Jump the Shark: When Good Things Go Bad

Rating:
Summary: 100% bisaed, incomplete, but good.
Review: "Jump the Shark" by Jon Hein is the paper (and audio) version of the TV show opinion website with a massive underground following, with opinions thrown in on political figures, professional sports teams, and musical artists for added interest. As an opinion book, it is rather mediocre, especially compared to the extensive website, because there is no way to fit a reperesentive amount of opinions on when "good things go bad" within the confines of a book. Instead, most of the opinions expressed are consensus and predictable, though you may agree with some or all of them. Compare this book to the sometimes off-the-wall, yet insightful discussions on the jumptheshark.com website, and this book comes up rather short (and bland).

Despite the incomplete nature of the opinion side of this book, there is plenty to like in "Jump the Shark." Each page is loaded with more information on your favorite celebrities than you probably want or need to know. Even though it's highly probable they missed your favorite show, team, or celebrity, it is a decent read with a lot of information. If nothing else, this book serves as a bridge to the much-better website.

Rating:
Summary: 100% bisaed, incomplete, but good.
Review: "Jump the Shark" by Jon Hein is the paper (and audio) version of the TV show opinion website with a massive underground following, with opinions thrown in on political figures, professional sports teams, and musical artists for added interest. As an opinion book, it is rather mediocre, especially compared to the extensive website, because there is no way to fit a reperesentive amount of opinions on when "good things go bad" within the confines of a book. Instead, most of the opinions expressed are consensus and predictable, though you may agree with some or all of them. Compare this book to the sometimes off-the-wall, yet insightful discussions on the jumptheshark.com website, and this book comes up rather short (and bland).

Despite the incomplete nature of the opinion side of this book, there is plenty to like in "Jump the Shark." Each page is loaded with more information on your favorite celebrities than you probably want or need to know. Even though it's highly probable they missed your favorite show, team, or celebrity, it is a decent read with a lot of information. If nothing else, this book serves as a bridge to the much-better website.

Rating:
Summary: This book 'jumped the shark'
Review: ...This was a very disappointing book. Unlike the truly funny and insightful website, this book is spotty, thematically inconsistent and generally unfunny. The TV shows selected for analysis include some of the worst fare that medium has ever offered. Then the author bounces around to sports, movie actors and politics, subjects that don't fit the whole idea of 'jumping the shark'. What should have been published were the best quotes from those on the website. There were instances where the author seemed to be defensive or unsure of his opinions, diluting the whole concept. This was a good idea that didn't work in the framework the author chose to present it. A slapdash, all over the place jumble of a book, it jumped the shark on page 3.

Rating:
Summary: Not What I Expected
Review: After reading "Jump the Shark: When Good Things Go Bad," I must say I was disappointed. I thought JTS would shed new light on how and why some TV shows, politicians, etc. went downhill but that was not the case. I didn't think the book was very insightful as it merely underscored what I already thought about the downfall of some of our popular culture icons. Essentially, JTS is nothing more than a collection of subjective commentaries without any real in-depth analysis.

As for the evaluations of the TV shows themselves, again, I didn't think the reviews were particularly insightful. Hein didn't say anything new as he merely echoes the general concensus of those opinions expressed on his web site. At this point, I feel the JTS web site has also jumped as it's become nothing more than another chat room. In all fairness though, Hein does make some funny comments and it's an easy book to read but then again, consider the subject matter.

All in all, JTS doesn't break any new ground or make any startling relevations. IMO, it's a waste of money even at half the price.

Rating:
Summary: Counterculture analysis of the main cultural medium.
Review: As a lad, I remember that now fateful Saturday morning when I turned on the TV to catch the new season of Scooby-Doo. Sadly, and painfully I remember being introduced to this odd and mouthy character that was 75% and 100% annoying: Scrappy Doo.

Something clicked in my young mind. I realized that something had happened to my favorite cartoon. Something unusual. Something that had forever changed the dynamics of Scooby Doo. I didn't realize hit at the time, but Scooby Doo had officially "Jumped the Shark."

"Jumptheshark.com" is one of my Top Five websites. Being part of the TV generation, this book is part "stroll down memory lane," and part shooting gallery. It has all of those old shows that you remember, but it has the point when the show tanked.

Anyone who is part of the TV generation will love this book. It is a companion volume to the famous website. Though it is not as extensive at the website, it has a better analysis and illustration on the TV shows. I like the sidebar trivia questions.

But this book is not limited to Farnsworth's brainchild. IT includes jabs at sports, rock bands, and our favorite Politicians. Democrats jumped the shark with the Mondale-Ferraro ticket, and the Republicans jumped with Watergate (obviously.) By the way, Nixon jumped with the Checkers speech.

This broad ground, of course, leaves the door open for more volumes, which I eagerly expect.

This book takes a humorous look at pop culture, and laughs at the events and people that make us laugh. Enjoy

Rating:
Summary: Gotta Have It!!!!!!!
Review: From the first page this book is a non-stop crack-up. I've given over 20 copies to friends...and they love it just as much as I do. This Hein guy knows more about TV then just about anyone. And his stories about celeberities, athletic figures, and politicans jumping the shark are not just funny but really insightful. You deserve a few laughs and this book delivers. Hein has invented a new way of seeing popular culture. He must be an amazing man and I wish I were related to him. I'd give it six stars if I could!!!!!

