Jumping the shark.
 

Fonzie Jumps the Shark on Happy Days (Episode 5.3) 1977 - YouTube


I had not seen this before. Were they trying to capitalize on the Jaws frenzy?

They probably were, but clearly, their ideas tank was running on empty.

From the Urban Dictionary: Jump The Shark - a term to describe a moment when somethin that was once great has reached a point where it will now decline in quality and popularity.

Origin of this phrase comes from a Happy Days episode where the Fonz jumped a shark on waterskis. Thus was labeled the lowest point of the show.

This has led to "The 10 Biggest Jump-The-Shark Moments in TV History" and the like. "Jump The Shark" is that identifiable moment that it starts to go downhill.

Jumping the Shark usually occurs with long running shows when the married couple decide to have a baby or the two stars decide to get married.

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