# Extremely brief TV and movie cliches/tropes that you typically do not see mentioned **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [February 24, 2017, 11:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/extremely-brief-tv-and-movie-cliches-tropes-that-you-typically-do-not-see-mentioned/780621 "2017-02-24T11:04:05Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Oly](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/oly/32/8255_2.png) [@Oly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oly)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2017, 5:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/extremely-brief-tv-and-movie-cliches-tropes-that-you-typically-do-not-see-mentioned/780621/21 "2017-02-25T05:16:29Z")
When someone is talking on the phone, and they hear something surprising\important, they switch the phone to their other ear. Likewise, when someone hears something distressing, if they are wearing glasses, they take them off, and probably rub their eyes. ---
**Author:** ![Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mean_mr.mustard/32/3865_2.png) [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mean_Mr.Mustard)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2017, 12:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/extremely-brief-tv-and-movie-cliches-tropes-that-you-typically-do-not-see-mentioned/780621/22 "2017-02-25T12:15:37Z")
When there is an overhead announcement in a public place, everyone in sight stops what they are doing and \*looks \*toward the source of the sound. M_A_S\*H is good for this one. mmm ---
**Author:** ![Icarus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/icarus/32/72_2.png) [@Icarus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Icarus)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2017, 12:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/extremely-brief-tv-and-movie-cliches-tropes-that-you-typically-do-not-see-mentioned/780621/23 "2017-02-25T12:23:40Z")
No one ever says “bye” when hanging up a phone, they just - hang up. ---
**Author:** ![GuanoLad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guanolad/32/42_2.png) [@GuanoLad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuanoLad)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2017, 12:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/extremely-brief-tv-and-movie-cliches-tropes-that-you-typically-do-not-see-mentioned/780621/24 "2017-02-25T12:59:22Z")
Waking from a nightmare by sitting bolt upright. Whenever anyone orders “a beer”, it’s without mentioning any brand names, not even made up ones. People will travel for miles to a location, like the office or a friend’s house, have a two minute conversation, then drive all the way back. There only seems to be one sound effect available for futuristic doors opening up. [It’s this one](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1QyOe5xUb2s). ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2017, 1:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/extremely-brief-tv-and-movie-cliches-tropes-that-you-typically-do-not-see-mentioned/780621/25 "2017-02-25T13:36:37Z")
As the hotshot maverick New York City detective I can’t believe Bob is the real killer! He fooled us all. Where is he now? He’s with Mary? My flirty maybe love interest? He’s going to clean up loose ends and kill her! I’m going to run out of this apartment, go down 15 floors, find my car, get through daytime Manhattan traffic, get to her building, park, go up 20 flights and get to her apartment just in time. Because the other 35,000 NYPD cops that I could get help from instantly over the radio are all on vacation. ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2017, 8:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/extremely-brief-tv-and-movie-cliches-tropes-that-you-typically-do-not-see-mentioned/780621/26 "2017-02-25T20:18:35Z")
They’re not on vacation; they just don’t like you. Hotshot. ---
**Author:** ![Morbo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/morbo/32/389_2.png) [@Morbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morbo)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2017, 8:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/extremely-brief-tv-and-movie-cliches-tropes-that-you-typically-do-not-see-mentioned/780621/27 "2017-02-25T20:19:57Z")
If you get shot and happen to be wearing a bullet proof vest, it is required to unbutton your shirt so everyone can finally understand why you are still alive. ---
**Author:** ![Lamia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/8e7dd6/32.png) [@Lamia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lamia)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2017, 11:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/extremely-brief-tv-and-movie-cliches-tropes-that-you-typically-do-not-see-mentioned/780621/28 "2017-02-25T23:55:12Z")
A sitcom character is having a bachelor/ette party or celebrating a birthday, and their friends decide to hire a stripper. This will lead to embarrassment in one of two ways, depending on the gender of the character. Male character/female stripper: They get handcuffed together and lose the keys. Female character/male stripper: A police officer or other uniformed man will be mistaken for the stripper. IIRC, _Designing Women_ managed to do both of these in different episodes. ---
**Author:** ![Peanuthead](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peanuthead/32/360_2.png) [@Peanuthead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peanuthead)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2017, 4:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/extremely-brief-tv-and-movie-cliches-tropes-that-you-typically-do-not-see-mentioned/780621/29 "2017-02-26T16:29:05Z")
When someone receives bad news in a bar or restaurant they will go to the bathroom and splash water on their face. Then punch the mirror. ---
**Author:** ![Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mean_mr.mustard/32/3865_2.png) [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mean_Mr.Mustard)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2017, 4:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/extremely-brief-tv-and-movie-cliches-tropes-that-you-typically-do-not-see-mentioned/780621/30 "2017-02-26T16:51:36Z")
Just saw this last night in the movie ‘Sully’: A character, previously unknown to the public, makes the news for some reason. He turns the TV on, flips through several channels - each of which is covering his story - then shuts the TV off and tosses the remote on the bed/sofa/chair. mmm ---
