The 'Jumping The Shark' web site is dedicated to the moments when television programmes begin to lose their bite.

The phrase comes from a former roommate of the site's founder, who said the tell tale sign of the demise of Seventies US sitcom Happy Days was when the show's main character, the super-cool Fonzie, donned water skis to jump a shark.

The site chronicles the history of television and includes the lastest shows, even the ones that have not yet been screened this side of the Atlantic.

The top ten shows include familiar names, topped by The Simpsons, The X-Files and Friends.

Visitors can vote on when any show has jumped and add their comments. They can choose from the eight voting categories, including "same character, different actor", death, birth and puberty.

Visitors can also suggest additional categories.

The Simpsons does surprisingly well in the voting, with nearly 1,300 people saying it has never jumped.

The next highest vote of 78 said the show jumped when Homer got really, really stupid.

Friends fared less well. Although 315 voters say it has never jumped, 148 visitors believe it jumped on the first day of the first series.

The site has plans to include music and movies in the future.

It is well worth introducing your mouse to this shark.

www.jumptheshark.com