Like television way back in the early days-and some would say still today-the internet is a vast wasteland. Actually, it is even more so. Out of the entirety of blogs and web sites, let’s face it-the vast majority are fucking crap. You have to weed through all the chaff to find the worthwhile. However, they are there, and you will stumble across a true gem from time to time.
For those who do like television, I have found such a one, called Jump The Shark. The premise is simple enough. The site invites readers to vote on various ways television shows have “jumped the shark”, a term signifying when a television show did something so totally preposterous it never recovered from the fallout generated by the show’s angered or embarrassed fans. The phrase “Jump the shark”, of course, refers to an episode of the seventies hit “Happy Days” in which the “Fonz” literally jumped a shark on his motorcycle in a contrived stunt meant to build up the show’s once mighty ratings, by this point dangerously sagging.
In addition, readers can post on the site their thoughts and ideas about any show they wish. In fact, the site has a long and comprehensive list of almost every television show ever aired, and almost every one I’ve seen so far seems to have an active thread to which anyone can post. What is more, you can do so without going through the hassle of filling out yet another annoying on-line form.
The discussion, in some cases debate, is for the most part thoughtful, compelling, and for that matter, fun-so much so you don’t even mind the occasional goofball.
Whether you are an addicted television couch potato, a moderate though regular watcher and fan of certain programs, or just an advocate for the kinds of programming television is capable of producing, and should produce, you will enjoy this site.
Television studio executives, show producers, directors, screenwriters, and actors-in fact, anyone involved in the television business-should consider this site must reading.
They might actually learn a few things.
