# The phrase 'jumped the shark' has jumped the shark! Ahaha! Ahaha! **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [February 13, 2003, 2:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-phrase-jumped-the-shark-has-jumped-the-shark-ahaha-ahaha/154832 "2003-02-13T14:53:08Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Kantalooppi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/a5b964/32.png) [@Kantalooppi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kantalooppi)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2003, 2:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-phrase-jumped-the-shark-has-jumped-the-shark-ahaha-ahaha/154832/1 "2003-02-13T14:53:08Z")
Saying that ‘jumped the shark’ has jumped the shark has **not** jumped the shark, since saying it was never innovative or funny in the first place. Besides, considering people have been saying that ‘jumped the shark’ has jumped the shark about, oh, since the website first went up, that’s just… stupid. Seriously, I have never seen why some people seem to have such a negative reaction to the phrase ‘jumped the shark’. I kinda like it. Perhaps it’s the word ‘shark’, which is always a nice word. Sharksharksharksharkshark. If people want to complain about overused phrases, complain about “When come back bring pie”. I hold that Weebl & Bob have contributed their small part in ruining of the Internet. ---
**Author:** ![tagos](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bbe5ce/32.png) [@tagos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tagos)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2003, 3:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-phrase-jumped-the-shark-has-jumped-the-shark-ahaha-ahaha/154832/2 "2003-02-13T15:08:32Z")
Perhaps some people think other, presumably intelligent people, should be able to use the richness of the English language to communicate in other than hackneyed old phrases and snatches of dialogue from cartoons, particularly if they want to be taken seriously. ---
**Author:** ![Ashkicker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/4bbf92/32.png) [@Ashkicker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ashkicker)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2003, 3:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-phrase-jumped-the-shark-has-jumped-the-shark-ahaha-ahaha/154832/3 "2003-02-13T15:18:42Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Kantalooppi \* > \*\*Seriously, I have never seen why some people seem to have such a negative reaction to the phrase ‘jumped the shark’. I kinda like it. Perhaps it’s the word ‘shark’, which is always a nice word. Sharksharksharksharkshark. > \*\* I used to work for a restaurant that had “sharking”. Servers always cringed at hearing the words “You’ve been sharked”. It meant this-If you can’t arrive to work on time then you have just lost your section to another server. Someone (usually a server in a shitty section) invariably would be circling the front door like a shark does his prey while you strolled in 5 minutes late. I never got sharked though, because I believe in being on time. It was good to be the sharker but not the sharkee. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![SmackFu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/53a042/32.png) [@SmackFu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SmackFu)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2003, 3:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-phrase-jumped-the-shark-has-jumped-the-shark-ahaha-ahaha/154832/4 "2003-02-13T15:38:54Z")
I’m with you **Kantalooppi**. Sure it’s not a new and exciting phrase anymore, but it still expresses the concept succinctly and clearly (when used properly). It’s not like it’s a catchphrase that will die out over time. ---
**Author:** ![Legomancer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/779978/32.png) [@Legomancer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Legomancer)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2003, 3:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-phrase-jumped-the-shark-has-jumped-the-shark-ahaha-ahaha/154832/5 "2003-02-13T15:58:05Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Ashkicker \* > \*\*I used to work for a restaurant that had “sharking”. Servers always cringed at hearing the words “You’ve been sharked”. \*\* “Snaking” was the lingo when I drove for Domino’s. “Are you snaking my run?” Snaking meant going out of turn, either to avoid a low-tipping delivery or to score a high-tipping one. (For tipping, also replace distance: some folks preferred short distance runs, some preferred long ones.) Back to the OP, however, the thing that gets me the most about JTS is when it ceases to be an actual analysis of the progression of a show and just becomes a wank-fest to see who can declare it first. And criminy, not everything can JTS - something has to have started well to take a turn. I like criticism as much as the next guy, but the latest fad - snarkiness for its own sake (see also: Televison Without Pity) is just goofy. If the show bugs you that much, turn it off. No one’s forcing you to watch Will and Grace, Friends, or Buffy. (Yeah, I know, I just pegged everyone’s Hypocracimeters.) ---
**Author:** ![NinetyWt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/cc9497/32.png) [@NinetyWt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NinetyWt)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2003, 4:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-phrase-jumped-the-shark-has-jumped-the-shark-ahaha-ahaha/154832/6 "2003-02-13T16:27:36Z")
Um… what does it mean? I’ve never heard the expression …😕 (I know, I probably just busted my ignorance… ) ---
**Author:** ![SCSimmons](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e495f1/32.png) [@SCSimmons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SCSimmons)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2003, 4:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-phrase-jumped-the-shark-has-jumped-the-shark-ahaha-ahaha/154832/7 "2003-02-13T16:42:06Z")
[http://www.jumptheshark.com/](http://www.jumptheshark.com/) The phrase refers to the _Happy Days_ episode where the Fonz performed a motorcycle stunt of that name; it is often marked as the point where a formerly good (ISPO) TV show started to go south. ---
**Author:** ![Mojo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/85f322/32.png) [@Mojo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mojo)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2003, 4:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-phrase-jumped-the-shark-has-jumped-the-shark-ahaha-ahaha/154832/8 "2003-02-13T16:44:27Z")
“Jumping the shark” has starred the McGinley. ---
**Author:** ![World\_Eater](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/f04885/32.png) [@World\_Eater](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/World_Eater)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2003, 4:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-phrase-jumped-the-shark-has-jumped-the-shark-ahaha-ahaha/154832/9 "2003-02-13T16:48:37Z")
Yes bring back pie is tired and cliche. These phrases never seem to die a dignified death. ---
