# 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:** 35
**Author:** ![simster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/simster/32/1047_2.png) [@simster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/simster)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2021, 3:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-extremely-common-in-tv-or-movies-but-almost-never-happens-in-real-life/932311/681 "2021-02-27T03:36:39Z")
> [@Mk\_VII](#): > > Anyone who makes friends with Jessica Fletcher ( _Murder She Wrote_ ) gets murdered, framed for murder, or put on trial for murder. I always call that show “Murder She Committed” - she’s the most prolific serial killer on the planet - everywhere she goes, there’s a murder for her to ‘solve’. as an aside - “It’s never lupus…” ---
**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 27, 2021, 3:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-extremely-common-in-tv-or-movies-but-almost-never-happens-in-real-life/932311/682 "2021-02-27T03:48:47Z")
> [@LSLGuy](#): > > Spotting the tail is a great way for the screenwriters to trigger a gratuitous 5-minute insane car chase for extra ratings points. …And even in these days of CCTV, radio communications, and aerial surveillance, the bad guys can still manage to get clean away. ---
**Author:** ![Melbourne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b5e925/32.png) [@Melbourne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Melbourne)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2021, 10:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-extremely-common-in-tv-or-movies-but-almost-never-happens-in-real-life/932311/683 "2021-02-27T10:51:15Z")
> [@RivkahChaya](#): > > And anyone arrested before the first commercial did not do it, guaranteed. In “84 Charing Cross Road”, Helene Hanff (who’d also done TV work) pointed out that the murderer always had a speaking part, and, since the budget didn’t run to more speaking parts, that was the murderer. Once you realized that, those early TV shows were solved. So now I always notice how much /larger/ the budget became for prime-time detective shows. ---
**Author:** ![RivkahChaya](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rivkahchaya/32/8919_2.png) [@RivkahChaya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RivkahChaya)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2021, 11:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-extremely-common-in-tv-or-movies-but-almost-never-happens-in-real-life/932311/684 "2021-02-27T11:00:34Z")
> [@Melbourne](#): > > In “84 Charing Cross Road”, Helene Hanff (who’d also done TV work) pointed out that the murderer always had a speaking part I’ll do you one better. Roger Ebert in his “Rule of Conservation of Characters” pointed out that anyone who isn’t necessary to the plot through most of the story is there to be revealed as the killer at the end. Here’re are two examples, one from _Law & Order: SVU_, and one from the AMC series _The Killing_. In an SVU episode, a family has three daughters. The oldest accuses the father of previously molesting her, and currently molesting the youngest. There is no accusation involving the middle daughter, who has very few lines, and is not well-developed. The middle daughter is the murderer at the end. In _The Killing_, the mother’s sister is hanging around for no apparent reason. When the mother leaves to be alone with her grief, the sister steps in to care for the younger children, but she did not arrive to do that-- she was _already there_, for no purpose. She did it, but she had help, from guess who? The politician’s second aide. He has two, but doesn’t really need to. The one who does much less for the campaign, and mostly just stands around being useless is the one who helped commit the murder. ---
**Author:** ![Knowed\_Out](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/knowed_out/32/7380_2.png) [@Knowed\_Out](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Knowed_Out)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2021, 12:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-extremely-common-in-tv-or-movies-but-almost-never-happens-in-real-life/932311/685 "2021-02-27T12:15:43Z")
Chess matches. The idea that someone who doesn’t know what they’re doing can checkmate an experienced opponent because he never experienced their random-move strategy before. The way they throw in references to grandmaster strategies that the rookie somehow countered. The way rookies use cute terms such as “horsie” and “pointy-hat thingie” because “knight” and “bishop” are obviously too complex for them to grasp. I suck at Chess and even I know that’s not how Chess works. ---
**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:** [February 27, 2021, 1:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-extremely-common-in-tv-or-movies-but-almost-never-happens-in-real-life/932311/686 "2021-02-27T13:22:09Z")
> [@Knowed\_Out](#): > > The way rookies use cute terms such as “horsie” and “pointy-hat thingie” because “knight” and “bishop” are obviously too complex for them to grasp. > > I suck at Chess and even I know that’s not how Chess works. I did that when my brother-in-law touted his chess bona fides and challenged me to a game, but only because (a) I’d just seen that episode of _Cheers_, and (b) I figured it‘d mess with his head. And it did! ---
**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 27, 2021, 3:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-extremely-common-in-tv-or-movies-but-almost-never-happens-in-real-life/932311/687 "2021-02-27T15:43:20Z")
Another common trope in action movies is that someone who helps the hero or his team out in the beginning and apparently saves them will turn out to be the bad guy and betray them later. A corollary is that someone who seems to be against them at the beginning will be revealed to have been protecting them all along. ---
