# Things that are extremely common in TV shows/movies that you've rarely seen in real life **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [August 29, 2009, 4:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-are-extremely-common-in-tv-shows-movies-that-youve-rarely-seen-in-real-life/508161 "2009-08-29T16:20:40Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 19
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2009, 7:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-are-extremely-common-in-tv-shows-movies-that-youve-rarely-seen-in-real-life/508161/361 "2009-09-06T19:45:41Z")
> [@](#): > > But not a single person I know has one [a Mac] and I’ve never crossed anyone on the job or in a park or in a coffee shop or anywhere that I can remember that was holding a mac. They are out there apparently, I just don’t know where they hide. In addition to arty types, they’re incredibly popular among physicists. Hardly anyone in physics uses Windows any more; it’s all Mac or some flavor of Linux. > [@](#): > > On TV, when someone is talking on the phone and get cut off, they start hitting the part that the receiver hangs on. You don’t do that in real life? Sometimes that really does bring back a lost connection. ---
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2009, 7:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-are-extremely-common-in-tv-shows-movies-that-youve-rarely-seen-in-real-life/508161/362 "2009-09-06T19:49:53Z")
> [@Jerseyman](#): > > And of course whenever a driver has a gun pulled on him he never calls the bluff by putting his foot down “OK mate you shoot me and just think what’s going to happen to this car with you in it at this speed” I’ve often wondered why this didn’t happen more in movies/TV, as it would certainly be dramatic. I’ve known people to do this and I have planned to have that as an option if it ever happens to me (which isn’t to say I’d definitely do it.) ---
**Author:** ![Irishman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/b487fb/32.png) [@Irishman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Irishman)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2009, 8:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-are-extremely-common-in-tv-shows-movies-that-youve-rarely-seen-in-real-life/508161/363 "2009-09-06T20:26:01Z")
Well, they either shoot you and hope to survive the crash (maybe they bothered to put on their seat belt?), or you don’t crash and eventually stop somewhere, and then they shoot you. Not looking good for you either way. ---
**Author:** ![Lumpy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lumpy/32/446_2.png) [@Lumpy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lumpy)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2009, 9:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-are-extremely-common-in-tv-shows-movies-that-youve-rarely-seen-in-real-life/508161/364 "2009-09-06T21:01:26Z")
> [@Jerseyman](#): > > And of course whenever a driver has a gun pulled on him he never calls the bluff by putting his foot down “OK mate you shoot me and just think what’s going to happen to this car with you in it at this speed” And the way car chases never run into any other traffic and while they manage to hit everything else in sight and bounce off walls, this never does the car any harm - nor do the cops have a radio capable of calling for a block up ahead. [An arc of my favorite webcomic, JACK](http://www.pholph.com/whole_arc_viewer.php?id=5&sid=646), featuring just this scenerio (warning: adult themes, furries). ---
**Author:** ![wolfman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/a8b319/32.png) [@wolfman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfman)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2009, 9:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-are-extremely-common-in-tv-shows-movies-that-youve-rarely-seen-in-real-life/508161/365 "2009-09-06T21:49:18Z")
> [@Jerseyman](#): > > And of course whenever a driver has a gun pulled on him he never calls the bluff by putting his foot down “OK mate you shoot me and just think what’s going to happen to this car with you in it at this speed” And the way car chases never run into any other traffic and while they manage to hit everything else in sight and bounce off walls, this never does the car any harm - nor do the cops have a radio capable of calling for a block up ahead. As long as I am in the front seat, I can blow your brains out grab the wheel and hit the brakes just fine. Not from experience, at least the brains blowing bit. ---
**Author:** ![alphaboi867](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alphaboi867/32/3898_2.png) [@alphaboi867](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alphaboi867)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2009, 11:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-are-extremely-common-in-tv-shows-movies-that-youve-rarely-seen-in-real-life/508161/366 "2009-09-06T23:21:59Z")
> [@Ludovic](#): > > I’ve often wondered why this didn’t happen more in movies/TV, as it would certainly be dramatic. I’ve known people to do this and I have planned to have that as an option if it ever happens to me (which isn’t to say I’d definitely do it.) **Wings** did that, but with a plane hijacking instead of a carjacking. It was just Brian, Antonio, and the wouldbe hijacker on the plane. Brian just threatened to crash the plane and went into a dive and the hijacker caved. ---
