# TV characters that use cell phones? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [November 26, 2008, 11:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-characters-that-use-cell-phones/474541 "2008-11-26T11:55:09Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Punintentional](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/9de0a6/32.png) [@Punintentional](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Punintentional)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2008, 11:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-characters-that-use-cell-phones/474541/1 "2008-11-26T11:55:09Z")
I was watching an episode of Seinfeld tonight and realised how different and less funny certain things would be had cell phones been so prominent at the time. This got me thinking, are there any TV shows where characters will use cell phones to communicate as much as we do in real life? So when John needs to ask Jane something, he’d call her, rather than turn up at her apartment? ---
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2008, 12:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-characters-that-use-cell-phones/474541/2 "2008-11-26T12:01:49Z")
Kim Possible does. ---
**Author:** ![Tapioca\_Dextrin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Tapioca\_Dextrin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tapioca_Dextrin)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2008, 12:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-characters-that-use-cell-phones/474541/3 "2008-11-26T12:03:25Z")
The X-Files springs to mind. ---
**Author:** ![Labtrash](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/labtrash/32/528_2.png) [@Labtrash](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Labtrash)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2008, 12:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-characters-that-use-cell-phones/474541/4 "2008-11-26T12:53:05Z")
> [@Tapioca\_Dextrin](#): > > The X-Files springs to mind. First thing I thought of. Didn’t Mulder use a different model of cell phone in each episode? ---
**Author:** ![Tapioca\_Dextrin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Tapioca\_Dextrin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tapioca_Dextrin)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2008, 12:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-characters-that-use-cell-phones/474541/5 "2008-11-26T12:58:05Z")
He used one of [these](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Motorola_DynaTAC) in a flashback episode. ---
**Author:** ![E-Sabbath](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/e19adc/32.png) [@E-Sabbath](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/E-Sabbath)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2008, 2:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-characters-that-use-cell-phones/474541/6 "2008-11-26T14:55:47Z")
Buffy the Vampire Slayer integrated them in the last season or two. ---
**Author:** ![h.sapiens](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e0b2c6/32.png) [@h.sapiens](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/h.sapiens)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2008, 3:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-characters-that-use-cell-phones/474541/7 "2008-11-26T15:23:38Z")
In the more recent seasons, the detectives on “Law and Order” use their cell phones all the time. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2008, 3:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-characters-that-use-cell-phones/474541/8 "2008-11-26T15:27:22Z")
The characters on _The West Wing_ used cellphones, often while striding self-importantly in front of various Washington landmarks. ---
**Author:** ![BubbaDog](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bubbadog/32/333_2.png) [@BubbaDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BubbaDog)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2008, 3:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-characters-that-use-cell-phones/474541/9 "2008-11-26T15:35:21Z")
_How I Met Your Mother_ often uses cell phones to join the different directions that the characters take. Neil Patrick Harris uses the prop the most. ---
**Author:** ![ShelliBean](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f9ae1b/32.png) [@ShelliBean](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShelliBean)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2008, 3:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-characters-that-use-cell-phones/474541/10 "2008-11-26T15:39:38Z")
And lost it last episode due to attempting the naked man! Without a Trace, Criminal Minds and most of the CSIs use the frequently. ---
**Author:** ![ShibbOleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/848f3c/32.png) [@ShibbOleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShibbOleth)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2008, 3:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-characters-that-use-cell-phones/474541/11 "2008-11-26T15:41:27Z")
Sitcoms now like to use “cellphone goes off at inopportune moment” as the gag of choice. This week _2.5 Men_ used it to effect as Michael Clarke Duncan came over to Charlie’s house looking for his daughter. They called Jake’s phone and some song with misogynist lyrics started going off. ---
**Author:** ![JThunder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e95f7d/32.png) [@JThunder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JThunder)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2008, 3:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-characters-that-use-cell-phones/474541/12 "2008-11-26T15:43:46Z")
Jack Bauer. ---
**Author:** ![Labdad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/439d5e/32.png) [@Labdad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Labdad)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2008, 3:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-characters-that-use-cell-phones/474541/13 "2008-11-26T15:45:08Z")
How about _24_?? If weren’t for cell phones, WE’D ALL BE DEAD!!! eta: Beat to the punch ---
**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:** [November 26, 2008, 3:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-characters-that-use-cell-phones/474541/14 "2008-11-26T15:50:18Z")
They were used very often on “The Sopranos.” Tony’s phone is always going off. And Tony Blundetto’s ringtone was “We Are the Champions.” ---
**Author:** ![kidchameleon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/898d66/32.png) [@kidchameleon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kidchameleon)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2008, 3:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-characters-that-use-cell-phones/474541/15 "2008-11-26T15:54:02Z")
> [@Labdad](#): > > eta: Beat to the punch **JThunder** had help from Chloe. ---
**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:** [November 26, 2008, 3:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-characters-that-use-cell-phones/474541/16 "2008-11-26T15:58:01Z")
**House** integrated them quite well in this week’s episode. Things wouldn’t have worked without them. ---
**Author:** ![Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/earl_snake-hips_tucker/32/3269_2.png) [@Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Earl_Snake-Hips_Tucker)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2008, 4:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-characters-that-use-cell-phones/474541/17 "2008-11-26T16:02:57Z")
Zack Morris. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2008, 4:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-characters-that-use-cell-phones/474541/18 "2008-11-26T16:10:01Z")
> [@ShibbOleth](#): > > Sitcoms now like to use “cellphone goes off at inopportune moment” as the gag of choice. This week _2.5 Men_ used it to effect as Michael Clarke Duncan came over to Charlie’s house looking for his daughter. They called Jake’s phone and some song with misogynist lyrics started going off. I read recently that Queen Elizabeth II has become annoyed several times in recent years when cellphones go off in royal receiving lines. She’s started saying, “You’d better answer that; it might be someone important.” 😛 ---
**Author:** ![CaerieD](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/da6949/32.png) [@CaerieD](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CaerieD)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2008, 4:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-characters-that-use-cell-phones/474541/19 "2008-11-26T16:24:10Z")
On _Life_ they’re used pretty extensively and realistically, too. An added bonus is that the main character was in prison during the time period when they became ubiquitous, so he gets all excited about the possible uses of them. ---
**Author:** ![Szlater](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/90ced4/32.png) [@Szlater](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Szlater)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2008, 4:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-characters-that-use-cell-phones/474541/20 "2008-11-26T16:28:24Z")
> [@BubbaDog](#): > > _How I Met Your Mother_ often uses cell phones to join the different directions that the characters take. Neil Patrick Harris uses the prop the most. I reckon that’s so they can upgrade him to an iPhone 3G. Maybe I’m just cynical. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-characters-that-use-cell-phones/474541.md?page=2)