**Author:** ![Drastic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Drastic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Drastic)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2003, 5:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-phrase-jumped-the-shark-has-jumped-the-shark-ahaha-ahaha/154832/10 "2003-02-13T17:07:05Z")
When Opal is high, my shark’s jump brings pie. ---
**Author:** ![Futile\_Gesture](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/f05b48/32.png) [@Futile\_Gesture](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Futile_Gesture)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2003, 5:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-phrase-jumped-the-shark-has-jumped-the-shark-ahaha-ahaha/154832/11 "2003-02-13T17:14:36Z")
This thread jumped the shark before the end of the subject line. Right after the first “Ahaha!” ---
**Author:** ![Tars\_Tarkas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Tars\_Tarkas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tars_Tarkas)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2003, 6:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-phrase-jumped-the-shark-has-jumped-the-shark-ahaha-ahaha/154832/12 "2003-02-13T18:49:03Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Kantalooppi \* > \*\*Seriously, I have never seen why some people seem to have such a negative reaction to the phrase ‘jumped the shark’. I kinda like it. Perhaps it’s the word ‘shark’, which is always a nice word. Sharksharksharksharkshark. > \*\* I have a problem with it because every week, some wanna be Comic Book Guy, living in their parents’ basement, unbathed, with their right arm and shirt permanently stained orange from Cheetos, has to start a thread about how so and so show has Jumped the Shark, since they have no other outlet for their rage about how pathetic their life is. This happens every week with the Simpsons, as well as many other fine shows. It is annoying at best, and the opening of the Seventh Seal at worse. ---
**Author:** ![wring](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/838e76/32.png) [@wring](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wring)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2003, 6:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-phrase-jumped-the-shark-has-jumped-the-shark-ahaha-ahaha/154832/13 "2003-02-13T18:54:17Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by SCSimmons \* > \*\*[http://www.jumptheshark.com/](http://www.jumptheshark.com/) > > The phrase refers to the _Happy Days_ episode where the Fonz performed a motorcycle stunt of that name; it is often marked as the point where a formerly good (ISPO) TV show started to go south. \*\* motorcycle stunt? nope. Fonzie, on waterskis jumped over a shark. it was a literal ‘jumping the shark’. (If memory serves, it was even a two parter…) ---
**Author:** ![erislover](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/71e660/32.png) [@erislover](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/erislover)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2003, 7:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-phrase-jumped-the-shark-has-jumped-the-shark-ahaha-ahaha/154832/14 "2003-02-13T19:52:12Z")
This one will die, just like all the others. All your shark jumping are bel… {{ ow! }} What? ---
**Author:** ![blowero](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/41988e/32.png) [@blowero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blowero)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2003, 8:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-phrase-jumped-the-shark-has-jumped-the-shark-ahaha-ahaha/154832/15 "2003-02-13T20:03:04Z")
I agree with the OP. “Jumped the shark” differs from “All Your Base” and the like in that it succinctly expresses an idea. People aren’t using the expression just to say “Gee, I’m so clever because I know an inside joke”. ---
**Author:** ![wring](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/838e76/32.png) [@wring](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wring)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2003, 8:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-phrase-jumped-the-shark-has-jumped-the-shark-ahaha-ahaha/154832/16 "2003-02-13T20:08:40Z")
“jumped the shark” “passed it’s prime” not sure one is more succinct than the other. ---
**Author:** ![blowero](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/41988e/32.png) [@blowero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blowero)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2003, 8:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-phrase-jumped-the-shark-has-jumped-the-shark-ahaha-ahaha/154832/17 "2003-02-13T20:42:40Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by wring \* > \*\*“jumped the shark” > > “passed it’s prime” > > not sure one is more succinct than the other. \*\* I believe I said it was succinct, not **more** succinct. ---
**Author:** ![kingpengvin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9dc877/32.png) [@kingpengvin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kingpengvin)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2003, 9:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-phrase-jumped-the-shark-has-jumped-the-shark-ahaha-ahaha/154832/18 "2003-02-13T21:07:15Z")
All that and a can of tomato juice… That’s Artie Fie in the sky, brother I was doing well until I was blue balled by the government. The Iraqi Airforce should have been meatballed years ago I haven’t got a pot to fission and so on… I like the English Language you can use it any way you want… I also like pi. And “Jump the Shark” was clever when used by its creator. Wasting bandwidth… [staggers off confused by what the hell he was trying to really say here] ---
**Author:** ![wring](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/838e76/32.png) [@wring](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wring)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2003, 9:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-phrase-jumped-the-shark-has-jumped-the-shark-ahaha-ahaha/154832/19 "2003-02-13T21:14:31Z")
**blowero** - my point was that there already had been a succinct way to say exactly the same thing. “jumped the shark” includes a visual/real life example. ---
**Author:** ![Francesca](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/9fc348/32.png) [@Francesca](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Francesca)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2003, 9:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-phrase-jumped-the-shark-has-jumped-the-shark-ahaha-ahaha/154832/20 "2003-02-13T21:25:24Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by wring \* > \*\*“jumped the shark” > > “passed it’s prime” > > not sure one is more succinct than the other. \*\* “Past its prime”, surely? [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-phrase-jumped-the-shark-has-jumped-the-shark-ahaha-ahaha/154832.md?page=2)