TV Cliches - Busted! - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

TJL · 02-17-2007, 10:03 PM

Hey TV people, TJL here.

After many countless years watching TV, I have seen many cliches. I've seen fat slobs married to hot wives, 30 year old women playing High School seniors, the list goes on an on.

But now I feel i must speak up about the ultimate TV show cliche, one that is so overdone, i cannot remain silent anymore.

TV characters eating chinese food - out of the carton - with chopsticks!

Am i the only one on the planet who uses a plate? C'mon!

I admit, I have tried the chopstick thing a few times in my life, but you can't tell me that every single character in the TV world has mastered the use of chopsticks!

Does anyone here at Sitcoms Online eat Chinese food this way?

If so, please tell me, also include the TV cliche that really gets your goat.

Ireneparalegal · 02-17-2007, 10:11 PM

I never eat chinese food with chopsticks. I have tried, but to no avail. I also use a plate. There is so much to eat that no way could I eat it outta the box. Remember in the movie the Godfather? Those guys eating it outta the box...

Ireneparalegal · 02-17-2007, 10:18 PM

Let me add this cliche...pregnant women who never have their significant other by their side when they deliver...usually someone else ends up being with them. Also, when these ladies deliver (their first baby usually) they are in labor for what? five minutes...I don't think so. Try 24 hours for your first baby. Those ladies on television make it seem so easy to deliver and they make it seem like labor comes on "just like that" or "outta the blue"...not so when it is your first baby.

catlover79 · 02-18-2007, 12:07 AM

On the subject of pregnant women, they will often deliver in elevators (Benson, Saved by the Bell).

Or people drive through houses in cars (Full House, ELR).

Untalented singers will form a band and win first prize in some stupid contest (Saved by the Bell, Full House, Family Matters).

An ugly duckling will get a makeover, become a bombshell and become mean (Brady Bunch).

Brian Damage · 02-18-2007, 12:26 AM

The chopstick thing always annoyed me. I don't know anybody who uses them when getting Chinese food.

Janice · 02-18-2007, 01:31 AM

That chopstick thing has always bugged me. I've posted about in on Chit Chat here and there. It's ridiculous.

Ant-Lox · 02-19-2007, 03:58 AM

I too hate the chopstick out of the cartoon thing, Its really hard to eat chinese food that way IMO...

dawsongirl · 02-19-2007, 11:46 PM

Eating out of a carton is too hard and potentially messy. And chopsticks...forget it. I'd lose a lot of weight that way though.

dawsongirl · 02-19-2007, 11:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by catlover79

On the subject of pregnant women, they will often deliver in elevators (Benson, Saved by the Bell).

Or people drive through houses in cars (Full House, ELR).

Untalented singers will form a band and win first prize in some stupid contest (Saved by the Bell, Full House, Family Matters).

An ugly duckling will get a makeover, become a bombshell and become mean (Brady Bunch).

Fran had her baby on an elevator too on The Nanny. Oh yeah, and Christine had hers on an elevator as well on Night Court.

Brian Damage · 02-20-2007, 01:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dawsongirl

Fran had her baby on an elevator too on The Nanny. Oh yeah, and Christine had hers on an elevator as well on Night Court.

A baby was delivered in an elevator on All in the Family too if I am not mistaken.

comedyfreak · 02-20-2007, 07:02 AM

How about TV wives of the 50's and 60's all dressed up and wearing pearls while doing household chores and the husbands wearing suits.

JuicyCoutureGirl · 02-20-2007, 09:53 AM

Those horrible add a brats-I mean, add a kid.

Getting trapped in a basement or freezer with someone you hate.

Best Friends/Hired help and employer hooking up.

Having to go to the dumpster to find your misplaced whatever.

Some big time singer performing at the prom(like the school can afford them)

Running into some big celeb and later on you all are buddies(Please, maybe I crash my car into someone hoping it's Stevie Wonder)

catlover79 · 02-20-2007, 10:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JuicyCoutureGirl

Those horrible add a brats-I mean, add a kid.

