How the 'Jumping the Shark' Label Almost Destroyed This Happy Days Actor's Career
If you've watched Apple TV's "Shrinking," you might recognize Ted McGinley, who plays Derek, Jimmy's (Jason Segel) neighbor. But long before that role, McGinley was part of a wave of new actors brought into the iconic sitcom "Happy Days" after original star Ron Howard left the show. Unfortunately, McGinley became unfairly linked to the phrase "jumping the shark," a term that originated from a now-infamous "Happy Days" episode where Henry Winkler's character, Fonzie, water-skis over a shark. This association wasn’t just a quirky trivia fact—it nearly ended McGinley’s career, despite his generally positive attitude about the whole ordeal.
So, what exactly does "jump the shark" mean? The phrase describes a moment when a TV show or any form of entertainment has passed its peak and starts to decline in quality. It comes from that bizarre scene in season 5 of "Happy Days," episode "Hollywood: Part 3," where Fonzie performs the outrageous stunt of water-skiing over a shark. But here’s the twist: many fans and critics argue that "Happy Days" didn’t truly "jump the shark" until much later. When Ron Howard, who played Richie Cunningham for seven seasons, left before season 8, the writers scrambled to fill the void. They had already shifted the spotlight to Fonzie after season 2, but with Howard gone, Fonzie became the undisputed lead. To support this change, several new characters were introduced, including Ted McGinley’s Roger Phillips.
McGinley, a former model, was cast as Roger Phillips, Marion Cunningham’s (Marion Ross) nephew. Roger was a teacher and basketball coach who first appeared in season 8, episode 4, "Hello, Roger." Initially, he was a fresh face at Jefferson High School and later became the principal at nearby Patton High. He arrived alongside Cathy Silvers’ Jenny Piccalo, Joanie Cunningham’s (Erin Moran) boy-crazy best friend. Despite these introductions, Roger Phillips didn’t resonate strongly with audiences. The writers struggled to develop compelling storylines for him, which contributed to McGinley becoming unfairly linked to the "jumping the shark" stigma—a label that has stuck with him ever since.
Though Roger was never a breakout character, he remained a recurring presence through seasons 8 and 9, then joined the main cast in season 10, staying until the show’s final 11th season. After "Happy Days" ended in 1984, McGinley continued to land roles on popular shows like "The Love Boat," "Dynasty," and "Married... with Children." Yet, paradoxically, these roles only deepened his association with "jumping the shark." Jon Hein, founder of JumptheShark.com, even dubbed McGinley "The Patron Saint of Jumping the Shark."
This nickname was, frankly, undeserved. McGinley had little to do with any decline in those shows’ quality. For example, he joined "Married... with Children" in its fourth season as Marcy Rhoades’ husband, Jefferson D’Arcy, and became a main cast member in season five. He stayed on for six more seasons, appearing in 166 episodes from 1989 to 1997. The Fox sitcom played a significant role in the network’s history, and its eventual cancellation wasn’t McGinley’s fault. Still, JumptheShark.com and its fans were relentless. A 2003 Deseret News article highlighted how the site’s community openly mocked McGinley, with one commenter bluntly stating, "Chances are that if Ted is anywhere near your cast, consider the show on the downward spiral."
Despite the harsh criticism, McGinley tried to keep a sense of humor about it. He told Deseret News, "Look, it took me three and a half years to kill 'The Love Boat,' four and a half years to kill 'Happy Days,' seven and a half years to kill 'Married... With Children.' So I'm hoping it takes me 10 years to kill [my then-current show 'Hope & Faith']." But beneath the jokes, the label was more damaging than he let on.
In a 2004 NBC News interview, Jon Hein doubled down on his harsh judgment, saying, "Look, I wish him nothing but the best, but the bottom line, if you see him, the show's going to jump." McGinley again brushed off the comments, pointing out that the shows he joined continued to air long after his arrival. However, in a 2024 conversation at the SAG-AFTRA Foundation (reported by Variety), McGinley opened up about how the "jumping the shark" reputation truly affected him. "At first I thought it was kind of funny," he admitted, "and then I realized that I started losing jobs." He explained, "I tried to make light of it as best I could, but the truth is, it was extremely wounding, and I have a family that I have to take care of. I have to educate my kids and love my wife and feed us all. [Hein] took that away from me, and that was brutal."
Thankfully, McGinley’s career has seen a resurgence. His role as Derek on the critically acclaimed dramedy "Shrinking" has earned him newfound respect and made his character—a laid-back, supportive husband to Liz (Christa Miller)—a fan favorite. In a 2025 interview with Gold Derby, the 67-year-old actor shared that the success of "Shrinking" moved him to tears. "I'm so used to being the worst, or being told that I'm such a bad guy to add to a show," he said. "This has been an amazing journey and experience, and I honestly feel blessed."
Beyond "Shrinking," McGinley has maintained a steady career, with appearances on "The West Wing," "Family Guy," and "Hope & Faith," which ran for three seasons before its cancellation—again, not due to McGinley. While it’s unclear exactly which roles he may have missed because of his "jumping the shark" reputation, it’s reasonable to believe that the stigma has cost him opportunities.
But here’s the part most people miss: Is it fair to blame an actor for a show’s decline? Can one person really be the cause of a series losing its magic? Or is this just a convenient scapegoat for fans and critics looking for a simple explanation? What do you think—has Ted McGinley been treated unjustly, or is there some truth to the "jumping the shark" curse? Share your thoughts below and join the conversation!
