Good answer.
Patrick
On Jan 14, 2009, at 11:58 AM, Walton, Jeffrey wrote:
Easy one….Oct 14, 2002….
When they purchased paypal…..
From: MoPo List [mailto:mop...@sol03.american.edu] On Behalf Of
Bruce Hershenson
Sent: Wednesday, January 14, 2009 1:54 PM
To: mop...@sol03.american.edu
Subject: [MOPO] When do YOU think was the moment when eBay "jumped
the shark"?
I think almost all of us can agree that eBay has clearly "jumped
the shark"*. But exactly WHEN do you think this happened? When did
eBay make the move that changed it from a company with a bright
future, and started it on its current downhill path? Of course,
there is no one "right" answer, but I have my own opinion, which I
will gladly share once some of you voice your opinions.
When do YOU think was the moment when eBay "jumped the shark"?
Bruce
*N.B. According to Wikipedia, the phrase "jump the shark" refers to
a scene in a three-part episode of the American TV series,Happy
Days, first broadcast on September 20, 1977. In the third of the
three parts of the "Hollywood" episode, Fonzie (Henry Winkler),
wearing swim trunks and his trademark leather jacket, jumps over a
penned-in shark while water skiing.
Even before "jumping the shark" was employed as a pop culture term,
the episode in question was cited many times as an example of what
can happen to otherwise high-quality shows when they stay on the
air too long in the face of waning interest—or when they simply
cease to maintain quality standards for writing or acting,
resorting to cheap sensationalism etc. The infamous scene was seen
by many as betraying Happy Days' 1950s setting (as well as
reversing its earlier character-developments, as noted above) by
cashing in on the 1970s fads of Evel Knievel[1] and Jaws. Producer
Garry Marshall later admitted that he knew the show had lost
something as the crew prepared to shoot the scene. As Marshall
pointed out in the reunion special that aired on February 3, 2005,
however, Happy Days went on to produce approximately 100 more
episodes after the "jumping the shark" episode. During the same
special, in response to an audience member's question, Marshall
introduced the notorious clip and noted how the show had inspired
the term.
The first public use[2] of the phrase as a direct metaphor is
reported to have been on December 24, 1997, when
thejumptheshark.com website was launched by Jonathan M. Hein.
According to the site, the phrase was first coined by Hein's
college roommate, Sean J. Connolly, in 1985. The term first
appeared in print in the April 9, 1998, Los Angeles Times Calendar
Weekend section.
The phrase has been used more recently outside the realm of popular
culture, representing anything that has reached its peak and has
declined in quality. If one thinks a stock or a sports team or a
subcultural phenomenon has reached its peak, for example, one can
say that it has "jumped the shark." The phrase can also be
specifically, the phrase also refers to a particular event
thatdemonstrates this decline beyond all doubt, such as whenever an
entertainment company or business makes a grave mistake, and
therefore rapidly loses ratings or fans, becomes bankrupt or is sold.
Visit the MoPo Mailing List Web Site at www.filmfan.com
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