# Sorry I couldn't make it. \[Plot device: real ghost replaces jokester\] **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [September 11, 2010, 6:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sorry-i-couldnt-make-it-plot-device-real-ghost-replaces-jokester/553423 "2010-09-11T18:19:28Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2010, 6:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sorry-i-couldnt-make-it-plot-device-real-ghost-replaces-jokester/553423/1 "2010-09-11T18:19:28Z")
Someone arranges a hoax to frighten someone. Usually the hoax is something supernatural. After scary things happen, the confederate who was supposed to play the part of the ghost (or whatever) apologises to the prime conspirator for being delayed/unable to carry out his part. So the supernatural stuff was _real!_ :eek: DAH-DAH-duhhhhhhhn! In how many films/shows was this used? ---
**Author:** ![Freudian\_Slit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/5daacb/32.png) [@Freudian\_Slit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Freudian_Slit)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2010, 6:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sorry-i-couldnt-make-it-plot-device-real-ghost-replaces-jokester/553423/2 "2010-09-11T18:31:10Z")
They did it in one episode of PBS’s Arthur, where the boys and girls are each trying to scare each other. Was it ever done on Scooby Doo? ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2010, 7:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sorry-i-couldnt-make-it-plot-device-real-ghost-replaces-jokester/553423/3 "2010-09-11T19:56:50Z")
I can think of a couple of _Twilight Zone_ episodes where something explainable has happened, and yet there is evidence of the supernatural. For example, in ‘King Nine Will Not Return’ there is evidence at the end that Robert Cummings was not just hallucinating, and in ‘The Grave’ the logical explanation is countered by evidence of the weather. But neither of these are exactly what I’m thinking of in the OP, where the confederate shows up late or makes a phone call and his ‘role’ was actually performed by the real ghost. ---
**Author:** ![RandMcnally](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b782af/32.png) [@RandMcnally](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RandMcnally)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2010, 8:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sorry-i-couldnt-make-it-plot-device-real-ghost-replaces-jokester/553423/4 "2010-09-11T20:04:05Z")
I know they did it on Hey Arnold. I loved that show. ---
**Author:** ![Freudian\_Slit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/5daacb/32.png) [@Freudian\_Slit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Freudian_Slit)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2010, 8:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sorry-i-couldnt-make-it-plot-device-real-ghost-replaces-jokester/553423/5 "2010-09-11T20:35:14Z")
Yeah, my first example definitely fits your OP. Arthur, Buster, the Brain, and Binky are trying to scare Francine and Muffy. The kids (save Binky) go into the other room and a ghost appears and then disappears and the girls flip out, while Arthur, Brain, and Buster laugh. Then Binky runs up saying he can’t be a ghost because he lost his costume or something and then they all realize that it wasn’t really Binky who did it and they freak out. Then we cut to a little ghost kid being reprimanded by its ghost parents. I’m trying to think of other examples. I feel like it’s the kind of thing kids’ shows do a lot… ---
**Author:** ![C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b2d939/32.png) [@C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/C_K_Dexter_Haven)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2010, 9:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sorry-i-couldnt-make-it-plot-device-real-ghost-replaces-jokester/553423/6 "2010-09-11T21:05:31Z")
There’s an episode of ALFRED HITCHCOCK PRESENTS that’s exactly that plot (the idea is to frighten the dead aunt’s nephew into confessing that he killed her.) Mod note: I’ve edited the title of the thread slightly to make it clearer what the topic is. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2010, 9:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sorry-i-couldnt-make-it-plot-device-real-ghost-replaces-jokester/553423/7 "2010-09-11T21:11:58Z")
Thanks for the title edit, **Dex**. I was thinking I should ask for one. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2010, 9:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sorry-i-couldnt-make-it-plot-device-real-ghost-replaces-jokester/553423/8 "2010-09-11T21:39:55Z")
I think that particular plot device is used more often for Christmas episodes. Arrangements are made for friend/neighborhood/relative to come in dressed as Santa, dude arrives as scheduled looking pretty damn good passing out presents to everybody and leaves, somebody says, “Bobby sure did a wonderful job, didn’t he?” at which time Bobby comes in dressed in a ratty costume apologizing for being late. ---
**Author:** ![Musicat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/musicat/32/20189_2.png) [@Musicat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Musicat)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2010, 9:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sorry-i-couldnt-make-it-plot-device-real-ghost-replaces-jokester/553423/9 "2010-09-11T21:48:08Z")
A variation on that plot device is often used, like [Leap of Faith,](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0104695/) with Steve Martin playing the part of the crooked charlatan faith healer (is there another kind?). Although the gimmicks are obvious and revealed, the possibility is left open at the end that “there might be something to the paranormal, we just don’t know.” ---
