# 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:** 124
**Author:** ![TreacherousCretin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/treacherouscretin/32/476_2.png) [@TreacherousCretin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TreacherousCretin)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2023, 6:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-extremely-common-in-tv-or-movies-but-almost-never-happens-in-real-life/932311/2462 "2023-02-21T18:48:19Z")
> [@carrps](#): > > I don’t think it was a spin-off of _77 Sunset Strip._ It was just made by the same production company. Yep. I looked it up after I posted. I was also surprised to see “Surfside Six” in the same company- I always thought it was a brazen ripoff of HFO. Now I know how they got away with it. > [@carrps](#): > > Speaking of which, whenever the number 77 came up in class during elementary school, most of the kids would automatically snap their fingers twice and say “Sun Set Strip.” Same at my school. I’ll push your memory button with “Kookie, Kookie, Lend Me Your Comb.” I’d always thought the 77SS office was a real building on the strip, but I never looked for it. ---
**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 21, 2023, 7:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-extremely-common-in-tv-or-movies-but-almost-never-happens-in-real-life/932311/2463 "2023-02-21T19:43:22Z")
> [@carrps](#): > > I don’t think it was a spin-off of _77 Sunset Strip._ [Wiki](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hawaiian_Eye) says no. > _Hawaiian Eye_ was one of several [ABC](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Broadcasting_Company)/[Warner Bros. Television](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Warner_Bros._Television) detective series of the era situated in different exotic locales. Others included [Hollywood](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hollywood,_Los_Angeles)-based _[77 Sunset Strip](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/77_Sunset_Strip)_; _[Bourbon Street Beat](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bourbon_Street_Beat)_, set in [New Orleans](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Orleans); and Miami’s _[Surfside 6](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Surfside_6)_. In reality, all were shot on the Warner Bros. [backlot](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Backlot) in Burbank, Calif. making it easy for characters—and sometimes whole scripts—to cross over. Although the shows are not [spin-offs](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spin-off_(media)) in the traditional sense, _Sunset_ was the first in this chain of “exotic location detective series”. In this regard, _Hawaiian Eye_ was the most viable of the _Sunset_ look-alikes, lasting four seasons.[[2]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hawaiian_Eye#cite_note-Thrilling-2) ---
**Author:** ![carrps](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carrps/32/2957_2.png) [@carrps](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carrps)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2023, 8:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-extremely-common-in-tv-or-movies-but-almost-never-happens-in-real-life/932311/2464 "2023-02-21T20:28:37Z")
> [@TreacherousCretin](#): > > I’d always thought the 77SS office was a real building on the strip, but I never looked for it. My memory was that it was not a real address. But there was a doorway near where it could have been that they used for exterior shots. ---
**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 21, 2023, 9:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-extremely-common-in-tv-or-movies-but-almost-never-happens-in-real-life/932311/2465 "2023-02-21T21:10:31Z")
It’s uncommon irl to see young guys combing their hair in their sideview mirror. ---
**Author:** ![msmith537](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d9b06d/32.png) [@msmith537](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/msmith537)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2023, 11:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-extremely-common-in-tv-or-movies-but-almost-never-happens-in-real-life/932311/2466 "2023-02-21T23:50:25Z")
Small children (like under 10 or 11 or so) In movies and TV, small children are always portrayed as precocious and wise beyond their years. They may give the protagonist some much needed advice or guidance. In a post-apocalyptic, disaster, war zone or other serious setting, they will be serious, disciplined, and capable, almost to the point of violating the Geneva Conventions. In my experience, the movie Step Brothers is the most realistic depiction of how small kids really act IRL (even though it was Will Farrell and John C Reilly portraying them as 40 year old adults). The tantrums, bickering, fighting, screaming for no reason, obsession with stupid shit was spot on. ---
**Author:** ![Asuka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@Asuka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Asuka)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2023, 12:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-extremely-common-in-tv-or-movies-but-almost-never-happens-in-real-life/932311/2467 "2023-02-22T00:44:56Z")
I have never seen a rapping granny in my life. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2023, 12:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-extremely-common-in-tv-or-movies-but-almost-never-happens-in-real-life/932311/2468 "2023-02-22T00:52:34Z")
> [@Son\_of\_a\_Rich](#): > > How many times can you sheath/ unsheath a quality sword before it starts eating its scabbard? The leather deteriorates. I have seen a SCA knight put his real sword thru his scabbard, but he wasn’t doing it carefully. ---
