# Finish the TV SITCOM cliche... **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Created:** [November 17, 2008, 10:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/finish-the-tv-sitcom-cliche/473198 "2008-11-17T22:59:59Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![Sampiro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2acd7d/32.png) [@Sampiro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sampiro)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2008, 6:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/finish-the-tv-sitcom-cliche/473198/81 "2008-11-20T18:44:53Z")
> [@Beadalin](#): > > When a character has a baby, the “newborn” will… strangely be born without an umbilical chord (or afterbirth for that matter), which allows the waiter/stranger in the elevator/father-in-law/etc. who delivers it to wrap it in blanket and hand it to the mother. Easy one: When the character gets roped into escorting the visiting out of town relative of a geeky and totally unattractive landlord/friend/neighbor, low and behold if the relative doesn’t turn out to be… ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2008, 6:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/finish-the-tv-sitcom-cliche/473198/82 "2008-11-20T18:53:00Z")
> [@Sampiro](#): > > Easy one: When the character gets roped into escorting the visiting out of town relative of a geeky and totally unattractive landlord/friend/neighbor, low and behold if the relative doesn’t turn out to be… Drop dead gorgeous but in the future is … ---
**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:** [November 20, 2008, 8:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/finish-the-tv-sitcom-cliche/473198/83 "2008-11-20T20:57:18Z")
> [@What\_Exit](#): > > Drop dead gorgeous but in the future is … CRAZY!!! The obligatory gay character is always… ---
**Author:** ![Wargamer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/df705f/32.png) [@Wargamer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wargamer)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2008, 9:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/finish-the-tv-sitcom-cliche/473198/84 "2008-11-20T21:12:03Z")
…single, and never able to score a date. The wacky neighbor will always\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_when it is least convenient. ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2008, 9:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/finish-the-tv-sitcom-cliche/473198/85 "2008-11-20T21:22:46Z")
> [@Wargamer](#): > > The wacky neighbor will always\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_when it is least convenient. “barge in” When the main character’s parents visit, \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ ---
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2008, 10:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/finish-the-tv-sitcom-cliche/473198/86 "2008-11-20T22:03:17Z")
> [@Mahaloth](#): > > When the main character’s parents visit, \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ They will discover that the main character is a) having sex b) keeping a deep, dark secret and c) a lousy housekeeper. When the main character gets in a jam, the wacky neighbor will be revealed to have an unexpected talent in… ---
**Author:** ![Liberal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/848f3c/32.png) [@Liberal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Liberal)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2008, 10:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/finish-the-tv-sitcom-cliche/473198/87 "2008-11-20T22:12:33Z")
…whatever it takes to clear up the problem. When cooking Thanksgiving dinner while hosting the family for the first time, the oven door will be opened and… ---
**Author:** ![Captain\_Amazing](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6de8d8/32.png) [@Captain\_Amazing](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Captain_Amazing)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2008, 10:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/finish-the-tv-sitcom-cliche/473198/88 "2008-11-20T22:30:11Z")
> [@Liberal](#): > > …whatever it takes to clear up the problem. > > When cooking Thanksgiving dinner while hosting the family for the first time, the oven door will be opened and… Smoke will billow out from the horribly burnt turkey in the oven? An oldie but a goodie. The husband and wife will argue about whether having a job or being a housewife is harder, so to settle the issue, they’ll \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_. ---
**Author:** ![Liberal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/848f3c/32.png) [@Liberal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Liberal)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2008, 11:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/finish-the-tv-sitcom-cliche/473198/89 "2008-11-20T23:17:51Z")
…swap places for 24 hours. She will be a smashing success at the office and a pain in the ass at home. He will be a miserable failure as a homemaker, and will see the error of his ways. Two straight guys rooming together will have to pretend to be gay when… ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2008, 3:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/finish-the-tv-sitcom-cliche/473198/90 "2008-11-21T15:15:11Z")
> [@Liberal](#): > > …swap places for 24 hours. She will be a smashing success at the office and a pain in the ass at home. He will be a miserable failure as a homemaker, and will see the error of his ways. > > Two straight guys rooming together will have to pretend to be gay when… one of them is trying to convince a woman that he is not interested in her, or… ---