**Author:** ![The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_other_waldo_pepper/32/12370_2.png) [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Other_Waldo_Pepper)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2010, 10:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sorry-i-couldnt-make-it-plot-device-real-ghost-replaces-jokester/553423/10 "2010-09-11T22:05:46Z")
> [@Johnny\_L.A](#): > > In how many films/shows was this used? There’s a MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE episode that only _ **almost** _ does this, but gets bonus points for a particularly well-crafted line ahead of time. As usual, the team leader calls in handpicked specialists for a custom-tailored plan: in this case, rigging up a “haunting” by having Barney the electronics whiz do eerie stuff with hidden movie projectors sure as Rollin the master of disguise can impersonate the dead man’s voice. The third member is a consultant who famously conducts seances, who gets talked up quite a bit for Barney and Rollin. She later takes the boss aside to say, _hey, you know the truth about me; why so much selling, so much loud confidence_ – and maybe that means We Both Know I’m A Psychic With Occult Powers, and maybe it means We Both Know I’m Just A Huckster With A Great Line Of Patter, but we don’t get to find out which; they both know what she’s referring to and so have no reason to make it explicit, see? And so the mission proceeds as you’d expect: all three gather plenty of information while the wiring gets set up for the big hoax near the end – and right before the consultant starts her seance, the lights flicker and go out as thunder and lightning crash outside during this dark and stormy night. Undaunted, she goes into her performance anyway, at which point the whole thing plays out perfectly, special effects and all (or ARE they?). Their work done, our heroes then leave; Rollin, who _ **had** _ been sure that she was a fake, says he doesn’t know what to make of it. ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2010, 6:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sorry-i-couldnt-make-it-plot-device-real-ghost-replaces-jokester/553423/11 "2010-09-12T06:58:58Z")
I asked on TVTropes. I was reminded why I don’t hang out there as much as I used to: the admin likes to abuse his power rather than delegate, thus violating the spirit of Wiki. But I still should be able to suffer through to get an answer. ---
**Author:** ![Bridget\_Burke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7cd45c/32.png) [@Bridget\_Burke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bridget_Burke)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2010, 10:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sorry-i-couldnt-make-it-plot-device-real-ghost-replaces-jokester/553423/12 "2010-09-12T10:02:23Z")
One variation on the theme is _High Spirits_, in which the owner & staff of an Ancient Irish Castle try to pass it off as Haunted, in a vain attempt to raise funds & save the crumbling pile from an American Real Estate Sharpie. The fake hauntings fail miserably & the last group of tourists angrily tries to depart–when the castle’s Real Ghosts wake up! Not a great movie–the ensuing wackiness is not quite as hilarious as it’s supposed to be. But Peter O’Toole plays Peter Plunkett, manic aristocrat. Young Liam Neeson plays a rather fleshly ghost. Young Peter Gallagher is a seminarian on one last vacation before he enters the priesthood, with Jennifer Tilly trying to convince him that he is really not cut out for celibacy. The good character bits are very good & some of the real Irish setting shines through. ---
**Author:** ![Koxinga](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/4af34b/32.png) [@Koxinga](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Koxinga)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2010, 10:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sorry-i-couldnt-make-it-plot-device-real-ghost-replaces-jokester/553423/13 "2010-09-12T10:17:12Z")
I remember an episode of _Night Gallery_ had something like this. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_other_waldo_pepper/32/12370_2.png) [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Other_Waldo_Pepper)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2010, 12:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sorry-i-couldnt-make-it-plot-device-real-ghost-replaces-jokester/553423/14 "2010-09-12T12:24:08Z")
> [@BigT](#): > > I asked on TVTropes. I was reminded why I don’t hang out there as much as I used to: the admin likes to abuse his power rather than delegate, thus violating the spirit of Wiki. > > But I still should be able to suffer through to get an answer. I dunno about suffering; ain’t this under REAL AFTER ALL thereabouts? > [@](#): > > A variation is for the episode to end with the investigators remarking on one detail of the hoax they found particularly impressive, only for the hoaxer to say, “But… that wasn’t me.” Or, in haunting cases, for the investigators to remark how helpful Bob was, only for one of the locals to say, “Bob? But he’s been dead for five years.” … Sometimes a case of **And You Thought It Was A Game**. Occasionally, the characters do see the creature, but it’s **Mistaken For An Imposter**. Contrast **Maybe Magic Maybe Mundane** where it remains up in the air to the very end. Sometimes, technically, that trope and this one combine > **[Real After All - TV Tropes](https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/RealAfterAll)** > > If an episode revolves around a haunting/alien visitation/lake monster sighting/whatever that turns out to be a hoax, the episode will end with a shot of a real ghost/alien visitor/lake monster/whatever. A variation is for the episode to end with … ---
