# What is extremely common in TV or movies but almost never happens in real life?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-extremely-common-in-tv-or-movies-but-almost-never-happens-in-real-life/932311>\
**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:** 1\
**Showing post:** 4682

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**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\
**Post date:** [January 23, 2025, 10:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-extremely-common-in-tv-or-movies-but-almost-never-happens-in-real-life/932311/4682 "2025-01-23T22:42:49Z")

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[Moderating]  
With 26 posts on the Columbo episode with the cigar box, it probably warrants its own thread. I’ve moved those posts.

> [@Legality of Columbo's trick with the cigar box](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/legality-of-columbos-trick-with-the-cigar-box/1013310):
>
> Given the way this thread has been going, I’m not sure I need to bother spoilering this — but you’ve just reminded me of a Columbo episode I’ve always sort of wondered about: SHORT FUSE. The idea is, Roddy McDowall in the dark. Columbo, doop-dee-doop-dee-doo! And so role. I’m just saying: there’s “basically” bullying someone into confessing, and then there’s death?

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