# WTF moments from your favorite tv programs. **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [January 9, 2006, 5:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wtf-moments-from-your-favorite-tv-programs/339175 "2006-01-09T17:21:53Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![TellMeI\_mNotCrazy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tellmei_mnotcrazy/32/3419_2.png) [@TellMeI\_mNotCrazy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TellMeI_mNotCrazy)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2006, 11:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wtf-moments-from-your-favorite-tv-programs/339175/61 "2006-01-11T11:37:46Z")
> [@AFAIKnow](#): > > I think they should take away that damn icecream maker. Awww, you wouldn’t try squid ink ice cream? Just for the bragging rights? 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Fortean](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/96bed5/32.png) [@Fortean](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fortean)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2006, 1:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wtf-moments-from-your-favorite-tv-programs/339175/62 "2006-01-11T13:00:21Z")
Early X-files was full of ace WTF moments…(major spoilers) - when Scully shot Mulder! ( she needed him comatose to figure out the conspiracy by herself, besides, he was turning into a nutter) - when Mulder was having a jolly time in a car with The Smoking Man! (s’okay, it was a hallucination) - when Scully was abducted! (I think for a while people were wondering if she’d ever come back) - when Mulder died for the first time! (ditto) - when Mulder spiked an unsuspecting teenager (s’okay, he actually was a vampire, pretending to be a vampire) - when a badly-animated Harryhausen-style monster terrorised a couple of horny teenagers (there is still no explanation for this 😉 ) But alas, a little later, the WTF moments were just rubbish: - Mulder and Scully sit in a mockup of a graveyard with lots of zombies dancing around them? WTF? - Scully gives up her baby? WTFF?? - The Smoking Man is STILL alive? Surely not. Ah, happy days, happy days, though. ---
**Author:** ![AFAIKnow](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a6a055/32.png) [@AFAIKnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AFAIKnow)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2006, 5:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wtf-moments-from-your-favorite-tv-programs/339175/63 "2006-01-11T17:19:19Z")
> [@TellMeI'mNotCrazy](#): > > Awww, you wouldn’t try squid ink ice cream? Just for the bragging rights? 😉 I tell ya, someody is gonna die one of these days. ---
**Author:** ![anyrose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/54ee81/32.png) [@anyrose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/anyrose)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2006, 6:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wtf-moments-from-your-favorite-tv-programs/339175/64 "2006-01-11T18:38:52Z")
> [@AFAIKnow](#): > > I tell ya, someody is gonna die one of these days. maybe the secret ingrdient one day will be Blow Fish ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2006, 6:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wtf-moments-from-your-favorite-tv-programs/339175/65 "2006-01-11T18:44:19Z")
Magnum PI (yes really). Magnum’s friend Mac is killed when the Farrari is blow up. Of course it was meant for Magnum. He finds out the killer is “Ivan” the Russian who tortured him in Viet Nam. Pretty complex plot but at the end: Magnum has Ivan at gunpoint in the jungle. Ivan laughs at him knowing that he is one of the good guys and will not shoot him (he has diplomatic immunity so there is nothing anyone can do). Ivan starts walking out of the jungle when Magnum lowers his gun. Magnum asks “Did you see the sunrise?” Ivan says yes and Magnum raises the gun and shoots. BANG, freeze frame, credits. I always liked Magnum and thought it had more depth than it was given credit for. I hope I remembered it right. Of course there are the other frequently mentioned WTF moments. The end of St Elsewhere and Henry Blake’s death. I saw both as they happened the first time. I remember when Radar came in to say his famous line. I was very young and expecting there to be a joke and for Henry to show up at the end. I turned to ask my father and he looked like someone in the family just died. I think I grew up a little that day. ---
**Author:** ![flight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/bbce88/32.png) [@flight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/flight)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2006, 7:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wtf-moments-from-your-favorite-tv-programs/339175/66 "2006-01-11T19:00:33Z")
> [@Loach](#): > > Magnum PI (yes really). > > Magnum’s friend Mac is killed when the Farrari is blow up. Of course it was meant for Magnum. He finds out the killer is “Ivan” the Russian who tortured him in Viet Nam. Pretty complex plot but at the end: > > Magnum has Ivan at gunpoint in the jungle. Ivan laughs at him knowing that he is one of the good guys and will not shoot him (he has diplomatic immunity so there is nothing anyone can do). Ivan starts walking out of the jungle when Magnum lowers his gun. Magnum asks “Did you see the sunrise?” Ivan says yes and Magnum raises the gun and shoots. BANG, freeze frame, credits. > > I always liked Magnum and thought it had more depth than it was given credit for. I hope I remembered it right. > > Of course there are the other frequently mentioned WTF moments. The end of St Elsewhere and Henry Blake’s death. I saw both as they happened the first time. I remember when Radar came in to say his famous line. I was very young and expecting there to be a joke and for Henry to show up at the end. I turned to ask my father and he looked like someone in the family just died. I think I grew up a little that day. AHHHHHHH! I read throught this whole damn thread to make sure that this hadn’t been posted yet, and sure enough it’s the last post. Argghhhh. ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2006, 7:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wtf-moments-from-your-favorite-tv-programs/339175/67 "2006-01-11T19:20:12Z")
