* JUMP THE SHARK
* JUMP THE SHARK
From Wikepedia:
“Jump the shark” redirects here. For the TV series episodes, see Jump the Shark (The X-Files) and Jump the Shark (Supernatural).
Look up jump the shark in Wiktionary, the free dictionary.
Fonzie on water skis, in a scene from the Happy Days episode “Hollywood, Part Three of Three”, after literally jumping over a shark
Jumping the shark is an idiom created by Jon Hein that was used to describe the moment in the evolution of a television show when it begins a decline in quality that is beyond recovery, which is usually a particular scene, episode, or aspect of a show in which the writers use some type of “gimmick” in a desperate attempt to keep viewers’ interest.
In its initial usage, it referred to the point in a television program’s history when the program had outlived its freshness and viewers had begun to feel that the show’s writers were out of new ideas, often after great effort was made to revive interest in the show by the writers, producers, or network.[1][2][3]
The usage of “jump the shark” has subsequently broadened beyond television, indicating the moment when a brand, design, or creative effort’s evolution loses the essential qualities that initially defined its success and declines, ultimately, into irrelevance.”
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I don’t know about you guys, but Jeff Eats thinks that self-serve yogurt stores, gourmet fast food burger joints, cupcake stores have all “jumped the shark.”
Maybe- I’m being way too cynical here…but I really-believe that most people couldn’t give a rat’s ass when a new yogurt/burger/cupcake joint opens. The novelty, the newness, the freshness of these store-openings is GONE! I don’t care if it’s a Shula Burger, Five Guys, BurgerFi, Yogurtland, Menchies, Auntie Anne’s—“we” Americans are tired of cookie-cutter fast food businesses. For sure, there will always be exceptions to the rule, like Shake Shack in Boca Raton where there are daily lines—but that’s the rare bird!
Not trying to be a philosopher here or nothing…but Jeff Eats thinks that it’s time that America’s “fast food” entrepreneurs opened “one-off” joints that get the public’s juices flowing again…
If you guys think that Jeff Eats is wrong here—how “excited” would you get if I told you that a brand new Five Guys was opening 2 minutes from your home, or that a brand new Yogurtland was opening 3 minutes from your home? Get my point?
Now I don’t have all of the answers, but Jeff Eats thinks that America is “over franchised”—and I really believe that the recent huge success/growth of the FOOD TRUCK industry indicates that people want innovative fast food concepts. The trick here, is to see if these original one-off concepts can successfully convert into brick and mortar joints.
I’ll leave you with one last thought…
Guy Fieri and Adam Richman’s have huge tv show-followings/ratings because they “find” one-off joints that people are literally dying to try…you’ll notice, Fieri and Richman don’t visit the Wendy’s, Burger Kings, McDonald’s, Checkers, Quiznos, Subways that dot America’s landscape.
As it now stands, America’s fast food industry has “jumped the shark.”
jeff, well said. almost everything in fast food is repetitious.
Jeff Eats:
Have to agree with you 100%.
The fast food franchise business is getting real stale.
First of all everything in a category is basically the same.
I seriously doubt that if I fed most people a CG burger, a 5 Guys burger, a Burgerfi burger and they were blindfolded they couldnt tell the difference.
Same for the yogurts.
There are so many hamburger fast food places that when a new once opens no one cares.
You are right, the food trucks offer new and interesting food. The question can they expand out of a truck.
great insight.
Jeff Eats:
Last night my wife and I ate in the new Shula Burger in Delray.
The burgers, ff, onion rings were all just fine.
The restaurant is very handsome looking and the help as pleasant as can be.
Your Jump The Shark thoughts just clicked in. When we were eating at Shula we were talking and comparing it to Shake Shack, 5 Guys, Burgerfi and others. In a nutshell we thought that Shula was better than some and not as good as others.
The bottom line is that we are bored by this burger concept and they are now all running into each other.
The burger fast food has definitely jumped the shark.
McDonald’s is the world’s leading global foodservice retailer with more than 34,000 local restaurants serving nearly 69 million people in 118 countries each day! By far the most successful food chain in the world and growing bigger each and every day. Bored, jump the shark or call it what you want. THIS is success…… I have been a McDonald’s investor for over 20 years. I only wish I had reinvested my dividends. Smile, Orange
I think you are missing Jeff’s point.
For sure McDonalds is huge, but nothing exciting for the customer going on there.
Jeff,
Smashburger in Coral Springs went out of business.
CG Burgers in Coral Springs went out of business.
No question a shakeup is underway.
These burger places are a fad.
Just like the self serve yogurt business.
You are right most of these concepts have jumped the shark.
Jeff,
You are so right, the fast food industry has definitely jumped the shark. Every food court is the same. All of the gourmet burger places look and basically taste the same. Samething goes for the yogurt ones.
It’s time that new concepts come on board. The little guy is so much more creative than these big companies.
right on the money. the fast food business in America is boring. just copies of each others. very little original operations.
I think the Cheetah in Pompano Beach has fantastic fast food and a free lunch on Mondays……
jeff, your article are exactly my sentiments.
love the site.