Rating:
Summary: The new catch phrase!
Review: Great read! Jon Hein has come up with a new idea totally by accident. Him and some buddies were sitting around talking about classic TV shows and when they went bad. With "Happy Days" a friend and Jon agreed it was when Fonzie jumped the shark in the three part Hollywood episodes. Thus the phrase "Jump the shark" was born. This book goes through hundreds upon hundreds of TV shows, politicians, celebrities, music and sports and Jon pin points when the individual or individuals in question "jumped the shark" or took a turn for the worse so to speak and were not what they once were in our eyes. Everyone is entitled to his or her own opinion of course and you may find yourself disagreeing at some points. (I personally dont believe "Happy Days" ever jumped the shark, I was stuck on it from beginging to end). More often then not, you will snicker to yourself because you agree 100% with Jon. To add to this books pleasure it contains black and white pictures galore and small sidelined facts and fun stats on each page pretaining to the subject. Truly a fun book to read. There is no bashing here and credit is given where credit is due. Check out the web site as well for continous fun. For now, Jon is not even close to jumping the shark.

Rating:
Summary: It is better than the web site!
Review: I am the type of person who like to say they found somthing first. Jumptheshark.com was one of those things. I told all my friends about it, we had heated arguments, and even created a drinking game over it.
I heard the book was going to come out and my hand slapped my forehead. Why would the creator destroy the simple elegance of a simple web site?
Well, after I bought and read the book, I figured it out. This compilation is even better than the site because it incorporates other genre's. I never give anything five stars, this, is a first! Enjoy.

Rating:
Summary: excellent website, great concept, mediocre book
Review: I bought this book as soon as it was published because I am a huge fan of .... I was happy to hear that it wasn't going to be all about television, but would also include movies and music. That's the good news. The bad news is that the book isn't particularly well-written or edited. Hein is on target with most of his comments, but there are cringingly bad moments in this book, such as when Garth Brooks (who, of course, jumped the shark with the whole Chris Gaines debacle) is described as being "armed with a headset mic." Huh? Isn't there a less clunky way of saying that? I noticed a few other typos and bad metaphors, and the constant repetition of phrases like "spotted a fin" and "the sharks were circling" made every entry seem formulaic. Hein makes some good points, but instead of being witty and insightful, the book is just a rehash of stuff you already know (although it's nice to see your opinions validated.) Maybe because I'm a devotee of the website, so much of this feels stale to me, but did so much time need to be spent on John(ny) (Cougar) Mellencamp's contribution to music, and why was Bruce Springsteen's career brushed off because of his 1980s popularity? Did so much time need to be spent on sports? Not being interested in that subject, I skimmed the sports section of the book. I imagine that other readers will, too, unless they're maniacally informed about every aspect of every sports team in existence. The politics section is amazing in its lack of surprises (the Republicans jumped with Watergate---big shock there---and Clinton jumped with The Gap Dress---well, of course!) Hein makes some good points and the book is great for quizzing your friends (quick! When did Mary Tyler Moore jump the shark? When did Buffy jump? Which show never jumped?) but when he moves away from TV, the book moves away from what makes the wesbite great, and the whole thing dissolves into a bore. Still, I kept reading, and I admire Hein for capitalizing on a game he used to play with his college buddies. Very enterprising, pretty interesting, but ultimately disappointing.

Rating:
Summary: excellent website, great concept, mediocre book
Review: I bought this book as soon as it was published because I am a huge fan of www.jumptheshark.com. I was happy to hear that it wasn't going to be all about television, but would also include movies and music. That's the good news. The bad news is that the book isn't particularly well-written or edited. Hein is on target with most of his comments, but there are cringingly bad moments in this book, such as when Garth Brooks (who, of course, jumped the shark with the whole Chris Gaines debacle) is described as being "armed with a headset mic." Huh? Isn't there a less clunky way of saying that? I noticed a few other typos and bad metaphors, and the constant repetition of phrases like "spotted a fin" and "the sharks were circling" made every entry seem formulaic. Hein makes some good points, but instead of being witty and insightful, the book is just a rehash of stuff you already know (although it's nice to see your opinions validated.) Maybe because I'm a devotee of the website, so much of this feels stale to me, but did so much time need to be spent on John(ny) (Cougar) Mellencamp's contribution to music, and why was Bruce Springsteen's career brushed off because of his 1980s popularity? Did so much time need to be spent on sports? Not being interested in that subject, I skimmed the sports section of the book. I imagine that other readers will, too, unless they're maniacally informed about every aspect of every sports team in existence. The politics section is amazing in its lack of surprises (the Republicans jumped with Watergate---big shock there---and Clinton jumped with The Gap Dress---well, of course!) Hein makes some good points and the book is great for quizzing your friends (quick! When did Mary Tyler Moore jump the shark? When did Buffy jump? Which show never jumped?) but when he moves away from TV, the book moves away from what makes the wesbite great, and the whole thing dissolves into a bore. Still, I kept reading, and I admire Hein for capitalizing on a game he used to play with his college buddies. Very enterprising, pretty interesting, but ultimately disappointing.