**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:** [September 12, 2010, 2:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sorry-i-couldnt-make-it-plot-device-real-ghost-replaces-jokester/553423/15 "2010-09-12T14:55:26Z")
> [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](#): > > > [@Johnny\_L.A](#): > > > > In how many films/shows was this used? > > There’s a MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE episode that only _ **almost** _ does this, but gets bonus points for a particularly well-crafted line ahead of time. > > As usual, the team leader calls in handpicked specialists for a custom-tailored plan: in this case, rigging up a “haunting” by having Barney the electronics whiz do eerie stuff with hidden movie projectors sure as Rollin the master of disguise can impersonate the dead man’s voice. The third member is a consultant who famously conducts seances, who gets talked up quite a bit for Barney and Rollin. > > She later takes the boss aside to say, _hey, you know the truth about me; why so much selling, so much loud confidence_ – and maybe that means We Both Know I’m A Psychic With Occult Powers, and maybe it means We Both Know I’m Just A Huckster With A Great Line Of Patter, but we don’t get to find out which; they both know what she’s referring to and so have no reason to make it explicit, see? And so the mission proceeds as you’d expect: all three gather plenty of information while the wiring gets set up for the big hoax near the end – and right before the consultant starts her seance, the lights flicker and go out as thunder and lightning crash outside during this dark and stormy night. Undaunted, she goes into her performance anyway, at which point the whole thing plays out perfectly, special effects and all (or ARE they?). > > Their work done, our heroes then leave; Rollin, who _ **had** _ been sure that she was a fake, says he doesn’t know what to make of it. “Zubrovnik’s Ghost,” one of the best episodes of the run. The writing on the show – particularly the way the plot was structured to make the twist at the end work – is some of the best on TV. ---
**Author:** ![Lilacs](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e9c0ed/32.png) [@Lilacs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lilacs)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2010, 4:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sorry-i-couldnt-make-it-plot-device-real-ghost-replaces-jokester/553423/16 "2010-09-12T16:11:57Z")
> [@Bridget\_Burke](#): > > One variation on the theme is _High Spirits_, in which the owner & staff of an Ancient Irish Castle try to pass it off as Haunted, in a vain attempt to raise funds & save the crumbling pile from an American Real Estate Sharpie. The fake hauntings fail miserably & the last group of tourists angrily tries to depart–when the castle’s Real Ghosts wake up! > > Not a great movie–the ensuing wackiness is not quite as hilarious as it’s supposed to be. But Peter O’Toole plays Peter Plunkett, manic aristocrat. Young Liam Neeson plays a rather fleshly ghost. Young Peter Gallagher is a seminarian on one last vacation before he enters the priesthood, with Jennifer Tilly trying to convince him that he is really not cut out for celibacy. > > The good character bits are very good & some of the real Irish setting shines through. Oh my god. I saw this movie. I totally forgot about it. /end hijack ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2010, 4:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sorry-i-couldnt-make-it-plot-device-real-ghost-replaces-jokester/553423/17 "2010-09-12T16:27:01Z")
> [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](#): > > [Real After All - TV Tropes](http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/RealAfterAll) Helpful! I’m surprised that, given that the trope is something familiar to me, I haven’t seen most of the shows listed there. ---
**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:** [September 12, 2010, 6:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sorry-i-couldnt-make-it-plot-device-real-ghost-replaces-jokester/553423/18 "2010-09-12T18:13:37Z")
There was the episode of Twightlight Zone in the Old West where the con man claims to raise the dead and gets paid to put them back. He actually does raise the dead at the end. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2010, 6:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sorry-i-couldnt-make-it-plot-device-real-ghost-replaces-jokester/553423/19 "2010-09-12T18:40:27Z")
‘Mr. Garrity and the Graves’. I thought of that one, but it’s sort of opposite of what I was thinking of in the OP. There, it is revealed that ghosts caused things to happen. In ‘Mr. Garrity and the Graves’ the living man caused paranormal things to happen. ---
**Author:** ![Freudian\_Slit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/5daacb/32.png) [@Freudian\_Slit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Freudian_Slit)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2010, 8:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sorry-i-couldnt-make-it-plot-device-real-ghost-replaces-jokester/553423/20 "2010-09-16T20:12:51Z")
I’m reading an R.L. Stine Return to Horrorland book (like an updated Goosebumps…nostalgia takes you down some weird roads), and it came up in the Scream of the Haunted Mask. Three characters plan to play a joke on the protagonist. She hears weird noises and her friend who’s in on it tells her what’s going on. Then they can’t find the two guys who were supposed to be making the noises and they tell them they couldn’t make it. DUM DUM DUM! Ominous. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sorry-i-couldnt-make-it-plot-device-real-ghost-replaces-jokester/553423.md?page=2)