# 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:** 184
**Author:** ![Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spectre_of_pithecanthropus/32/12343_2.png) [@Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spectre_of_Pithecanthropus)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2024, 5:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-extremely-common-in-tv-or-movies-but-almost-never-happens-in-real-life/932311/3667 "2024-05-15T17:45:45Z")
> [@Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](#): > > I won’t claim it’s extremely common, but I’ve definitely seen it in a few episodes and movies: characters living in a major metro, or even in the city, go outside at night and see a gorgeous skyful of stars. Case in point: We were just watching Evil on Netflix. The protagonist Kristin and her seminarian friend David step outside from her house, which is on the Manhattan shore almost literally under a bridge overpass. Of course the sky looks almost like this: [![](https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52181217556_5beacf6e65_k_d.jpg) ](https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52181217556_5beacf6e65_k_d.jpg) And when Kristin mentions it, David says “it’s a new moon.” Right. Of course that explains it. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2024, 9:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-extremely-common-in-tv-or-movies-but-almost-never-happens-in-real-life/932311/3668 "2024-05-15T21:17:34Z")
> [@WildaBeast](#): > > Has any policeman in real life ever yelled “Stop, in the name of The Law!” at a fleeing suspect? In one of the Nero Wolfe book, Sgt Stebbins uses a version of it to get Archie to open the door- and Archie is surprised. ---
**Author:** ![Wheelz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wheelz/32/5718_2.png) [@Wheelz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wheelz)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2024, 1:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-extremely-common-in-tv-or-movies-but-almost-never-happens-in-real-life/932311/3669 "2024-05-16T01:22:48Z")
HAPPY BIRTHDAY! Here’s your gift! In order to make it easy for you to open (and so the sound department doesn’t have to deal with the tearing of wrapping paper, and of course so we can do multiple takes), I’ve very carefully wrapped the box and its lid separately - including the perfectly-aligned ribbon - so all you have to do is remove the lid instead of ripping off the paper like a normal present! ---
**Author:** ![doreen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/858c86/32.png) [@doreen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/doreen)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2024, 3:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-extremely-common-in-tv-or-movies-but-almost-never-happens-in-real-life/932311/3670 "2024-05-16T03:14:49Z")
I’ve wrapped boxes that way - there was a charity that collected boxes of small gifts for women in shelters , and they wanted the boxes wrapped that way so they could check for prohibited items ---
**Author:** ![Nars\_Glinley](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nars_glinley/32/8177_2.png) [@Nars\_Glinley](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nars_Glinley)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2024, 8:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-extremely-common-in-tv-or-movies-but-almost-never-happens-in-real-life/932311/3671 "2024-05-16T20:29:37Z")
But you probably haven’t received a birthday present wrapped like that. ---
**Author:** ![nearwildheaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/90db22/32.png) [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2024, 10:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-extremely-common-in-tv-or-movies-but-almost-never-happens-in-real-life/932311/3672 "2024-05-16T22:26:41Z")
Their 1980s and 1990s output was mostly sung in his natural tenor. ---
**Author:** ![Nars\_Glinley](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nars_glinley/32/8177_2.png) [@Nars\_Glinley](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nars_Glinley)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2024, 3:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-extremely-common-in-tv-or-movies-but-almost-never-happens-in-real-life/932311/3673 "2024-05-17T03:27:59Z")
> [@Dallas\_Jones](#): > > > [@Spice\_Weasel](#): > > > > I wonder how much this is a stereotype vs. reality. I love Rush! > > If you like a marginal bass player who can’t sing but can only screech, this is the band for you… While I realize that opinions vary, never in my entire life have I heard of Geddy Lee’s bass skills as “marginal.” ---
**Author:** ![digs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/digs/32/14889_2.png) [@digs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/digs)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2024, 3:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-extremely-common-in-tv-or-movies-but-almost-never-happens-in-real-life/932311/3674 "2024-05-17T03:48:39Z")
> [@nearwildheaven](#): > > Their 1980s and 1990s output was mostly sung in his natural tenor. Ohhhh…! Now that I might like! I’ll look that up. I was hoping that here in The Future, we’d be able to custom order music: “Rush, but with Freddie Mercury on vocals”. (And “Dylan, with Bowie’s sax replacing Bob’s harmonica”) ---
**Author:** ![nearwildheaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/90db22/32.png) [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2024, 4:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-extremely-common-in-tv-or-movies-but-almost-never-happens-in-real-life/932311/3675 "2024-05-17T04:12:01Z")
My own personal favorite from this era is “Anagram (for Mongo).” “Time Stand Still” is also a well-known song from that time period. ---
**Author:** ![solost](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/solost/32/11776_2.png) [@solost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/solost)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2024, 2:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-extremely-common-in-tv-or-movies-but-almost-never-happens-in-real-life/932311/3676 "2024-05-17T14:30:59Z")
> [@digs](#): > > I was hoping that here in The Future, we’d be able to custom order music: “Rush, but with Freddie Mercury on vocals”. > > (And “Dylan, with Bowie’s sax replacing Bob’s harmonica”) That kind of stuff is pretty much happening now, thanks to AI. Here’s “Johnny Cash” covering the song Barbie Girl. He did some interesting covers on his American Recordings sessions, but nothing like this: [![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/MAFdzBTe2lg/hqdefault.jpg "Johnny Cash - Barbie Girl (A.I. Cover by There I Ruined it) Restoration") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MAFdzBTe2lg) ---
