Jumping the Shark - "Jumping the shark" is a phrase that is rapidly entering the pop culture lexicon. It refers to the moment or event on a television show that marks its decline. The term itself comes from an episode of Happy Days where Fonzie literally jumps over a shark while waterskiing, a milestone many fans think marks the beginning of the end. There are common themes that pop up again and again as the turning point that kills shows, like the death or birth of a character, a change in actors, or the addition of Ted McGinley to the cast.

To give recent examples of jumping the shark, we can turn to two shows that recently ended their runs, Ally McBealand The X-Files. It is generally agreed, even by fans of the shows, that both series were past their prime and should have been cancelled a few seasons back. Up for debate, the long-suffering ER. (By the way, I'd argue that the death of Kellie Martin's character marked the beginning of the end.)

I do remember Not Necessarily the News, but not necessarily fondly. I think that's a reactionary stance to my distaste for the sniglet craze that swept the nation back in the day.