# TV and movie plot cliches that really annoy **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [January 28, 2009, 6:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-and-movie-plot-cliches-that-really-annoy/483362 "2009-01-28T06:32:03Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 8
**Author:** ![Antinor01](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecae2f/32.png) [@Antinor01](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Antinor01)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2009, 7:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-and-movie-plot-cliches-that-really-annoy/483362/141 "2009-02-01T19:46:59Z")
> [@Thudlow\_Boink](#): > > But if this weren’t the case, the human race would die out, since the vast majority of sex in the movies is had between people who haven’t had sex with each other before. > The only time anything interesting happens in a high school or college classroom is in the last minute or two of class, and it is always interrupted, or at least punctuated, by the ringing of the bell that signals the end of the class period. From the Simpsons… Miss Hoover: And so, as Abraham Lincoln sat in Ford’s theatre that night, John Wilkes Booth entered, drew his gun, and … (the bell rings) Well, that’s it. Have a nice summer, everyone. (everyone leaves except for Chuck and Ralph) Chuck: But what happened in Ford’s theatre? Ralph: Was President Lincoln okay? Miss Hoover: He was fine. (Chuck leaves) Go home, Ralph. ---
**Author:** ![Illuminatiprimus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/illuminatiprimus/32/11520_2.png) [@Illuminatiprimus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Illuminatiprimus)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2009, 7:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-and-movie-plot-cliches-that-really-annoy/483362/142 "2009-02-01T19:48:46Z")
> [@Thudlow\_Boink](#): > > The only time anything interesting happens in a high school or college classroom is in the last minute or two of class, and it is always interrupted, or at least punctuated, by the ringing of the bell that signals the end of the class period. Which violates every piece of guidance on structuring lessons I’ve ever seen. I don’t know a single teacher who’d willingly allow such a thing to happen. ---
**Author:** ![mks57](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b9bd4f/32.png) [@mks57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mks57)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2009, 8:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-and-movie-plot-cliches-that-really-annoy/483362/143 "2009-02-01T20:36:13Z")
> [@Harvey\_The\_Heavy](#): > > I think writers finally got a clue, but the old “Gotta keep him on the line for three minutes so we can trace the call” bit was kept going long after it was rendered moot by \*69 and caller ID. It was obsolete long before that. Strowger switches have been gone for decades. > **[TELEPHONY LASTS](http://strowger-net.telefoonmuseum.com/tel_hist_lasts.html)** ---
**Author:** ![Hostile\_Dialect](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e495f1/32.png) [@Hostile\_Dialect](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hostile_Dialect)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2009, 6:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-and-movie-plot-cliches-that-really-annoy/483362/144 "2009-02-02T06:50:24Z")
> [@Khadaji](#): > > For me, a big one is the car chase scene. I find it needless and boring and always fast forward through it in a rental. For the exception that proves the rule, see _We Own the Night_. The car chase in that movie nearly had me peeing myself. Hostile Dialect, Hostile Dialect, Narcissist ---
**Author:** ![Prelude\_to\_Fascination](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/a183cd/32.png) [@Prelude\_to\_Fascination](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Prelude_to_Fascination)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2009, 2:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-and-movie-plot-cliches-that-really-annoy/483362/145 "2009-02-02T14:51:23Z")
> [@Harvey\_The\_Heavy](#): > > I think writers finally got a clue, but the old “Gotta keep him on the line for three minutes so we can trace the call” bit was kept going long after it was rendered moot by \*69 and caller ID. It worked great as a device though in “Hopscotch”, because Miles Kendig (Matthau) wanted the CIA to trace his call, since he was holed up in Myerson’s (Ned Beatty) house, and wanted to thumb his nose at Myerson. There’s a great scene when the FBI is trying to flush out Kendig, and Myerson says, “What are they doing?!” Joe Cutter (Sam Waterston) says, with a trace of a grin, “They’re shooting up your house!” > [@](#): > > For me, a big one is the car chase scene. I find it needless and boring and always fast forward through it in a rental. Although there are three movies off the top of my head that feature classic car chases: Bullitt (of course), the French Connection, and the Seven Ups. I find none of them needless or boring, but of course YMMV. > [@](#): > > The obligatory hawk/eagle scream any time the scene is outdoors. See, you-- the dumbshit movie goer–is incapable of understanding that there is a world beyond the city, so if we have the effects guy insert a hawk scream, you’ll be able to then understand that the scene is not unfolding in a supermarket. I guess the corollary would be in a scene where the neighborhood/city is deserterd (a la the Omega Man, or some other desolate dystopia), there’s always a dog barking in the distance. And no matter which movie, it’s the same freaking dog. I love dogs, but hate that one. > [@](#): > > For the record, I always read your username to the tune of the Human League’s new wave hit “Fascination”. You know: Keep feeling fascination/Passion burning, love so strong/Keep feeling fascination/Living, learning, moving on > > Except, of course, it’s Prelude to fascination… I’ve been noticed! 🆒 ---
