# 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:** 22
**Author:** ![Esprise\_Me](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/esprise_me/32/2947_2.png) [@Esprise\_Me](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Esprise_Me)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2021, 4:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-extremely-common-in-tv-or-movies-but-almost-never-happens-in-real-life/932311/421 "2021-02-12T04:14:17Z")
> [@Mijin](#): > > (tangent) > I recommend not doing this IRL, unless you think there’s a likelihood of them being in danger. When I’ve had a stomach bug, I really resented people insisting on coming to look after me, since it just added to my discomfort (while at the same time I understand it is a nice gesture). Not to mention, if the stomach bug in question is a virus rather than simply bacteria that multiplied while the food was held at an unsafe temperature, it’s probably highly contagious! But Jimmy Fallon and Drew Barrymore were so cute together, they sold that and crazier. ---
**Author:** ![Eclipse\_Chaser](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@Eclipse\_Chaser](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eclipse_Chaser)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2021, 9:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-extremely-common-in-tv-or-movies-but-almost-never-happens-in-real-life/932311/422 "2021-02-12T09:14:52Z")
Except in Death in Paradise, where come the evening, the Chief Inspector says “Ok, time to knock off and we’ll look at it again in the morning”. ---
**Author:** ![Dead\_Cat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9fc29f/32.png) [@Dead\_Cat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dead_Cat)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2021, 11:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-extremely-common-in-tv-or-movies-but-almost-never-happens-in-real-life/932311/423 "2021-02-12T11:28:24Z")
I love the film, but every time I watch it, the obvious disparity between the number of seconds of action shown and the number of seconds that has counted down on the timer next time we see it really grates. I mean, how hard would it have been for them to edit it so that they at least vaguely matched up? ---
**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 12, 2021, 12:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-extremely-common-in-tv-or-movies-but-almost-never-happens-in-real-life/932311/424 "2021-02-12T12:01:36Z")
I think the line in the script was “Three more seconds and Mr Goldfinger would have hit the jackpot!”—which is what Sean Connery actually said. So the original close-up was presumably “003.” It was decided later to insert the “007” shot as a joke, but Bond’s spoken line wasn’t changed. That’s why there’s a disparity between the two. When I saw the movie way back in the winter/spring of 1965, the laughter in the cinema after they showed “007” was sufficiently loud to drown out the quip, and nobody (including my ten-year-old self) noticed. ---
**Author:** ![Dead\_Cat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9fc29f/32.png) [@Dead\_Cat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dead_Cat)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2021, 1:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-extremely-common-in-tv-or-movies-but-almost-never-happens-in-real-life/932311/425 "2021-02-12T13:02:19Z")
Great post - but I was more referring to the fact that in the action preceding that, the shot would cut away to about 10-15 seconds of the battle sequence, then cut back to the countdown timer, on which about 3-4 numbers had passed (and not only that, I believe the timer was counting down the numbers at a rate quicker than one per second - hmm, thinking about that, maybe they speeded the timer up deliberately in post-production so that Bond’s line would more accurately reflect the change to 007 showing on the timer - that hadn’t occurred to me until you mentioned this point). This happened several times. Why not just cut in shots of the timer showing more realistic numbers? Still, a minor blemish on an excellent film. ---
**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 12, 2021, 1:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-extremely-common-in-tv-or-movies-but-almost-never-happens-in-real-life/932311/426 "2021-02-12T13:10:27Z")
Yes indeed, but this is common in movies and TV shows. The closest I’ve ever seen to a countdown corresponding to reality was the episode of _ **M.A.S.H.** _ where they had to do a vein transplant within 30 minutes and there was a little clock in the corner of the frame. The worst I can remember is the episode of _ **Batman** _ where The Bookworm had Robin tied to the clapper of Big Benjamin, which was going to chime in 60 seconds. It took at least five full minutes to resolve that cliffhanger, even though there was also a clock supposedly showing the amount of time remaining. ---
**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 12, 2021, 3:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-extremely-common-in-tv-or-movies-but-almost-never-happens-in-real-life/932311/427 "2021-02-12T15:07:00Z")
> [@terentii](#): > > The worst I can remember is the episode of _ **Batman** _ where The Bookworm had Robin tied to the clapper of Big Benjamin, which was going to chime in 60 seconds. It took at least five full minutes to resolve that cliffhanger, even though there was also a clock supposedly showing the amount of time remaining. The 1960s _Batman_ was a parody, however, so I would expect that was deliberate. ---
**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 12, 2021, 3:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-extremely-common-in-tv-or-movies-but-almost-never-happens-in-real-life/932311/428 "2021-02-12T15:10:39Z")
Are you suggesting that _ **Batman** _ wasn’t a 100% scientifically accurate, true-to-life depiction of crimefighting?!? :: 😮 🤨 ---
**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 12, 2021, 3:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-extremely-common-in-tv-or-movies-but-almost-never-happens-in-real-life/932311/429 "2021-02-12T15:21:09Z")
The worst I can remember is the episode of _ **Batman** _ where he’s trying to [get rid of a bomb](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G4v1hAnfy1I). Where’s the trope? - Apparently all bombs look like cannonballs with fuse ports - Obligatory random brass oompah-loompah band - A pair of nuns - All of the above converging at the same time, and same place, during a time-critical emergency. Tripler I heard, but didn’t see a feline howl. That could’ve been a cat-tastrophe. ---
