# 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:** 187
**Author:** ![markn\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f9ae1b/32.png) [@markn\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/markn_1)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2024, 7:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-extremely-common-in-tv-or-movies-but-almost-never-happens-in-real-life/932311/3727 "2024-05-31T07:50:22Z")
That’s what puzzles me about movie bombs. Why do they have a visible timer at all? It’s more work and cost to add one, and it has no benefit to the bomber. ---
**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 31, 2024, 2:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-extremely-common-in-tv-or-movies-but-almost-never-happens-in-real-life/932311/3728 "2024-05-31T14:50:45Z")
I liked the subversion in one Elementary episode. A killer had left a huge bomb in Sherlock’s house, and as the episode ends Holmes and Watson find it sitting there, blinking, with a cell-phone detonator. Suspenseful end…roll credits. At the beginning if the next episode, while Watson is nearly panicking, Homes walks up, inspects the bomb…and forcibly rips the cell phone right off it, disarming it. ---
**Author:** ![WildaBeast](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wildabeast/32/6_2.png) [@WildaBeast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WildaBeast)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2024, 6:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-extremely-common-in-tv-or-movies-but-almost-never-happens-in-real-life/932311/3729 "2024-05-31T18:40:06Z")
Are there any jurisdictions where the jury foreperson has to stand up and read the verdict out loud in the courtroom, like how it’s usually portrayed in courtroom dramas? In my one experience serving on a jury the foreman just filled out a form, which he handed to the bailiff, who walked it over to the clerk, who was the one who actually read it. ---
**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 31, 2024, 6:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-extremely-common-in-tv-or-movies-but-almost-never-happens-in-real-life/932311/3730 "2024-05-31T18:43:19Z")
> [@WildaBeast](#): > > Are there any jurisdictions where the jury foreperson has to stand up and read the verdict out loud in the courtroom, like how it’s usually portrayed in courtroom dramas? In yesterday’s Trump trial the clerk asked the foreperson to stand and declare a verdict to each count as they were read off. I’ve seen similar in some court rooms. Most of the time, however, I see procedures where the forms are handed to the bailiff and then read by the clerk after the judge reviews the form (to make sure it’s not deficient–there is still time to send them back if something is amiss). ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2024, 6:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-extremely-common-in-tv-or-movies-but-almost-never-happens-in-real-life/932311/3731 "2024-05-31T18:50:33Z")
> [@WildaBeast](#): > > Are there any jurisdictions where the jury foreperson has to stand up and read the verdict out loud in the courtroom, like how it’s usually portrayed in courtroom dramas? In my one experience serving on a jury the foreman just filled out a form, which he handed to the bailiff, who walked it over to the clerk, who was the one who actually read it. _Law and Order,_ at least the mothership in the beginning, did a decent job of showing the proper procedures in a New York courtroom. Of course they didn’t get everything right but they did make an attempt. ---
**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:** [June 1, 2024, 10:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-extremely-common-in-tv-or-movies-but-almost-never-happens-in-real-life/932311/3732 "2024-06-01T22:30:17Z")
> [@CalMeacham](#): > > As I’ve said before, the proper sadistic thing for a bomb maker to do is to have a bomb that detonates when the times gets to 1:30 I have decided that if I ever build a bomb to kill somebody I don’t like, it’s _not_ going to have a big, red, blinking light on it. And all the wires will be red. ---
**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:** [June 2, 2024, 12:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-extremely-common-in-tv-or-movies-but-almost-never-happens-in-real-life/932311/3733 "2024-06-02T00:01:20Z")
In real life, would an underling cut short a telephone conversation with a superior by saying, e.g., “Something’s just come up; I’ll call you back!” ---
**Author:** ![scabpicker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scabpicker/32/8268_2.png) [@scabpicker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scabpicker)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2024, 6:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-extremely-common-in-tv-or-movies-but-almost-never-happens-in-real-life/932311/3734 "2024-06-02T06:31:19Z")
Well, I have told my boss that I’m dealing with an issue in a different conversation, and I’ll give him more information in a few minutes when I know more. But that was over chat (who talks to their boss on the phone these days?), and I did provide him with more info than “Something has come up” before telling him I wouldn’t be responsive for a bit. ---
**Author:** ![Love\_Rhombus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/love_rhombus/32/10694_2.png) [@Love\_Rhombus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Love_Rhombus)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2024, 10:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-extremely-common-in-tv-or-movies-but-almost-never-happens-in-real-life/932311/3735 "2024-06-02T10:20:03Z")
> [@Loach](#): > > _Law and Order,_ at least the mothership in the beginning, did a decent job of showing the proper procedures in a New York courtroom. Of course they didn’t get everything right but they did make an attempt. On _L&O_, did they do it they way they did with Trump’s trial in regards to closing arguments? I understand in his the defense went first, which he did not like. ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2024, 3:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-extremely-common-in-tv-or-movies-but-almost-never-happens-in-real-life/932311/3736 "2024-06-02T15:47:46Z")
> [@Love\_Rhombus](#): > > > [@Loach](#): > > > > _Law and Order,_ at least the mothership in the beginning, did a decent job of showing the proper procedures in a New York courtroom. Of course they didn’t get everything right but they did make an attempt. > > On _L&O_, did they do it they way they did with Trump’s trial in regards to closing arguments? I understand in his the defense went first, which he did not like. It’s been a while but my guess is they did. It’s the rule in New York and not specific to the Trump trial. Just like the fact the jury isn’t allowed to get written instructions. That was probably never in an episode since it would be hard to make that dramatic. ---
