# What takes you out of a TV show or movie that’s actually trivial? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** tv-shows-scripted, movies\ **Created:** [September 23, 2026, 1:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-takes-you-out-of-a-tv-show-or-movie-that-s-actually-trivial/1033299 "2026-09-23T01:49:08Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 16\ **Page:** 15
**Author:** ![Eonwe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eonwe/32/240_2.png) [@Eonwe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eonwe)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2026, 1:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-takes-you-out-of-a-tv-show-or-movie-that-s-actually-trivial/1033299/281 "2026-10-07T13:37:52Z")
> [@MrAtoz](#): > > Was the audience in on the prank at that time, or were we being tricked along with Josh? If so, that’s a similar thing which is annoying once things are revealed: storylines where something bad is supposed to be happening, that turns out to be “just a joke,” except that the characters continue to maintain an “oh, God, this is bad” attitude even when they’re alone. Because the show doesn’t want to let the viewers in on the truth yet. This was borderline. The astute viewer recognized that the “NSA agent” was the same actor we met earlier in the episode who we know is not an NSA agent. And aside from that, we just kind of know that what is happening is too ridiculous to be real. It also fits the tone of this show, in which people do and say witty and clever and sometimes downright funny things all the time, but never smile or laugh at the jokes- it’s always done in deadpan. But your question echoes the thought I had when watching it: “is this to keep me the audience wondering if this is a joke or something that’s really happening?” And I think the answer is at least a little bit “yes”. Keeping us in Josh’s emotional shoes for a bit. ---
**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:** [October 7, 2026, 8:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-takes-you-out-of-a-tv-show-or-movie-that-s-actually-trivial/1033299/282 "2026-10-07T20:04:26Z")
> [@LSLGuy](#): > > We’re communicating with a mass audience of 2026 era people and must use language they understand. “Language” in the large sense of any meaning-carrying symbol; words, images, clothing, hair, social behaviors, etc. To this point, I was reading some of the audience reviews for _Death by Lightning_ (which I thought was excellent) on IMDB. A common complaint seemed to be that swearing wasn’t period correct, e.g. “They wouldn’t have used the f-word like that in the 1880s.” I’m no linguist, but my understanding is that actual 19th century swear words would sound comically mild to a 2026 audience. Everyone would basically come across as sounding like Ned Flanders, would would probably be more distracting to most people. I guess they could have the characters not swear at all, but that probably wouldn’t be accurate either. Best to just use language that sounds equally strong to modern ears. ---
**Author:** ![eburacum45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eburacum45/32/8690_2.png) [@eburacum45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eburacum45)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2026, 8:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-takes-you-out-of-a-tv-show-or-movie-that-s-actually-trivial/1033299/283 "2026-10-07T20:16:47Z")
> [@commasense](#): > > Filmmakers who think they can turn a sunset into a sunrise (or vice versa) by reversing the footage. NO YOU CAN’T! > > In the northern hemisphere, the sun rises up and to the right. If you see the sun rising up and to the left, that is either a southern hemisphere sunrise (unlikely) or reversed footage. DON’T DO THAT! I’ve even seen this in a BBC documentary. Usually reliable, but the stars in one documentary were definitely going backwards. ---
**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:** [October 7, 2026, 8:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-takes-you-out-of-a-tv-show-or-movie-that-s-actually-trivial/1033299/284 "2026-10-07T20:58:27Z")
> [@WildaBeast](#): > > A common complaint seemed to be that swearing wasn’t period correct, e.g. “They wouldn’t have used the f-word like that in the 1880s.” I’m no linguist, but my understanding is that actual 19th century swear words would sound comically mild to a 2026 audience. Everyone would basically come across as sounding like Ned Flanders, would would probably be more distracting to most people. The creators of _Deadwood_ said the same thing, except their example of a mild-swear-using mustachioed cartoon character was Yosemite Sam. ---
**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:** [October 7, 2026, 9:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-takes-you-out-of-a-tv-show-or-movie-that-s-actually-trivial/1033299/285 "2026-10-07T21:25:39Z")
This might be a very specific thing, but in _Curb Your Enthusiasm_ Wanda Sykes played herself in a few episodes. Except that was before she was publicly out as a lesbian, so there was a plot line about her being engaged to a man. At the time that wouldn’t have seemed out of the ordinary to the audience, but watching that episode now makes me think “She wouldn’t be getting married to him – she’s gay!” ---
**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:** [October 7, 2026, 10:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-takes-you-out-of-a-tv-show-or-movie-that-s-actually-trivial/1033299/286 "2026-10-07T22:39:06Z")
> [@WildaBeast](#): > > To this point, I was reading some of the audience reviews for _Death by Lightning_ (which I thought was excellent) on IMDB. A common complaint seemed to be that swearing wasn’t period correct Yep. But … Hundreds of thousands of tickets are sold. Dozens of swearword reviews are written. If I was the suit deciding how much period authenticity to use, I know which crowd _I’d_ please. ---
