# They're always empty! **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** tv-shows-scripted, movies\ **Created:** [February 12, 2022, 7:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/theyre-always-empty/959378 "2022-02-12T19:54:06Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 7
**Author:** ![zimaane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/a3d4f5/32.png) [@zimaane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zimaane)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2022, 9:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/theyre-always-empty/959378/121 "2022-02-28T21:18:05Z")
In _The Sopranos_ too. There were a lot of restaurant scenes and they chowed down. Food culture was part of the show, and they went all in on it. ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2022, 9:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/theyre-always-empty/959378/122 "2022-02-28T21:31:51Z")
And to almost make it worse, when the crash doesn’t happen I always wonder if they purposely set up the shot to make you think a crash was going to happen or if they didn’t really think about it and it just happened to look that way. Either way, maybe it’s time for them to find a new way to shoot scenes inside a car so, whether they do or don’t crash, it doesn’t seem like they’re about to. > [@zimaane](#): > > In _The Sopranos_ too. OMG, and the scene with Meadow. I know what happens, I know how it’s going to play out, I’ve seen it dozens of times and I still find myself getting that ‘what’s going to happen’ nervous feeling when she’s out there parallel parking. ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2022, 9:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/theyre-always-empty/959378/123 "2022-02-28T21:49:40Z")
There’s a couple from Six Feet Under that always catch me off guard, even on re-watches. But for this thread, I think the relatable one is the first one. I don’t want to spoil anything, but it was essentially one of those typically t-bone crashes that happened as the driver was reaching for a cigarette. However, it was an important character and it happened about 2 minutes into the pilot episode. Unfortunately, the only clip I can find online has music playing over it. ---
**Author:** ![doreen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/858c86/32.png) [@doreen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/doreen)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2022, 5:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/theyre-always-empty/959378/124 "2022-03-01T17:01:42Z")
In my experience, that depends on exactly which number I called. If I called a general number for any law enforcement agency (not just police departments), I sometimes got the whole thing - department and/or unit , name and possibly “how can I help you” and sometimes just the department and/or unit Calling someone’s direct number was often answered with just a name and title or even just the name. ---
**Author:** ![digs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/digs/32/14889_2.png) [@digs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/digs)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2022, 6:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/theyre-always-empty/959378/125 "2022-03-01T18:59:28Z")
Ahhh, but it’s gotta be just the last name, growled before the caller gets to say anything, because the grizzled veteran doesn’t have any time for this call. I half expect him to rasp out "Look, there are hundreds of hardened criminals that we just can’t catch. Murderers, rapists, pedos, mad bombers, serial killers… and I’m trying to get out there and track them down. Now, is whatever’s stuck up your butt _one tenth_ as important as bringing these miscreants to justice? Didn’t think so…[slams down receiver]. [and of course, the caller never got a chance to even groan] ---
**Author:** ![elfkin477](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a9a28c/32.png) [@elfkin477](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elfkin477)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2022, 11:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/theyre-always-empty/959378/126 "2022-03-02T23:55:15Z")
> [@Tusculan](#): > > My pet peeve is when characters enter a house or a room and don’t close the door. It happens all the time. People, anyone can come in! They can hear and see you! The house door I can see bothering someone, but the door to a room? I don’t know anyone who goes around closing themselves into every room they enter. > [@Darren\_Garrison](#): > > How about when they show “newborns” that are almost ready for kindergarten? How [did you](https://twitter.com/theevilwriter/status/1082421799047057409) guess [that’s also](https://twitter.com/theevilwriter/status/1488494512880160771) a peeve of mine? ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2022, 5:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/theyre-always-empty/959378/127 "2022-03-03T05:50:27Z")
> [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](#): > > Street are usually wet, especially in older shows. It’s because of the funerals. It always rains during a funeral in older shows. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2022, 6:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/theyre-always-empty/959378/128 "2022-03-03T18:30:29Z")
I watched a movie last night in which the two principle characters were having tea, and there was actually steam coming out of the cups! ---
**Author:** ![Folacin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/folacin/32/3195_2.png) [@Folacin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Folacin)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2022, 7:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/theyre-always-empty/959378/129 "2022-03-03T19:29:46Z")
> [@BrickBat](#): > > That one always makes me scoff. I’ve also seen this depicted on city streets as well. I want to exclaim loudly “ _You idiot! Stop running down the street/road and duck in someplace a car can’t go!_ ”. Really late on this one: Attended some sort of parent/kids “don’t get kidnapped” presentation at school(?), and one of the things the speaker harped on to the kids was if being chased by a car, run/ride your bike between houses. I admit that (probably because of years of seeing people trying to out run cars in movies/TV) that that was a revelation to me (and obvious after 1/2 second of thought). ---
**Author:** ![DesertDog](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/desertdog/32/11503_2.png) [@DesertDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DesertDog)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2022, 6:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/theyre-always-empty/959378/130 "2022-03-04T06:58:57Z")
> [@Chefguy](#): > > I watched a movie last night in which the two principle characters were having tea, and there was actually steam coming out of the cups! Which can also be [faked](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3ZeOnamWDZw), but at least there’s liquid in the cup. ---
