# What is extremely common in TV or movies but almost never happens in real life? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [February 6, 2021, 4:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-extremely-common-in-tv-or-movies-but-almost-never-happens-in-real-life/932311 "2021-02-06T04:16:49Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 10
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2021, 5:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-extremely-common-in-tv-or-movies-but-almost-never-happens-in-real-life/932311/181 "2021-02-07T17:21:55Z")
> [@RivkahChaya](#): > > They speed-read, as conceived by TV writers who don’t have a clue what speed-reading is-- yes, it exists-- I can do it, but it’s not fun, so you never do it with pleasure reading, and you don’t read things 200 or 300% faster, you read them, at most 60% faster, I read at 1000 wpm, even pleasure reading. That is often called “speed reading” are you talking about like a page a minute or something? ---
**Author:** ![doreen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/858c86/32.png) [@doreen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/doreen)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2021, 5:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-extremely-common-in-tv-or-movies-but-almost-never-happens-in-real-life/932311/182 "2021-02-07T17:22:25Z")
> [@nearwildheaven](#): > > For that matter, pharmacists who wear those Nehru jacket things. I don’t think that’s been common in TV/movies since it became less common in real life - I remember pharmacists wearing them in real life at least until the 70s, maybe early 80s ---
**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:** [February 7, 2021, 5:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-extremely-common-in-tv-or-movies-but-almost-never-happens-in-real-life/932311/183 "2021-02-07T17:25:53Z")
> [@Morgyn](#): > > …despite her telling the nurse the baby was coming _ **now** _ , the nurse decided my boss didn’t know what she was talking about, said it would be hours yet, and left her screaming for help in the room. Although this was long before I knew her, **DesertWife** told me her two births were fast and easy. The first one went without a hitch but the second she kept telling them she wouldn’t be long in labor and they were all, “Yeah, yeah. Let us professionals decide that,” until “The baby’s he-e-ere!” and they had to do some scrambling. Didn’t have a plumber as OB, though. ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2021, 5:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-extremely-common-in-tv-or-movies-but-almost-never-happens-in-real-life/932311/184 "2021-02-07T17:29:13Z")
The body counts in a lot of crime and action movies would make them among the largest massacres in history outside of wartime. I just watched _Kiss Kiss, Bang Bang_ for the first time, and although it’s a black comedy I was surprised by the over-the-top slaughter. There were more than a dozen murders committed related to the main crime, plus a couple more incidental deaths that were not directly related. I just checked and the four seasons of the _Fargo_ have more than 300 murders between them. The St. Valentine’s Day Massacre only accounted for seven killings, and any one season of Fargo would be among the biggest mob wars in US history. ---
**Author:** ![doreen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/858c86/32.png) [@doreen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/doreen)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2021, 5:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-extremely-common-in-tv-or-movies-but-almost-never-happens-in-real-life/932311/185 "2021-02-07T17:49:23Z")
> [@BrickBat](#): > > Bar or diner patrons that never ask for change or to break a large bill so that they can tip the tender or waitstaff. It’s just pull some cash out the pocket, and leave on the table or bar and go, since whatever they put down is the cost of their order plus 15 or so percent. I won’t say I’ve never done it - but there have been plenty of times I haven’t. Sure, if my bill plus tip comes to $30, I’ll wait for the change from a $50 bill nor two $20s- but if the bill plus tip comes to $23, I’m not waiting around for the $2 change from a $20 and a $5. ---
**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 7, 2021, 5:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-extremely-common-in-tv-or-movies-but-almost-never-happens-in-real-life/932311/186 "2021-02-07T17:59:31Z")
> [@ChockFullOfHeadyGoodness](#): > > When I was in college, I delivered pizzas to the dorms for 4 years, and not once did a female customer not have enough money to pay while having bow-chicka-wow-wow music playing on her stereo. This can only happen if your erect penis is at least eight inches long. ---
**Author:** ![Railer13](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/railer13/32/9742_2.png) [@Railer13](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Railer13)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2021, 6:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-extremely-common-in-tv-or-movies-but-almost-never-happens-in-real-life/932311/187 "2021-02-07T18:15:16Z")
On extremely rare occasions, characters in movies use the bathroom. Characters in TV shows? Never. ---
**Author:** ![Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/son_of_a_rich/32/5439_2.png) [@Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Son_of_a_Rich)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2021, 6:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-extremely-common-in-tv-or-movies-but-almost-never-happens-in-real-life/932311/188 "2021-02-07T18:21:53Z")
Bathroom or restroom use is a regular occurrence on Mom. ---
**Author:** ![Railer13](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/railer13/32/9742_2.png) [@Railer13](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Railer13)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2021, 6:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-extremely-common-in-tv-or-movies-but-almost-never-happens-in-real-life/932311/189 "2021-02-07T18:29:11Z")
Fair enough. I’ve hardly ever watched that show. ---
**Author:** ![Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/son_of_a_rich/32/5439_2.png) [@Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Son_of_a_Rich)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2021, 6:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-extremely-common-in-tv-or-movies-but-almost-never-happens-in-real-life/932311/190 "2021-02-07T18:31:38Z")
Yeah, I can’t think of any others. Heck, it really wasn’t that long ago they wouldn’t even show a toilet. ---
