# Is there a term for the opposite of "jumping the shark?" **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [July 21, 2016, 5:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-term-for-the-opposite-of-jumping-the-shark/760508 "2016-07-21T17:40:32Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Neo-Calredic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/96bed5/32.png) [@Neo-Calredic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Neo-Calredic)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2016, 5:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-term-for-the-opposite-of-jumping-the-shark/760508/1 "2016-07-21T17:40:32Z")
So, everyone is likely familiar with the term “jumping the shark,” the point at which a story or series is commonly agreed-upon to go from good to bad. Is there a term for the _opposite_ point in a series – the point at which one goes from merely watching it to being actively “into” it? I was trying to think of a good term for this earlier this morning, but “beheads the Ned” is the best I can come up with at the moment. 😛 Can you think of any series that famously “get good” at a specific, commonly agreed-upon point? ---
**Author:** ![Ambrosio\_Spinola](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9de0a6/32.png) [@Ambrosio\_Spinola](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ambrosio_Spinola)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2016, 5:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-term-for-the-opposite-of-jumping-the-shark/760508/2 "2016-07-21T17:42:38Z")
At TV Tropes it’s referred to as [Growing the Beard](http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/GrowingTheBeard) (a Star Trek: The Next Generation Reference), but I don’t think that expression is commonly used. ---
**Author:** ![MaxTheVool](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9fc29f/32.png) [@MaxTheVool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MaxTheVool)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2016, 5:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-term-for-the-opposite-of-jumping-the-shark/760508/3 "2016-07-21T17:52:14Z")
> [@Neo-Calredic](#): > > Can you think of any series that famously “get good” at a specific, commonly agreed-upon point? There are a fair number of well thought of series whose first seasons weren’t great, but which really took off in season 2: -Star Trek: TNG -Parks and Rec -The Office (US) -Buffy the Vampire Slayer ---
**Author:** ![Dale\_Sams](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/779978/32.png) [@Dale\_Sams](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dale_Sams)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2016, 6:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-term-for-the-opposite-of-jumping-the-shark/760508/4 "2016-07-21T18:05:42Z")
> [@Ambrosio\_Spinola](#): > > At TV Tropes it’s referred to as [Growing the Beard](http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/GrowingTheBeard) (a Star Trek: The Next Generation Reference), but I don’t think that expression is commonly used. The third season unis really help too. As ab extension, Wes…to me…is a much more seriously taken character when he gets his uniform. Pity he left when he did. The brash young ensign contrasted with Picard in his final regular ep is nice. ---
**Author:** ![buddha\_david](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ee7513/32.png) [@buddha\_david](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/buddha_david)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2016, 6:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-term-for-the-opposite-of-jumping-the-shark/760508/5 "2016-07-21T18:07:03Z")
_The Simpsons_ didn’t really hit its stride until the 3rd & 4th seasons. ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2016, 6:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-term-for-the-opposite-of-jumping-the-shark/760508/6 "2016-07-21T18:10:50Z")
The Big Bang Theory really came alive in the second season. As TV Guide’s Matt Roush put it “There’s comedic gold on The Big Bang Theory, and that gold is Jim Parson’s portrayal of Dr. Sheldon Cooper.” ---
**Author:** ![Go\_Arachnid\_Laser\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b2d939/32.png) [@Go\_Arachnid\_Laser\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Go_Arachnid_Laser_1)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2016, 6:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-term-for-the-opposite-of-jumping-the-shark/760508/7 "2016-07-21T18:21:55Z")
Now, sadly I’ve never watched Happy Days, but I think it would be nice and symmetrical, particularly in honor of Garry Marshall’s passing, to find the moment when Happy Days hit its stride and use that. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2016, 6:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-term-for-the-opposite-of-jumping-the-shark/760508/8 "2016-07-21T18:29:35Z")
> [@Annie-Xmas](#): > > The Big Bang Theory really came alive in the second season. As TV Guide’s Matt Roush put it “There’s comedic gold on The Big Bang Theory, and that gold is Jim Parson’s portrayal of Dr. Sheldon Cooper.” Just using this as an example, not disagreeing with you on any solid basis: That may be a case where it took the public time to find out about the show, as with some of the other shows mentioned. I can’t say that for sure, I don’t recall that much about the first two seasons. I think BBT really took off when Amy joined the crew in order to round the relationship quest that the other main characters were on. Anyway, that’s just my observation of BBT, but I think there’s something more to whatever the opposite of ‘jumping the shark’ is than increased ratings in a show as the word spreads. There can be a point where shows get much better in some way, writing, new characters, etc. ---
**Author:** ![dracoi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/90db22/32.png) [@dracoi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dracoi)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2016, 6:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-term-for-the-opposite-of-jumping-the-shark/760508/9 "2016-07-21T18:50:33Z")
The only expressions I can think of would apply to any situation in which you finally get something figured out. “Finding its groove” or “Hitting its stride” would be the two expressions that seem most appropriate here. “Getting its second wind” might also be appropriate for some shows that have a few weak seasons in the middle and end strong. ---