**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:** [February 12, 2021, 3:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-extremely-common-in-tv-or-movies-but-almost-never-happens-in-real-life/932311/430 "2021-02-12T15:21:57Z")
My mom still brings up how she used to laugh at us grade-schoolers glued to our little black-and-white TV, taking Batman seriously. ---
**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 12, 2021, 3:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-extremely-common-in-tv-or-movies-but-almost-never-happens-in-real-life/932311/431 "2021-02-12T15:26:03Z")
Oh God, yes! When I was 11 years old, it was practically the center of my universe. I was infuriated when _ **TV Guide** _ labeled it a “comedy.” “_These people just don’t **get** it!_” 😠 ---
**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 12, 2021, 4:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-extremely-common-in-tv-or-movies-but-almost-never-happens-in-real-life/932311/432 "2021-02-12T16:41:38Z")
You left out the mother pushing the baby carriage! 😃 ---
**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 12, 2021, 6:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-extremely-common-in-tv-or-movies-but-almost-never-happens-in-real-life/932311/433 "2021-02-12T18:46:29Z")
And the baby ducks!! ---
**Author:** ![Author\_Balk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e0b2c6/32.png) [@Author\_Balk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Author_Balk)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2021, 6:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-extremely-common-in-tv-or-movies-but-almost-never-happens-in-real-life/932311/434 "2021-02-12T18:57:43Z")
Someone says or does something funny. There is a pause in the conversation. During the pause the sound of a group of people laughing comes from somewhere. ---
**Author:** ![TheCuse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thecuse/32/2854_2.png) [@TheCuse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TheCuse)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2021, 6:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-extremely-common-in-tv-or-movies-but-almost-never-happens-in-real-life/932311/435 "2021-02-12T18:58:55Z")
> [@Reeses\_Monkey](#): > > And the baby ducks!! God, yes! I forgot about the ducks. ---
**Author:** ![Spice\_Weasel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spice_weasel/32/5435_2.png) [@Spice\_Weasel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spice_Weasel)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2021, 7:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-extremely-common-in-tv-or-movies-but-almost-never-happens-in-real-life/932311/436 "2021-02-12T19:17:17Z")
> [@Author\_Balk](#): > > Someone says or does something funny. There is a pause in the conversation. During the pause the sound of a group of people laughing comes from somewhere. Wait, that doesn’t happen for you? ---
**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:** [February 12, 2021, 7:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-extremely-common-in-tv-or-movies-but-almost-never-happens-in-real-life/932311/437 "2021-02-12T19:33:42Z")
> [@Author\_Balk](#): > > Someone says or does something funny. There is a pause in the conversation… Grrrrr! I hate this. A big part of my career was “writing the way real people sound”, and sitcoms get it wrong a hundred times each episode. The biggest difference? People on sitcoms say something funny, and no one laughs. Oh, the studio audience/laugh track does, but the characters just wait patiently to say their next line. Why does no one laugh? Or even laugh at their own jokes? (Not counting Jerry, who’s constantly trying not to laugh at _every_ line on Seinfeld) In real life, if Max responded with a funny-yet-also-clever line, all his friends would laugh. And Max’d laugh at his own line too. And if someone else walked in, someone’d immediately say “Oh, you missed it! Out of nowhere Marcy said “I miss Mary Tyler Moore…”. And Max said “If Mary Tyler Moore married and divorced Steven Tyler, then married and divorced Michael Moore, and got into a three-way lesbian marriage with Demi Moore and Mandy Moore, would she go by the name Mary Tyler Moore Tyler Moore Moore Moore?” (If it were my friends, even the next day someone’d say “Hey, tell Max you miss Mary Tyler Moore…”) ---
**Author:** ![Voyager](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voyager/32/133_2.png) [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2021, 8:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-extremely-common-in-tv-or-movies-but-almost-never-happens-in-real-life/932311/438 "2021-02-12T20:43:48Z")
> [@Bonum\_Legatum](#): > > Professors who are recognized as leaders in their fields will happily teach entry-level courses - because they like to meet “bright young minds”. Teaching assistants are never seen. My Bio 101 class at MIT was taught by a Nobel Laureate. My quiz section was taught by a grad student TA, but when the TA was away at a conference the Nobel Laureate filled in. Probably most professors avoid 101 classes like the plague, but it is possible. ---
**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 12, 2021, 9:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-extremely-common-in-tv-or-movies-but-almost-never-happens-in-real-life/932311/439 "2021-02-12T21:13:34Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > Phone- “Nancy, did you hear about what happened to Algernon? Turn on the TV!!” > TV turned on- “This just in! Algernon Bidwell just arrested on suspicion of poodle raping!” This kinda happened to me. A number of years ago when I still had a pager, it started going crazy, and I couldn’t make sense of the message. I finally got ahold of the company operator, and she told me to just turn on the TV. There was a shooting at my office (I was working from home that day), and it was all over the news. But, yeah, the TV trope is usually something much more specific than that and isn’t something that had been running live continuously. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2021, 9:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-extremely-common-in-tv-or-movies-but-almost-never-happens-in-real-life/932311/440 "2021-02-12T21:19:42Z")
On September 11, 2001, I lived away from my parents and was getting ready for work when the events started. I knew they were late risers that day in particular, so when I called them and told them to turn on the TV, my father asked, which channel. My response was “_Any_ channel” and it was more true that day than almost any other. [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=21) [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=23)