death, Change of Actor (Bewitched!), On Location At…, New Charater (Scrappy-Doo), Next On a Very Special… (Blossom!), The Movie (TMNT), etc.
Wow, so it's much older than I thought. Makes sense in that context. I wonder why I've only recently started seeing it used, and only in forums and such. Maybe there's a Happy Days resurgence, or a lot of geeks have joined the Church of the Fonz. Or I just haven't been paying attention. Thanks for the enlightenment.
Now if I only knew how "shooting the shit" came about.
Persons 1 and 2: Person 3: What are you two doing? Person 1: We're bored, so we're shooting at the cow pies. Person 3: Hey, can I play?
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Date: 2007-05-11 11:33 am (UTC)The phrase originated in describing the show Happy Days. In one episode, the Fonz (heeeeeey!) jumps over a shark on his motorcycle. From that point, so many people considered the show to just stagger downhill in quality that the action became a euphemism for when something peaks and starts heading downhill. In fact, a number of basic elements have been found that contribute to shark-jumping: Birth/Death, Change of Actor (Bewitched!), On Location At…, New Charater (Scrappy-Doo), Next On a Very Special… (Blossom!), The Movie (TMNT), etc.
no subject
Date: 2007-05-11 03:52 pm (UTC)Now if I only knew how "shooting the shit" came about.
Persons 1 and 2:
Person 3: What are you two doing?
Person 1: We're bored, so we're shooting at the cow pies.
Person 3: Hey, can I play?
no subject
Date: 2007-05-11 10:57 pm (UTC)"Television show focuses less on original characters and more on one particular character or his gimmick."
"Show becomes progressively less believable and more fantastic."