Breaking the Fourth Wall/Live-Action TV: Difference between revisions

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** In the first two seasons of the series, the show looked like an odd hybrid of a radio show and a stage play. Because TV was still new and experimental -- not to mention live -- Burns and his production partners decided to broadcast the show from an actual theater where a mockup of a house had been built on stage. The house set looked like an artillery shell had hit it, wiping out the fourth wall and one corner of the house. Rather than watch scenes of the show on the TV set in his office -- that wouldn't start until the show was shot on film starting in the 1952-53 season -- George would lean against the proscenium arch and comment directly to the theater audience about the goings-on inside the house. See for yourself. [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0-QFnNxkgnU Here's a sample episode titled "Rumba Lessons" that aired on December 28, 1950.]
** In the first two seasons of the series, the show looked like an odd hybrid of a radio show and a stage play. Because TV was still new and experimental -- not to mention live -- Burns and his production partners decided to broadcast the show from an actual theater where a mockup of a house had been built on stage. The house set looked like an artillery shell had hit it, wiping out the fourth wall and one corner of the house. Rather than watch scenes of the show on the TV set in his office -- that wouldn't start until the show was shot on film starting in the 1952-53 season -- George would lean against the proscenium arch and comment directly to the theater audience about the goings-on inside the house. See for yourself. [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0-QFnNxkgnU Here's a sample episode titled "Rumba Lessons" that aired on December 28, 1950.]
** In the first episode of the 1953-54 season -- in what may have been the most extreme breaking of the fourth wall in history -- Fred Clark (who played Harry Morton) left the series in part because he had demanded a higher salary. Literally! He left the series about twenty minutes into the episode. As Blanche was about to express her displeasure with a gift Harry had given her by hitting him with a vase, George stopped the action, turned to the audience and told them that Clark was leaving the series. Clark exited, replacement actor Harry Keating entered, and the action resumed.
** In the first episode of the 1953-54 season -- in what may have been the most extreme breaking of the fourth wall in history -- Fred Clark (who played Harry Morton) left the series in part because he had demanded a higher salary. Literally! He left the series about twenty minutes into the episode. As Blanche was about to express her displeasure with a gift Harry had given her by hitting him with a vase, George stopped the action, turned to the audience and told them that Clark was leaving the series. Clark exited, replacement actor Harry Keating entered, and the action resumed.
* The sitcom ''Unhappily Ever After'' broke the fourth wall regualarly. In fact, almost every episode they acknowledged that they were characters on a sitcom. They would address the audience, talk to the camera, mention what the subject of the episode was, etc.
* The sitcom ''Unhappily Ever After'' broke the fourth wall regularly. In fact, almost every episode they acknowledged that they were characters on a sitcom. They would address the audience, talk to the camera, mention what the subject of the episode was, etc.
* ''[[30 Rock|Thirty Rock]]'': In one instance, the characters of Jack and Liz are talking about cell phones, and Liz starts talking about [[Product Placement|how great Verizon phones are]], then breaks the fourth wall by asking the camera, "Can we get our money now, please?"
* ''[[30 Rock]]'': In one instance, the characters of Jack and Liz are talking about cell phones, and Liz starts talking about [[Product Placement|how great Verizon phones are]], then breaks the fourth wall by asking the camera, "Can we get our money now, please?"
** On a recent episode, the crew of the [[Show Within a Show]] goes to Boston for plot reasons, and Jack gets an office that is nearly identical to his one in New York, leading to this exchange:
** On a recent episode, the crew of the [[Show Within a Show]] goes to Boston for plot reasons, and Jack gets an office that is nearly identical to his one in New York, leading to this exchange:
{{quote|'''Liz''': Is it identical?
{{quote|'''Liz''': Is it identical?
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Harald (even louder): "'''''Harald & Eddi''!!'''"
Harald (even louder): "'''''Harald & Eddi''!!'''"
Harald: "Eddi!" (breaks the fourth wall and takes away whatever Eddi is occupied with, leaving Eddi flabbergasted) }}
Harald: "Eddi!" (breaks the fourth wall and takes away whatever Eddi is occupied with, leaving Eddi flabbergasted) }}
* In the Gormiti DVD "The Legend Begins," at the end, Gheos breaks the fourth wall, first turned away from the camera, giving info about the Great War that begun, and then turning to the camera, asking us that must this be their destiny. Then, the DVD goes to a diffrent screen, and scrolling text appears, along with a voice, possibly the Old Sage. Then Gheos once again breaks the fourth wall, asking us that it could be us, and the animation ends.
* In the Gormiti DVD "The Legend Begins," at the end, Gheos breaks the fourth wall, first turned away from the camera, giving info about the Great War that begun, and then turning to the camera, asking us that must this be their destiny. Then, the DVD goes to a different screen, and scrolling text appears, along with a voice, possibly the Old Sage. Then Gheos once again breaks the fourth wall, asking us that it could be us, and the animation ends.
* On ''[[Are You Being Served?]]'',Mr. Humphries addresses the audience every so often. For example, in the one where they give Mrs. Slocombe her birthday present, he says to the camera, [[The Un-Reveal|"We're not going to tell you what it is, it's a secret."]]
* On ''[[Are You Being Served?]]'',Mr. Humphries addresses the audience every so often. For example, in the one where they give Mrs. Slocombe her birthday present, he says to the camera, [[The Un-Reveal|"We're not going to tell you what it is, it's a secret."]]
* In the episode "What a Lovely Landing Strip" on ''[[Two and A Half Men]]'' Walden's ex-wife literally breaks the fourth wall of the sitcom's main stage, which we've never seen before and was specially constructed for the scene, by driving through it with her car.
* In the episode "What a Lovely Landing Strip" on ''[[Two and A Half Men]]'' Walden's ex-wife literally breaks the fourth wall of the sitcom's main stage, which we've never seen before and was specially constructed for the scene, by driving through it with her car.
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{{quote|'''Mother''' (Steed's boss): ''(to camera)'' They'll be back; you can rely on that. ''(glancing upward)'' They're unchaperoned up there...}}
{{quote|'''Mother''' (Steed's boss): ''(to camera)'' They'll be back; you can rely on that. ''(glancing upward)'' They're unchaperoned up there...}}


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[[Category:Breaking the Fourth Wall]]
[[Category:Live Action TV]]
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