10 TV Cliches That Should Be BANNED

[Lil' Bitch 0]

1.) The Cliché: Wonder Twin Powers, Activate!

 

As Seen On: "The Addams Family," "Bewitched," "Friends"

 

How It Works: A character meets someone who looks just like him/her, while the viewers know that it's really the famous actor playing both roles with the help of a split screen and some clever editing. Typically, the actor will wear a mustache or wig, accessorizing them with a knowing wink to the audience. A modern example would be "Friends," which shamelessly milked the joke twice, for Phoebe's sister Ursula and Ross' doppelganger Russ. Just in case anyone needed a reminder that David Schwimmer has as many dimensions as a three-panel comic strip.

 

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2.) The Cliché: Thinking a Sentence is Two Words Long

 

As Seen On: "Newhart," "Three's Company," "Frasier"

 

How It Works: Someone begins a sentence ("I'm dying ...") and then finishes it ("...my hair on Tuesday.") after an eavesdropping co-star has left the room or removed their glass from the other side of the door. A huge misunderstanding follows, causing everyone to do outrageous things and deliver dialogue that stops just short of necessitating an explanatory conversation. At the end of the episode, naturally, the truth emerges and everyone has a good laugh about it. If only we could had turned the set off two words into the show.

 

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3.) The Cliché: Sir, Would You Like a Tongue-Lashing With Your Beverage?

 

As Seen On: "Benson," "Fresh Prince of Bel Air," "Will & Grace"

 

How It Works: Good luck finding any real family that has a butler/live-in maid, never mind one allowed to voice his/her dissatisfaction with the caste system by firing dry-mouthed arrows of sarcasm toward their (typically unsuspecting) employers. If these people hold such resentment, it makes you wonder what they're doing to the food.

 

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4.) The Cliché: Double Date, Double Trouble

 

As Seen On: "Sister, Sister," "Boy Meets World," "Joey"

 

How It Works: A seemingly smooth character makes multiple dates for the same night, usually by mistake. Unable to cancel, he/she must run from one place to the other and maintain a seemingly never-ending web of deception, until the pressure becomes too much. Usually, all the dates get mad and leave the character alone, having learned his/her lesson. The canned laughter erupts, the credits roll, and we wonder where the last half-hour of our lives has gone.

 

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5.) The Cliché: You're Not My Kid!

 

As Seen On: "Roseanne," "Growing Pains," "Family Ties"

 

How It Works: Everybody knows that when a show needs a ratings boost, you have a baby. But what happens after those initial diaper-changing storylines get old, and the show is bogged down with a silent, comedic dead weight? Age the kid a few years, of course, and bring in a precocious kid actor while keeping the series stars the same age. "Roseanne" took the absurd plot device one step further in 1993, switching in a new actress for the teenaged Becky Conner character. Eventually, Becky was switched back, but few noticed because their televisions had been similarly switched -- to a different channel.

 

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6.) The Cliché: An Unexpected Delivery

 

As Seen On: "Welcome Back Kotter," "The Nanny," "7th Heaven"

 

How It Works: An elevator gets stuck between floors, and then a woman goes into labor! The baby is delivered in the most unusual of places, while our characters get a valuable refresher course in the magic of life. Makes you want to take the stairs.

 

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7.) The Cliché: We're Trapped - Let's Reminisce!

 

As Seen On: "The Mary Tyler Moore Show," "Mad About You,"

"Malcolm in the Middle"

 

How It Works: Stuck somewhere they don't want to be and

faced with time to kill, the show's characters think back to all

the good times they've had. Viewers are expected to enjoy the trip down memory lane, but if you hit "mute" on your TV you can instead listen to the collective groan of an entire nation, disappointed at having tuned in to another lame clip show.

 

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8.) The Cliché: I'm (Cough, Cough) Not Feeling Well

 

As Seen On: "The Brady Bunch," "Diff'rent Strokes"

 

How It Works: A little kid, wanting to get to meet his/her idol, fakes a severe illness. When the superstar actually does show up, the little tyke needs to give the performance of a lifetime. The child's parents and the superstar eventually uncover the truth, giving the youngster both a lesson in lying and an autograph to hock on eBay.

 

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9.) The Cliché: Now You Don't See Me, Now You ... Still Don't See Me

 

As Seen On: "Rhoda," "Cheers," "Home Improvement"

 

How It Works: A character is discussed, occasionally even heard from, but is never actually glimpsed on camera. It's a dumb old gimmick that invites the audience to play along, but can we finally put it to bed after watching Wilson awkwardly position himself behind fences for nine years of "Home Improvement"?

 

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10.) The Cliché: Look, I'm in a Dress! Isn't This Funny?

 

As Seen On: "Alf," "Perfect Strangers," "According to Jim"

 

How It Works: The saddest of all sitcom clichés: when writers get lazy, they go for the cheap joke of cross-dressing. Characters dress up like members of the opposite gender to sneak into gender-specific clubs, to spy on spouses, or to earn money while in Las Vegas. "Some Like it Hot" came out nearly 50 years ago; does anybody really still get a laugh out of Jim Belushi in a dress?