Ha! In your face! Did I remember it right? ---
**Author:** ![Raguleader](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/258eb7/32.png) [@Raguleader](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Raguleader)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2006, 10:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wtf-moments-from-your-favorite-tv-programs/339175/68 "2006-01-12T10:05:41Z")
WTF in a funny way, was when Lord Refa met his well-deserved end in the underground tunnel system on the Narn homeworld, chased down and beaten to death by several dozen very angry Narns while back on Babylon 5, we see a church choir dancing and singing a jumpy gospel song called “No Hiding Place Down Here”. I love that song. ---
**Author:** ![flight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/bbce88/32.png) [@flight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/flight)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2006, 2:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wtf-moments-from-your-favorite-tv-programs/339175/69 "2006-01-12T14:40:40Z")
> [@Loach](#): > > Ha! In your face! > > Did I remember it right? Better than I would have. ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2006, 2:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wtf-moments-from-your-favorite-tv-programs/339175/70 "2006-01-12T14:46:16Z")
As I mentioned on another thread recently, the James Garner western **Nichols** had what had to be THE television WTF moment when they _shot and killed_ the title character in the opening minutes of one show. It wasn’t a joke, as with the killing of the Guest Stars dutring the opening credits of **Police Squad**. It wasn’t a flashback or a flashforward, or an “Imaginary Story” or a dream. They really and truly did take out the main character in the series, the one the show was named after. And it wasn’t the end of the series or anything (They could kill Henry Blake in **M_A_S\*H** , 'cause he wasn’t coming back) Of course, they immediately replaced his character with another of the same name (a cousin or sometyhing), also played by Garner. The Powers That Be wanted to change the basic character, and this was their way of doing it. ---
**Author:** ![JSexton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/96bed5/32.png) [@JSexton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JSexton)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2006, 6:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wtf-moments-from-your-favorite-tv-programs/339175/71 "2006-01-12T18:42:10Z")
The cliffhanger ending of season one of _The Pretender_ has all the main characters trapped in a basement of a building with a bomb. They don’t even know it’s there. The bomb goes off. Cut to the building collapsing. End of show. Eagerly anticipating the clever things they must have done to escape the bomb, I tune it next year. Nothing. No explanation. There’s one throw-away line about escaping the blast, and that’s it. I never watched the show again. ---
**Author:** ![NDP](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ndp/32/55_2.png) [@NDP](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NDP)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2006, 7:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wtf-moments-from-your-favorite-tv-programs/339175/72 "2006-01-12T19:58:05Z")
> [@CalMeacham](#): > > As I mentioned on another thread recently, the James Garner western **Nichols** had what had to be THE television WTF moment when they _shot and killed_ the title character in the opening minutes of one show. > > It wasn’t a joke … . They really and truly did take out the main character in the series, the one the show was named after. And it wasn’t the end of the series or anything… > > Of course, they immediately replaced his character with another of the same name (a cousin or sometyhing), also played by Garner. The Powers That Be wanted to change the basic character, and this was their way of doing it. Since I was around five or six when the show ran, I only have vague memories of the program (I think my dad used to watch it regularly though). I did not see the episode you’re talking about but I recall reading an article where Garner said the reason that was done was because everyone thought **Nichols** was going to be canceled anyway and this was their way of literally going out with a “bang.” However, NBC had not yet made a final decision about renewing the program so they decided to have the main character replaced by the lookalike relative (I think it was his brother) as continuity insurance in case **Nichols** was picked up for another season. It wasn’t, so it didn’t really matter. ---
**Author:** ![well\_he\_s\_back](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/3ab097/32.png) [@well\_he\_s\_back](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/well_he_s_back)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2006, 9:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wtf-moments-from-your-favorite-tv-programs/339175/73 "2006-01-12T21:39:49Z")
Does anyone else remember the show “Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman”? I loved that show & it had a number of WTF moments. As one show opens Mary crawls out from under her sink, no explanation. Given the way the stories went she was probably hiding. The other big one I can think of was from “Blake’s 7”, wherein the main character disappears but the show goes on for two more seasons. ---