Getting trapped in a basement or freezer with someone you hate.

Best Friends/Hired help and employer hooking up.

Having to go to the dumpster to find your misplaced whatever.

Some big time singer performing at the prom(like the school can afford them)

Running into some big celeb and later on you all are buddies(Please, maybe I crash my car into someone hoping it's Stevie Wonder)

Chocoholic · 02-21-2007, 11:48 AM

I've noticed the chopsticks and eating out of the carton a lot too!

I must confess, when I was in college I ate out of the takeout carton rather than dirtying a dish.

Quote:

Originally Posted by catlover79

Or people drive through houses in cars (Full House, ELR).

That's actually one cliche I really do not like. I fail to see the humor in some idiot plowing through someone else's home in a car. They make it look so easy and simple to rebuild too. My neighbors had to have their whole house demolished and rebuilt after some jerk who was driving too fast lost control and wound up in their living room, missing their young son by mere inches. </ off-topic rant>

Ohio8 · 03-14-2007, 05:30 PM

The kids(s) throw a party while the parents are gone, and it gets out of hand. A kid gets a credit card that's to be used "only in emergencies," but....
A family pet gets a credit card. A work horse goes into retirement and adult and child characters find it a retirement life.

A character gets amnesia, and others administer blows to the victim's head in a submoronic attempt, or attempts, to get the person's memory back. Somebody gets lonely, and another person contrives a phony persona to aid the first person, backfiring.

Someone gets tickets to a concert or a game or some other event, and doesn't know who to take. An absolute wreck of a human being dies and a main character takes take of the funeral arrangements, is the sole attender of the services, or whatever.

An adult wants to join a lodge but gets blackballed by a friend or family member who's a member.

02-17-2007, 10:03 PM	#1
TJL Suburbanite Extrordinaire Forum Star Join Date: Dec 29, 2001 Location: New Jersey - the cradle of civilization Posts: 16,588	TV Cliches - Busted! Hey TV people, TJL here. After many countless years watching TV, I have seen many cliches. I've seen fat slobs married to hot wives, 30 year old women playing High School seniors, the list goes on an on. But now I feel i must speak up about the ultimate TV show cliche, one that is so overdone, i cannot remain silent anymore. TV characters eating chinese food - out of the carton - with chopsticks! Am i the only one on the planet who uses a plate? C'mon! I admit, I have tried the chopstick thing a few times in my life, but you can't tell me that every single character in the TV world has mastered the use of chopsticks! Does anyone here at Sitcoms Online eat Chinese food this way? If so, please tell me, also include the TV cliche that really gets your goat.
	__________________ "I think I'll stroll up to the front to see how the shooting's going..." - Capt. Benjamin Franklin "Hawkeye" Pierce Read my blogs! http://centralparkamisguide.com/ http://dvdcriticscorner.com Visit me on Facebook!http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=641138880 Hey, I do the tweet thing too! http://twitter.com/TomLevier My shop of handmade items! http://www.etsy.com/shop/ColdGarageCreations

02-17-2007, 10:11 PM	#2
Ireneparalegal LEGAL SPICE ;) Forum Legend Join Date: Jul 25, 2005 Location: OXNARD, CA - WHERE THE DALLAS COWBOYS TRAIN & PRACTICE Posts: 38,691	I never eat chinese food with chopsticks. I have tried, but to no avail. I also use a plate. There is so much to eat that no way could I eat it outta the box. Remember in the movie the Godfather? Those guys eating it outta the box...
	__________________ DALLAS COWBOYS ARE HERE AT TRAINING CAMP!!!

