Yahoo Lifestyle ‘Shrinking’ Star Ted McGinley On Being Labeled the Patron Saint of Jumping the Shark: ‘I Started Losing Jobs’
While most actors pray for a hit show, Ted McGinley has had the luxury of being on several. From his first TV job on “Happy Days,” to now enjoying a gig on Apple TV+’s “Shrinking,” McGinley spent multiple seasons on such popular 1980s programs as “The Love Boat,” “Dynasty” and “Married… With Children.” But that success came with a dark side when he was unfairly labeled “The Patron Saint of Jumping the Shark,” and associated with the death of popular TV shows.
Speaking at the SAG-AFTRA Foundation during a lengthy conversation about his career, McGinley said the phrase hurt. “At first I thought it was kind of funny,” he said. “And then I realized that I started losing jobs.”
The nickname came from Joe Hein, the founder of the website JumptheShark.com. The origins of the phrase referred to an episode in Season 5 of “Happy Days” in which Henry Winkler’s character Fonzie literally jumps over a shark while on water skis. The term became synonymous for when a show took a turn for the worst, and was eventually canceled. It didn’t matter that McGinley actually joined “Happy Days” in Season 8, long after the literal shark-jumping had occurred, and stayed through four seasons. Nor did it matter that the math didn’t add up, as all those shows continued on for several seasons even after McGinley joined.
Though McGinley had a sense of humor about the label, he says that “there was a very difficult period of time” where people would make fun of him publicly, and even tease his children. He also confesses that for a while, he truly thought his career was over.
“I tried to make light of it as best I could, but the truth is, it was extremely wounding,” the actor said. “And I have a family that I have to take care of and I have to take care of. I have to educate my kids and love my wife and feed us all. He took that away from me, and that was brutal.”
McGinley added Hein was very gracious to him in person years later when they crossed paths at SiriusXM. “He said, ‘I want to apologize to you.’ And it was very sweet.”
While McGinley acknowledged “it’s kind of the elephant in the room for me — or was” he also noted that people “seem to have sort of moved on.”
In the wide-ranging conversation, McGinley discussed other speedbumps in his career — such as being cast on “Happy Days” after Ron Howard left despite not having much experience. McGinley had been thrilled as a fan of the show, and grateful for the patience of his costars as he learned the ropes. But in his first year, he took his parents to a holiday party where producer and writer Lowell Ganz gave a roast.
“He gets up and starts doing his thing. And he says: ‘Ted McGinley. One word to describe his acting. Shit!’”
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McGinley recalled looking at the room as everyone laughed. “It was the most brutal, damaging thing that ever happened, and I took years getting back on top of that, because I respected Lowell so much.” McGinley said that “Lowell spent the next two years doing everything he could” to encourage and guide him. “He was telling the truth, by the way. He wasn’t wrong.”
Currently, McGinley is enjoying starring with Harrison Ford and Jason Segal on “Shrinking,” on which he plays Derek, the easygoing husband of Liz (Christa Miller, who happens to be the real-life wife of show co-creator Bill Lawrence.) Derek has become a fan favorite for his unwavering support of Liz, though the show currently finds their marriage strained after she starts spending time with an ex-boyfriend.
McGinley said he had actually been Lawrence’s initial pick for the role of Dr. Cox on “Scrubs,” which eventually went to a different McGinley — John C. McGinley, who won raves for his portrayal of the acerbic doctor. But he’d botched his auditions and meetings so badly, it cost him the role. “I kept tanking,” he said. But Lawrence called him afterward, and promised that one day they would do something together. “And he’s that guy,” McGinley said. “It came through. He threw me a bone, and I’m forever grateful.”
Watch the conversation from SAG-AFTRA Foundation below.
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