**Author:** ![Sampiro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2acd7d/32.png) [@Sampiro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sampiro)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2008, 3:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/finish-the-tv-sitcom-cliche/473198/91 "2008-11-21T15:47:26Z")
> [@Annie-Xmas](#): > > one of them is trying to convince a woman that he is not interested in her, or… One is trying to impress a client who thinks he’s gay. When a sitcom runs for several seasons, the odds of a guest appearance by (character actors) \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ , \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_, or \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ approach one. (It’s alright to use dead or ‘dated’ character actors who no longer make appearances.) ---
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2008, 6:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/finish-the-tv-sitcom-cliche/473198/92 "2008-11-21T18:03:12Z")
> [@Sampiro](#): > > One is trying to impress a client who thinks he’s gay. > > When a sitcom runs for several seasons, the odds of a guest appearance by (character actors) \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ , \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_, or \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ approach one. (It’s alright to use dead or ‘dated’ character actors who no longer make appearances.) Formerly: Vincent Price, Charles Lane, Imogene Coca, William Schallert, Nanette Fabray, Eleanor Donohue Current: Sarah Silverman, Debbie Reynolds, Danny DeVito, Wendy Malick When a sitcom actress is pregnant, but the character isn’t, producers will hide the pregnancy by… ---
**Author:** ![Liberal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/848f3c/32.png) [@Liberal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Liberal)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2008, 6:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/finish-the-tv-sitcom-cliche/473198/93 "2008-11-21T18:20:53Z")
…shooting her in close-ups, or hiding her behind counter tops. When a guy’s new girlfriend comes to his house for the first time, she opens his fridge and finds… ---
**Author:** ![jali](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ecae2f/32.png) [@jali](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jali)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2008, 6:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/finish-the-tv-sitcom-cliche/473198/94 "2008-11-21T18:59:35Z")
Beer, a pizza box with one shriveled slice remaining, an onion and a tupperware container with dark fuzz inside. If a girl brings a guy home to meet mom and dad… ---
**Author:** ![Spoons](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spoons/32/3141_2.png) [@Spoons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoons)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2008, 7:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/finish-the-tv-sitcom-cliche/473198/95 "2008-11-21T19:06:35Z")
> [@jali](#): > > If a girl brings a guy home to meet mom and dad… …Dad will turn out to be the person whom Guy: – stole the last parking space in the mall lot from; – yelled at for having over 12 items in the express line of the supermarket; or – completely hustled at pool in the local sports bar. When a sitcom child has to do a science fair project… ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2008, 7:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/finish-the-tv-sitcom-cliche/473198/96 "2008-11-21T19:14:04Z")
> [@Spoons](#): > > When a sitcom child has to do a science fair project… The father either blows himself up or makes something so complicated and involved that he doesn’t let the kid do any of the work and the kid hates it of course. If there is no father to help with the science project then … ---
**Author:** ![tds1273](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/df705f/32.png) [@tds1273](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tds1273)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2008, 7:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/finish-the-tv-sitcom-cliche/473198/97 "2008-11-21T19:30:01Z")
…it will always be a vinegar/baking soda volcano. When the mom is doing the kids’ laundry… ---
**Author:** ![Sampiro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2acd7d/32.png) [@Sampiro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sampiro)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2008, 7:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/finish-the-tv-sitcom-cliche/473198/98 "2008-11-21T19:40:53Z")
she’s always wearing business casual and the laundry is never actually seen wet- and in fact it hardly looks like it needs washing. Common architectural features of middle income houses and apartments (though not yours or that of most people you know) include… ---
**Author:** ![samarm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/4da419/32.png) [@samarm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/samarm)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2008, 9:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/finish-the-tv-sitcom-cliche/473198/99 "2008-11-21T21:50:05Z")
Greek style pillars at the front, a white picket fence, swimming pool, phone in the kitchen with an unfeasabily long cord. The father’s daughter is dating a boy of a different race, and the father initially expresses concerns… ---
**Author:** ![zamboniracer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/e9a140/32.png) [@zamboniracer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zamboniracer)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2008, 6:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/finish-the-tv-sitcom-cliche/473198/100 "2008-11-22T18:41:10Z")
…but he learns his lesson later in the show when someone from another race comes to his aid. On the family vacation… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/finish-the-tv-sitcom-cliche/473198.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/finish-the-tv-sitcom-cliche/473198.md?page=6)