Wolverhampton Express & StarBig Brother has ‘jumped the shark’There is a common phrase among geeks, myself included, for when a once-popular TV show is past its best – we say it has “jumped the shark”,
writes Dan Wainwright.The phrase originates from a latter episode of Happy Days when the Fonz, wearing shorts and his leather jacket, jumped on a jet ski over a shark for some inexplicable reason that was nothing to do with teaching Richie Cunningham to be cool or shouting “Eyyyyyyy”.
It is now applied to situations where the writers or executives of a show, in a bid to boost flagging ratings, do something so completely out of character as to spoil the enjoyment of the programme for the rest of its run.
Big Brother has not jumped the shark. Sadly it did not even get the honour of doing something outlandish enough to be classed as having gone “too far”.
...MoreTop choice from this piece:The fact that Carphone Warehouse pulled its sponsorship leaving BB to be supported by Lucozade does a lot to conjure the image that people are no longer texting each other to find out what they think but are instead only watching it if they are sick, in bed, glugging glucose drinks because there really is nothing else on.
Spot on Dan, thank you!
(OG adds more Lucozade to his shopping list, found special offer of 8 bottle pack for £3 locally!)