# Name your TV/movie pet peeves **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [May 2, 2012, 7:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-your-tv-movie-pet-peeves/620674 "2012-05-02T19:04:44Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 7
**Author:** ![Anaamika](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Anaamika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anaamika)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2012, 9:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-your-tv-movie-pet-peeves/620674/122 "2012-05-06T21:44:43Z")
Here’s one that’s really been annoying me. Every time a woman comes upon a dead body, she screams this godawful loud high pitched scream. When a man comes upon a body he might gasp or say something but he doesn’t scream that awful scream. It’s a dead body. Sure it’s freaky but when it’s clear it’s just going to continue laying there there’s no reason to scream like your child is on fire. Women should be tougher than that and react better. ---
**Author:** ![Sister\_Vigilante](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9de0a6/32.png) [@Sister\_Vigilante](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sister_Vigilante)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2012, 11:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-your-tv-movie-pet-peeves/620674/123 "2012-05-06T23:43:15Z")
> [@Corcaigh](#): > > Dammit man, now I have cappuccino all over my keyboard…!! > > 😃 > > Hello The X Files!! Although I maintain that they do this in shows made in Vancouver so we can’t see that everyone uses the same motel room, or warehouse, or whatever building they’re in as Mulder and Scully 😃 > > They did a riff on that in Stargate SG-1, newbie [Ben Browder](http://www4.picturepush.com/photo/a/3274832/480/Celebs-Cuts/ben-browder-pose5.png?v0) looks a lot like old crew [Michael Shanks](http://www.sexiestman.net/images/Shanks_Michael_headshot.jpg), so Vala makes a comment about the “small gene pool”. They also imply that during O’Neill’s past in the 60’s, he impregnated the woman who then birthed Ben Browder. Anyway that’s why, in the 200th episode, when they spoofed Farscape, Ben didn’t play his Farscape part, he gave it to Shanks. They all thought it would be fun to skewer other scifi shows but he didn’t want to go so far as to recreate his own role. ---
**Author:** ![amanset](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/8dc957/32.png) [@amanset](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/amanset)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2012, 10:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-your-tv-movie-pet-peeves/620674/124 "2012-05-07T10:56:55Z")
> [@That\_Don\_Guy](#): > > “The version I heard was,” they have to do at least something incorrectly (even if it’s as small as having campaign/decoration ribbons in the wrong order), or they run the risk of “impersonating a member of the Armed Forces”. > > Then again, according to Federal law (10 USC 772(f)): _“While portraying a member of the Army, Navy, Air Force, or Marine Corps, an actor in a theatrical or motion-picture production may wear the uniform of that armed force if the portrayal does not tend to discredit that armed force.”_ I assume “motion-picture production” includes television. > However, it is specifically against the law to manufacture facsimiles of Medals of Honor. I have absolutely no connection to the military so a lot of the errors I can let go, but rewatching “The Incredible Hulk” last week before I saw “The Avengers” at the weekend reminded me of one. TO quote IMDB: > [@](#): > > Emil Blonsky is supposedly a British officer “seconded” (detached) to the U.S. Army. Foreign officers on detached duty to the American armed forces do not wear American uniforms as Blonsky does in one scene. Only duly enlisted or commissioned members of the U.S. armed forces who have taken an oath of allegiance to the U.S. are allowed to wear the U.S. uniform. > **[The Incredible Hulk (2008) - Trivia - IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0800080/trivia/?tab=gf&item=gf0909062)** > > The Incredible Hulk (2008) - Trivia on IMDb: Cameos, Mistakes, Spoilers and more... ---
**Author:** ![minor7flat5](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/minor7flat5/32/258_2.png) [@minor7flat5](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/minor7flat5)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2012, 12:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-your-tv-movie-pet-peeves/620674/125 "2012-05-07T12:08:03Z")
[quote=“Gary “Wombat” Robson, post:69, topic:620674”] Picking actors who look alike for all of the main roles. With my face blindness, it’s almost impossible for me to follow the plot unless they have different hair colors, hair length, facial hair, body shapes, styles of dress, or SOMETHING. [/QUOTE] I’m not the only one! (I probably would not recognize my own wife of 20+ years in a crowd without looking at hair, clothing, stature, and other clues.) What chance do I have of ever keeping the similar-appearing good guys and bad guys straight in a film if they keep changing outfits and the film keeps jumping back and forth? It’s annoying and kind of embarrassing to have to ask who is who. And then the answer I often get is “(famous actor’s name) is the good guy”. If I could pick out a famous actor in a crowd, I wouldn’t be asking who the good guy was. ---
**Author:** ![Intergalactic\_Gladiator](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/intergalactic_gladiator/32/112_2.png) [@Intergalactic\_Gladiator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Intergalactic_Gladiator)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2012, 1:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-your-tv-movie-pet-peeves/620674/126 "2012-05-07T13:23:10Z")
> [@Infovore](#): > > The spouse and I have a name for this, which I coined during “Jurassic Park: The Lost World:” > > “Brits in Tan Syndrome” > > I swear there must have been at least five British guys in tan outfits, most of whom closely resembled each other, in a movie that spent most of its time in semi-darkness or moving so fast you couldn’t focus on the faces. It was very annoying. > > A few more, some of which have already been mentioned: > > - Vomiting, unless it’s (a) integral to the plot, and (b) telegraphed enough that I can look away before it happens. I _hate_ the sudden shock-vomit. I often have a tough time keeping track of people as well. With vomiting, the thing that throws me off is when someone is throwing up and it seems pretty obvious that they’re just spitting out something his mouth. From my experience watching vomit, there is usually more contents in a stomach than what can fill a mouth and it comes out a little more violently. ---
