# Examples of "cheeking" in movies/TV? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [November 24, 2020, 2:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/examples-of-cheeking-in-movies-tv/926348 "2020-11-24T14:18:58Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![KneadToKnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kneadtoknow/32/3999_2.png) [@KneadToKnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KneadToKnow)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2020, 2:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/examples-of-cheeking-in-movies-tv/926348/1 "2020-11-24T14:18:58Z")
Recently, I’ve seen a TV series (_The Queen’s Gambit_) and a movie (_Run_) which both featured scenes of someone “cheeking” their medication. Cheeking, I learned, is the name for hiding a pill in your cheek or under your tongue to avoid swallowing it while still appearing to do so. I know this is a pretty common trope in movies & TV shows (I vaguely remember it from _Cuckoo’s Nest_), but I can’t for the life of me come up with any other _specific_ examples. Can anyone think of any? ---
**Author:** ![Andy\_L](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c67d28/32.png) [@Andy\_L](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Andy_L)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2020, 2:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/examples-of-cheeking-in-movies-tv/926348/2 "2020-11-24T14:53:59Z")
Happens in “House” during the season he’s in a mental hospital (I think) Also in “The Practice” (as I recall) ---
**Author:** ![Si\_Amigo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/si_amigo/32/2877_2.png) [@Si\_Amigo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Si_Amigo)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2020, 3:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/examples-of-cheeking-in-movies-tv/926348/3 "2020-11-24T15:40:34Z")
In the Sopronos Uncle Junior cheecked his meds in the nursing home in the final season. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2020, 3:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/examples-of-cheeking-in-movies-tv/926348/4 "2020-11-24T15:50:48Z")
Did not know it was called ‘cheeking’. Have to verify individual episodes of shows to see if it’s actually done. There’s an episode of It’s Always Sunny that has Danny DeVito in an institution, replaying his part from Cuckoo’s Nest. Not sure if he’s ‘cheeking’ drugs though, his character Frank would usually take any drugs he could find. On New Radio there’s an episode where the late great Phil Hartman’s character ends up in an institution with a character played by Jon Lovitz who would sadly replace his Bill McNeal character on the show. Would have to see any of these episodes to make sure it was done, but the idea is prevalent. ---
**Author:** ![FastDan1](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fastdan1/32/427_2.png) [@FastDan1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FastDan1)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2020, 4:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/examples-of-cheeking-in-movies-tv/926348/5 "2020-11-24T16:17:42Z")
James Caan’s character in _Misery_. ---
**Author:** ![KneadToKnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kneadtoknow/32/3999_2.png) [@KneadToKnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KneadToKnow)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2020, 4:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/examples-of-cheeking-in-movies-tv/926348/6 "2020-11-24T16:54:04Z")
Great examples, y’all. I was able to find the _Misery_ reference in an online copy of the screenplay, so I used that one to fill out my required 3 examples. I’m trying to [launch this as a new trope](https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/discussion.php?id=i4pqfemlf28c4ygvz8et9oyz) over at TVTropes (in case you hadn’t guessed). ---
**Author:** ![Andy\_L](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c67d28/32.png) [@Andy\_L](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Andy_L)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2020, 5:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/examples-of-cheeking-in-movies-tv/926348/7 "2020-11-24T17:39:04Z")
I checked - not “The Practice” but Boston Legal in “Still Crazy after all These Years” [Boston Legal - Still Crazy After All These Years / Season one, Episode two - starring James Spader, Mark Valley, William Shatner, Candice Bergen, Rene Auberjonois, Julie Bowen, Justin Mentell, Ryan Michelle Bathe; by ABC TV and David E. Kelley Productions](http://www.boston-legal.org/2-crazy/ep2-crazy.shtml) . At a hearing Alan Shore argues that Christine Pauley is now sane, and her doctors say its only because of the drugs she’s been forced to take at the hospital. Pauley then produces a pile of pills, which she had clearly not been taking - because she was “cheeking” them. ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2020, 5:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/examples-of-cheeking-in-movies-tv/926348/8 "2020-11-24T17:44:06Z")
Pretty sure Murdock was seen cheeking at least once in “The A-Team”. I don’t recall if she was seen cheeking specifically but Sarah Connor was rather creative with avoiding medication in _Judgement Day_. ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2020, 5:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/examples-of-cheeking-in-movies-tv/926348/9 "2020-11-24T17:56:00Z")
> [@Skywatcher](#): > > I don’t recall if she was seen cheeking specifically but Sarah Connor was rather creative with avoiding medication in _Judgement Day_ . I found a script online. She wasn’t successful. ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2020, 8:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/examples-of-cheeking-in-movies-tv/926348/10 "2020-11-24T20:13:09Z")
