# 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:** 185
**Author:** ![smithsb](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smithsb/32/12107_2.png) [@smithsb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/smithsb)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2024, 12:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-extremely-common-in-tv-or-movies-but-almost-never-happens-in-real-life/932311/3687 "2024-05-21T12:17:50Z")
> [@BobLibDem](#): > > 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? That would be either Mrs. Nelson or Mrs. Brady; wearing a dress and heels around the house cleaning and to prepare dinner. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_other_waldo_pepper/32/12370_2.png) [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Other_Waldo_Pepper)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2024, 12:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-extremely-common-in-tv-or-movies-but-almost-never-happens-in-real-life/932311/3688 "2024-05-21T12:33:01Z")
> [@smithsb](#): > > Mrs. Brady; wearing a dress and heels around the house cleaning and to prepare dinner. Couldn’t she just go ask Alice? ---
**Author:** ![ZonexandScout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zonexandscout/32/544_2.png) [@ZonexandScout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZonexandScout)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2024, 1:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-extremely-common-in-tv-or-movies-but-almost-never-happens-in-real-life/932311/3689 "2024-05-21T13:23:30Z")
You forgot the pearl necklace. ---
**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:** [May 21, 2024, 1:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-extremely-common-in-tv-or-movies-but-almost-never-happens-in-real-life/932311/3690 "2024-05-21T13:27:16Z")
Nope, not touching that one. ---
**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 21, 2024, 3:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-extremely-common-in-tv-or-movies-but-almost-never-happens-in-real-life/932311/3691 "2024-05-21T15:34:54Z")
> [@BobLibDem](#): > > Lawyer or doctor comes home from a difficult day. Immediately into his living room and walks up to his home bar. For that matter, anybody getting home from work and heading immediately to the drink cart/fridge for a beer/sofa/kitchen table/etc., without first retreating to the bedroom to change, shower, decompress, or whatever. I’m looking at you, _King of Queens_. You sweat in your delivery truck for 8 hours, then hang around the house in your work uniform? Yuck. ---
**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 21, 2024, 3:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-extremely-common-in-tv-or-movies-but-almost-never-happens-in-real-life/932311/3692 "2024-05-21T15:46:50Z")
> [@Moriarty](#): > > Judges using gavels. That’s a good one. I think I’ve seen _one_ court where the bailiff bangs the gavel when they say “all rise.” Otherwise, no gavels to be seen over the past 35 years in court. I certainly have never seen a judge bang one to get order in the court. ---
**Author:** ![doreen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/858c86/32.png) [@doreen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/doreen)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2024, 3:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-extremely-common-in-tv-or-movies-but-almost-never-happens-in-real-life/932311/3693 "2024-05-21T15:59:34Z")
> [@Wheelz](#): > > I’m looking at you, _King of Queens_. You sweat in your delivery truck for 8 hours, then hang around the house in your work uniform? Yuck. I agree that it’s unrealistic for a physical job that requires a uniform that is worn to and from work - but I rarely came home from work and immediately changed my clothes/took a shower. Even the high school and college jobs I had that required uniforms involved me changing at work. After that, I wore jeans or khakis most days. I would change as soon as I got home if I had worn an actual suit to work - but that was generally no more than once a week and usually more like once a month. ---
**Author:** ![batsto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/b2d939/32.png) [@batsto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/batsto)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2024, 7:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-extremely-common-in-tv-or-movies-but-almost-never-happens-in-real-life/932311/3694 "2024-05-21T19:28:27Z")
> [@terentii](#): > > What, you’re a telemarketer? 😕 No. I’m a tutor—I work for a test prep company, tutoring students in a variety of subjects like LSAT and SAT. Sometimes I will have students back-to-back for 10 hours with almost no break. More commonly I’ll teach for 3-4 hours in row, and I’m doing a lot of talking during that time. ---
**Author:** ![nearwildheaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/90db22/32.png) [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2024, 10:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-extremely-common-in-tv-or-movies-but-almost-never-happens-in-real-life/932311/3695 "2024-05-21T22:29:26Z")
Which one - the pearl necklace, or the living room bar? ---
**Author:** ![Asuka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@Asuka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Asuka)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2024, 10:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-extremely-common-in-tv-or-movies-but-almost-never-happens-in-real-life/932311/3696 "2024-05-21T22:56:56Z")
Criminals posing as construction workers complete with red stop signs stop a police convoy to ambush it. While I know that has been used for robberies in the past it’s mainly the idea that a police convoy that should already know the route in advance suddenly gets stopped by a single dude holding a red stop sign to the point the cops get out of the car to confront the dude only to get shot during the ambush. Really feel in real life the cops would just drive around the dude. ---
**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, 11:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-extremely-common-in-tv-or-movies-but-almost-never-happens-in-real-life/932311/3697 "2024-05-21T23:27:13Z")
I hear you! I’ve done the same thing while teaching English as a foreign language at all levels. ---