**Author:** ![GuanoLad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guanolad/32/42_2.png) [@GuanoLad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuanoLad)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2006, 9:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wtf-moments-from-your-favorite-tv-programs/339175/74 "2006-01-12T21:43:16Z")
> [@jsc1953](#): > > Off on a tangent…I’ve noticed all my life that it’s a Jungle Movie cliche to have that bird sound (oo-oo-o-o-o-AH-AH-AH). And I’ve know all my life what a kookaburra looks like, and that they live in Australia, in the old gum tree, merry merry king of the bush is he…but I only recently found out that the two factoids were related. And I said…WTF? Whenever I’m amongst some trees and hear a kookaburra, I immediately feel like I’m in a jungle. Surreal but cool. ---
**Author:** ![GuanoLad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guanolad/32/42_2.png) [@GuanoLad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuanoLad)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2006, 9:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wtf-moments-from-your-favorite-tv-programs/339175/75 "2006-01-12T21:47:44Z")
> [@well he's back](#): > > The other big one I can think of was from “Blake’s 7”, wherein the main character disappears but the show goes on for two more seasons. As it was called _Blake’s 7_, many people who started watching it later in its run were mighty confused by this name, as there was nobody named Blake in evidence, and there were only five of them in the team. Had a brilliantly unexpected ending too. ---
**Author:** ![ArrMatey](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/arrmatey/32/3522_2.png) [@ArrMatey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ArrMatey)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2006, 10:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wtf-moments-from-your-favorite-tv-programs/339175/76 "2006-01-12T22:16:19Z")
_Firefly_. ‘The Train Job’. Mal kicks the henchman into the engine after the big speech. I rewounded it about six times I was so stunned. It was cliche-breaking, and it not only made the episode for me, but it’s the one that has grabbed more of my buddies into watching it than any other. ---
**Author:** ![Raguleader](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/258eb7/32.png) [@Raguleader](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Raguleader)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2006, 6:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wtf-moments-from-your-favorite-tv-programs/339175/77 "2006-01-13T06:46:34Z")
> [@ArrMatey!](#): > > _Firefly_. ‘The Train Job’. > > Mal kicks the henchman into the engine after the big speech. > > I rewounded it about six times I was so stunned. It was cliche-breaking, and it not only made the episode for me, but it’s the one that has grabbed more of my buddies into watching it than any other. Hehe, yeah, that was classic Whedon. Like in the first episode of Angel, with the vampire CEO guy who is OBVIOUSLY too wealthy and powerful for Angel to hope to take down (thus, a perfect Big Bad)… Can you fly? _kick_ _crash__FWOOFSH_ Guess not." ---
**Author:** ![Pushkin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ee59a6/32.png) [@Pushkin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pushkin)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2006, 12:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wtf-moments-from-your-favorite-tv-programs/339175/78 "2006-01-13T12:37:07Z")
> [@Lightray](#): > > Star Trek or Battlestar Galactica (original version)? Battlestar Galactica 1980 you mean 😛 My Trek WTF was the first instance of a holodeck programme running rampant and trying to take over the ship in TNG. By the time it had happened twice I got used to it 😃 “Bread and Circuses” wasn’t a real WTF when you watch it all the way through, just a tut-tut to those who still hanker for the days of the Third Reich. The “Omega Glory” as mentioned below is more WTF. ---
**Author:** ![athelas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5e9695/32.png) [@athelas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/athelas)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2006, 1:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wtf-moments-from-your-favorite-tv-programs/339175/79 "2006-01-13T13:17:59Z")
> [@Raguleader](#): > > WTF in a funny way, was when Lord Refa met his well-deserved end in the underground tunnel system on the Narn homeworld, chased down and beaten to death by several dozen very angry Narns while back on Babylon 5, we see a church choir dancing and singing a jumpy gospel song called “No Hiding Place Down Here”. > > I love that song. Yeah. I love the timing of that mesh as well - how after G’Kar solemly instructs the Narns to leave the head alone - “It will be needed later for identification” - the light-hearted opening notes of the song begin. I had to rewind and watch that bit several times. (Note also that the closing credits for the show feature more of the song) ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2006, 2:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wtf-moments-from-your-favorite-tv-programs/339175/80 "2006-01-13T14:33:43Z")
One continuous head-scratching WTF, from start to finish. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wtf-moments-from-your-favorite-tv-programs/339175.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wtf-moments-from-your-favorite-tv-programs/339175.md?page=5)