phrase

• (of a television series or film) reach a point when far-fetched events are included merely for the sake of novelty, indicative of a decline in quality.

  More example sentences

  • ‘the majority of television has jumped the shark; few shows maintain their creative ingenuity’
  • ‘It had its faults - some say it jumped the shark when Niles and Daphne got married - and, as with any long-running show, it could get tiresome sometimes.’
  • ‘Many fans consider this season the high water mark of the series; others say it's the year Buffy finally jumped the shark.’
  • ‘Thus, the 15 minutes of fame for someone who takes herself way too seriously is extended, and another classic ad campaign jumps the shark.’
  • ‘But you have to wonder, has Fahrenheit 9/11 jumped the shark before it has even gotten into theaters?’
  • ‘Yep, this eighth season is when Friends finally jumped the shark.’
  • ‘I never thought the Sopranos would jump the shark.’
  • ‘We spend our days immersed in cultural diversions that jump the shark before anyone can muster a shred of real interest.’
  • ‘One industry expert described this move as the Hollywood equivalent of jumping the shark.’
  • ‘I'd probably agree that by the end of the 5th season, Buffy hadn't jumped the shark, but there was definitely a fin visible in the water not too far away.’
  • ‘Some say that The Simpsons has jumped the shark.’

  Origin

  Said to be with allusion to the long-running US television series Happy Days, in which the central character (the Fonz) jumped over a shark when waterskiing.