Thursday, January 19, 2006

JUMPING THE SHARK We all remember that immortal moment in "Happy Days" when the Fonz jumped the shark. As I'm sure you know, this moment has become immortalized in popular culture as a term for when a TV show began to go downhill. Some are legendary: the introduction of Oliver on "the Brady Bunch" or when Gloria and Meathead moved away on "All In the Family". Others are less clear and more debatable: when John Cleese left "Monty Python's Flying Circus" in season 4 or when James Evans Sr. was killed offscreen in an auto crash on "Good Times". For those of us with popcorn for brains, a really fun site copiously examines this phenomenon of the airwaves; fittingly the site is actually called "Jump the Shark" http://www.jumptheshark.com/page.htm The site features a shockingly extensive list of TV shows (from British soaps like "EastEnders" to little remembered gems like "The Mothers-In-Law"). Has "South Park" jumped the shark yet??? When exactly did "Star Trek" jump the shark; was it really the "Spock's Brain" episode or did it happen somewhere else. Boob tube boobs (like me) may find the site to contain some diverting fun. We all grew up in the glow of a cathode ray (even those who won't admit it) so give the site a look for a giggle or two. And while we're talking TV: I still adore Felicity Kendal. . . "she's sweetly pretty..." someone said somewhere.

1 comment:

  1. I love that site, though often I disagree with the verdicts of when said program actually jumped. All in all, though I great diversion.

    The Mothers-In-Law?!?! Eve Arden and Kaye Ballard

    The one thing from that show I recall (other than the basic premise) is that Eve's husband's name was, "Herb" ... I don't know why, but that sticks!

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