 

Link To The Article

 

Agree or disagree? Discuss.

[Ravenbomb 0]

One gripe; they used Newhart as an example of the two word sentence thing. Their example "I'm dying...my hair on tuesday" wasn't actually part of the show. There was a show-within-a-show episode (which also used the Actor Playing Two Roles cliche) that basically was making fun of those type clichés.

[ant_7000 0]

The "Love Interest is leaving" scenario is played out to me.

[razazteca 0]

10.) The Cliché: Look, I'm in a Dress! Isn't This Funny? +

1.) The Cliché: Wonder Twin Powers, Activate!

11.) The Cliche: Mother will be staying for a few days.

 

As Seen on: "Steve Harvey Show", "Martin"

 

How it Works: A family member comes to town to visit and brings the drama. In the case of Steve Harvey and Martin the star dresses up as their mother or granny trying to convince the girlfriend that she is not good enough for her boy.

[Placebo Effect 0]

#4, yes, absolutely.

 

When it comes to the crazy maid/butler, Will & Grace has absolutely perfected that with Rosario. I don't know if any sitcom in the near future will be able to beat that relationship.

[starvenger 0]

How does the T-NBC staple of "Wacky Scheme Going Awry" not make this list?

[JST 0]

#15 - The Sassy Black Woman

 

Oh, you've seen it.

[Phoenix Fury Legdrop 0]

#7 was done at its finest during the second episode of "Clerks: The Animated Series".

[SuperJerk 0]

^"Hey, remember that time we got locked in the freezer?"^

 

 

One gripe; they used Newhart as an example of the two word sentence thing. Their example "I'm dying...my hair on tuesday" wasn't actually part of the show. There was a show-within-a-show episode (which also used the Actor Playing Two Roles cliche) that basically was making fun of those type clichés.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

I was about to say the same thing when I saw you're post.

 

Wasn't that episode of "Newhart" where the maid's boyfriend gave her her own sitcom on his TV station?

[MarvinisaLunatic 0]

I think every one of these was covered in Saved By the Bell except the Baby one and the Butler one.

[Guest Fook]

Didn't Zack deliver Mrs. Belding's baby in a stuck elevator?

[Ravenbomb 0]

^"Hey, remember that time we got locked in the freezer?"^

 

 

 

One gripe; they used Newhart as an example of the two word sentence thing. Their example "I'm dying...my hair on tuesday" wasn't actually part of the show. There was a show-within-a-show episode (which also used the Actor Playing Two Roles cliche) that basically was making fun of those type clichés.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

I was about to say the same thing when I saw you're post.

 

Wasn't that episode of "Newhart" where the maid's boyfriend gave her her own sitcom on his TV station?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

I didn't think she was the maid, but yeah. She played the twins, and there was gonna be someone dressed up as death and it was all hilariously bad

[MarvinisaLunatic 0]

Didn't Zack deliver Mrs. Belding's baby in a stuck elevator?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

That was the first thing I thought of for that cliche. The power went out due to the earthquake, and it was Zach, Tori and Mrs. Belding in the elevator.

[Guest JumpinJackFlash]

I think at least half of those have been used on South Park. I know for sure that they've used the evil twin thing (Yet Cartman was nice), the reminiscing clip show ("Now that's what I call a sticky situation!"), and the cross-dressing(Mr. Garrison, anyone?).

[JHawk 0]

The only problem with number 3 is that often the butler is the funniest part of the show (sometimes the only funny part of the show).

 

Face it, would you have ever watched The Nanny if the butler wasn't such a smartass for seven years?

[Vern Gagne 0]

Ted McGinley..oh sorry thought this was Jump the Shark.

[CanadianGuitarist 0]

Didn't Zack deliver Mrs. Belding's baby in a stuck elevator?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

That was the first thing I thought of for that cliche. The power went out due to the earthquake, and it was Zach, Tori and Mrs. Belding in the elevator.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

Fuck, I thought I'd be the only one ro come up with that one. Dammit, I was all prime for praise, the same I got on the Old School wrestling board once for a Step by Step reference.

 

#7 was done at its finest during the second episode of "Clerks: The Animated Series".

 

See above.

 

I'm going to restock the shelves, then I'll go accept my Nobel Prize. Don't let that door close.

 

"Face it, would you have ever watched The Nanny if the butler wasn't such a smartass for seven years? "

 

You watched the Nanny for seven years anyway?

[Guest Fook]

I'm going to restock the shelves, then I'll go accept my Nobel Prize. Don't let that door close.

 

*swings cat*

I'm the biggest idiot ever.

[Guest Evolution]

"Character X gets amnesia" is going to get up there or should be up there soon. 24 was the last show I was going to let get away with it, and I had to toe the line with LOST. Whatever. Amnesia sucks in real-life, and it's a silly plot device in television.

[Star Ocean 3 0]

Then there's the "Homer gets a crazy new job" one.