**Author:** ![LavenderMagnolia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/2bfe46/32.png) [@LavenderMagnolia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LavenderMagnolia)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2026, 11:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-takes-you-out-of-a-tv-show-or-movie-that-s-actually-trivial/1033299/287 "2026-10-07T23:50:12Z")
In some TV shows, a character’s friends, family, and neighbors will walk right into their home without knocking or ringing the doorbell first. I know this saves a bit of time in the episode, plus there are people who have the “don’t need to knock” relationship in real life. But there are times when character who normally comes in without a knock/ring, will do so because it’s necessary for a scene or a joke. ---
**Author:** ![burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/burpo_the_wonder_mutt/32/365_2.png) [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/burpo_the_wonder_mutt)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2026, 4:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-takes-you-out-of-a-tv-show-or-movie-that-s-actually-trivial/1033299/288 "2026-10-08T16:11:50Z")
Dialing a phone. Since the whole world is aware of the “555” exchange, whenever anyone dials a phone (especially police shows, where they still use desktop phones with push buttons) you can see them punch 555 and that yanks me right out of the show. Listen to me, Hollywood: unless the phone number is integral to the plot, there is no reason to show anyone dialing a phone. Insert the “ticka-ticka” sound effect while the actor is “dialing.” ---
**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:** [October 9, 2026, 6:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-takes-you-out-of-a-tv-show-or-movie-that-s-actually-trivial/1033299/289 "2026-10-09T18:31:22Z")
This one bothers me a lot more than it should. Whenever someone is about to dial or recite a phone number, I prepare myself for a 555. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2026, 7:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-takes-you-out-of-a-tv-show-or-movie-that-s-actually-trivial/1033299/290 "2026-10-09T19:41:17Z")
Well, when they use actual phone numbers, some bad things have occurred. “867-5309/Jenny”, Squid games, Bruce Almighty, etc. Lawsuits, lives ruined, etc. ---
**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:** [October 9, 2026, 7:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-takes-you-out-of-a-tv-show-or-movie-that-s-actually-trivial/1033299/291 "2026-10-09T19:46:17Z")
Yep. But as noted above, dialing a phone or the modern equivalent ways to initiate a call is such a commonplace activity that they don’t need to show us the number, or show the actor entering it in a way that telegraphs the 555 fake exchange to the audience. Back when direct dialing was a novelty, say 1947, there might have been a reason to spend 15 seconds of screen time making us watch an actor operate a telephone in detail. Now? WTF? ---
**Author:** ![burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/burpo_the_wonder_mutt/32/365_2.png) [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/burpo_the_wonder_mutt)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2026, 8:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-takes-you-out-of-a-tv-show-or-movie-that-s-actually-trivial/1033299/292 "2026-10-09T20:18:17Z")
One more, then I’ll go quietly: **The Wilhelm Scream** ---
**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:** [October 9, 2026, 8:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-takes-you-out-of-a-tv-show-or-movie-that-s-actually-trivial/1033299/293 "2026-10-09T20:28:28Z")
It takes me out but I love it. ---
**Author:** ![Ulf\_the\_Unwashed](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/b4bc9f/32.png) [@Ulf\_the\_Unwashed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ulf_the_Unwashed)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2026, 8:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-takes-you-out-of-a-tv-show-or-movie-that-s-actually-trivial/1033299/294 "2026-10-09T20:32:18Z")
Quietly? ---
**Author:** ![Superdude](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/superdude/32/13450_2.png) [@Superdude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Superdude)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2026, 10:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-takes-you-out-of-a-tv-show-or-movie-that-s-actually-trivial/1033299/295 "2026-10-09T22:37:43Z")
> [@LSLGuy](#): > > Yep. > > But as noted above, dialing a phone or the modern equivalent ways to initiate a call is such a commonplace activity that they don’t need to show us the number, or show the actor entering it in a way that telegraphs the 555 fake exchange to the audience. > > Back when direct dialing was a novelty, say 1947, there might have been a reason to spend 15 seconds of screen time making us watch an actor operate a telephone in detail. Now? WTF? My guilty pleasure movie, _The Adventures of Ford Fairlane_, has a fourth-wall break that addresses this: > [@](#): > > Ford Fairlane: Hey, look. Write down my number: 555-6321 Got it? > Twin Club Girl: Yeah. Wait a minute. 555 is not a real number. They only use that in the movies. > Ford Fairlane: No shit, honey. What do you think this is? Real life? ---
**Author:** ![burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/burpo_the_wonder_mutt/32/365_2.png) [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/burpo_the_wonder_mutt)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2026, 11:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-takes-you-out-of-a-tv-show-or-movie-that-s-actually-trivial/1033299/296 "2026-10-09T23:27:19Z")
Heh, heh; that was not deliberate, but I’ll take it. 😉 [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-takes-you-out-of-a-tv-show-or-movie-that-s-actually-trivial/1033299.md?page=14)