Jump the Shark

What does it mean when something “jumps the shark”? According to the creator of this Web site: “It’s a moment. A defining moment when you know that your favorite television program has reached its peak. That instant that you know from now on … it’s all downhill.” Although the concept can be applied outside the context of TV—as in, “the Bush administration may have jumped the shark when Bush spoke on Wall Street a few weeks back”—this site restricts its scope to the tube, listing hundreds of shows, then inviting readers to vote on precisely when and how they peaked. From simple cast switches (Dick Sargent replacing Dick York on Bewitched) to bad guest-star appearances (Nancy Reagan on Diff’rent Strokes) to shows that either never jumped (The Simpsons) or did so from jump street (American Idol), Jump the Shark has catalogued enough TV minutiae to suck in even the most adamant boob-tube hater.