[Jericholic82 0]

Then there's the "Homer gets a crazy new job" one.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

yea simpsons can have thier own list of cliches.

[Vern Gagne 0]

Random celebrity for whatever reason in Springfield...

[Yuna_Firerose 0]

edit: Damn, double post.

[Yuna_Firerose 0]

Love Interest/Sexual Tension

 

Every show seems to have a love interest involved. If done well, then, it's fine. But, more chances than not, its usually annoying, a time-waster, and bogs the show down. Case in point: House, M.D.; the "relationship" being House and Cameron.

 

She quit during one episode then, on another, refused to be rehired even when there was an severe epidemic at the hospital. By the end of the episode, she only agreed to come back if House would go on a date with her. During which she used Freudian psychology to say that no matter what House said or did, no matter if he was mean or nice, both proved he liked her. Absolutely disgusting, I thought. Thankfully, the relationship was dropped.

[Steve J. Rogers 0]

1.) The Cliché: Wonder Twin Powers, Activate!

 

As Seen On: "The Addams Family," "Bewitched," "Friends"

 

How It Works: A character meets someone who looks just like him/her, while the viewers know that it's really the famous actor playing both roles with the help of a split screen and some clever editing. Typically, the actor will wear a mustache or wig, accessorizing them with a knowing wink to the audience. A modern example would be "Friends," which shamelessly milked the joke twice, for Phoebe's sister Ursula and Ross' doppelganger Russ. Just in case anyone needed a reminder that David Schwimmer has as many dimensions as a three-panel comic strip. 

 

Not to sound geekish, but Ursula was done in order to do a shameless crossover with Mad About You (an even worse cliche in my book)

 

Also it was done to justify Lisa Kudrow still reprising the Ursula role on Mad About You in case Friends flopped.

 

I also don't think it was ever abused in a wacky way that other cliches are, usually the Ursula bit would be just one or two scenes.

 

Russ was thankfully an one episode thing

 

Steve

[Steve J. Rogers 0]

As stated above

 

Shameless Cross Promotion

 

NBC is its Must See TV heyday was the king of this, even going as far back as Norm and Cliff showing up in Wings' airport

 

No real rhime or reason for the crossover as the shows aren't considered official spinoffs or anything, just a way of saying "Hey thats that guy from that show playing the character from that show"

 

Probably the worse ones are when the actors crossing over aren't portraying the actual characters from their normal shows. Couple of good examples:

 

On Friends' first season, (also ER's first season) George Clooney and Noah Whyle guest starred as, yup, doctors. Though since Friends is in New York and ER is in Chicago they weren't "Doug Ross" and "John Carter"

 

Wayne Knight would become a reaccuring character on Third Rock From The Sun as Sally's boyfriend Don, well in promotion of "Don's" first few apperances the NBC's promo staff promoed it as a "Newman" apperance as if Knight had taken his Seinfeld character to Third Rock, and sometimes it would be promoted as "guest starring Wayne "Newman" Knight"

 

Actually a whole new thread could be made of "next week" promos and other comercials for upcoming programs cliches

 

Steve

[EdwardKnoxII 0]

Didn't Zack deliver Mrs. Belding's baby in a stuck elevator?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

That was the first thing I thought of for that cliche. The power went out due to the earthquake, and it was Zach, Tori and Mrs. Belding in the elevator.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

And as we found out in the New Class that Mr. Belding was so happy that he named his son after Zack. Which means that the Torri eps DIDN'T happen in a alternate world like I always thought.

[UZI Suicide 0]

One thing I'm surprised hasn't been mentioned and is so overused in nearly every TV show.. Character A badmouths Character B to someone else, thinking Character B isn't in the room. Then Character B comes up behind them and hears the entire thing, and Character A acts like it was all a big joke.

[Slayer 0]

One thing I'm surprised hasn't been mentioned and is so overused in nearly every TV show.. Character A badmouths Character B to someone else, thinking Character B isn't in the room. Then Character B comes up behind them and hears the entire thing, and Character A acts like it was all a big joke.

Similarly, when a group of people (usually kids/teens, but sometimes adults) are laughing insensitively at some situation or person, and then one of the main characters comes in and goes "SHAME ON YOU!" and condemns everyone for their behavior, then the group suddenly looks all sheepish and regretful.

 

I really hated those situations.

[Steve J. Rogers 0]

Just saw another bad cliche that is annoying on an old Everybody Loves Raymond

 

Basically Person A (generally the star of the show) is talking to Person B (usually a non-cast member) and is trying to talk in code or tries to give signals to Person B to intimate that he/she is being secretive or just plain trying to give Person B a message without coming out and saying it.

 

So of COURSE Person B is completely oblivious and comes off looking not to mentally capable if the audience can pick up on the clear clues (even if you didn't see the previous scene explaining why Person A needs to be secretive or is trying to give non-verbal clues to Person B) and of course if Person A is trying to give a message about someone else before Person C who Person A doesn't want to know whats going on, invaribly because Person B failed to pick up any of the clues, Person C finds out in an embarassing way

 

Steve