**Author:** ![BobArrgh](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bobarrgh/32/2881_2.png) [@BobArrgh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobArrgh)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2016, 6:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-term-for-the-opposite-of-jumping-the-shark/760508/10 "2016-07-21T18:59:08Z")
I saw an article in the past day or two that discussed something similar to this. I can’t find the exact article, but I found another article that looks like it might have been a precursor article: [http://www.theverge.com/2015/9/23/9381509/netflix-hooked-tv-episode-analysis](http://www.theverge.com/2015/9/23/9381509/netflix-hooked-tv-episode-analysis). Apparently, Netflix knows which episodes attracts 70% of a show’s viewers. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2016, 7:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-term-for-the-opposite-of-jumping-the-shark/760508/11 "2016-07-21T19:03:55Z")
I don’t know if everyone considers shark jumping to be more than simply going to far, there’s an element of hubris based on success there. The complete opposite would be a show that improved knowing that they needed do so. More like ‘stepping up’ than just ‘hitting it’s stride’. ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2016, 7:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-term-for-the-opposite-of-jumping-the-shark/760508/12 "2016-07-21T19:39:01Z")
I’ve heard “growing the beard” myself before. The scripts in the first season of ST:TNG were mostly considered pretty awful. They improved significantly in the second season. Coincidentally, Jonathan Frakes, who played Commander Riker, had grown a beard that season, where he had been clean shaven in the first season. It’s a kind of shorthand, just like Fonzie’s shark jump on _Happy Days_ is shorthand for a series going over the top to bring in higher ratings. ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2016, 7:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-term-for-the-opposite-of-jumping-the-shark/760508/13 "2016-07-21T19:42:54Z")
> [@Ambrosio\_Spinola](#): > > At TV Tropes it’s referred to as [Growing the Beard](http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/GrowingTheBeard) (a Star Trek: The Next Generation Reference), but I don’t think that expression is commonly used. > [@cochrane](#): > > I’ve heard “growing the beard” myself before. “Growing the beard” is what I immediately thought of upon seeing the thread title. ---
**Author:** ![WOOKINPANUB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wookinpanub/32/132_2.png) [@WOOKINPANUB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WOOKINPANUB)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2016, 7:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-term-for-the-opposite-of-jumping-the-shark/760508/14 "2016-07-21T19:45:22Z")
> [@Annie-Xmas](#): > > The Big Bang Theory really came alive in the second season. As TV Guide’s Matt Roush put it “There’s comedic gold on The Big Bang Theory, and that gold is Jim Parson’s portrayal of Dr. Sheldon Cooper.” Maybe we can say "that show really sang the Soft Kitty?😃 ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2016, 7:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-term-for-the-opposite-of-jumping-the-shark/760508/15 "2016-07-21T19:48:08Z")
I was going to say the banal “hitting its stride”. The example that first came to mind was _Parks & Recreation_ when the main character went from somewhat ditzy to somewhat hypercompetent. ---
**Author:** ![Go\_Arachnid\_Laser\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b2d939/32.png) [@Go\_Arachnid\_Laser\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Go_Arachnid_Laser_1)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2016, 7:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-term-for-the-opposite-of-jumping-the-shark/760508/16 "2016-07-21T19:50:00Z")
Reading about Happy Days on wikipedia, turns out that the Shark Jumping episode was made in reference to a two parter episode of season three, Fearles Fonzarelli. In that episode, the Fonz tried to jump over fourteen garbage cans with his bike. The interesting part is that he doesn’t completely succeed. He crashes on a chicken stand and breaks his leg. Interesting piece of realism for a sitcom. So the perfect equivalent would be “Jumping the trash cans” or maybe “Crashing the coop”. ---
**Author:** ![Hampshire](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hampshire/32/4887_2.png) [@Hampshire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hampshire)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2016, 7:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-term-for-the-opposite-of-jumping-the-shark/760508/17 "2016-07-21T19:58:49Z")
> [@Go\_Arachnid\_Laser](#): > > Now, sadly I’ve never watched Happy Days, but I think it would be nice and symmetrical, particularly in honor of Garry Marshall’s passing, to find the moment when Happy Days hit its stride and use that. How about “Made the Chuck disappear” in reference to the [ChuckCunninghamSyndrome](http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/ChuckCunninghamSyndrome) ---
**Author:** ![Philster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/13edae/32.png) [@Philster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Philster)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2016, 8:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-term-for-the-opposite-of-jumping-the-shark/760508/18 "2016-07-21T20:32:23Z")
Well, to put in into Happy Days speak, it would be when Fonzie started wearing the leather jacket (ditching the windbreaker). Wow, in season 2 of Seinfeld, when Kramer and Elaine both had key roles in the same show, Seinfeld really put on the leather jacket. I think The Office (USA) put on the leather jacket in the middle of season 1. . ---
**Author:** ![AncientHumanoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ancienthumanoid/32/278_2.png) [@AncientHumanoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AncientHumanoid)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2016, 8:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-term-for-the-opposite-of-jumping-the-shark/760508/19 "2016-07-21T20:39:49Z")
> [@Thudlow\_Boink](#): > > “Growing the beard” is what I immediately thought of upon seeing the thread title. Same. I hear and see it often enough. ---
**Author:** ![E-DUB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/e-dub/32/403_2.png) [@E-DUB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/E-DUB)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2016, 9:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-term-for-the-opposite-of-jumping-the-shark/760508/20 "2016-07-21T21:00:28Z")
“Hitting its’ stride” to me means a good series that got _better_. The beard thing would apply to a show that had a rocky start and then found it’s legs (whoops, there’s another one). [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-term-for-the-opposite-of-jumping-the-shark/760508.md?page=2)