The term “jumping the shark” was first coined back in 1985 by webmaster Jon Hein in response to a controversial 1977 Happy Days episode in which everybody's favorite tough guy Fonzie quite literally jumped over sharks while jet skiing. The idiom is used negatively and essentially means that a TV show has run out of creative inspiration and must therefore rely on a publicity stunt or gimmick to regenerate public interest.

Many of Hollywood’s most beloved shows have fallen victim to “jumping the shark,” relying on ridiculous plot devices to reestablish its former glory. Oftentimes these blatant attempts at staying relevant have caused the series’ to lose the respect and devotion of its once loyal fan base. From ill-conceived musical episodes in medical dramas to beloved main characters leaving their respective shows, there have been many programs that have embraced gimmicks and questionable plot twists. These are some TV shows that jumped the shark big time.

9 Lost

Lost remains a highly-buzzed about and undeniably frustrating show, as devoted fans were put through quite the emotional and mental ringer throughout its grueling six season run. After its epic debut in 2004, in which a group of airline passengers crash-land on a mysterious tropical island and are forced to rely on one another to survive, critics and audiences alike couldn't stop raving about the series, with the pilot attracting a whopping 18.6 million viewers.

Many faithful fans stuck with the show despite more and more bizarre and far-fetched plotlines constantly being introduced (and never fully explained), and the pacing was often excruciatingly slow and heavily dependent on flashbacks; there was even a whole episode centering on how leader Jack Shephard got his tattoos. By the time the series' finale came around, audiences were in a complete tizzy over the polarizing final season and plot twist, with fans flooding to the internet to voice their outrage and disbelief.

8 Dexter

Following the titular vigilante serial killer as he helps solve crimes by day and punishes murderers who've escaped the law by night, Dexter features a phenomenal performance by Michael C. Hall as Miami forensic analyst Dexter Morgan, facing off against many formidable foes (both villainous and lawful) for eight gripping seasons. While fans couldn't get enough of the diabolical Dexter and openly rooted for him despite his murderous tendencies, many were left scratching their heads when he developed a bond with his killer mentor and family man Arthur Mitchell, known as the "Trinity Killer."

Viewers were also perplexed when his adoptive sister Deb (Jennifer Carpenter) ended up professing her romantic feelings for him in season six despite learning he was a serial killer. Those questionable storylines paired with a lackluster and highly-controversial series' finale led to widespread fan outrage.

7 The X-Files

The landmark sci-fi juggernaut The X-Files dazzled the world with its riveting investigation into paranormal phenomena, chronicling the many unbelievable cases special agent duo Fox Mulder (David Duchovny) and Dana Scully (Gillian Anderson) investigate and explore. The pair's brilliant chemistry helped the enduring series become the smash hit it was, but viewers were none-too-pleased when Duchovny took a step back from the show due to a contract dispute, a decision that directly affected his on-screen counterpart.

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After completing season seven, Duchovny left The X-Files in 2001 and only appeared sporadically up until the series finale, with his character Mulder being abducted by aliens as a way to account for his absence. It was a bittersweet episode that marked an extreme shift in the show, changes fans had a hard time fully embracing.

6 Grey's Anatomy

The long-running medical hit Grey's Anatomy has tugged on the heartstrings of fans across the world for nearly two decades, chronicling the lives of the diverse doctors, interns and staff at Seattle Grace Hospital while focusing on the life of surgical intern Meredith Grey. Though there have been many points that have rocked the show's devoted fan base, from killing off beloved characters to Meredith never being able to receive a happy ending, Grey's Anatomy kept on cooking and churning out one emotional story after the next.

While many fans believe that the spark was lost when the founding characters of Grey's Anatomy began to leave, others became disenchanted with the infamous musical episode. The season seven episode showcased the vocal abilities of stars like Sara Ramirez (Callie Torres) and Chandra Wilson (Miranda Bailey) but was polarizing to viewers, with many feeling it was a cheesy gimmick that failed to resonate and showed how the writers were running out of creative ideas.

