8. Happy Days Fonzie Jumps A Shark
I couldnt not include the moment that eventually became the byword for ridiculous moments in otherwise normal television programmes. Happy Days was a sitcom set in the 1950s about teenager Richie Cunningham and his family and friends, one of whom was suave motorcyclist Fonzie who eventually became the shows most popular character. In Season Fives three part opening episode set in Hollywood, Fonzie was challenged to jump over a tiger shark on water skis. Which he did while wearing swimming trunks and his trademark leather jacket. And thats pretty much all there is to it. Its a moment thats so ludicrous that it speaks for itself. It doesnt help that as well as the scene being a stupid idea in itself, its painfully dragged out for two and a half minutes and has some tense music played over it which conflicts with the laugh track and only serves to make it look even more stupid. This became the standard that stupid moments in established TV shows were measured against and its pretty obvious why.