**Author:** ![Soylent\_Juicy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/82dd89/32.png) [@Soylent\_Juicy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Soylent_Juicy)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2012, 2:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-your-tv-movie-pet-peeves/620674/127 "2012-05-07T14:43:58Z")
When it’s blatantly obvious that the show is being filmed in Canada but they’re trying to disguise it as a U.S. city. Case in point: “The Long Kiss Goodnight” - the characters were walking around “New Jersey” but the big ole Honest Ed’s sign in downtown Toronto was shining brightly behind them. ---
**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:** [May 7, 2012, 2:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-your-tv-movie-pet-peeves/620674/128 "2012-05-07T14:44:10Z")
> [@minor7flat5](#): > > What chance do I have of ever keeping the similar-appearing good guys and bad guys straight in a film if they keep changing outfits and the film keeps jumping back and forth? It’s annoying and kind of embarrassing to have to ask who is who. From a review I wrote of the film _Hidalgo_: > [@](#): > > Beyond that, there are the carefully cast “Arabs,” all just different-looking enough to overcome the filmmakers’ worry that the audience won’t be able to keep them straight by their names: one looks like a heavyweight Martin Lawrence, one is very dark-skinned, one is Omar Sharif, and of the two that have beards, the bad guy’s is carefully trimmed to a demonic point. Easy, right? ---
**Author:** ![Anaamika](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Anaamika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anaamika)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2012, 4:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-your-tv-movie-pet-peeves/620674/129 "2012-05-07T16:29:07Z")
Watch some 80s sci-fi. Invariably the leads will be a bunch of pretty blond white guys. Yes, white guys can and do all look alike if they are all generic blond handsome boys and by the end of the movie I have no idea who did what, ---
**Author:** ![Gary\_Robson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gary_robson/32/3448_2.png) [@Gary\_Robson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gary_Robson)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2012, 5:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-your-tv-movie-pet-peeves/620674/130 "2012-05-07T17:40:15Z")
> [@KneadToKnow](#): > > From a review I wrote of the film _Hidalgo_: > > > [@](#): > > > > Beyond that, there are the carefully cast “Arabs,” all just different-looking enough to overcome the filmmakers’ worry that the audience won’t be able to keep them straight by their names: one looks like a heavyweight Martin Lawrence, one is very dark-skinned, one is Omar Sharif, and of the two that have beards, the bad guy’s is carefully trimmed to a demonic point. Easy, right? I wish all of the directors would do that. If the actors all have different hair lengths/colors, the men have different facial hair, they have a variety of skin tones, characters have different dress styles, then I’m a happy camper. ---
**Author:** ![Maiira](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f04885/32.png) [@Maiira](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maiira)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2012, 6:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-your-tv-movie-pet-peeves/620674/131 "2012-05-07T18:39:04Z")
> [@Anaamika](#): > > Here’s one that’s really been annoying me. Every time a woman comes upon a dead body, she screams this godawful loud high pitched scream. When a man comes upon a body he might gasp or say something but he doesn’t scream that awful scream. > > It’s a dead body. Sure it’s freaky but when it’s clear it’s just going to continue laying there there’s no reason to scream like your child is on fire. Women should be tougher than that and react better. Heh, I remember reading a forensic science book written by a medical examiner, and he said that whenever they’d have a particularly gross body and there were cops looking on, it was usually the dudes who freaked out and the women who stayed cool. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Lemur866](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lemur866/32/434_2.png) [@Lemur866](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lemur866)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2012, 7:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-your-tv-movie-pet-peeves/620674/132 "2012-05-07T19:19:10Z")
You know what I’d like to see? A scene where a character is bonked on the head by the main character and passes out. Then they wake up days later in a hospital, and struggle for the rest of their lives with permanent brain damage. Killing a guy accidentally is part of the job description for the heroes. Giving someone a permanent life-altering injury is another thing. Humans don’t come equipped with an “off switch”, and we need to stop perpetuating the notion that you can tap someone on the skull and they instantly become totally unconscious, but will wake up hours later with no ill effects. ---
**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2012, 7:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-your-tv-movie-pet-peeves/620674/133 "2012-05-07T19:19:50Z")
These have been mentioned but I’m going to re-mention and agregate: - Dogs growl, groan and bark constantly - Cats meow and purr constantly - Rodents squeak constantly - Babies babble and coo constantly Except in real life. ---
