Jumping the Shark

In comparison to the other expressions in this list, "jumping the shark" is significantly more recent. All television shows also wish to avoid going through that. It refers to a turning point in the show that is followed by a glaring drop in quality. It is typically identified by some sort of absurd or out-of-character event that the audience interprets as a last-ditch effort to reinvigorate the series. Famous instances include the addition of Cousin Oliver to The Brady Bunch, Dallas' revelation that Bobby Ewing's death was only a dream, and The X-Files' attempt to replace Mulder with two new agents.

Naturally, there is also the initial moment—the one where the subject really jumped over a shark—to be considered. The Fonz water-skied off a ramp and dove the shark in a 1977 episode of Happy Days while donning his recognizable black leather jacket. The phrase was first used in 1985 by radio host Jon Hein, and with that, TV history was made—though perhaps not always for the better.