# The Simpsons have finally jumped the shark! **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [March 31, 2003, 12:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-simpsons-have-finally-jumped-the-shark/165332 "2003-03-31T00:58:03Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![pizzabrat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/e9c0ed/32.png) [@pizzabrat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pizzabrat)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2003, 12:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-simpsons-have-finally-jumped-the-shark/165332/1 "2003-03-31T00:58:03Z")
Just a moment… ---
**Author:** ![pizzabrat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/e9c0ed/32.png) [@pizzabrat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pizzabrat)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2003, 12:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-simpsons-have-finally-jumped-the-shark/165332/2 "2003-03-31T00:59:45Z")
Yes! I said it first. Unless this episode is a rerrun, or this couch gag has been used already. Anyway, the couch gag on this ep showed the family recreating the Fonzie stunt. ---
**Author:** ![Max\_Carnage](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/max_carnage/32/12775_2.png) [@Max\_Carnage](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Max_Carnage)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2003, 1:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-simpsons-have-finally-jumped-the-shark/165332/3 "2003-03-31T01:08:11Z")
repeated couch gag…sorry dude. I’d tell you to do a search on “Simpsons” “jumped” and “shark” but I’m afraid you’d overload the server with responses. ---
**Author:** ![Speaker\_for\_the\_Dead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c77e96/32.png) [@Speaker\_for\_the\_Dead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Speaker_for_the_Dead)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2003, 1:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-simpsons-have-finally-jumped-the-shark/165332/4 "2003-03-31T01:18:41Z")
And the repeated couch gag is hardly evidence. By that theory, they’d have jumped the shark on their second episode, if my knowledge of couch-gags serves me right. ---
**Author:** ![pizzabrat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/e9c0ed/32.png) [@pizzabrat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pizzabrat)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2003, 1:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-simpsons-have-finally-jumped-the-shark/165332/5 "2003-03-31T01:20:32Z")
> [@](#): > > repeated couch gag…sorry dude. I’d tell you to do a search on “Simpsons” “jumped” and “shark” but I’m afraid you’d overload the server with responses. Aw, blatherschiet. ---
**Author:** ![Darwins\_Finch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darwins_finch/32/20304_2.png) [@Darwins\_Finch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darwins_Finch)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2003, 1:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-simpsons-have-finally-jumped-the-shark/165332/6 "2003-03-31T01:24:24Z")
I believe [this thread](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=143611), started by **Eutychus** , marks the first showing of this couch gag. ---
**Author:** ![Tuckerfan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/eada6e/32.png) [@Tuckerfan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tuckerfan)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2003, 3:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-simpsons-have-finally-jumped-the-shark/165332/7 "2003-03-31T03:09:14Z")
But ya gotta admit that tonight’s was a pretty good episode. “I wish God were alive to see this.” Too bad [www.skinnerinashredder.com](http://www.skinnerinashredder.com) doesn’t seem to work. ---
**Author:** ![mobo85](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b19c9b/32.png) [@mobo85](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mobo85)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2003, 3:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-simpsons-have-finally-jumped-the-shark/165332/8 "2003-03-31T03:39:16Z")
And don’t forget that before the couch gag, Homer jumped a shark in a song parody that was the only funny part of _Gump Roast_. ---
**Author:** ![Fiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e274bd/32.png) [@Fiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fiver)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2003, 4:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-simpsons-have-finally-jumped-the-shark/165332/9 "2003-03-31T04:03:55Z")
**Speaker for the Dead** , you’ve been whooshed, dude. ---
**Author:** ![Rhum\_Runner](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/2bfe46/32.png) [@Rhum\_Runner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhum_Runner)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2003, 4:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-simpsons-have-finally-jumped-the-shark/165332/10 "2003-03-31T04:30:28Z")
Doesn’t this thread appear every Sunday night? ---
**Author:** ![Elvis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/958977/32.png) [@Elvis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elvis)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2003, 4:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-simpsons-have-finally-jumped-the-shark/165332/11 "2003-03-31T04:41:06Z")
If I recall correctly, the _Behind the Laughter_ episode contained a still of Homer on a Fonzie-style motorcycle above a shark tank in the credits montage. At least I think that was the episode. ---