**Author:** ![MichaelQReilly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/df705f/32.png) [@MichaelQReilly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MichaelQReilly)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2009, 1:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-and-movie-plot-cliches-that-really-annoy/483362/146 "2009-02-03T01:50:08Z")
The overly precocious child. It seems like every movie has a little kid who is smart and wise far beyond his or her years. It drives me crazy. ---
**Author:** ![johnspartan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/a183cd/32.png) [@johnspartan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/johnspartan)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2009, 6:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-and-movie-plot-cliches-that-really-annoy/483362/147 "2009-02-03T18:09:26Z")
Don’t think it’s come up yet… can we PLEASE stop having people crawl through air ducts to get from room to room? At least Paul Blart has a funny variation on this theme. ---
**Author:** ![Hampshire](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hampshire/32/4887_2.png) [@Hampshire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hampshire)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2009, 7:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-and-movie-plot-cliches-that-really-annoy/483362/148 "2009-02-03T19:48:23Z")
> [@johnspartan](#): > > Don’t think it’s come up yet… can we PLEASE stop having people crawl through air ducts to get from room to room? > > At least Paul Blart has a funny variation on this theme. Speaking of air ducts can we please stop hiding money/cameras/jewels in hotel room air ducts? Why? Because I have never been in a hotel or motel room with air ducts. They all have independent heating/cooling wall units. ---
**Author:** ![Voyager](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voyager/32/133_2.png) [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2009, 9:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-and-movie-plot-cliches-that-really-annoy/483362/149 "2009-02-03T21:08:40Z")
> [@Ethilrist](#): > > I know very few people who got pregnant the first time they ever had sex. There was, however, a long string of people in the movies who had sex with somebody once and got pregnant. My wife got pregnant the very first time we had unprotected sex, in order to try to have a baby. To be fair, the timing was right. We were very happy that we were cautious before. ---
**Author:** ![Voyager](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voyager/32/133_2.png) [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2009, 9:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-and-movie-plot-cliches-that-really-annoy/483362/150 "2009-02-03T21:12:14Z")
> [@Khadaji](#): > > For me, a big one is the car chase scene. I find it needless and boring and always fast forward through it in a rental. For me, it is the fact that during the car chase scene the other drivers tootle along as if nothing were happening. No one stops and pulls over on the freeway, no one pays attention at intersections when a siren is wailing. People are dumb, but not that dumb. Not to mention that there are never any consequences. The police department is never seen paying for the wrecked cars or anything. ---
**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:** [February 3, 2009, 9:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-and-movie-plot-cliches-that-really-annoy/483362/151 "2009-02-03T21:39:13Z")
I’ve seen movies which depict that a twelve-gauge shotgun is powerful enough to blow a gaping hole completely through someone. Unless I’m mistaken that’s a serious exaggeration. ---
**Author:** ![Hampshire](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hampshire/32/4887_2.png) [@Hampshire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hampshire)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2009, 9:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-and-movie-plot-cliches-that-really-annoy/483362/152 "2009-02-03T21:39:35Z")
Speaking of car chases how about an end to this cliche: Hero and his female passenger are trying to escape, bad guys in hot pursuit. Hero drives toward a gap that is slowly closing (a cargo truck backing up, a bus pulling up behind another bus, etc.) Female passenger sees the gap closing “You’re not going to make it! You’re not going to make it!” Hero manuveurs vehicle by the skin of it’s teeth through gap. Gap closes and bad guys hit the brakes. Driver immediately jump out of vehicle, curses out the truck/bus driver and pounds his fist on the top of his car. ---
