# Conventions/parodies in film/television that should never, EVER be done again. Ever. **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [September 2, 2005, 2:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/conventions-parodies-in-film-television-that-should-never-ever-be-done-again-ever/319689 "2005-09-02T02:51:49Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![kingpengvin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9dc877/32.png) [@kingpengvin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kingpengvin)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2005, 3:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/conventions-parodies-in-film-television-that-should-never-ever-be-done-again-ever/319689/21 "2005-09-02T15:52:39Z")
I’m sick of the tough guy with the gentle heart. Or the tough talking broad with the heart of gold (usually a waitress in a Dinner) ---
**Author:** ![Push\_You\_Down](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/push_you_down/32/9095_2.png) [@Push\_You\_Down](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Push_You_Down)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2005, 4:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/conventions-parodies-in-film-television-that-should-never-ever-be-done-again-ever/319689/22 "2005-09-02T16:40:13Z")
> [@Lumpy](#): > > It’s been how many decades since _Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner_, and they still present a black man dating/married to a white woman as something daringly progressive? Because in some places it IS still progressive. ---
**Author:** ![MacTech](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c0e974/32.png) [@MacTech](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MacTech)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2005, 4:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/conventions-parodies-in-film-television-that-should-never-ever-be-done-again-ever/319689/23 "2005-09-02T16:48:21Z")
“Gecko” adverts that start out as a “different” ad/tv show/radio broadcast/etc. “Honey, we need to talk” “yes dear” “i’ve been seeing the pool-boy behind your back and am carrying his baby, also i want a divorce” “but dear, can’t we work this out? i love you with all my heart” “no, i’m sorry, it’s over between us…but i do have some good news” “what is it?” "i saved a buncha money by switching to ‘Gecko’ " i hate, hate, hate these stupid adverts ---
**Author:** ![cruel\_butterfly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/5daacb/32.png) [@cruel\_butterfly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cruel_butterfly)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2005, 4:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/conventions-parodies-in-film-television-that-should-never-ever-be-done-again-ever/319689/24 "2005-09-02T16:59:48Z")
> [@MacTech](#): > > “Gecko” adverts that start out as a “different” ad/tv show/radio broadcast/etc. > > “Honey, we need to talk” > “yes dear” > “i’ve been seeing the pool-boy behind your back and am carrying his baby, also i want a divorce” > “but dear, can’t we work this out? i love you with all my heart” > “no, i’m sorry, it’s over between us…but i do have some good news” > “what is it?” > "i saved a buncha money by switching to ‘Gecko’ " > > i hate, hate, hate these stupid adverts I still like the caveman ads though: “Honestly, we had no idea you guys were still around.” “Maybe next time you oughtta so a little research?” ---
**Author:** ![Don\_Draper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b2d939/32.png) [@Don\_Draper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Don_Draper)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2005, 5:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/conventions-parodies-in-film-television-that-should-never-ever-be-done-again-ever/319689/25 "2005-09-02T17:12:45Z")
Sassy old ladies. Why do hollywood people think it is so rib-ticklin’ hee-haw funny when elderly women talk about sex? ---
**Author:** ![JerH](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/bb73d2/32.png) [@JerH](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JerH)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2005, 5:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/conventions-parodies-in-film-television-that-should-never-ever-be-done-again-ever/319689/26 "2005-09-02T17:25:46Z")
Some guy is talking about his love life problems, and we all think he’s talking about his girlfriend, then we discover it’s his _boy_friend. It’s funny, because he’s gay! ---
**Author:** ![MovieMogul](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f08c70/32.png) [@MovieMogul](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MovieMogul)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2005, 5:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/conventions-parodies-in-film-television-that-should-never-ever-be-done-again-ever/319689/27 "2005-09-02T17:45:33Z")
> [@Art Vandelay](#): > > Sassy old ladies. Why do hollywood people think it is so rib-ticklin’ hee-haw funny when elderly women talk about sex? [Grandpa Simpson]“Dear Advertisers, I am disgusted with the way old people are depicted on television. We are not all vibrant, fun-loving sex maniacs. Many of us are bitter, resentful individuals who remember the good old days when entertainment was bland and inoffensive.”[/Grandpa Simpson] ---