**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, 11:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-extremely-common-in-tv-or-movies-but-almost-never-happens-in-real-life/932311/3698 "2024-05-21T23:31:43Z")
I always thought it started with June Cleaver, but it looks like Harriet Nelson was first (1952 vs 1957). ---
**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:** [May 22, 2024, 12:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-extremely-common-in-tv-or-movies-but-almost-never-happens-in-real-life/932311/3699 "2024-05-22T00:39:27Z")
> [@nearwildheaven](#): > > Which one - the pearl necklace, or the living room bar? Please, you’re making me blush. ---
**Author:** ![Broomstick](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/broomstick/32/246_2.png) [@Broomstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broomstick)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2024, 10:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-extremely-common-in-tv-or-movies-but-almost-never-happens-in-real-life/932311/3700 "2024-05-22T10:33:55Z")
> [@BobLibDem](#): > > 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? Why, his devoted tradwife, of course! She knows when he’s coming home and has everything set up and ready for him, but also knows he needs peace and quiet for a bit so makes sure she’s not present to bother the man of the house as he relaxes from the stress of his day. Most likely in a different part of the house scrubbing down the children and getting them into adorable outfits so they can be seen and not heard at dinner. Seriously, they used to foist actual manuals on young women prior to marriage full of that sort of thing. ---
**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:** [May 22, 2024, 4:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-extremely-common-in-tv-or-movies-but-almost-never-happens-in-real-life/932311/3701 "2024-05-22T16:04:52Z")
> [@Asuka](#): > > Really feel in real life the cops would just drive around the dude. Just saw that last night on FBI: Former special forces dude, currently working for the CIA, driving a truck with highly illegal explosives, packing an illegal handgun, sees what appears to be a motorcycle accident blocking a deserted country road. What does he do? Realize it is likely a trap, and drive on, reporting the accident down the road? No he gets out and gets shot. Gee wally, who didn’t see that coming? And, in the same episode, the feebs managed to accost a suspect on a narrow fishing pier, with but one way off, and he still got past them and yet another FBI foot chase ensued. ---
**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 22, 2024, 4:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-extremely-common-in-tv-or-movies-but-almost-never-happens-in-real-life/932311/3702 "2024-05-22T16:18:47Z")
> [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](#): > > yet another FBI foot chase ensued. The Hawaii Five-O reboot was good for this too. Nearly every week, McGarrett had to chase somebody across rooftops, over balconies, through stairwells, etc. The suspects were always highly skilled in elaborate parkour. ---
**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:** [May 22, 2024, 4:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-extremely-common-in-tv-or-movies-but-almost-never-happens-in-real-life/932311/3703 "2024-05-22T16:21:52Z")
> [@Wheelz](#): > > Nearly every week, McGarrett had to chase somebody across rooftops, over balconies, through stairwells, etc. That’s like reason number two I could never stand the New 5-0. Jack Lord never got into a foot chase. He never had to. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2024, 9:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-extremely-common-in-tv-or-movies-but-almost-never-happens-in-real-life/932311/3704 "2024-05-22T21:12:12Z")
> [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](#): > > Former special forces dude, currently working for the CIA, driving a truck with highly illegal explosives, packing an illegal handgun, sees what appears to be a motorcycle accident blocking a deserted country road. What does he do? Realize it is likely a trap, and drive on, reporting the accident down the road? No he gets out and gets shot. Gee wally, who didn’t see that coming? Yeah, and he has a cellphone, just call 911 and report it. I mean before cellphones, it was the ethical things to do- stop and render aid. No longer, and it is not only dangerous, but some good samaritans have been sued. > [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](#): > > That’s like reason number two I could never stand the New 5-0. Jack Lord never got into a foot chase. He never had to. He was smart, not fast. Danno sometimes had to do the running. ---
**Author:** ![Wolf333](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolf333/32/3460_2.png) [@Wolf333](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wolf333)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2024, 4:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-extremely-common-in-tv-or-movies-but-almost-never-happens-in-real-life/932311/3705 "2024-05-25T16:38:24Z")
When characters seem to forget very important events. “Remember the last time we were here?” “That’s right! There was a serial killer murdering people in the museum! He stalked you through the basement and nearly killed you!” ---
**Author:** ![Asuka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@Asuka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Asuka)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2024, 5:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-extremely-common-in-tv-or-movies-but-almost-never-happens-in-real-life/932311/3706 "2024-05-25T17:27:52Z")
I’ve never seen it but I’ve seen the memes, but apparently there’s a Nicolas Cage movie where he sees the numbers 9112001 written on something and has to Google Search them to reveal they’re actually a date. And no this doesn’t take place in another universe or in the far future it takes place in 2010s America. [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=184) [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=186)