**Author:** ![Speaker\_for\_the\_Dead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c77e96/32.png) [@Speaker\_for\_the\_Dead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Speaker_for_the_Dead)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2003, 4:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-simpsons-have-finally-jumped-the-shark/165332/12 "2003-03-31T04:42:25Z")
Probably. ---
**Author:** ![Rex\_Fenestrarum](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rex_fenestrarum/32/7265_2.png) [@Rex\_Fenestrarum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rex_Fenestrarum)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2003, 7:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-simpsons-have-finally-jumped-the-shark/165332/13 "2003-03-31T07:04:35Z")
Question: did anyoneever email the address Homer mentioned in an episode from this year (or maybe last year)? [chunkylover53@aol.com](mailto:chunkylover53@aol.com) I think it was. In the episode, Homer was telling it to someone who was writing it down; he therefore mentioned it like 5 times. I’ve never gotten up the kahunas to email it, and just wondered if anyone else has. ---
**Author:** ![censored](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/35a633/32.png) [@censored](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/censored)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2003, 7:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-simpsons-have-finally-jumped-the-shark/165332/14 "2003-03-31T07:17:45Z")
That’s chunky…chunky…lover…lover…at AOL. at AOL. ---
**Author:** ![mobo85](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b19c9b/32.png) [@mobo85](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mobo85)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2003, 12:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-simpsons-have-finally-jumped-the-shark/165332/15 "2003-03-31T12:52:15Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Elvis \* > \*\*If I recall correctly, the _Behind the Laughter_ episode contained a still of Homer on a Fonzie-style motorcycle above a shark tank in the credits montage. At least I think that was the episode. \*\* No, that was _Gump Roast_. _Behind the Laughter_’s credits had running footage of Homer injuring himself to the tune of _Simpsons Christmas Boogie_. [chunkylover53@aol.com](mailto:chunkylover53@aol.com) is a real e-mail address belonging to writer Matt Selman, who tries to answer e-mails as Homer-like as possible. ---
**Author:** ![smiling\_bandit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e9a140/32.png) [@smiling\_bandit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/smiling_bandit)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2003, 1:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-simpsons-have-finally-jumped-the-shark/165332/16 "2003-03-31T13:00:17Z")
This episode seemed to capture some of the old magic. Not exactly laugh-out-loud uproariously, but hey… ---
**Author:** ![elf6c](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/c57346/32.png) [@elf6c](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elf6c)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2003, 1:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-simpsons-have-finally-jumped-the-shark/165332/17 "2003-03-31T13:32:54Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Tuckerfan \* > \*\*But ya gotta admit that tonight’s was a pretty good episode. “I wish God were alive to see this.” Too bad [www.skinnerinashredder.com](http://www.skinnerinashredder.com) doesn’t seem to work. \*\* He sent about 5 different web addresses including the shredder one (which I think had a few dashes in it when I saw it- although I could be wrong)- has anyone checked them all? BTW: another good episode. They have been on a good run lately. Another example of the rule: if they make fun of Fox = good episode. And a new Futurama (which didn’t suck as some of the later ones have). Now if they just cancelled that crap The Pitts, and brought back Andy Ricter life would be good. ---
**Author:** ![middleman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e9a140/32.png) [@middleman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/middleman)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2003, 4:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-simpsons-have-finally-jumped-the-shark/165332/18 "2003-03-31T16:05:35Z")
Solid episode. Sure it was a “Lisa” but the Bart undercurrent was as good as I have seen in a while. Quality Milhouse line, “Even I beat you up that day…after you passed out.” Classic “Ralph” Ultraman. Was that a mini-Kodos/Kang alien that zinged Frink? ---
**Author:** ![Judith\_Prietht](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/b19c9b/32.png) [@Judith\_Prietht](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Judith_Prietht)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2003, 4:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-simpsons-have-finally-jumped-the-shark/165332/19 "2003-03-31T16:30:14Z")
IIRC the alien seemed to have two eyes and four limbs, so I didn’t think it was mini-Kang or -Kodos. Not a bad episode, I thought, although I always have significantly less interest in Lisa-centered plotlines. But the more Fat Tony, the better. ---
**Author:** ![evilhomer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/43a26b/32.png) [@evilhomer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/evilhomer)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2003, 8:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-simpsons-have-finally-jumped-the-shark/165332/20 "2003-03-31T20:10:34Z")
I’m still chuckling at Milhouse trying to play baseball. The way he’s thrilled with **finally** hitting the ball, and then just about kills himself before he gets more than 2 steps away from the plate. And **watsonwil** , I too got a kick out of Ralph - “My sash says Ultraman!” [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-simpsons-have-finally-jumped-the-shark/165332.md?page=2)