**Author:** ![critter42](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/7ba0ec/32.png) [@critter42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/critter42)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2005, 6:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/conventions-parodies-in-film-television-that-should-never-ever-be-done-again-ever/319689/28 "2005-09-02T18:53:26Z")
> [@andrewdt85](#): > > OMG CAN’T BELIEVE I FORGOT THIS ONE THIS IS THE WORST ONE OF ALL TIME: > > A character asks for sympathy from another character in a little speech, saying 'can’t you just let me go this one time? think about what it means to the children? They look up to us adults, they believe in us, they love us. If not for me, do it for them. Can you find it inside yourself to let me go, just this once?" > > Pause for 2 seconds on the gruff character, thinking > > Cut to him slamming that character down, tossing that character out the door, or arresting that character, etc. etc. Last known offender: Desperate Housewives I think this would fall under the same scenario, but it was so funny, so unexpected (at the time especially) that I can actually watch it over and over. The first episode of **The Cosby Show** after Cliff and Theo play the money game: > [@](#): > > Theo: You’re a doctor and Mom’s a lawyer, and you’re both successful in everything and that’s great! But maybe I was born to be a regular person and have a regular life. If you weren’t a doctor, I wouldn’t love you less, because you’re my dad. So rather than feeling disappointed because I’m not like you, maybe you should accept who I am and love me anyway, because I’m your son. The audience all goes “Awww…”, and you’re clearly primed to expect a Brady Bunch or Family Ties-like “father coming to understand the kid’s point of view” moment…instead > [@](#): > > Cliff: Theo. That’s the dumbest thing I’ve ever heard in my life!! No wonder you’re getting D’s in everything. Now you’re afraid to try because you’re afraid that your brain is going to explode and it’s going to ooze out of your ears! Now you’re going to try because I SAID SO. I AM YOUR FATHER!! I BROUGHT YOU IN THIS WORLD AND I’LL TAKE YOU OUT!!! If this scenario is done right (any of these scenarios, actually) there is no reason why someone shouldn’t do it. Just because “it’s been done to death” doesn’t mean that “it’s been done RIGHT”… ---
**Author:** ![Homebrew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/c89c15/32.png) [@Homebrew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Homebrew)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2005, 7:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/conventions-parodies-in-film-television-that-should-never-ever-be-done-again-ever/319689/29 "2005-09-02T19:40:02Z")
> [@Art Vandelay](#): > > Sassy old ladies. Why do hollywood people think it is so rib-ticklin’ hee-haw funny when elderly women talk about sex? Have you not heard of [Sue Johanson](http://www.oxygen.com/specials/talksex/qa/)? Ain’t nothing funny about ol’ Sue. ---
**Author:** ![Don\_Draper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b2d939/32.png) [@Don\_Draper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Don_Draper)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2005, 7:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/conventions-parodies-in-film-television-that-should-never-ever-be-done-again-ever/319689/30 "2005-09-02T19:58:57Z")
> [@Homebrew](#): > > Have you not heard of [Sue Johanson](http://www.oxygen.com/specials/talksex/qa/)? Ain’t nothing funny about ol’ Sue. Well, no I never have heard of her. But I think we might be thinking at cross-purposes. I don’t object to the idea of mature women speaking about sex. It’s the whole idea that there is something _intrinsically funny_ about an elderly person expressing an opinion about sex. The little old grandma character tells the 20-something heroine of the film that the heart-throb love interest has “a nice butt.” Cue shocked, bemused look of 20-something heroine. The audience (supposedly) erupts in laughter at the adorable old lady making with the frank talk. Why is it funny when a 70+ person expresses an opinion regarding sex? As if any one at that age is a prim, virginal, chaste biddy who’s been utterly sheltered all her life? ---
**Author:** ![Wendell\_Wagner](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/8491ac/32.png) [@Wendell\_Wagner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wendell_Wagner)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2005, 1:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/conventions-parodies-in-film-television-that-should-never-ever-be-done-again-ever/319689/31 "2005-09-03T01:37:09Z")
kingpenvin writes: \> the tough talking broad with the heart of gold (usually a waitress in a Dinner) Don’t you just hate it when you’re having waitress for dinner and you bite down on the heart of gold and you have to spit it out? ---
