# What is the name of this Trope? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [February 24, 2023, 7:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-name-of-this-trope/980317 "2023-02-24T19:28:38Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Ranger\_Jeff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ranger_jeff/32/2065_2.png) [@Ranger\_Jeff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ranger_Jeff)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2023, 7:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-name-of-this-trope/980317/1 "2023-02-24T19:28:38Z")
I saw it once there on TV Tropes but didn’t make a mental note of it. I think “Non-specific” is part of the name. Let me give a couple of examples: 1. Remember that episode of MASH where the corporal wears a dress? That was a funny one. B. Remember the one where Ginger wears a sequined gown? iii. Remember the episode where the fat guy walks into a bar and everybody there says “Norm!” So, anyone know the name of that trope. ---
**Author:** ![Maserschmidt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/maserschmidt/32/18829_2.png) [@Maserschmidt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maserschmidt)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2023, 7:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-name-of-this-trope/980317/2 "2023-02-24T19:51:06Z")
The first one is a running gag, not sure about the rest of them. I don’t remember a trope with “non-specific” in the title. ---
**Author:** ![AlsoNamedBort](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alsonamedbort/32/3213_2.png) [@AlsoNamedBort](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AlsoNamedBort)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2023, 8:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-name-of-this-trope/980317/3 "2023-02-24T20:05:16Z")
Is the trope your examples or is the trope someone saying “Remember when [this thing that happens in nearly every episode]?” ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2023, 8:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-name-of-this-trope/980317/4 "2023-02-24T20:05:31Z")
I’m having trouble guessing what those three have in common. Or maybe I’m missing the point? ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2023, 8:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-name-of-this-trope/980317/5 "2023-02-24T20:06:42Z")
Moving to cafe society. ---
**Author:** ![Darren\_Garrison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darren_garrison/32/92_2.png) [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2023, 8:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-name-of-this-trope/980317/6 "2023-02-24T20:20:58Z")
They are all vague descriptions that could apply to multiple episodes. He’s looking for a name for that. (I don’t know it.) ---
**Author:** ![Ranger\_Jeff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ranger_jeff/32/2065_2.png) [@Ranger\_Jeff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ranger_Jeff)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2023, 8:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-name-of-this-trope/980317/7 "2023-02-24T20:21:13Z")
Yes, that’s it. But it’s phrased “Remember the episode where Mork says something funny? That was a good one.” ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2023, 8:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-name-of-this-trope/980317/8 "2023-02-24T20:22:49Z")
Ah, thanks. ---
**Author:** ![Q.Q.Switcheroo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/q.q.switcheroo/32/5713_2.png) [@Q.Q.Switcheroo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.Q.Switcheroo)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2023, 8:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-name-of-this-trope/980317/9 "2023-02-24T20:24:08Z")
Once per Episode? > **[Once per Episode - TV Tropes](https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/OncePerEpisode)** > > A relative of the Running Gag. This is an event that, instead of happening several times in one episode, happens one time in just about every episode of a show. There is an entire genre of jokes that exists to take advantage of this trope: " … ---
**Author:** ![Darren\_Garrison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darren_garrison/32/92_2.png) [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2023, 8:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-name-of-this-trope/980317/10 "2023-02-24T20:24:37Z")
And, googling "[Remember the episode where" trope](https://www.google.com/search?client=firefox-b-1-m&sxsrf=AJOqlzV82Ua8Q9yBrSzrBvu8kyoctYlYfA%3A1677270154449&q=%22Remember+the+episode+where%22+trope&oq=%22Remember+the+episode+where%22+trope&aqs=heirloom-srp) answers it. > **[Once per Episode - TV Tropes](https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/OncePerEpisode)** > > A relative of the Running Gag. This is an event that, instead of happening several times in one episode, happens one time in just about every episode of a show. There is an entire genre of jokes that exists to take advantage of this trope: " … ---
**Author:** ![Maserschmidt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/maserschmidt/32/18829_2.png) [@Maserschmidt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maserschmidt)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2023, 8:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-name-of-this-trope/980317/11 "2023-02-24T20:52:47Z")
> [@puzzlegal](#): > > I’m having trouble guessing what those three have in common. All three of those tropes have never been in my kitchen. ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2023, 8:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-name-of-this-trope/980317/12 "2023-02-24T20:56:14Z")
> [@Maserschmidt](#): > > All three of those tropes have never been in my kitchen. Okay, Cliff. ---
**Author:** ![Maserschmidt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/maserschmidt/32/18829_2.png) [@Maserschmidt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maserschmidt)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2023, 8:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-name-of-this-trope/980317/13 "2023-02-24T20:58:42Z")
> [@Atamasama](#): > > Okay, Cliff. Wait a minute, Atamasama. I can offer conclusive proof that those three tropes have never been in my kitchen. ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2023, 9:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-name-of-this-trope/980317/14 "2023-02-24T21:05:05Z")
> [@Maserschmidt](#): > > I can offer conclusive proof that those three tropes have never been in my kitchen. A case _could_ be made for your point of view. ---
**Author:** ![echoreply](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/echoreply/32/3641_2.png) [@echoreply](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/echoreply)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2023, 9:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-name-of-this-trope/980317/15 "2023-02-24T21:13:01Z")
So the trope is referring to a running gag as if it’s a one time thing? I don’t know the name of that, but I’m just trying to understand what is meant. “Remember that time they almost got off the island?” and the joke is that refers to every episode? ---
**Author:** ![AlsoNamedBort](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alsonamedbort/32/3213_2.png) [@AlsoNamedBort](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AlsoNamedBort)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2023, 9:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-name-of-this-trope/980317/16 "2023-02-24T21:15:12Z")
Yeah, for example this joke from Friends: > [Scene: Monica and Rachel’s, Chandler, Joey, Phoebe, and Monica are watching _Three’s Company_.] > > **Chandler:** Oh, I think this is the episode of Three’s Company where there’s some kind of misunderstanding. > > **Phoebe:** …Then I’ve already seen this one! (Turns off the TV.) ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2023, 9:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-name-of-this-trope/980317/17 "2023-02-24T21:26:50Z")
> [@echoreply](#): > > “Remember that time they almost got off the island?” and the joke is that refers to every episode? It’s like that episode of Scooby Doo where the monster was really just a guy in a costume trying to scare people off, who would have gotten away with it if it wasn’t for those snooping kids. ---
**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 25, 2023, 2:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-name-of-this-trope/980317/18 "2023-02-25T02:45:23Z")
Thanks a lot for giving the ending away. Geez, ever heard of “blur spoiler”? Well, now I’m going to interrupt my Scoob-a-thon™ to skip that episode. ---
**Author:** ![Q.Q.Switcheroo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/q.q.switcheroo/32/5713_2.png) [@Q.Q.Switcheroo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.Q.Switcheroo)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2023, 3:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-name-of-this-trope/980317/19 "2023-02-25T03:10:16Z")
“Gomer upsets Sergeant Carter.” Oh, I’ll never forget _that_ episode… ---
**Author:** ![Riemann](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/riemann/32/3133_2.png) [@Riemann](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Riemann)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2023, 3:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-name-of-this-trope/980317/20 "2023-02-25T03:14:02Z")
Anyone else remember the SDMB thread where somebody nitpicked?