Yup, This Enduring Pop Culture Phrase Really Originated in Michigan

They've run out of ideas. This has gotten stupid. I can't believe I'm still watching this. You've probably uttered those words as you've gotten close to the end of a TV series, while watching a movie sequel, or maybe toward the end of the third book in a trilogy.

You know, that point when the author or creators have run out of good plotlines and the story is being packed with pointless dialogue and scenarios that stretch the boundaries of ridiculous.

There's a phrase for that - and that phrase originated right here in Michigan.

Happy Days Are Here Again

If you're over the age of 30, you're probably familiar with the phrase "Jumping the Shark." If you're not, that's OK. Follow along, 'cause you're about to get schooled.

From the mid-1970s to the early 80s, Tuesday nights were ruled by Richie Cunningham, Ralph Malph, Potsie Weber, and of course Arthur Fonzarelli. 'Happy Days' was one of the most successful sitcoms of the era, following an idyllic Midwest family's perfect life in the '50s and early '60s.

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'Fonzie' was the coolest leather-jacket-wearing motorcycle dude you'd ever meet, and he was practically a member of the Cunningham family, living above their garage. Kids took pride in displaying 'The Fonze' on t-shirts, lockers, and lunch boxes.

Happy Days Jumps the Shark

But not every episode was a gem. In 11 seasons, the famed sitcom gave us a few wobbly plotlines, and one episode in particular that coined the phrase we now use to describe a TV show (or other body of work) that takes a turn for the worse.

That point came during season 5, episode 3 'Hollywood:  Part 3.' The family headed off to Hollywood, and somehow found Fonzie (Henry Winkler) jumping over a shark on waterskis.

The Phrase Born in Michigan

It was about eight years later that a pair of students at the University of Michigan coined the phrase "jumped the shark" to describe that turning point in TV shows.

the phrase is credited to Jon Hein and roommate Sean Connolly who came up with the phrase in 1985. In 1997, Hein created JumpTheShark.com and published a list of about 200 TV shows and his opinion as to when each jumped the shark.

The site became widely popular with users weighing in with additional examples and Hein went on to sell his site to Jump the Shark, Inc for over $1 million in 2006.