**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:** [May 7, 2012, 7:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-your-tv-movie-pet-peeves/620674/134 "2012-05-07T19:37:17Z")
[quote=“Gary “Wombat” Robson, post:130, topic:620674”] I wish all of the directors would do that. If the actors all have different hair lengths/colors, the men have different facial hair, they have a variety of skin tones, characters have different dress styles, then I’m a happy camper. [/QUOTE] It sure would make for some funny-looking Nazis, though. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Irishman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/b487fb/32.png) [@Irishman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Irishman)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2012, 8:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-your-tv-movie-pet-peeves/620674/135 "2012-05-07T20:24:24Z")
But by definition, you don’t need to tell NAZI’s apart. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Mister\_Rik](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mister_rik/32/491_2.png) [@Mister\_Rik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mister_Rik)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2012, 8:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-your-tv-movie-pet-peeves/620674/136 "2012-05-07T20:46:38Z")
> [@Lemur866](#): > > You know what I’d like to see? > > A scene where a character is bonked on the head by the main character and passes out. Then they wake up days later in a hospital, and struggle for the rest of their lives with permanent brain damage. Killing a guy accidentally is part of the job description for the heroes. Giving someone a permanent life-altering injury is another thing. > > Humans don’t come equipped with an “off switch”, and we need to stop perpetuating the notion that you can tap someone on the skull and they instantly become totally unconscious, but will wake up hours later with no ill effects. Presenting the [Close Range Tranquilizer Rifle](http://www.cracked.com/photoplasty_173_19-ads-products-that-apparently-exist-in-movies_p19/#16)! “Cranial contact with the butt of this rifle causes instant incapacitation for however long you need to take care of your business!” “No Harmful Side Effects!” “Knocking Someone Unconscious Has Never Been Easier!” ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2012, 11:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-your-tv-movie-pet-peeves/620674/137 "2012-05-07T23:55:24Z")
> [@Lemur866](#): > > \ > > Humans don’t come equipped with an “off switch”, and we need to stop perpetuating the notion that you can tap someone on the skull and they instantly become totally unconscious, but will wake up hours later with no ill effects. No kidding - there are some shows where characters get knocked unconscious about five to ten times per year - that’s Sidney Crosby levels of brain damage! On a somewhat-related note, one of the best things I’ve ever read here was “Spongebrain Claire’smom” from “Heroes.” 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Feyrat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/fbc32d/32.png) [@Feyrat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Feyrat)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2012, 12:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-your-tv-movie-pet-peeves/620674/138 "2012-05-08T00:25:03Z")
> [@Anaamika](#): > > Here’s one that’s really been annoying me. Every time a woman comes upon a dead body, she screams this godawful loud high pitched scream. When a man comes upon a body he might gasp or say something but he doesn’t scream that awful scream. > > It’s a dead body. Sure it’s freaky but when it’s clear it’s just going to continue laying there there’s no reason to scream like your child is on fire. Women should be tougher than that and react better. You know, everytime I’ve actually been startled/scared enough to really scream? I’ve just come out with a squeaky little wheeze. Or a lot of moaning. That noise isn’t really natural. ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2012, 12:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-your-tv-movie-pet-peeves/620674/139 "2012-05-08T00:32:36Z")
> [@Feyrat](#): > > You know, everytime I’ve actually been startled/scared enough to really scream? I’ve just come out with a squeaky little wheeze. Or a lot of moaning. That noise isn’t really natural. That too. I don’t think I’ve screamed in surprise or terror once in my lifetime. ---
**Author:** ![Gedd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gedd/32/4938_2.png) [@Gedd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gedd)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2012, 1:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-your-tv-movie-pet-peeves/620674/140 "2012-05-08T13:33:03Z")
This is a more general one, but I hate when a show or movie makes it obvious that something bad or embarrassing is going to happen to a main character. Some movies I can’t watch anymore because I feel so bad for the person. For example _Meet the Parents._ Why do I want to watch a series of horrible things happen to a character I’m supposed to like? ---
**Author:** ![control-z](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/eada6e/32.png) [@control-z](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/control-z)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2012, 3:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-your-tv-movie-pet-peeves/620674/141 "2012-05-08T15:04:51Z")
> [@Gedd](#): > > This is a more general one, but I hate when a show or movie makes it obvious that something bad or embarrassing is going to happen to a main character. Some movies I can’t watch anymore because I feel so bad for the person. For example _Meet the Parents._ Why do I want to watch a series of horrible things happen to a character I’m supposed to like? That’s why I don’t enjoy Andy Griffith. I like the characters and the setting but it’s painful for me to watch Barney screw up every time (with few exceptions.) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-your-tv-movie-pet-peeves/620674.md?page=6) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-your-tv-movie-pet-peeves/620674.md?page=8)