**Author:** ![Q.Q.Switcheroo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/q.q.switcheroo/32/5713_2.png) [@Q.Q.Switcheroo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.Q.Switcheroo)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2021, 6:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-extremely-common-in-tv-or-movies-but-almost-never-happens-in-real-life/932311/191 "2021-02-07T18:33:29Z")
> [@Son\_of\_a\_Rich](#): > > Bathroom or restroom use is a regular occurrence on Mom. It’s a regular source of plot points on **Curb Your Enthusiasm**. ---
**Author:** ![Trinopus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/2bfe46/32.png) [@Trinopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trinopus)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2021, 6:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-extremely-common-in-tv-or-movies-but-almost-never-happens-in-real-life/932311/192 "2021-02-07T18:44:30Z")
> [@Mark\_Finn](#): > > Large mainframe computers shown with tapes spinning back and forth. In real life, they would almost always be spinning on one direction Speaking from extensive personal experience, nope. At least one tape unit (mine!) had to write, rewind a bit, write again, etc, going forward and backward all through the entire tape. Same for reading: it had to go back and double-check a segment it had just read. The whole 20 minute write-to-tape sequence involved maybe 25% of the overall time going back a few inches. ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2021, 6:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-extremely-common-in-tv-or-movies-but-almost-never-happens-in-real-life/932311/193 "2021-02-07T18:57:53Z")
> [@Railer13](#): > > Characters in TV shows? Never. Maybe in dramas. In comedies, reference to [people using the toilet](https://onepointpartitions.com/blog/2017/01/30/first-tv-toilets/) goes back to _All in the Family_ in 1971, and there was regular toilet humor in _Married With Children_, and a lot of scenes in _Ally McBeal_ took place in the law firm’s unisex bathroom. Maybe people aren’t actually shown using the toilet, but there are certainly lots of references to using one. ---
**Author:** ![Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/son_of_a_rich/32/5439_2.png) [@Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Son_of_a_Rich)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2021, 7:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-extremely-common-in-tv-or-movies-but-almost-never-happens-in-real-life/932311/194 "2021-02-07T19:04:09Z")
Since passenger vehicles don’t have bench seats anymore, this one will never be seen IRL: the driver slides across the seat and gets out the passenger door. First noticed when the detective visits the Bates Motel. Only in movies AFAICT. ---
**Author:** ![Trinopus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/2bfe46/32.png) [@Trinopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trinopus)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2021, 7:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-extremely-common-in-tv-or-movies-but-almost-never-happens-in-real-life/932311/195 "2021-02-07T19:05:43Z")
My uncle had a beat up old car where the driver-side door didn’t open. He _always_ slid across to the passenger-side door. Fortunately old enough to pre-date bucket seats. ---
**Author:** ![alovem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b38774/32.png) [@alovem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alovem)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2021, 7:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-extremely-common-in-tv-or-movies-but-almost-never-happens-in-real-life/932311/196 "2021-02-07T19:10:55Z")
I’ve asked for change to leave a tip at least four or five times in my life. About rattlesnakes, I read about [Synanon](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Synanon) for the first time a couple of days ago. The lawyer who took them on was bitten by a rattlesnake that they’d put in his maibox. One unlikely plot device I’m tired of seeing is when someone notices a detail in a photo and figures out what’s really happening. The photo is usually at the bad guy’s home (in a drawer, along with other photos), and the person noticing the detail has usually broken in to snoop around. ---
**Author:** ![Duckster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/duckster/32/1244_2.png) [@Duckster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duckster)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2021, 7:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-extremely-common-in-tv-or-movies-but-almost-never-happens-in-real-life/932311/197 "2021-02-07T19:15:22Z")
Nobody pees or poops. I think the last time it happened was Archie Bunker in All in the Family. And the morning after the hot and heavy night before, they wake up, kiss, kiss again, kiss a-g-a-i-n, and off they go. No one has the Zacklies. ---
**Author:** ![Reeses\_Monkey](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/reeses_monkey/32/2885_2.png) [@Reeses\_Monkey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reeses_Monkey)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2021, 7:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-extremely-common-in-tv-or-movies-but-almost-never-happens-in-real-life/932311/198 "2021-02-07T19:40:31Z")
Zacklies? ---
**Author:** ![Tripler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripler/32/21807_2.png) [@Tripler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tripler)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2021, 7:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-extremely-common-in-tv-or-movies-but-almost-never-happens-in-real-life/932311/199 "2021-02-07T19:43:37Z")
Giant blazing fireballs from high explosives’ detonations. Sorry Hollywood, but C4 and SEMTEX don’t generate giant fireballs like your petroleum-based-effects’ pyrotechnic shots do. Tripler The smoke and dust is accurate enough, though. ---
**Author:** ![Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba9def/32.png) [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Just_Asking_Questions)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2021, 7:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-extremely-common-in-tv-or-movies-but-almost-never-happens-in-real-life/932311/200 "2021-02-07T19:56:23Z")
> [@RivkahChaya](#): > > TV geniuses. They have stated IQs that are not actually possible the way IQs are measured, such as “187”; Yes, I see the Criminal Minds promo twice an hour during L&O reruns, too. 🙂 No one reads 20K words a minute, either, Speaking of L&O, they played that card and the much-aligned Serena got the perfect comeback. McCoy is supposed to be a literal genius, suposedly. I can’t remember the exact exchange, but it was something like: McCoy: Even a person with a 170 IQ would have missed that. Serena: Turns out, you would have, too. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-extremely-common-in-tv-or-movies-but-almost-never-happens-in-real-life/932311.md?page=9) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-extremely-common-in-tv-or-movies-but-almost-never-happens-in-real-life/932311.md?page=11)