# 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:** 18\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![ChaChaHeels](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f04885/32.png) [@ChaChaHeels](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ChaChaHeels)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2005, 9:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/conventions-parodies-in-film-television-that-should-never-ever-be-done-again-ever/319689/41 "2005-09-03T21:42:50Z")
Giving birth in an elevator. Doing the “You can’t handle the truth” speech. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d26b3c/32.png) [@Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Blue_Sky)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2005, 2:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/conventions-parodies-in-film-television-that-should-never-ever-be-done-again-ever/319689/42 "2005-09-04T02:13:53Z")
In sitcoms: a new character (that we’ll never see again after this episode) is gay. Everybody except the main character knows this and the gay person thinks the main character is gay. Double entendres ensue. The last this was funny was in an episode of Frasier (and that was in the second season!) ---
**Author:** ![elmwood](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/elmwood/32/3060_2.png) [@elmwood](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elmwood)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2005, 2:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/conventions-parodies-in-film-television-that-should-never-ever-be-done-again-ever/319689/43 "2005-09-04T02:57:40Z")
Man appraches a shapely young thiing with very long hair from behind in a hallway or on the street. He catcalls or whistles his approval. The person turns around … and it’s a male that just happens to have long hair! Ha ha! That’s so hilarious! Just like when a stiff, serious white cop is partnered with a cocky, renegade black cop. That’s always a lot of fun. :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d26b3c/32.png) [@Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Blue_Sky)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2005, 3:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/conventions-parodies-in-film-television-that-should-never-ever-be-done-again-ever/319689/44 "2005-09-04T03:00:17Z")
> [@elmwood](#): > > Just like when a stiff, serious white cop is partnered with a cocky, renegade black cop. That’s always a lot of fun. :rolleyes: It’s even funnier when the white cop tries to “act black”. ---
**Author:** ![Yumblie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/76d3ee/32.png) [@Yumblie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yumblie)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2005, 5:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/conventions-parodies-in-film-television-that-should-never-ever-be-done-again-ever/319689/45 "2005-09-04T05:35:06Z")
I’d very much like to stop any references to “Oh my god, they killed Kenny!” It may have been fashionable back in 1997 but I think we’ve gone way beyond the level of it being old now. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2005, 6:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/conventions-parodies-in-film-television-that-should-never-ever-be-done-again-ever/319689/46 "2005-09-04T06:10:43Z")
> [@elmwood](#): > > Just like when a stiff, serious white cop is partnered with a cocky, renegade black cop. That’s always a lot of fun. :rolleyes: But black people are always cocky, funky, loose-lipped and honest. And the older ones are very nurturing and have magic powers. ---
**Author:** ![want2know](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/50afbb/32.png) [@want2know](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/want2know)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2005, 5:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/conventions-parodies-in-film-television-that-should-never-ever-be-done-again-ever/319689/47 "2005-09-04T17:11:30Z")
> [@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 And just when I thought those ads couldn’t get any worse, along comes the new one starring fitness psycho Tony Little! Anyone remember when Target was a nice discount store that sold paper towels and other necessities? Every new ad gets weirder and weirder! And if they’re trying for the 18-25 market, here’s a newsflash: THEY think the new ads are stupid! Now stop it! ---
**Author:** ![Beware\_of\_Doug](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/278dde/32.png) [@Beware\_of\_Doug](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beware_of_Doug)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2005, 5:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/conventions-parodies-in-film-television-that-should-never-ever-be-done-again-ever/319689/48 "2005-09-04T17:32:36Z")
> [@Marley23](#): > > But black people are always cocky, funky, loose-lipped and honest. And the older ones are very nurturing and have magic powers. What about the ones who are jaded, resentful rule-waving bureaucrats? ---
**Author:** ![priapus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ed655f/32.png) [@priapus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/priapus)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2005, 9:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/conventions-parodies-in-film-television-that-should-never-ever-be-done-again-ever/319689/49 "2005-09-04T21:05:04Z")
I feel so used when I see a car comercial using the music I identified with.Pete Townsend…what happpened,man?Led Zep…how could you? ---
**Author:** ![Peter\_Morris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peter_morris/32/359_2.png) [@Peter\_Morris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peter_Morris)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2005, 10:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/conventions-parodies-in-film-television-that-should-never-ever-be-done-again-ever/319689/50 "2005-09-04T22:13:52Z")
> [@andrewdt85](#): > > I never, _ever_ wanna see a ‘funny’ sketch/commercial w/ this crap again. It’s been done too damn much. And now they have that drug commercial with it in it, and it just irks me- the tired gag should, along with any further parody of the monkeys-viewing-monolith scene in 2001 Actually, the new _Charlie And The Chocolate Factory_ movie does a pretty good parody. ---