**Author:** ![Saint\_Cad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saint_cad/32/18907_2.png) [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2023, 1:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-extremely-common-in-tv-or-movies-but-almost-never-happens-in-real-life/932311/2469 "2023-02-22T01:01:34Z")
I wonder if you could put a sharpener in a scabbard. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2023, 1:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-extremely-common-in-tv-or-movies-but-almost-never-happens-in-real-life/932311/2470 "2023-02-22T01:02:56Z")
The US military did just that- for machetes. ---
**Author:** ![nearwildheaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/90db22/32.png) [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2023, 6:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-extremely-common-in-tv-or-movies-but-almost-never-happens-in-real-life/932311/2471 "2023-02-22T06:04:32Z")
Showing what every day? ---
**Author:** ![nearwildheaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/90db22/32.png) [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2023, 6:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-extremely-common-in-tv-or-movies-but-almost-never-happens-in-real-life/932311/2472 "2023-02-22T06:10:34Z")
Speaking of TV and movies, and groceries, grocery bags always have a baguette sticking out of the top. One time, I DID buy a baguette, and told the bagger that I qualified to be on a TV show. They looked blankly at me. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2023, 12:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-extremely-common-in-tv-or-movies-but-almost-never-happens-in-real-life/932311/2473 "2023-02-22T12:21:16Z")
> [@nearwildheaven](#): > > grocery bags always have a baguette sticking out of the top. On beaches in the Caribbean, French people often come with a banquette sticking out of their beach bag. ---
**Author:** ![nightshadea](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/7ba0ec/32.png) [@nightshadea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nightshadea)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2023, 12:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-extremely-common-in-tv-or-movies-but-almost-never-happens-in-real-life/932311/2474 "2023-02-22T12:27:22Z")
operation condor aka armour of god 2 ---
**Author:** ![nightshadea](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/7ba0ec/32.png) [@nightshadea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nightshadea)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2023, 12:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-extremely-common-in-tv-or-movies-but-almost-never-happens-in-real-life/932311/2475 "2023-02-22T12:31:25Z")
77 sunset strip and hawaiian eye the pi shows we were discussing ---
**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:** [February 22, 2023, 2:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-extremely-common-in-tv-or-movies-but-almost-never-happens-in-real-life/932311/2476 "2023-02-22T14:20:15Z")
> [@nearwildheaven](#): > > Speaking of TV and movies, and groceries, grocery bags always have a baguette sticking out of the top. … Along with stalks of celery. I guess those are the only groceries you can see sticking out of a bag, so you know the person REALLY HAS BEEN OUT SHOPPING and isn’t just carrying a prop filled with scrap paper. Adds verisimilitude! ---
**Author:** ![BrickBat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ac91a4/32.png) [@BrickBat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrickBat)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2023, 4:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-extremely-common-in-tv-or-movies-but-almost-never-happens-in-real-life/932311/2477 "2023-02-22T16:30:16Z")
> [@nearwildheaven](#): > > Speaking of TV and movies, and groceries, grocery bags always have a baguette sticking out of the top. Carrot tops too! ---
**Author:** ![Procrustus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/procrustus/32/2994_2.png) [@Procrustus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Procrustus)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2023, 4:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-extremely-common-in-tv-or-movies-but-almost-never-happens-in-real-life/932311/2478 "2023-02-22T16:31:18Z")
> [@nearwildheaven](#): > > One time, I DID buy a baguette, and told the bagger that I qualified to be on a TV show. They looked blankly at me. _One_ time? My wife buys at least one per month. And it sticks out of the bag, just like in the movies. ---
**Author:** ![nearwildheaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/90db22/32.png) [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2023, 7:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-extremely-common-in-tv-or-movies-but-almost-never-happens-in-real-life/932311/2479 "2023-02-22T19:25:55Z")
I’ve purchased baguettes more than once. It’s just that that one time, I told the bagger that I could be on TV, and they didn’t get it. ---
**Author:** ![eschereal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eschereal/32/18939_2.png) [@eschereal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eschereal)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2023, 11:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-extremely-common-in-tv-or-movies-but-almost-never-happens-in-real-life/932311/2480 "2023-02-22T23:05:14Z")
> [@nightshadea](#): > > the pi shows we were discussing TV and movies overall have an unrealistic deficit of trigonometry ---
**Author:** ![Askance](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/askance/32/8281_2.png) [@Askance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Askance)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2023, 11:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-extremely-common-in-tv-or-movies-but-almost-never-happens-in-real-life/932311/2481 "2023-02-22T23:49:38Z")
> [@eschereal](#): > > TV and movies overall have an unrealistic deficit of trigonometry It’s a sine of the times. [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=123) [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=125)