**Author:** ![bob\_2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bob_2/32/3341_2.png) [@bob\_2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bob_2)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2021, 3:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-extremely-common-in-tv-or-movies-but-almost-never-happens-in-real-life/932311/688 "2021-02-27T15:51:54Z")
And they all head off to the restaurant for a reviving cold one. Do you get Death in Paradise in the US? ---
**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:** [February 27, 2021, 4:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-extremely-common-in-tv-or-movies-but-almost-never-happens-in-real-life/932311/689 "2021-02-27T16:14:50Z")
> [@Knowed\_Out](#): > > I suck at Chess and even I know that’s not how Chess works. Yes. As a former tournament player, I can assure you that bad players can’t beat good players. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2021, 5:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-extremely-common-in-tv-or-movies-but-almost-never-happens-in-real-life/932311/690 "2021-02-27T17:08:20Z")
> [@bob\_2](#): > > Do you get Death in Paradise in the US? It’s on one of the public broadcasting / pubic interest channels carried by many, but by no means all, cable services. We get it here in Miami. A fun sort of silly. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2021, 11:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-extremely-common-in-tv-or-movies-but-almost-never-happens-in-real-life/932311/691 "2021-02-27T23:52:25Z")
> [@Knowed\_Out](#): > > The idea that someone who doesn’t know what they’re doing can checkmate an experienced opponent because he never experienced their random-move strategy before. They cant- except when the GM tries some stunt like playing two dozen people blindfolded. Then if someone does a non-standard opening, the GM is likely to let them win or a draw. But only when a stunt like that is tried. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2021, 11:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-extremely-common-in-tv-or-movies-but-almost-never-happens-in-real-life/932311/692 "2021-02-27T23:53:04Z")
> [@bob\_2](#): > > Do you get Death in Paradise in the US? Yep and we enjoy it. ---
**Author:** ![msmith537](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d9b06d/32.png) [@msmith537](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/msmith537)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2021, 2:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-extremely-common-in-tv-or-movies-but-almost-never-happens-in-real-life/932311/693 "2021-02-28T02:30:29Z")
Has anyone here ever had a traumatic experience and then spend 3 hours soaking in the shower while fully clothed? ---
**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 28, 2021, 3:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-extremely-common-in-tv-or-movies-but-almost-never-happens-in-real-life/932311/694 "2021-02-28T03:38:13Z")
There’s also the scene of someone who can’t find anywhere else in the house to sleep, so they lay down in the bathtub. So not only can’t you lie flat, you’re on a very cold surface. I can’t imagine anyone ever does that. ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2021, 3:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-extremely-common-in-tv-or-movies-but-almost-never-happens-in-real-life/932311/695 "2021-02-28T03:47:33Z")
[Not even John Lennon](https://youtu.be/Y_V6y1ZCg_8?t=80)? ---
**Author:** ![Didi44](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e47c2d/32.png) [@Didi44](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Didi44)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2021, 3:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-extremely-common-in-tv-or-movies-but-almost-never-happens-in-real-life/932311/696 "2021-02-28T03:55:41Z")
Discussed in detail here. [https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-anyone-slept-in-the-bathtub/846340/34](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-anyone-slept-in-the-bathtub/846340/34) Read lingyi’s last post. Sad story. ---
**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 28, 2021, 3:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-extremely-common-in-tv-or-movies-but-almost-never-happens-in-real-life/932311/697 "2021-02-28T03:56:02Z")
The bathtub seems like a good option when you’re hammered. Source: Was once hammered and it seemed like a good option. ---
**Author:** ![Didi44](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e47c2d/32.png) [@Didi44](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Didi44)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2021, 4:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-extremely-common-in-tv-or-movies-but-almost-never-happens-in-real-life/932311/698 "2021-02-28T04:01:44Z")
I seriously considered taking off my underwear and sleeping in the tub the last time I had food poisoning! ---
**Author:** ![Didi44](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e47c2d/32.png) [@Didi44](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Didi44)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2021, 4:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-extremely-common-in-tv-or-movies-but-almost-never-happens-in-real-life/932311/699 "2021-02-28T04:18:35Z")
A car tire blows or is shot and the car or truck goes completely out of control. ---
**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 28, 2021, 4:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-extremely-common-in-tv-or-movies-but-almost-never-happens-in-real-life/932311/700 "2021-02-28T04:19:54Z")
That one has made me so paranoid about a tire blowing on the freeway. [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=34) [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=36)