5 Most Infamous 'Jump The Shark' Sitcom Moments In TV History
TVLine • • entertainment
Key Points:
- The phrase "jumped the shark" refers to a TV show making a story choice so poor that it signals the end of its golden age, originating from a 1977 "Happy Days" episode where Fonzie jumps over a shark on water skis.
- "The Brady Bunch" introduced the previously unmentioned 8-year-old cousin Oliver in its final season, a move widely seen as forced and marking the show's decline, with cast members acknowledging it as the "shark jump" moment.
- "Laverne & Shirley" shifted from Milwaukee to Burbank in Season 6, leading to a sillier tone and major cast departures, which fans consider the true turning point toward the show's downfall.
- "I Dream of Jeannie" lost its charm when NBC executives forced the main characters to marry in Season 5, a change despised by both the lead actress and the show's creator, ultimately leading to cancellation.
- "Family Matters" became increasingly wacky after Steve Urkel's character took over, especially with the introduction of a transformation chamber in Season 5, a shift that alienated fans and became a notorious example of a show losing its original premise.
