How exactly did this particular moment signify the "beginning of the end" (from a quality standpoint) of Happy Days!? Was it because mostly, from that moment on, it became less about a show that chronicled life in the 1950s?

i watched the original airing and it has never seemed to me like it was a turning point in the show or even that it was a particularly bad or below-standard episode or anything

- however, what i hear from most people and am willing to admit was that it required a certain amount of suspension of belief and was kinda far-fetched that the Fonz somehow was instantly able to water-ski and the whole scenario about the shark even being there near the jump was a little ridiculous - although if you already bought into the whole thing with the Fonz turning on the jukebox, lights and even Al with just a fist bump then I don't see the problem.

Sitcoms heave 2 great years and 2 so so years. Beyond that, they have run out of ideas.

Because 'Jump the Shark' sounds like a better name for a website than 'Richie Leaves'.