Sunday, April 21, 2013

165 Quiz Answer


Here’s the answer to our weekly quiz.  Happy Days was an American television sitcom that aired first-run from 1974 to 1984 on the ABC network.

In one episode, the character named the Fonz, on water skis, literally jumped a shark, leading to an idiom that has entered our language.  If you’ve “jumped the shark,” you’ve reached your peak and now you’re on your way down, or out.  The phrase is now often used in other areas besides entertainment: politics, business, sports, etc.


(Also for Three-Word Wednesday and ABC Wednesday: "O" is for "Orv")
Here is this week's Berownial quiz.
The following little piece of fiction I wrote might suggest to you a certain highly successful TV series of a few decades back.  In its eleven seasons on the air, it was one of the longest-running prime-time sitcoms in television history.  Your assignment, should you agree to accept it, is: name the series.

The way this came about was that we all went down to the beach to watch Orv.

We weren't really surfer dudes; it's just that Orv - we called him Orv because his name was Orville - was bragging about how great he had become with water skis.
 
Since he was always telling us how great he was at something, we decided to call him out on it.  Some of us even put up some money, five bucks each, as a bet that he would screw up as a water-skier.

(That doesn't seem like a huge amount these days, but at that time - keep in mind that we were just a bunch of kids with what you might call little in the way of ready funds - five clams represented money.) 

Well, we were all a little embarrassed because we had to wake up; the guy was not only not putrid, he was good.  I don't mean Olympic Gold Medal-type good, but good enough.


To see him zipping about out there on the water on his skis, wearing his famous leather jacket, was a blast. 

And then something happened, something incredible.  Right smack in front of him a shark rose up, a huge son of a gun as big as he was.  I was doing nothing but watch but still I shuddered a bit when I saw it.  But Orv, believe it or not, handled it

He crouched down and then just leaped with his skis over the big fish.  Holy guacamole!  We could hardly believe our eyes.  Instead of cracking wise about it we were cheering Orv.  We could understand why he craved water-skiing.

Later, we could also hardly believe how this event got talked about by so many people and even how it worked its way into common everyday speech.

But perhaps by now you know the name of theTV series?
(Submitted also to Sunday Scribblings)

  



42 comments:

The Blog of Bee said...

Happy Days

Berowne said...

Bee of Bee's Blog has started us off with the first correct answer.

Altonian said...

'Happy Days', I would say - but I could well be way out on this one. The leather jacket did it for me.

Jae Rose said...

I can't think of a TV series but I thought of Cool Runnings..Jamaicans practising sledging in the bath tub..that alone made me :) so thank you!

The Blog of Bee said...

I must have watched too much television!

Berowne said...

Altonian has joined us with the right answer. Who's next?

Gail said...

Happy Days?

21 Wits said...

Oh my gosh, I haven't even seen the new Mag yet, but your post came up on my blog roll and of course to peek. Baywatch!
The show some women detested! Ha! Ha! Hubbies across the world were eager to view new surf boarding tricks! :)

izzy said...

Well I know Fonzi but no idea what might have been a long term sitcom
with a beach ? I remember Gidget and movies-*SIGH*

Berowne said...

Gail has just stepped up with the right answer. Who's next?

LOLfromPasa said...

Right or wrong, one of my favorites - Happy Days.

Berowne said...

LOLfromPasa has just joined our merry band with the correct answer.

21 Wits said...

Oh you are sneaky! My first thought was Cheers but you fooled me by the water stuff- but it's the talk at the end of the bar!!!!
Cheers !

21 Wits said...

Okay I was thinking it was too obvious and that it couldn't be Happy Days, but now that I read your entire post, allthe way through..... HAPPY DAYS my last and final answer! Ha! Ha!

Old Egg said...

Those were "Happy Days" for my kids who were glued to the TV then.

Kathe W. said...

Happy Days?

Sharp Little Pencil said...

Da Fonz. You made it too easy by showing Winkler's picture, Berowne! The series was Happy Days, also starring Ron Howard, Tom Bosley (later "assistant" to Charlie's Angels, Charlie being voiced by John Forsythe of "Bachelor Father" fame), and the glorious Marion Ross.

Amy

Berowne said...

Some more winners: Sharp Little Pencil, Kathe W, oldegg and Karen S all coughed up the right answer.

George S Batty said...

Old Grizz remembers this as "Happy Days"

Heidi said...

Great Happy Days post.

Roger Owen Green said...

Well, the picture of Fonzie suggested the moment that Happy Days literally jumped the shark.

Helen said...

I'm guessing ... M*A*S*H

ninotaziz said...

Must be Happy Days?

Berowne said...

Add four more to the list of those who know the right answer: ninotaziz, Roger Owen Green, Heidi and gsb. Congrats all...

Lesley said...

Happy Days!

Silent Otto said...

Hawaii five- oh, theme song of which also happens to be the australian national anthem ( see film- " The Dish")

Berowne said...

Lesley has just stepped up with the right answer. Who's next?

gautami tripathy said...

I am not a television person!!

in naked glory, I forget myself

Lyn said...

Tried to follow the clues..like, Happy Days. And the Fonz in leather. Maybe?

Berowne said...

Lyn has just stepped into the winners circle with the correct answer. Again.

keiths ramblings said...

Now let me think.... Muppets? No. Springer? No. Perhaps I'll have more luck next week!

Lydia said...

Hmmmm. I was thinking "Hawaii 5-0" or "Baywatch" until I saw the picture of The Fonz. Now my guess is "Happy Days." I don't think it is "Welcome Back, Kotter" because that was about a male teacher, and I doubt it was on that many seasons. I'm not sure I passed this quiz!

Berowne said...

Lydia has also given us the right answer. You can learn a lot from Lydia. :-)

Leslie: said...

Easy one - Happy Days!

Leslie
abcw team

Hildred said...

Well, I guess that would have to be the Fonz in Happy Days!

Joy said...

Is that Happy Days, and the episode that gave the concept of jumping the shark to the world.

Berowne said...

Joy and Hildred have joined our merry band with the right answer.

Lady In Read said...

my first guess was MASH too and then I thought maybe Baywatch, or could it be Friends..
but am totally clueless on this one, Berowne..
and yes, I am back , once again.. )

Unknown said...

I'm not making a guess, I just wished to say that I loved Happy Days. But then Fonzie had to go and jump the shark.

Berowne said...

Interesting... Spectra Ghostseeker writes that she won't guess but then gives the right answer anyway. We're glad to have the answer however we get it. :-)

Sheilagh Lee said...

Happy Days

I loved Fonzie even if he ;) 'jumped the shark'

Berowne said...

Sheilagh Lee has just checked in with the correct answer, I'm happy to report.

 
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