**Author:** ![andrewdt85](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/71e660/32.png) [@andrewdt85](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/andrewdt85)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2005, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/conventions-parodies-in-film-television-that-should-never-ever-be-done-again-ever/319689/51 "2005-09-09T16:37:05Z")
> [@](#): > > Actually, the new Charlie And The Chocolate Factory movie does a pretty good parody. No it doesn’t. It’s a good movie, but no. > [@ChaChaHeels](#): > > Giving birth in an elevator. Or how about JUST GIVING BIRTH: how many damn sitcoms/shows did _that_ episode? Damn it… > [@Art Vandelay](#): > > Why is it funny when a 70+ person expresses an opinion regarding sex? Or why do they always have old women acting hip/fly/young? There’s that phone commercial out now doing it again :smack:- I agree with what Snoop Dogg said in his opener to SNL a while back- “Just once I’d like to go to the movies w/o seeing a commercial for a movie with a little old white lady going ‘for schizzle my nizzle!’” > [@Sarah Woodruff](#): > > Oh God that’s so true. I love The Chapelle Show, but seriously… right after I’d been raving to my dad about how talented Dave Chapelle was, we sit down to watch TCS and…it’s the Rick James episode. I wanted to laugh, but…just no. Never again. Ah- unfortunately, I was only referring to the incessant repeating of the Rick James meme by millions of Americans in random places for no reason. > [@](#): > > Evildoer/serial killer/monster is strangled, bludgeoned or otherwise knocked down on the ground, presumably dead, by the heroine (ALWAYS a woman) - then, as soon as she turns her back, the villain rises from his supposed defeat and turns the tables on the woman. One I hate more than that is when the killer(s) doesn’t use his/her weapon properly (gets it too close to the hero, thus allowing him/her to grab it, or looks away too long and lets the hero knock it away or get away :smack: :mad: ), or makes the Fallacy of the Talking Killer (Roger Ebert term) by talking instead of killing the guy (parodied in Last Action Hero). IF YOU ARE GONNA KILL SOMEONE IN A MOVIE F-ING DO IT RIGHT! I feel like Scottie talking to Dr Evil- let’s go get a gun and shoot him now! ---
**Author:** ![cmkeller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cmkeller/32/118_2.png) [@cmkeller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cmkeller)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2005, 4:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/conventions-parodies-in-film-television-that-should-never-ever-be-done-again-ever/319689/52 "2005-09-09T16:56:14Z")
andrewdt85: > [@](#): > > Saying “your anus” when talking about the planets. Sadly, we still have a few centuries before the name of the seventh planet gets changed to Urectum in order to eliminate that stupid joke. ---
**Author:** ![FlightlessBird](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/cdc98d/32.png) [@FlightlessBird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FlightlessBird)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2005, 6:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/conventions-parodies-in-film-television-that-should-never-ever-be-done-again-ever/319689/53 "2005-09-09T18:15:59Z")
I’m going to steal from a friend on the board (sorry, **JasonG** ). I’m done with the scratching record used as a comic turnaround. We’ve had CDs for over a decade, and the more recent out-of-date media is tapes, so stop with the records! ---
**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 9, 2005, 6:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/conventions-parodies-in-film-television-that-should-never-ever-be-done-again-ever/319689/54 "2005-09-09T18:34:59Z")
> [@FlightlessBird](#): > > I’m going to steal from a friend on the board (sorry, **JasonG** ). > I’m done with the scratching record used as a comic turnaround. We’ve had CDs for over a decade, and the more recent out-of-date media is tapes, so stop with the records! NPR did a story about 3 or 4 years ago about this. Essentially no one under 20 knows what the sound is, they just understand what it signifies. I would like to add that if you post a cliche or whatnot in one of these type threads… You have to list atleast ONE movie that it appears in. Ideally TWO. Some of these that are listed are so specific or conversely so broad I have had trouble identifying what movies they actually appeared in… let alone enough movies to make it cliche. ---
**Author:** ![NDP](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ndp/32/55_2.png) [@NDP](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NDP)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2005, 6:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/conventions-parodies-in-film-television-that-should-never-ever-be-done-again-ever/319689/55 "2005-09-09T18:42:18Z")
> [@andrewdt85](#): > > One I hate more than that is when the killer(s) … makes the Fallacy of the Talking Killer (Roger Ebert term) by talking instead of killing the guy (parodied in Last Action Hero). IF YOU ARE GONNA KILL SOMEONE IN A MOVIE F-ING DO IT RIGHT! I feel like Scottie talking to Dr Evil- let’s go get a gun and shoot him now! Actually, the whole “talking killer” cliche` was neatly skewered nearly 40 years ago in **The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly** (if you’ve seen the movie, you’ll know what scene I’m talking about). ---
**Author:** ![Petey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/f1d935/32.png) [@Petey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Petey)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2005, 10:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/conventions-parodies-in-film-television-that-should-never-ever-be-done-again-ever/319689/56 "2005-09-09T22:35:25Z")
I hate the two wires to the bomb. Shut off wire and exploding wire. “Which would you choose?” Then cut the opposite. New guy in town. His name is Alex, Terry, or even Fred. Oh, it’s actually a woman. Hilarity ensures. ---
**Author:** ![HPL](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/3da27b/32.png) [@HPL](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HPL)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2005, 11:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/conventions-parodies-in-film-television-that-should-never-ever-be-done-again-ever/319689/57 "2005-09-09T23:48:29Z")
> [@cmkeller](#): > > andrewdt85: > > Sadly, we still have a few centuries before the name of the seventh planet gets changed to Urectum in order to eliminate that stupid joke. And now it just sounds like “Urine-us”. Great change, guys. ---
**Author:** ![HubZilla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/ccd318/32.png) [@HubZilla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HubZilla)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2005, 1:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/conventions-parodies-in-film-television-that-should-never-ever-be-done-again-ever/319689/58 "2005-09-10T01:17:50Z")
> [@Argent Towers](#): > > Evildoer/serial killer/monster is strangled, bludgeoned or otherwise knocked down on the ground, presumably dead, by the heroine (ALWAYS a woman) - then, as soon as she turns her back, the villain rises from his supposed defeat and turns the tables on the woman. > > Every time I’m in a movie and a female character seems to have killed a bad guy, I always want to scream, “SHOOT HIM AGAIN! MAKE SURE HE’S DEAD!” Or, better yet, the hero wants to kill the bad guy, but realizes she becomes a monster if she does that. She turns her back, bad guy rises up, and then hero kills her on accident. Bad guy gets killed, hero’s not a killer. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/conventions-parodies-in-film-television-that-should-never-ever-be-done-again-ever/319689.md?page=2)