Jumping the shark in other media

[yendi]

For those of you who don't know, "Jumping the Shark" is a phrase applied to tv shows that start out as worthwhile, but eventually head downhill. The phrase itself refers to the defining moment, when the show is clearly hurtling downward and can't be stopped. It refers to the episode of Happy Days when Fonzie jumped (while water skiing) over sharks (while wearing his leather jacket, even). Frankly, the show had started to suck long before that, but this was the defining moment for many people.

The thing is, more things than TV shows jump the shark. So I want to know what phrases you'd apply to items from other genres. I thought about doing this as a poll, but there are too many possibilities, so I'm leaving it open, with a few suggestions. Remember, it doesn't have to be a great series that gets lousy -- Happy Days was fun, but after the first season, was pretty much forgettable, even before it started sucking. Also remember that the Shark Jump usually happens after the series has already sucked for a while. It's just proof that it's never going to get any better (although there are exceptions).

Books:

"Fucked the Micah" (Laurell K Hamilton's now Übersucktastic Anita Blake novels)

"Motherfucking Dolphins?" (Anne McCafferey's Pern books)

"Published the Silmarillion" (Tolkein's Middle Earth books)

"Resurrected Tesla" (Spider Robinson's no-longer-readable hyper-self-indulgent Callahan series)

"Crewly Lyed" (Piers Anthony's Xanth books, which were actually decent fluff for the first few novels)

Movies:

"Jar-Jared" and "Hired Timothy Dalton"are the only ones that come immediately to mind (ignoring horror franchises, which all tend to head in the same direction). Although I suppose you could argue for "Went 3-D".

Music:

"Went Solo" (applies to so many artists, it's not even funny)

Fired Roth/Fired Hagar (depending on where you stand on Van Halen)

"Released New Year's Day"(Stevie Wonder)

"Gave us Boys for Pele" (Tori Amos, who got better, but never as good as she was before that travesty)

"Got haircuts" (Metallica)

"Changed his name to a symbol." (Prince)


Other suggestions?

EDIT: As I was writing this, Voltbang suggested that the phrase "Jump the Shark" had gotten old as well. Is there a better option for TV shows? "Gave Spike a Soul?" "Seven of Nined?" "Gave Alex an over cute Fucking Baby Brother?"

Comments

[terminalwriter.livejournal.com]

Seven of Nined

Nope. With the last two Trek series, the correct phrase is, "The first episode aired."

[yendi]

True. Although I look at Seven of Nine as the moment when the franchise itself lost all hope (not counting any books written by Peter David or Tony Isabella).

[terminalwriter.livejournal.com]

Although I look at Seven of Nine as the moment when the franchise itself lost all hope

I dunno. I haven't given up all hope for the franchise yet, unless I find out Berman and Braga are immortal. Then I will finally mourn the death of Trek.

[yendi]

Hell, I just doubt that Berman will give up control until the series has been so trashed, no one would touch it.

[terminalwriter.livejournal.com]

I dunno. I think there are enough fans out there with the imagination of what Trek should be, that even after Berman finishes his scorched earth techniques, that the right person will be able to have a phoenix rise from the ashes.

[yendi]

True. I just have this fear that he'll maintain his evil control for twenty years or somesuch, until the company is broke and half the fans are dead.

[stevenglassman.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I think the introduction of Barbie of Borg was the defining moment of Suck from which Trek will never recover.

[alphafenris.livejournal.com]

Really? I gave up well before that. My limit was when they threw away the whole premise for DS9 and gave them a starship. When I first heard of Voyager I thought, "Oh great, 'Gilligan's Island' . . . in space."

[stormy-brow.livejournal.com]

De-Tasha Yarred, as well. IMHO.