02-18-2007, 12:07 AM	#4
catlover79 God Bless Val Forum Addict Join Date: May 29, 2006 Location: Bewitched in Ohio Posts: 70,392	On the subject of pregnant women, they will often deliver in elevators (Benson, Saved by the Bell). Or people drive through houses in cars (Full House, ELR). Untalented singers will form a band and win first prize in some stupid contest (Saved by the Bell, Full House, Family Matters). An ugly duckling will get a makeover, become a bombshell and become mean (Brady Bunch).
	__________________ "Jesus loves you and He approves this message." "I'm alive. I'm feeling good. I'm trying to live every moment as much as I can." - Valerie Harper, March 2013

02-18-2007, 12:26 AM	#5
Brian Damage I'm Rich Bitch Forum Icon Join Date: Feb 03, 2002 Location: What Ain't No Country I Ever Heard Of...They Speak English in What? Posts: 63,107	The chopstick thing always annoyed me. I don't know anybody who uses them when getting Chinese food.
	__________________ The Key to the Kingdom of Heaven: John 3:3 *Money Doesn't Buy Happiness...But I'd Rather Cry in My Private Jet*

02-20-2007, 07:02 AM	#11
comedyfreak Cheers! Forum Fanatic Join Date: Dec 14, 2005 Location: Sunny California Posts: 11,061	How about TV wives of the 50's and 60's all dressed up and wearing pearls while doing household chores and the husbands wearing suits.
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02-17-2007, 10:18 PM	#3
Ireneparalegal LEGAL SPICE ;) Forum Legend Join Date: Jul 25, 2005 Location: OXNARD, CA - WHERE THE DALLAS COWBOYS TRAIN & PRACTICE Posts: 38,691	Let me add this cliche...pregnant women who never have their significant other by their side when they deliver...usually someone else ends up being with them. Also, when these ladies deliver (their first baby usually) they are in labor for what? five minutes...I don't think so. Try 24 hours for your first baby. Those ladies on television make it seem so easy to deliver and they make it seem like labor comes on "just like that" or "outta the blue"...not so when it is your first baby.

02-18-2007, 01:31 AM	#6
Janice Retired Admin - Hollywood Swingin' Forum Legend Join Date: Aug 03, 2001 Location: Beantown Posts: 36,388	That chopstick thing has always bugged me. I've posted about in on Chit Chat here and there. It's ridiculous.

02-19-2007, 03:58 AM	#7
Ant-Lox Cloud Watcher Senior Member Join Date: Feb 18, 2004 Location: Philadelphia, PA Posts: 1,824	I too hate the chopstick out of the cartoon thing, Its really hard to eat chinese food that way IMO...

02-19-2007, 11:46 PM	#8
dawsongirl Member Forum Icon Join Date: Jan 04, 2001 Posts: 53,140	Eating out of a carton is too hard and potentially messy. And chopsticks...forget it. I'd lose a lot of weight that way though.

02-20-2007, 09:53 AM	#12
JuicyCoutureGirl L Hath No Fury Forum Regular Join Date: Aug 09, 2006 Location: Drinking Margaritas With The L Word Ladies at The Planet Posts: 782	Those horrible add a brats-I mean, add a kid. Getting trapped in a basement or freezer with someone you hate. Best Friends/Hired help and employer hooking up. Having to go to the dumpster to find your misplaced whatever. Some big time singer performing at the prom(like the school can afford them) Running into some big celeb and later on you all are buddies(Please, maybe I crash my car into someone hoping it's Stevie Wonder)
	__________________

03-14-2007, 05:30 PM	#15
Ohio8 Member Forum Star Join Date: Jul 29, 2003 Location: Wherever you aren't. Posts: 18,966	The kids(s) throw a party while the parents are gone, and it gets out of hand. A kid gets a credit card that's to be used "only in emergencies," but.... A family pet gets a credit card. A work horse goes into retirement and adult and child characters find it a retirement life. A character gets amnesia, and others administer blows to the victim's head in a submoronic attempt, or attempts, to get the person's memory back. Somebody gets lonely, and another person contrives a phony persona to aid the first person, backfiring. Someone gets tickets to a concert or a game or some other event, and doesn't know who to take. An absolute wreck of a human being dies and a main character takes take of the funeral arrangements, is the sole attender of the services, or whatever. An adult wants to join a lodge but gets blackballed by a friend or family member who's a member.
	__________________ "Shorter of breath and one day closer to death." -- Pink Floyd Last edited by Ohio8; 03-21-2007 at 07:47 PM.