**Author:** ![Larry\_Borgia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/larry_borgia/32/156_2.png) [@Larry\_Borgia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Larry_Borgia)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2005, 2:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/conventions-parodies-in-film-television-that-should-never-ever-be-done-again-ever/319689/32 "2005-09-03T02:18:10Z")
Stuffy white guys talking “street.” Herbert Kornfeld is the only one who’s actually funny, and even he’s starting to get stale ---
**Author:** ![drewbert](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/drewbert/32/15890_2.png) [@drewbert](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drewbert)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2005, 3:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/conventions-parodies-in-film-television-that-should-never-ever-be-done-again-ever/319689/33 "2005-09-03T03:03:00Z")
> [@MaxTheVool](#): > > One that is STILL funny, and will always be funny: man getting hit in crotch by football. (Football in the groin had a football in the groin.) [Homer] Hee hee… It works on _so many levels_! [/Homer] ---
**Author:** ![Balduran](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/cc9497/32.png) [@Balduran](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Balduran)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2005, 3:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/conventions-parodies-in-film-television-that-should-never-ever-be-done-again-ever/319689/34 "2005-09-03T03:56:05Z")
The one where somebody has a drawn out conversation with somebody on the phone (usually a mistress, blackmailer …) when the oblivious spouse asks who it is the person replies “wrong number” which the spouse blithely accepts. Who wouldn’t be suspiscious if someone took more than 30 seconds to respond to a wrong number? ---
**Author:** ![Kyla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/eada6e/32.png) [@Kyla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kyla)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2005, 4:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/conventions-parodies-in-film-television-that-should-never-ever-be-done-again-ever/319689/35 "2005-09-03T04:21:14Z")
I personally never want to see another parody of “It’s a Wonderful Life” (I wish I’d never been born!) or “The Wizard of Oz” (it was all a dream! But you were there, and you, and you…) ever again. EVER. ---
**Author:** ![Taber](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ac91a4/32.png) [@Taber](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Taber)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2005, 8:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/conventions-parodies-in-film-television-that-should-never-ever-be-done-again-ever/319689/36 "2005-09-03T20:32:58Z")
“I’m a psychotic!” “No, you mean you’re psychic” Yes, we get it. psychotic and psychic sound similar, and mean completely different things. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2005, 9:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/conventions-parodies-in-film-television-that-should-never-ever-be-done-again-ever/319689/37 "2005-09-03T21:20:45Z")
> [@kingpengvin](#): > > I’m sick of the tough guy with the gentle heart. Or the tough talking broad with the heart of gold (usually a waitress in a Dinner) For my part, I’d like to see the whole heroic-antihero genre of characters get a bullet to the back of the head. That includes _House, M.D._ See this thread: [http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=333199](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=333199) ---
**Author:** ![Taber](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ac91a4/32.png) [@Taber](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Taber)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2005, 9:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/conventions-parodies-in-film-television-that-should-never-ever-be-done-again-ever/319689/38 "2005-09-03T21:20:46Z")
Oh, and just once I’d like to see a character say “This couldn’t possibly get any worse” without something bad happening immediately afterwards. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2005, 9:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/conventions-parodies-in-film-television-that-should-never-ever-be-done-again-ever/319689/39 "2005-09-03T21:23:53Z")
Character goes to his/her boss with moral misgivings about this project/coverup/course of action; boss replies, “You know, I’ve been having the same doubts, and you’ve made it clear for me!” Subordinate is dead one scene later. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2005, 9:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/conventions-parodies-in-film-television-that-should-never-ever-be-done-again-ever/319689/40 "2005-09-03T21:25:38Z")
> [@Taber](#): > > Oh, and just once I’d like to see a character say “This couldn’t possibly get any worse” without something bad happening immediately afterwards. . . . We’d lose half the belly-laughs in _Schindler’s List!_ [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/conventions-parodies-in-film-television-that-should-never-ever-be-done-again-ever/319689.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/conventions-parodies-in-film-television-that-should-never-ever-be-done-again-ever/319689.md?page=3)