Henry Winkler explained how he accidentally set up the iconic 'jump the shark' scene from Happy Days. The moment from the show's fifth season became shorthand for a TV series' decline, though Winkler remains proud of it. He revealed his father prompted him to tell creator Garry Marshall about his waterskiing ability.
Henry Winkler, who played the Fonz on ABC's Happy Days, shared the origin of the character's most memed moment: jumping over a shark on water skis. This occurred in the fifth season's three-part storyline, where the Fonz traveled to Hollywood and performed the stunt, which producers hoped would be a highlight. Instead, it became synonymous with a television series abandoning creative integrity and declining in quality. Speaking to Yahoo! Entertainment, Winkler said, 'We were number one for years after it, so it didn't bother us at all.' He did all the Fonz's waterskiing himself except for the actual jump, as he was not allowed to do stunts and did not know how. The idea stemmed from his father urging him to inform Happy Days creator Garry Marshall of his skill. Winkler recalled, 'I said, 'Garry, my father wants you to know I waterski.' Next thing I know, I'm waterskiing.' Winkler expressed pride in the moment, stating, 'I'm very proud. Very proud,' about establishing the phrase 'jump the shark.' He noted he is 'one of the only actors in the world who has jumped the shark twice,' referencing a second instance on Fox's Arrested Development. There, as defense attorney Barry Zuckerkorn in the Season 2 episode 'Motherboy XXX,' his character leapt over a shark carcass at the docks while heading to Burger King for breakfast. Winkler also met Jon Hein, who coined the phrase, on Hein's Howard Stern Wrap-Up Show on SiriusXM Radio, expressing respect for Hein's success.