Probably Arnold in the first version of **Total Recall**. He pretends to take a pill (which is supposed to be a “symbolic” way of recognizing that his “reality” is an implanted delusion), but spits it out when he sees the Rekall executive starting to sweat. [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/qDELd2XLvYg/hqdefault.jpg "Totall Recall Pill Scene") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qDELd2XLvYg) Although I don’t know where he hid the pill – cheek or tongue or whatever ---
**Author:** ![Paintcharge](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/paintcharge/32/7946_2.png) [@Paintcharge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Paintcharge)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2020, 8:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/examples-of-cheeking-in-movies-tv/926348/11 "2020-11-24T20:39:46Z")
IIRC the main character in Legion did it in one of the early episodes. ---
**Author:** ![journeyman\_southpaw](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/5e9695/32.png) [@journeyman\_southpaw](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/journeyman_southpaw)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2020, 8:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/examples-of-cheeking-in-movies-tv/926348/12 "2020-11-24T20:52:33Z")
Bradley Cooper’s character in Silver Linings Playbook. Can’t find a clip but it’s discussed here: [Ask a Psychiatrist: How Does Silver Linings Playbook Handle Mental Illness?](https://www.vulture.com/2012/12/ask-a-psychiatrist-how-does-silver-linings-playbook-handle-mental-illness.html) ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2020, 12:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/examples-of-cheeking-in-movies-tv/926348/13 "2020-11-25T00:56:30Z")
I just dropped in to say: _EWWWW!_ 🤢 ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2020, 2:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/examples-of-cheeking-in-movies-tv/926348/14 "2020-11-25T02:28:57Z")
In the 2nd to last episode of _ **Undone** _, the main character Alma does it to convince her mom that she’s taking her bipolar meds. ---
**Author:** ![Andy\_L](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c67d28/32.png) [@Andy\_L](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Andy_L)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2020, 2:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/examples-of-cheeking-in-movies-tv/926348/15 "2020-11-25T02:35:14Z")
That link isn’t working for me (takes me to a login page, which doesn’t help me since I don’t have a Tvtropes account). When you get your new trope up, send the link, please! ---
**Author:** ![journeyman\_southpaw](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/5e9695/32.png) [@journeyman\_southpaw](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/journeyman_southpaw)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2020, 3:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/examples-of-cheeking-in-movies-tv/926348/16 "2020-11-25T03:59:13Z")
TVTropes likes their anime and comic book examples too, so here’s a comic book one: [Joseph Irons](https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-roVyGDl6jVQ/Vt4mYQ3ZI4I/AAAAAAAAMC4/mVNo9Bav1eI/s1600-Ic42/RCO012.jpg) in the 2012 reboot of _Harbinger._ ---
**Author:** ![KneadToKnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kneadtoknow/32/3999_2.png) [@KneadToKnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KneadToKnow)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2020, 4:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/examples-of-cheeking-in-movies-tv/926348/17 "2020-11-27T16:59:07Z")
> [@Andy\_L](#): > > When you get your new trope up, send the link, please! Will do. I’ve actually just proposed a new name for the trope after getting some feedback. Now looking to call it “Contesting a Pill.” Also, to a lot of the responders here, I have to provide _very_ specific examples to get the trope launched (my very first response to the proposal was basically “you can’t just say ‘so and so does this trope,’”) so I can’t add those yet. If it is successful, they can be added later. ---
**Author:** ![Andy\_L](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c67d28/32.png) [@Andy\_L](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Andy_L)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2020, 5:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/examples-of-cheeking-in-movies-tv/926348/18 "2020-11-27T17:56:14Z")
I think my “Boston Legal” description is pretty detailed. For House, further details. In “Broken” while House in a psychiatric hospital, House avoids taking Haldol by cheeking both because he doesn’t think he needs it and because he wants to trade the pills to another patient. House also manages to fake a urine test so it looks like he has been taking his meds ([Broken | House Wiki | Fandom](https://house.fandom.com/wiki/Broken)) ---
**Author:** ![KneadToKnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kneadtoknow/32/3999_2.png) [@KneadToKnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KneadToKnow)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2020, 12:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/examples-of-cheeking-in-movies-tv/926348/19 "2020-11-28T00:46:41Z")
> [@Andy\_L](#): > > I think my “Boston Legal” description is pretty detailed. Right you are, **Andy\_L**. I certainly didn’t mean that to apply to everyone. ---
**Author:** ![Andy\_L](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c67d28/32.png) [@Andy\_L](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Andy_L)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2020, 12:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/examples-of-cheeking-in-movies-tv/926348/20 "2020-11-28T00:52:37Z")
Understood. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/examples-of-cheeking-in-movies-tv/926348.md?page=2)