5 Jane the Virgin

The romantic dramedy telenovela spoof Jane the Virgin endeared itself to audiences with an acclaimed performance by the charming Gina Rodriguez, in which the actress portrays the eponymous Latina virgin who accidentally becomes pregnant via artificial insemination. Though it fully embraced its satiric elements, the series completely leaned in to its telenovela roots in the fourth season when Jane's husband Michael (Brett Dier) returns from the dead after having been seemingly shot and killed during the third season.

After the traumatic event, the show's timeline jumps ahead three years, and it is later revealed in the finale of season four that Michael's death was faked and that he was suffering from amnesia the whole time. These over-the-top events caused viewers to question the motives of the creators, and more outrageous antics emerged throughout the subsequent fifth and final season that tarnished the purity and wholesomeness of the series.

4 The Office

There is no denying that Steve Carell was the backbone and heart of The Office, as his performance as the lovable goof Michael Scott at Dunder Mifflin helped skyrocket him to superstardom and contributed to the widespread success of the fan-favorite sitcom. Though the series touted a dynamic ensemble cast including John Krasinski, Rainn Wilson, and Jenna Fischer, it was Carell's role as Scott that helped set the tone and provided countless entertainment for viewers.

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Many devoted fans believed that his departure from the series in season seven marked a drop in quality for the comedy while others have argued it was after the nuptials of epic will-they/won't-they couple Pam and Jim in the sixth season. Regardless, most fans of The Office can agree that the final seasons lost some of the magic that made the sitcom the beloved hit it was.

3 Roseanne

For the popular show's ninth and final season, Roseanne decided to flip the script and completely do a 180, having the blue-collar, working-class Conner clan win the lottery and completely transform their lives and luck. After winning a whopping $108 million from the Illinois state lottery, the Conners must adapt to a new reality that involves their financial worries disappearing but so does their happiness, as they realize money does not always bring contentment.

Avid viewers couldn't relate to the newly wealthy family and there were many plot elements that didn't sit right with fans (like Dan cheating and Darlene & Becky playing musical partners); audiences also felt completely duped when the series finale revealed all was not what it appeared. The Conners never won the lottery, it was actually just a story written by Roseanne to cope with the death of Dan after being too heartbroken to handle it.

2 ER

The groundbreaking medical drama ER helped establish the careers of its sensational cast members including George Clooney, Noah Wyle, and Julianna Margulies, famously following the emergency room staff at the fictional Cook County Hospital in Chicago and the hardships and trauma they face every day. Dr. Robert "Rocket" Romano was a reoccurring character in the long-running series and was not well-liked at the hospital, known for his inappropriate and biting remarks to his fellow staff members.

After having lost his arm in a helicopter accident in the premiere of the ninth season, Romano receives a robotic arm but the following season he is dramatically killed via yet another helicopter accident; he is crushed to death when one falls off the roof and lands on him. The wild and extremely dark moment has since been called "one of the silliest moments in ER history."

1 Game of Thrones

HBO's epically spellbinding drama series Game of Thrones was a massive hit for the network, becoming a pop culture phenomenon that brought in huge viewership and garnered numerous accolades and praise from critics. The fantasy show established a worldwide international fan base and was constantly keeping audiences on the edge of their seats with its thrilling characters and conflicts, while never being afraid to eliminate fan favorites. Though there is no denying that the creators ruffled a few feathers throughout many Game of Thrones episodes in its eight season run, the biggest backlash came in the lackluster and polarizing final season.

Devoted viewers were left severely underwhelmed with the events and creative decisions made regarding character arcs and plotlines in the last season, with a petition even being circulated to completely remake the whole thing. Fans demanded that "competent writers" take over and give audiences what they deserved; the petition caused outrage among some of the cast and crew, who felt their hard work was being invalidated.