Who coined the phrase "Jump the shark"?

Question

The expression is used for most sitcoms today when they've seen their day.

It's a reference to the last episode(s) of "Happy Days". When Phonsy was challenged to jump the shark at a beach.

The phrase indicates the desperation to keep a show aired.

Answer 1

It's because of Happy Days, the Fonz jumped a shark on his surfboard. You just knew from then on it was going to be worse.

They even made reference to it when he appeared on Arrested Development. He was walking down the pier and there was a dead shark, which he jumped over.

Answer 2

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jump_the_sh...

Answer 3

Well there you go you just answered your own question.

Answer 4

Are you asking about the specific person? You seem to be answering your own question

Answer 5

The first use of the phrase as a direct metaphor is reported to have been on December 24, 1997, when the jumptheshark.com Website was launched by Jon Hein. According to the site, the phrase was first coined by Hein's college roommate, Sean J. Connolly, in 1985. In print, the term first appeared in the May 29, 1998, Jerusalem Post newspaper article, "It's All Downhill," written by Jeff Abramowitz.