**Author:** ![BlankSlate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blankslate/32/80_2.png) [@BlankSlate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BlankSlate)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2017, 5:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/extremely-brief-tv-and-movie-cliches-tropes-that-you-typically-do-not-see-mentioned/780621/31 "2017-02-26T17:14:59Z")
Empty coffee cups and empty luggage. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2017, 5:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/extremely-brief-tv-and-movie-cliches-tropes-that-you-typically-do-not-see-mentioned/780621/32 "2017-02-26T17:25:57Z")
> [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](#): > > Just saw this last night in the movie ‘Sully’: > > A character, previously unknown to the public, makes the news for some reason. He turns the TV on, flips through several channels - each of which is covering his story - then shuts the TV off and tosses the remote on the bed/sofa/chair. > mmm To be fair, Sully’s story _did_ dominate news for the day or so after the plane crash. ---
**Author:** ![Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mean_mr.mustard/32/3865_2.png) [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mean_Mr.Mustard)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2017, 6:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/extremely-brief-tv-and-movie-cliches-tropes-that-you-typically-do-not-see-mentioned/780621/33 "2017-02-26T18:54:40Z")
> [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > To be fair, Sully’s story _did_ dominate news for the day or so after the plane crash. Oh I know, I remember. But the scene seemed so cliched, like I had seen it dozens of time before. Usually it’s a murderer hiding out in a motel room. mmm ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2017, 7:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/extremely-brief-tv-and-movie-cliches-tropes-that-you-typically-do-not-see-mentioned/780621/34 "2017-02-26T19:06:25Z")
Similarly, there’s the scene in which the protagonist gets a phone call urging him to turn on the TV. So he does, just to catch the beginning of a story about him or one he’s interested in. The protagonist never turns on the TV to find the story is already over, or has to change channels to find the local news station. ---
**Author:** ![astro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9dc877/32.png) [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2017, 7:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/extremely-brief-tv-and-movie-cliches-tropes-that-you-typically-do-not-see-mentioned/780621/35 "2017-02-26T19:09:37Z")
When ordering food you almost never hear an item ordered where the server would need to ask them how they wanted it cooked or engage in any dialog about preparation. ---
**Author:** ![D\_Odds](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/d_odds/32/2882_2.png) [@D\_Odds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/D_Odds)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2017, 7:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/extremely-brief-tv-and-movie-cliches-tropes-that-you-typically-do-not-see-mentioned/780621/36 "2017-02-26T19:16:52Z")
> [@Loach](#): > > As the hotshot maverick New York City detective I can’t believe Bob is the real killer! He fooled us all. Where is he now? He’s with Mary? My flirty maybe love interest? He’s going to clean up loose ends and kill her! I’m going to run out of this apartment, go down 15 floors, find my car, get through daytime Manhattan traffic, get to her building, park, go up 20 flights and get to her apartment just in time. Because the other 35,000 NYPD cops that I could get help from instantly over the radio are all on vacation. C’mon, we all know that none of those 35,000 officers are even half as good as our hotshot maverick NYC detective. They’re probably all on Bob’s payroll, and if they are not, they are Mary’s ex and we don’t want them anywhere near her. Besides, there’s only going to reasonably be 100-300 in place to help before I can get there, depending on the neighborhood. Do you really want to play with those odds? ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2017, 7:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/extremely-brief-tv-and-movie-cliches-tropes-that-you-typically-do-not-see-mentioned/780621/37 "2017-02-26T19:26:20Z")
> [@Quimby](#): > > No one EVER brings up money unless the plot of that episode is about money. No one ever brings up _anything_ unless the plot of that episode is about it. See [Chekov’s Gun.](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chekhov's_gun) Or, in other words, “good writing.” ---
**Author:** ![Derleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Derleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Derleth)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2017, 10:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/extremely-brief-tv-and-movie-cliches-tropes-that-you-typically-do-not-see-mentioned/780621/38 "2017-02-26T22:02:03Z")
> [@RealityChuck](#): > > No one ever brings up _anything_ unless the plot of that episode is about it. I think you and the concept of atmosphere need to have a good, long talk. Preferably in a furnished room, in a city, on a day with weather. ---
**Author:** ![Clarisse\_McClellan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f0a364/32.png) [@Clarisse\_McClellan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Clarisse_McClellan)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2017, 1:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/extremely-brief-tv-and-movie-cliches-tropes-that-you-typically-do-not-see-mentioned/780621/39 "2017-02-27T01:20:04Z")
The dramatic break off in the middle of a sentence. “If she dies…” “if they dont get here in time…” Especially when there’s a sizable pause instead of an immediate interruption. Drives me crazy because it never ever happens in real life. ---
**Author:** ![astorian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ad7895/32.png) [@astorian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astorian)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2017, 2:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/extremely-brief-tv-and-movie-cliches-tropes-that-you-typically-do-not-see-mentioned/780621/40 "2017-02-27T02:14:42Z")
Every nun will wear a floor length gown- the type real nuns haven’t worn in about 50 years. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/extremely-brief-tv-and-movie-cliches-tropes-that-you-typically-do-not-see-mentioned/780621.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/extremely-brief-tv-and-movie-cliches-tropes-that-you-typically-do-not-see-mentioned/780621.md?page=3)