The phrase jump the shark refers to the very moment when something that was once good turns completely ridiculous. It originated with Happy Days, specifically in the Season 5 episode in which the Fonz literally jumps over a shark while wearing water skis and his trademark leather jacket. It’s difficult to appreciate just how absurd this scene actually is until you watch it. It’s like an outtake from a bad ’60s surf movie. The show lasted more than half a decade more, in which time Richie (Ron Howard) departed and Scott Baio joined the show as Chachi, Fonzie’s younger cousin. While Chachi and his gal Joanie kept the show afloat for several of those years (and eventually starred in their own spin-off), it was clear that the early, warmly nostalgic seasons were truly a thing of the past.
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