**Author:** ![Bijou\_Drains](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bijou_drains/32/2814_2.png) [@Bijou\_Drains](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bijou_Drains)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2009, 11:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-are-extremely-common-in-tv-shows-movies-that-youve-rarely-seen-in-real-life/508161/367 "2009-09-06T23:56:25Z")
When I go to one local public library there are normally about 5-7 people there with laptops and normally 1 or 2 is a Mac. As far as I know I don’t know anyone who owns one. ---
**Author:** ![Irishman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/b487fb/32.png) [@Irishman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Irishman)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2009, 6:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-are-extremely-common-in-tv-shows-movies-that-youve-rarely-seen-in-real-life/508161/368 "2009-09-07T06:49:35Z")
I know 2 or 3 people who own Macs. Just sayin’. ---
**Author:** ![Yookeroo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yookeroo/32/323_2.png) [@Yookeroo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yookeroo)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2009, 8:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-are-extremely-common-in-tv-shows-movies-that-youve-rarely-seen-in-real-life/508161/369 "2009-09-07T08:45:11Z")
> [@Jerseyman](#): > > And of course whenever a driver has a gun pulled on him he never calls the bluff by putting his foot down “OK mate you shoot me and just think what’s going to happen to this car with you in it at this speed” > [@Ludovic](#): > > I’ve known people to do this and I have planned to have that as an option if it ever happens to me (which isn’t to say I’d definitely do it.) “People”? You’ve known more than one person who’s had a gun pulled on him/her while driving? And at least two of them have tried this? Really? ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2009, 9:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-are-extremely-common-in-tv-shows-movies-that-youve-rarely-seen-in-real-life/508161/370 "2009-09-07T09:24:44Z")
> [@Ludovic](#): > > I’ve often wondered why this didn’t happen more in movies/TV, as it would certainly be dramatic. I’ve known people to do this and I have planned to have that as an option if it ever happens to me (which isn’t to say I’d definitely do it.) Jamie Fox did it in _Collateral_. Here’s one: Whenever a bunch of people are camping out in Injun Country (or whatever), one guy, generally the “take charge” caracter, declares that he’ll be taking the first watch. Immeidately everyone else nods their appreciation, as if he’s doing them a big favor. Hello? First watch is the \*best \*watch! You finish it, and you go to sleep for the night! If he really wanted to do some heavy lifting he’d volunteer for the \*middle \*watch. ---
**Author:** ![breezman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4491bb/32.png) [@breezman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/breezman)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2009, 4:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-are-extremely-common-in-tv-shows-movies-that-youve-rarely-seen-in-real-life/508161/371 "2009-09-07T16:50:08Z")
Spit-takes. ---
**Author:** ![moonstarssun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b9bd4f/32.png) [@moonstarssun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/moonstarssun)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2009, 7:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-are-extremely-common-in-tv-shows-movies-that-youve-rarely-seen-in-real-life/508161/372 "2009-09-07T19:21:25Z")
Using a person’s first name and last name, as in “I love you, John Smith.” “Maggie Jones, will you marry me?” Someone gives a character a gift, and they say “What is it?” They don’t tear into it until the giver replies, “Well, open it!” No matter what they’re cooking, it’ll always involve chopping carrots. Women leaving their bras on during sex. And, if it’s a horror movie: After hitting/shooting/stabbing the person who’s trying to kill you, you throw away the weapon in disgust, turn your back on the bad guy and collapse into tears. ---
**Author:** ![DMark](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@DMark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DMark)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2009, 7:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-are-extremely-common-in-tv-shows-movies-that-youve-rarely-seen-in-real-life/508161/373 "2009-09-07T19:27:08Z")
Forgot another one: If someone ever coughs in a film or television series, it is a given that they will die of TB before the end of the show. Most people I know cough occasionally, and not one of them has ever died of TB. ---
**Author:** ![NGC2024](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/f475e1/32.png) [@NGC2024](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NGC2024)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2009, 10:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-are-extremely-common-in-tv-shows-movies-that-youve-rarely-seen-in-real-life/508161/374 "2009-09-07T22:34:17Z")
As disappointing as it is to report, I’ve never seen someone flipping pancakes with a snow shovel like in the movie Uncle Buck. ---
