Jumping the Shark, when you thought 2022 couldn’t get any weirder than the last 2

There’s a term that’s been thrown around regarding t.v shows that have literally ‘lost the plot’ for some time now. Some of you might remember the popular program ‘Happy Days’. If you didn’t watch it the first time you probably grew up on the reruns like I did. Not a bad show, but obviously it went on a little too long and they had to pull a serious stunt to try and save it. That famous stunt was to get their most popular character ‘The Fonz’ out of the diner where the show is usually set and onto a pair of water skis. This was weird enough as usually Fonz’s prop of choice was a guitar and he always wore jeans. But viewers were flabbergasted when the rock n roll hero actually jumped over a shark. It was the beginning of the end for the enduring series but the phrase ‘jumping the Shark’ remains as an immortal reminder to all of us, to know when things are done, to never go too far, to not change a winning formula, that short-shorts and leather jackets are not a good look.


Lately, life has been feeling a bit like we’ve all jumped the Shark. We’ve had COVID mayhem for over 2 years now, and if that didn’t feel apocalyptic enough now we have WWW3 looming over us like a Labrador watching you eat. In my local area we’ve also had floods the last few years. If this were a TV drama we’d have tuned out long ago, the storyline simply too far fetched. But here we are, still searching for some kind of equilibrium amidst the chaos. While the overriding urge compels us to just say ‘fuck it’.

A few weeks ago the surreal ness of our current time reached an all time high for me in a McDonald’s car park. There was a toddler ‘going potty’ on a potty next to a four wheel drive, while what I assume was its mother took pictures on her mobile phone of said toddler. Wtf man? I mean we’ve all had to find somewhere for our toilet training mini versions but really? Maccas car park? Photographic evidence? The scene was surreal.

I can relate in a strange way, standards have dropped as an overall sense of apathy descends among the weary. So much drama on a global scale, there’s only so much a person can take, so adaptation can look a lot like ‘can’t be fucked’, it’s human nature. Who cares if we don’t eat well or wear pyjamas to the shop or don’t wear a bra to fill up the car with petrol? We’re all screwed any way.

And I hate being judgemental, really it is my biggest pet peeve that we judge each other. But this one made me feel like society has really lost the plot. But I’ll stay tuned for the next episode of life, if only to see what ridiculousness awaits. This shows a bit shit but it’s sure not boring.