**Author:** ![batsto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/b2d939/32.png) [@batsto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/batsto)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2024, 8:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-extremely-common-in-tv-or-movies-but-almost-never-happens-in-real-life/932311/3677 "2024-05-17T20:20:01Z")
> [@alovem](#): > > > [@DrDeth](#): > > > > Oh yeah, that happens. But totally unable to talk? Very rare. > > You’re probably right. I had no idea people thought this was rare. I have a job that requires me to talk _a lot_, sometimes for hours on end. At least 2-3 times a year I end up unable to speak for a few hours, almost completely. My throat never hurts though, my voice just gives out until I rest it for a few hours. I’ve lost it for more than a day at least twice (and that’s before I had this job). ---
**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:** [May 18, 2024, 12:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-extremely-common-in-tv-or-movies-but-almost-never-happens-in-real-life/932311/3678 "2024-05-18T00:15:53Z")
A man with a shovel can dig out a 1m x 2m x 2m grave - 4 cubic metres! - in an hour or two. He’s a little out of breath but otherwise perfectly fine. The grave has perfectly formed sides and square corners, and despite digging it in the woods he encounters no roots, rocks or other such obstacles. ---
**Author:** ![Dr\_Paprika](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr_paprika/32/3042_2.png) [@Dr\_Paprika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr_Paprika)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2024, 2:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-extremely-common-in-tv-or-movies-but-almost-never-happens-in-real-life/932311/3679 "2024-05-18T02:15:41Z")
Is it me? Or do the horses seem spooked as we sit by our campfire in these isolated woods? _Ah. Horses get spooked by their own shadow._ No. Let’s go look. Something’s out there. (Both get up. First guy farts. Laughs.) You should have seen the look on your face! _No! Wait! Something is here!_ You won’t fool me…, YARRRGH!!! ---
**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:** [May 18, 2024, 3:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-extremely-common-in-tv-or-movies-but-almost-never-happens-in-real-life/932311/3680 "2024-05-18T03:17:29Z")
Pp. 14–15, at the bottom: > **[MAD Issue #121 - Read MAD Issue #121 comic online in high...](https://readcomiconline.li/Comic/MAD/Issue-121?id=72816&s=&readType=0#14)** > > Read MAD Issue #121 comic online free and high quality. Unique reading type: All pages - just need to scroll to read next page. _“Kinda **quiet** out there tonight, ain’t it, Lem?”_ _“Yeah! A little **too** quiet!”_ (If you get some pop-ups, adjust your VPN or ad blockers. I’ve been using the site for years now, and I’ve never had any trouble.) ---
**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:** [May 18, 2024, 3:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-extremely-common-in-tv-or-movies-but-almost-never-happens-in-real-life/932311/3681 "2024-05-18T03:23:16Z")
> [@batsto](#): > > I have a job that requires me to talk _a lot_, sometimes for hours on end. What, you’re a telemarketer? 😕 ---
**Author:** ![Asuka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@Asuka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Asuka)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2024, 8:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-extremely-common-in-tv-or-movies-but-almost-never-happens-in-real-life/932311/3682 "2024-05-20T20:50:56Z")
Usually shows up in older works, but American Naval Officers wearing their blue and white dress uniforms in combat situations. I was just watching MST3k watch some bad 1940s serial where the hero is a Naval Officer who for some reason is dressed in full dress uniform despite being sent on a combat expedition into Atlantis. ---
**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:** [May 20, 2024, 8:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-extremely-common-in-tv-or-movies-but-almost-never-happens-in-real-life/932311/3683 "2024-05-20T20:59:25Z")
> [@Askance](#): > > The grave has perfectly formed sides and square corners, and despite digging it in the woods he encounters no roots, rocks or other such obstacles That’s a good one. The graves I dig never turn out that well. There’s a reason we use “shallow graves.” Heck, I can’t even plant a rose bush without difficulty. ---
**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:** [May 21, 2024, 7:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-extremely-common-in-tv-or-movies-but-almost-never-happens-in-real-life/932311/3684 "2024-05-21T07:08:39Z")
In British TV shows, it’s not uncommon to see snow on the ground intermittently, regardless of the season. I can say from personal experience that in a lot of places (like Scotland and North Yorkshire), this mirrors real life because the weather in the Isles is so variable. ---
**Author:** ![Moriarty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/moriarty/32/49_2.png) [@Moriarty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moriarty)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2024, 11:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-extremely-common-in-tv-or-movies-but-almost-never-happens-in-real-life/932311/3685 "2024-05-21T11:14:37Z")
Judges using gavels. I’ve never seen it in real life. On tv and in movies, it’s standard. ---
**Author:** ![BobLibDem](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/boblibdem/32/3149_2.png) [@BobLibDem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobLibDem)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2024, 11:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-extremely-common-in-tv-or-movies-but-almost-never-happens-in-real-life/932311/3686 "2024-05-21T11:55:57Z")
As a followup to my previous post about liquor decanters, consider this scenario. Lawyer or doctor comes home from a difficult day. Immediately into his living room and walks up to his home bar. (who the hell has home bars in their living room anyway?). Gets a glass and uses tongs to take ice from the ice bucket and plop a couple cubes in his glass. He just got home! Who the hell filled the ice bucket? And why even use an ice bucket unless you’re having a social gathering? Just one person drinking- then haul your ass to the kitchen and take ice from the refrigerator. [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=183) [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=185)