The Cucumber Shark: Part I

Okay, okay, I feel I need to explain this a little. First lets go to the Wikipedia for a definition.

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Jumping the shark is a colloquialism used by U.S. TV critics and fans to denote the point in a TV or movie series at which the characters or plot veer into a ridiculous, out-of-the-ordinary storyline. Shows that have "jumped the shark" are typically deemed to have passed their peak, since they have undergone too many changes to retain their original appeal, and after this point critical fans often sense a noticeable decline in the show's quality.

The term is an allusion to a scene in a 1977 episode of the TV series Happy Days when the popular character Arthur "Fonzie" Fonzarelli literally jumps over a shark while water skiing. The scene was considered so preposterous that many believed it to be an attempt at reviving the declining ratings of the flagging show. Ironically, not only was Happy Days reflecting the superstardom of real-life shark-jumper Evel Knievel in the episode, but the series was wildly successful in 1977. Happy Days was the second most popular show on television in that year, behind its spin-off, Laverne & Shirley.

Jump-the-shark moments may be scenes like the one described above that finally convince viewers that the show has fundamentally and permanently strayed from its original premise. In those cases they are viewed as a desperate and futile attempt to keep a series fresh in the face of declining ratings. In other cases the departure or replacement of a main cast member or character or a significant change in setting changes a critical dynamic of the show. These changes are often attempts to attract their fans' waning attention with over-the-top statements or increasingly overt appeals to sex or violence.

The term has also evolved to describe other areas of pop culture including movie series, musicians, actors or authors for whom a drastic change was seen as the beginning of the end or marking the moment the subject is "past its peak." When referring to celebrities, the related term jumping the couch is often used if the moment is a personal act of "going off the deep end".^[1][2]

That said, what about the cucumber?
Well when culinary skills get to the point where cucumber sharks and carrot palm trees are exciting, what has happened?

Have we as Americans "Jumped The Shark"? Does everything have to be fast food? What about ready-made or even pre-made? Does every restaurant have to be part of a national chain? Do we all sit as a family at dinner? Does the television have to be on while we eat? How about having a large Sunday dinner with the whole family? Did Ronald McDonald kill Betty Crocker!!? I truly want to explore these things as best I can.. I am done ranting and raving for now so in Part II I will start, hopefully with all your input, the things we do and take for granted.
Thanks for bearing with me,
Robert