Euphemism for a moment in time (typically in pop culture) where something or someone that was lackluster and/or underachieving suddenly and surprisingly became much better and exciting. Taken from Star Trek - The Next Generation, which many fans considered wanting until Commander Riker grew a beard at the start of Season Two, after which the show was solid and well-received for the rest of its run.
"Heather Locklear joining the cast of Melrose Place was that show's Riker's Beard moment."
"Ben Cherrington (Boston Red Sox GM) trading expensive malcontents like Carl Crawford and Josh Beckett to the LA Dodgers was a Riker's Beard for his career (and the Red Sox) if ever I saw one."
"Little did the New England Patriots know it at the time, but when Mo Lewis knocked Drew Bledsoe out in Week 2 of 2001, it would become a Riker's Beard for the franchise."
"The fact that Danny Ainge (Boston Celtics GM) turned getting boned in the 2008 NBA Draft Lottery into a Riker's Beard is still staggering to me."
"Ben Cherrington (Boston Red Sox GM) trading expensive malcontents like Carl Crawford and Josh Beckett to the LA Dodgers was a Riker's Beard for his career (and the Red Sox) if ever I saw one."
"Little did the New England Patriots know it at the time, but when Mo Lewis knocked Drew Bledsoe out in Week 2 of 2001, it would become a Riker's Beard for the franchise."
"The fact that Danny Ainge (Boston Celtics GM) turned getting boned in the 2008 NBA Draft Lottery into a Riker's Beard is still staggering to me."
by Honk4Gronk June 21, 2013
The opposite of jump the shark, i.e. when a TV show goes from unspectacular/boring/outlandish to completely awesome. It references Star Trek: The Next Generation, which was unspectacular until season 2, when Commander Riker grew a beard. The show kicked ass from then on.
by kingofdanger March 24, 2009