**Author:** ![Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skald_the_Rhymer)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2009, 9:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-and-movie-plot-cliches-that-really-annoy/483362/153 "2009-02-03T21:42:30Z")
> [@Lumpy](#): > > I’ve seen movies which depict that a twelve-gauge shotgun is powerful enough to blow a gaping hole completely through someone. Unless I’m mistaken that’s a serious exaggeration. What movie was this? I can recall it from _Death Becomes Her_, which was set in an obviously magical universe; besides; Goldie Hawn was undead and decaying when it happened, so clearly she might have been a tad more brittle than normal. ---
**Author:** ![Steve\_MB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/steve_mb/32/5339_2.png) [@Steve\_MB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Steve_MB)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2009, 10:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-and-movie-plot-cliches-that-really-annoy/483362/154 "2009-02-03T22:12:43Z")
> [@Patch](#): > > See it more so in books than TV/movies, as I don’t watch a lot of TV shows or movies anymore, but I’m sick and tired of investigative teams which always consist of one man and one woman, and before the story’s halfway doesn’t they’re in the sack with each other. I see it so often I’ve started skipping those parts. Maybe they could make it more interesting by varying the formula… say, have an investigative team which consists of two women, and before the story’s halfway done they’re in the sack with each other… ---
**Author:** ![Illuminatiprimus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/illuminatiprimus/32/11520_2.png) [@Illuminatiprimus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Illuminatiprimus)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2009, 10:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-and-movie-plot-cliches-that-really-annoy/483362/155 "2009-02-03T22:38:20Z")
> [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](#): > > besides; Goldie Hawn was undead and decaying when it happened, so clearly she might have been a tad more brittle than normal. Nitpick - Goldie wasn’t dead at that point, it was the shotgun that “killed” her. ---
**Author:** ![Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skald_the_Rhymer)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2009, 10:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-and-movie-plot-cliches-that-really-annoy/483362/156 "2009-02-03T22:41:23Z")
> [@Illuminatiprimus](#): > > Nitpick - Goldie wasn’t dead at that point, it was the shotgun that “killed” her. I always took it that she had had already died and it was the shotgun blast that revealed her undead status, her death having occurred offscreen. But it’s possible I’m wrong. My point is that the big gaping hole from a shotgun blast is hardly a cliche, as it does not happen over and over. And given the frankly magical effects of the potion Hawn & Streep’s characters partake of in this movie, complaining about that is like complaining that it’s impossible for anybody, Kryptonian or not, to set things on fire by looking at them. ---
**Author:** ![RikWriter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/49beb7/32.png) [@RikWriter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RikWriter)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2009, 10:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-and-movie-plot-cliches-that-really-annoy/483362/157 "2009-02-03T22:48:18Z")
> [@Voyager](#): > > My wife got pregnant the very first time we had unprotected sex, in order to try to have a baby. To be fair, the timing was right. We were very happy that we were cautious before. BTDT. Both times my wife and I decided to have kids, she was pregnant within 10 days of going off the pill. ---
**Author:** ![Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skald_the_Rhymer)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2009, 10:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-and-movie-plot-cliches-that-really-annoy/483362/158 "2009-02-03T22:52:13Z")
> [@Illuminatiprimus](#): > > Nitpick - Goldie wasn’t dead at that point, it was the shotgun that “killed” her. I just checked Wikipedia; you are right and I was wrong. ---
**Author:** ![Illuminatiprimus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/illuminatiprimus/32/11520_2.png) [@Illuminatiprimus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Illuminatiprimus)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2009, 10:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-and-movie-plot-cliches-that-really-annoy/483362/159 "2009-02-03T22:54:40Z")
> [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](#): > > I just checked Wikipedia; you are right and I was wrong. Usually I’d dispute that Wikipedia is a hard cite for something but if it’s proving me right then I won’t. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skald_the_Rhymer)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2009, 10:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-and-movie-plot-cliches-that-really-annoy/483362/160 "2009-02-03T22:58:16Z")
> [@Illuminatiprimus](#): > > Usually I’d dispute that Wikipedia is a hard cite for something but if it’s proving me right then I won’t. 😉 It merely refreshed my memory. I was distracted by the thought of Goldie Hawn, as it immediately brought to mind Laugh-In and dancing in bikinis and… what was I talking about? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-and-movie-plot-cliches-that-really-annoy/483362.md?page=7) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-and-movie-plot-cliches-that-really-annoy/483362.md?page=9)