Did 'Happy Days' Really "Jump The Shark" When Fonzi Jumped the Shark? - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Brian Damage · 04-24-2010, 11:13 PM

Or did it happen before that or maybe after that? Better yet, did it really ever?

Dr. Thong · 04-25-2010, 11:18 AM

IMO, Happy Days really jumped the shark when Ron Howard and Donny Most left.

But the shark jump was the beginning of a slow downhill slide. Some dud episodes in the wake of that were the musical Valentine's Day episode, the "Pumps your blood" musical number and the show where Fonzie and the devil battle over Chachi's soul.

Retro4Life · 04-25-2010, 01:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dr. Thong

IMO, Happy Days really jumped the shark when Ron Howard and Donny Most left.

But the shark jump was the beginning of a slow downhill slide. Some dud episodes in the wake of that were the musical Valentine's Day episode, the "Pumps your blood" musical number and the show where Fonzie and the devil battle over Chachi's soul.

I agree, the show never recovered from Howard and Most leaving. I didn't watch it much at all after that point.

steevo · 04-25-2010, 02:22 PM

^That's true. With Richie gone, Fonzie didn't have that opposite that he could play off of.

Dr. Thong · 04-26-2010, 03:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Retro4Life

I agree, the show never recovered from Howard and Most leaving. I didn't watch it much at all after that point.

I can still watch reruns from the early years and enjoy them.

If the reruns are from the later years, I can't watch. They have not aged well, especially the eighties hairstyles and fashion in what was supposed to be the sixties.

TV Knowledge Fan · 04-26-2010, 05:35 PM

...when "HAPPY DAYS" began, it was supposed to be a quiet, nostalgic look back at life in the '50s. When Fred Silverman became ABC's programming chief in 1975, he saw the potential of "The Fonz", insisting HE become the center of the show above virtually everyone else. And if Fred had ideas to "hypo" the series to make it more attractive in the ratings (and for teens), like the "Hollywood" episodes when Fonzie literally "jumps the shark", the ill-fated affair with "Pinky Tuscadero", and "stunt" episodes featuring "the Devil", "Mork from Ork", et. al., then the quiet, warm-hearted tone of the program dissolved into frenzy, slapstick and "special effects". Even after Silverman left, ABC knew the value of the series, and kept renewing it because it became on of their few "evergreens" [and ratings champs] by the early '80s. Perhaps it stayed on too long, especially after the network insisted that Garry Marshall "stretch the soup" by giving Joanie and Chachi their own brief series. After 11 seasons, though, it WAS time to "pack it in".

jimpickens · 04-26-2010, 09:10 PM

The show jumped when it became the Fonzie show the shark was its death keel.

treky · 04-26-2010, 11:12 PM

it "jumped the shark" when they put it in front of a live audience and made it "the Fonzie show".

Mr. Television · 04-26-2010, 11:24 PM

It never jumped the shark. It was a myth.

04-24-2010, 11:13 PM	#1
Brian Damage I'm Rich Bitch Forum Icon Join Date: Feb 03, 2002 Location: What Ain't No Country I Ever Heard Of...They Speak English in What? Posts: 63,107	Did 'Happy Days' Really "Jump The Shark" When Fonzi Jumped the Shark? Or did it happen before that or maybe after that? Better yet, did it really ever? Attached Images
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04-25-2010, 11:18 AM	#2
Dr. Thong a/k/a "ACK!" Forum Veteran Join Date: Jul 10, 2001 Location: New Hampshire, USA Posts: 5,546	IMO, Happy Days really jumped the shark when Ron Howard and Donny Most left. But the shark jump was the beginning of a slow downhill slide. Some dud episodes in the wake of that were the musical Valentine's Day episode, the "Pumps your blood" musical number and the show where Fonzie and the devil battle over Chachi's soul.
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04-25-2010, 02:22 PM	#4
steevo It is Green Senior Member Join Date: Dec 28, 2008 Location: Connecticut Posts: 1,474	^That's true. With Richie gone, Fonzie didn't have that opposite that he could play off of.
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04-26-2010, 05:35 PM	#6
TV Knowledge Fan Member Senior Member Join Date: Mar 29, 2006 Location: Long Branch, N.J. Posts: 2,577	You have to remember that... ...when "HAPPY DAYS" began, it was supposed to be a quiet, nostalgic look back at life in the '50s. When Fred Silverman became ABC's programming chief in 1975, he saw the potential of "The Fonz", insisting HE become the center of the show above virtually everyone else. And if Fred had ideas to "hypo" the series to make it more attractive in the ratings (and for teens), like the "Hollywood" episodes when Fonzie literally "jumps the shark", the ill-fated affair with "Pinky Tuscadero", and "stunt" episodes featuring "the Devil", "Mork from Ork", et. al., then the quiet, warm-hearted tone of the program dissolved into frenzy, slapstick and "special effects". Even after Silverman left, ABC knew the value of the series, and kept renewing it because it became on of their few "evergreens" [and ratings champs] by the early '80s. Perhaps it stayed on too long, especially after the network insisted that Garry Marshall "stretch the soup" by giving Joanie and Chachi their own brief series. After 11 seasons, though, it WAS time to "pack it in".

04-26-2010, 11:12 PM	#8
treky star trek fan Eternal Member Forum Fanatic Join Date: Feb 25, 2002 Location: Conshohocken, pennsylvania Posts: 14,490	it "jumped the shark" when they put it in front of a live audience and made it "the Fonzie show".
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04-26-2010, 09:10 PM	#7
jimpickens Member Senior Member Join Date: Nov 01, 2007 Location: weston,wv Posts: 1,389	The show jumped when it became the Fonzie show the shark was its death keel.

04-26-2010, 11:24 PM	#9
Mr. Television 23 Years at Sitcoms Online Forum Icon Join Date: Jun 06, 2003 Location: Somewhere you're Not Posts: 62,132	It never jumped the shark. It was a myth.
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