**Author:** ![Tzigone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/839c29/32.png) [@Tzigone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tzigone)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2024, 5:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-extremely-common-in-tv-or-movies-but-almost-never-happens-in-real-life/932311/3737 "2024-06-02T17:08:12Z")
> [@WildaBeast](#): > > This thread is so long this has likely already been covered, but did people ever actually invite their bosses over for dinner back in the day? This got asked on Reddit’s askhistorians sub. Apparently, questions about this scenario [used to be on tests](https://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/comments/kyb18x/in_1950s_america_was_it_common_for_the_boss_and/gjgu5z9/). ---
**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:** [June 2, 2024, 6:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-extremely-common-in-tv-or-movies-but-almost-never-happens-in-real-life/932311/3738 "2024-06-02T18:58:02Z")
> [@terentii](#): > > Columbo could handle more than one at a time. > > I’ve also noticed that all of the other detectives assigned to assist on one of his cases are real dolts. They don’t notice things like a pistol in the pocket of the murderer’s overcoat they’re hanging up I remember that episode; you’re of course right that he didn’t notice it, but I’m guessing that — if you had to — you couldn’t describe that in a way that paints the cop in a _great_ light, but I figure you could describe it in, uh, the _least bad way_ possible. That said, try giving the most forgiving description you can of the cop played by a young Ed Begley Jr in “How To Dial A Murder”: sir, your dogs are locked in a cage in this closed area, behind a door marked “ISOLATION”, because they mauled a guy to death; and, wait, you want to be left alone here with them? [walks past telephone] Gosh, I don’t know if I’m _allowed_ to leave you alone with the dogs; I’m gonna haveta go check with Lieutenant Columbo first. So, you stay right here with those dogs until I get back, okay? ---
**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:** [June 2, 2024, 8:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-extremely-common-in-tv-or-movies-but-almost-never-happens-in-real-life/932311/3739 "2024-06-02T20:28:37Z")
There’s a phone in the same room, and he doesn’t use it to call Columbo? That is pretty … dense. Why didn’t the Director or Script Girl say something like “Wait a minute, you don’t have to leave him alone, just pick up that phone right there…”. Mind you, this would all be moot today because Ed would undoubtedly have a smart phone in his pocket. I think Detective Wilson in the episode where Ray Milland bumps off nephew Bradford Dillman to get his hands on $300,000 walks away with the award for being the densest cop. Every conclusion he rushes to is wrong. ---
**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:** [June 2, 2024, 9:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-extremely-common-in-tv-or-movies-but-almost-never-happens-in-real-life/932311/3740 "2024-06-02T21:02:40Z")
> [@terentii](#): > > There’s a phone in the same room, and he doesn’t use it to call Columbo? That is pretty … dense. Even putting that detail aside, it _already_ seems dense to leave the guy alone there so you can go find out if it’s okay to leave the guy alone there. But putting that detail back in makes it — grotesque? ---
**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:** [June 2, 2024, 9:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-extremely-common-in-tv-or-movies-but-almost-never-happens-in-real-life/932311/3741 "2024-06-02T21:20:07Z")
Ehrlich (Ed’s character on _ **St Elsewhere** _) wasn’t all that bright either. ---
**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:** [June 2, 2024, 10:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-extremely-common-in-tv-or-movies-but-almost-never-happens-in-real-life/932311/3742 "2024-06-02T22:47:27Z")
> [@Procrustus](#): > > I’ve seen similar in some court rooms. Most of the time, however, I see procedures where the forms are handed to the bailiff and then read by the clerk after the judge reviews the form (to make sure it’s not deficient–there is still time to send them back if something is amiss). This is how I’ve always seen it done (I’ve served on about eight juries). And they had video in _The Jinx 2_ where Robert Durst’s verdict for killing Susan Berman was read exactly like this. Of course, that was in Los Angeles, where I’ve served all my jury service (within the county, that is). ---
**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:** [June 2, 2024, 11:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-extremely-common-in-tv-or-movies-but-almost-never-happens-in-real-life/932311/3743 "2024-06-02T23:39:12Z")
> [@terentii](#): > > Ehrlich (Ed’s character on _ **St Elsewhere** _) wasn’t all that bright either… Well, he didn’t actually exist. ---
**Author:** ![WildaBeast](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wildabeast/32/6_2.png) [@WildaBeast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WildaBeast)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2024, 12:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-extremely-common-in-tv-or-movies-but-almost-never-happens-in-real-life/932311/3744 "2024-06-03T00:17:28Z")
> [@Author\_Balk](#): > > A detective will have a exactly one case from the some of the following scenarios… I can think of _Monk_ episodes for at least half of those. ---
**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:** [June 3, 2024, 2:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-extremely-common-in-tv-or-movies-but-almost-never-happens-in-real-life/932311/3745 "2024-06-03T02:18:06Z")
Characters seldom do. ---
**Author:** ![Stratocaster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stratocaster/32/16393_2.png) [@Stratocaster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stratocaster)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2024, 2:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-extremely-common-in-tv-or-movies-but-almost-never-happens-in-real-life/932311/3746 "2024-06-03T02:19:19Z")
I got the joke. [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=186) [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=188)