# New trend in TV show dialog device? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [May 17, 2023, 3:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-trend-in-tv-show-dialog-device/984146 "2023-05-17T03:35:53Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![CookingWithGas](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cookingwithgas/32/485_2.png) [@CookingWithGas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CookingWithGas)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2023, 3:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-trend-in-tv-show-dialog-device/984146/1 "2023-05-17T03:35:53Z")
The last few months I have noticed a dialog quirk come up again and again, on almost every show I watch. The character is getting angry or frustrated with another character, and is carrying on a barely-contained rant. Then they say something like, “That’s your fault , Rose” The pause is just a little longer than how people really talk. The pause makes the utterance of the name emphasize how pissed off the speaker is. Is this a new trend in TV direction? Is it a new trend IRL that I am just missing out on? ---
**Author:** ![Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/elmer_j.fudd/32/1211_2.png) [@Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elmer_J.Fudd)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2023, 5:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-trend-in-tv-show-dialog-device/984146/2 "2023-05-17T05:16:18Z")
> [@CookingWithGas](#): > > “That’s your fault , Rose …if, indeed that is your _real_ name!” Scripts have always had characters overusing the name of another character they are alone with in a scene. Emphasizing the name just makes it sound even more ridiculous. I don’t get it either unless their trying to make sure the audience knows the name of the character. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2023, 7:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-trend-in-tv-show-dialog-device/984146/3 "2023-05-17T19:57:16Z")
If I was ranting IRL at something triggered by the other person in teh room I might well rant > whatever ranty whatever whatever ranty mcrantface! Bitch, moan, complain!! > > And it’s all your fault … you [jerk / idjit / dumbass / a\*\*hole] Depending on how well I knew them, how sensitive they were, and the overall context determines which word fills in the blank. Maybe nowadays movies (or at least the kind you watch) don’t want that realistic hostility, so they have the character say the offender’s name instead. ---
**Author:** ![Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/elmer_j.fudd/32/1211_2.png) [@Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elmer_J.Fudd)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2023, 11:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-trend-in-tv-show-dialog-device/984146/4 "2023-05-17T23:48:26Z")
> [@LSLGuy](#): > > Depending on how well I knew them, how sensitive they were, and the overall context determines which word fills in the blank. Maybe you’re onto to something there. The ranter is about to use an expletive but catches himself and (after a brief pause) substitutes the target’s name. ---
**Author:** ![CookingWithGas](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cookingwithgas/32/485_2.png) [@CookingWithGas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CookingWithGas)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2023, 1:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-trend-in-tv-show-dialog-device/984146/5 "2023-05-18T01:15:25Z")
I didn’t notice it before but I had the word “beat” in there in angle brackets and it was deleted from the post. Maybe it filters anything that might be HTML injection. But my point was not that they are simply using the person’s name, but there is a pause there that is just a little too long. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2023, 7:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-trend-in-tv-show-dialog-device/984146/6 "2023-05-18T19:17:33Z")
Use square brackets for interjections like that. Or lead each angle bracket with a back-slash to tell Discourse to treat it as a plain character, not as a formatting command. It’s all your fault [beat] Jane! It’s all your fault \ Jane! The second example is typed like this looks: It’s all your fault \\ Jane! ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Strangelove](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr.strangelove/32/6613_2.png) [@Dr.Strangelove](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Strangelove)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2023, 7:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-trend-in-tv-show-dialog-device/984146/7 "2023-05-18T19:25:45Z")
Or, since we live in the emoji age: That’s your fault, 🥁 Rose. Alternately: That’s your fault, 🐾 Rose. ---
**Author:** ![CookingWithGas](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cookingwithgas/32/485_2.png) [@CookingWithGas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CookingWithGas)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2023, 8:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-trend-in-tv-show-dialog-device/984146/8 "2023-05-18T20:09:48Z")
> [@Dr.Strangelove](#): > > That’s your fault, 🐾 Rose. Why the big paws? 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Grrr](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grrr/32/146_2.png) [@Grrr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grrr)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2023, 11:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-trend-in-tv-show-dialog-device/984146/9 "2023-05-18T23:04:57Z")
I never liked Rose. ---
**Author:** ![CookingWithGas](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cookingwithgas/32/485_2.png) [@CookingWithGas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CookingWithGas)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2023, 7:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-trend-in-tv-show-dialog-device/984146/10 "2023-05-21T19:00:46Z")
Here’s last night’s [example](https://youtu.be/d8zuFd6ZhAs) From The Night Agent “Damage control is not enough here…Dianne.”