**Author:** ![RikWriter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/49beb7/32.png) [@RikWriter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RikWriter)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2009, 10:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-are-extremely-common-in-tv-shows-movies-that-youve-rarely-seen-in-real-life/508161/375 "2009-09-07T22:42:33Z")
> [@moonstarssun](#): > > And, if it’s a horror movie: > After hitting/shooting/stabbing the person who’s trying to kill you, you throw away the weapon in disgust, turn your back on the bad guy and collapse into tears. I love the 24 take on that. Jack: “Shoot him again.” ---
**Author:** ![kittenblue](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ba8739/32.png) [@kittenblue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kittenblue)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2009, 11:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-are-extremely-common-in-tv-shows-movies-that-youve-rarely-seen-in-real-life/508161/376 "2009-09-07T23:46:09Z")
> [@BobLibDem](#): > > You don’t see it much anymore, but it used to be on television whenever milk was on the dining table, it was in a glass pitcher. I’ve never seen it done and why would you dirty a dish for that? This is how it was done in my house for all the years I was growing up. My mother would NEVER let us put a jug or carton of milk on the table during a family dinner…it always got poured into a pitcher first. Never, ever. And for the record, I grew up in the Sixties and Seventies. ---
**Author:** ![monstro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba9def/32.png) [@monstro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/monstro)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2009, 12:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-are-extremely-common-in-tv-shows-movies-that-youve-rarely-seen-in-real-life/508161/377 "2009-09-08T00:40:54Z")
Food sitting in the refrigerator uncovered, unwrapped. You see this often in commercials. I have never seen anyone put food, except for fruit, in the fridge without some container or plastic wrapping to protect it from fridge cooties. Waking up from a dream and repeating the last words said in it, often with flailing limbs and head shaking. I know why they do this, but it still bugs me. On TV, there’s always quite a bit of ambient lighting in nighttime bedroom scenes. Some shows are worse than others. I was watching the Golden Girls today, and all the characters were in Sophia’s bed. The room was brightly lit like it was the middle of the afternoon. On some shows, you feel as if it’s merely twilight outside. People walking around the house/apartment with shoes on. ---
**Author:** ![alphaboi867](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alphaboi867/32/3898_2.png) [@alphaboi867](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alphaboi867)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2009, 12:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-are-extremely-common-in-tv-shows-movies-that-youve-rarely-seen-in-real-life/508161/378 "2009-09-08T00:54:29Z")
> [@monstro](#): > > …I know why they do this, but it still bugs me. On TV, there’s always quite a bit of ambient lighting in nighttime bedroom scenes. Some shows are worse than others. I was watching the Golden Girls today, and all the characters were in Sophia’s bed. The room was brightly lit like it was the middle of the afternoon… Which marathon were you watching; Hallmark or WE? :o If we’re thinking of the same episode (where the heater broke & Rose turned the AC on) they didn’t even bother closing the hall door or turning the light off. The **Mary Tyler Moore Show** suberted the “TV darkenss” trope in the episode where a blackout happened in the middle of one of Mary’s parties. It really was too dark to see anything or anybody (except for stars outside the widow). ---
**Author:** ![JRDelirious](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jrdelirious/32/9531_2.png) [@JRDelirious](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JRDelirious)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2009, 1:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-are-extremely-common-in-tv-shows-movies-that-youve-rarely-seen-in-real-life/508161/379 "2009-09-08T01:08:28Z")
> [@monstro](#): > > People walking around the house/apartment with shoes on. I see a LOT of this in my everyday life. Myself at most I’ll change shoes to something unmuddied/comfortable but I’ll be wearing shoes. ---
**Author:** ![Stephe96](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Stephe96](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stephe96)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2009, 1:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-are-extremely-common-in-tv-shows-movies-that-youve-rarely-seen-in-real-life/508161/380 "2009-09-08T01:16:14Z")
I’ve never seen anyone take their prescription medication by chugging it out of the bottle…pills, I mean [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-are-extremely-common-in-tv-shows-movies-that-youve-rarely-seen-in-real-life/508161.md?page=18) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-are-extremely-common-in-tv-shows-movies-that-youve-rarely-seen-in-real-life/508161.md?page=20)