**Author:** ![nelliebly](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nelliebly/32/5422_2.png) [@nelliebly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nelliebly)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2022, 7:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/theyre-always-empty/959378/131 "2022-03-04T07:28:19Z")
My pet peeve is when a scene is set in a college classroom, and a bell rings to end class. _It’s college, not high school, people._ > [@Eclipse\_Chaser](#): > > People order a meal in a restaurant, then decide they need to leave for no urgent reason, and get up and walk out leaving the food untouched. And they always pay by flinging cash on the table, despite the fact they haven’t gotten the bill yet. ---
**Author:** ![rocking\_chair](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rocking_chair/32/2918_2.png) [@rocking\_chair](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rocking_chair)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2022, 1:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/theyre-always-empty/959378/132 "2022-03-04T13:45:05Z")
colleges i went to had buzzers or bells, they usually rang on the hour. ---
**Author:** ![DCnDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dcndc/32/2842_2.png) [@DCnDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DCnDC)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2022, 1:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/theyre-always-empty/959378/133 "2022-03-04T13:53:10Z")
On _Cheers_ they served Norm warm, flat, non-alchoholic beer put into a soda dispenser so it would look like it was coming out of a tap, and they added salt to it so it would foam up. George Wendt either faked drinking it or just took tiny sips because it was so awful. ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2022, 2:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/theyre-always-empty/959378/134 "2022-03-04T14:11:07Z")
…And Sam/Coach/Woody would offer him a “fresh beer” even if he had taken just a couple of sips. The existing still-full mug would get poured down the drain. ---
**Author:** ![elfkin477](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a9a28c/32.png) [@elfkin477](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elfkin477)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2022, 2:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/theyre-always-empty/959378/135 "2022-03-04T14:26:34Z")
> [@nelliebly](#): > > My pet peeve is when a scene is set in a college classroom, and a bell rings to end class. _It’s college, not high school, people._ I’ll Be Home For Christmas (1998) took this one step farther and despite repeatedly saying that the main character is in college, they had lockers in the hallway. ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2022, 3:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/theyre-always-empty/959378/136 "2022-03-04T15:36:47Z")
> [@Darren\_Garrison](#): > > How about when they show “newborns” that are almost ready for kindergarten? And the mother that just delivered said baby still has perfectly done hair and makeup. Sometimes, maybe, you’ll see a bit of sweat on her. > [@terentii](#): > > …And Sam/Coach/Woody would offer him a “fresh beer” even if he had taken just a couple of sips. The existing still-full mug would get poured down the drain. That’s not entirely uncommon in bars though. Keep in mind that the bartender is (likely) getting a tip per drink. If they can replace your beer before you finish it, they get more tips (and the bar makes more money). They don’t care if you drink it or dump it out, it’s all the same to me. OTOH, I’m sure the script said something like “Carla [setting a fresh beer in front of norm]: Isn’t Vera’s birthday today?” without taking into consideration he wasn’t actually drinking it. OTOOH, it’s probably easier to do it that way than to have the script supervisor constantly watching how much beer is in his mug. ---
**Author:** ![solost](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/solost/32/11776_2.png) [@solost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/solost)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2022, 3:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/theyre-always-empty/959378/137 "2022-03-04T15:45:46Z")
> [@DesertDog](#): > > > [@Chefguy](#): > > > > I watched a movie last night in which the two principle characters were having tea, and there was actually steam coming out of the cups! > > Which can also be [faked](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3ZeOnamWDZw), but at least there’s liquid in the cup. Related: older movies or TV shows that are supposed to take place in extremely cold settings, but the characters have no visible breath vapor. Takes me right out of my suspension of disbelief. Of course these days that can also easily be faked with CGI. But I bet it’s still overlooked a lot, either because the people in charge are SoCal born and raised, and it doesn’t occur to them, or because they just don’t think it’s that important of a detail. But us native Northerners notice. ---
**Author:** ![Slithy\_Tove](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slithy_tove/32/18248_2.png) [@Slithy\_Tove](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slithy_Tove)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2022, 4:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/theyre-always-empty/959378/138 "2022-03-04T16:09:14Z")
OTOH, on _Gunsmoke_ they drank real beer (Falstaff). ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2022, 4:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/theyre-always-empty/959378/139 "2022-03-04T16:43:23Z")
Which, at the very least encouraged a limited number of takes. Get it right or get plastered. ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2022, 5:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/theyre-always-empty/959378/140 "2022-03-04T17:34:57Z")
> [@solost](#): > > Related: older movies or TV shows that are supposed to take place in extremely cold settings, but the characters have no visible breath vapor. Takes me right out of my suspension of disbelief. > > Of course these days that can also easily be faked with CGI I’m going to hide this video because it’s a spoiler from Breaking Bad. What it shows is a freezing cold Walter White sitting in a car in the middle of winter. However, being that it wasn’t actually winter (or it was, but not this cold) when/where it was shot. He had a small container in his mouth with holes drilled in it. Then they put dry ice in the container so he’d blow the fog out when he exhaled giving the appearance of being able to see his breath. > **Summary** > > [https://youtu.be/O8h2XvzKiVU?t=77](https://youtu.be/O8h2XvzKiVU?t=77) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/theyre-always-empty/959378.md?page=6) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/theyre-always-empty/959378.md?page=8)