Imagine the Audience Naked: Difference between revisions

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{{trope}}
{{trope}}
{{quote|''Don't be intimidated, Squidward! Try to imagine him in his underwear!...Oh no, '''[[Stupid Sexy Flanders|HE'S HOT!!]]'''''|'''Squidward''', ''[[Spongebob SquarePants]]''}}
{{quote|''Don't be intimidated, Squidward! Try to imagine him in his underwear!...Oh no, '''[[Stupid Sexy Flanders|HE'S HOT!!]]'''''|'''Squidward''', ''[[SpongeBob SquarePants]]''}}


Bob, a shy and retiring man, needs to deliver a Big Speech to a Large Audience of Important People. [[Hilarity Ensues]] during rehearsals, until someone suggests that he imagine that the audience is ''au naturale''.
Bob, a shy and retiring man, needs to deliver a Big Speech to a Large Audience of Important People. [[Hilarity Ensues]] during rehearsals, until someone suggests that he imagine that the audience is ''au naturale''.


Basically a [[Stock Phrase]], "If you're nervous, imagine the audience naked." A common variation of this is "Imagine the audience in their underwear." This trope is usually [[Playing With a Trope|played with]]. Sometimes the [[Fan Service|viewers at home are shown]] what the character sees, usually in the underwear variety [[Hand or Object Underwear|unless there's some handy scenery]] - sometimes they will [[Fan Disservice|wish they couldn't]]. Sometimes, there really will be someone naked or in their underwear.
Basically a [[Stock Phrase]], "If you're nervous, imagine the audience naked." A common variation of this is "Imagine the audience in their underwear." This trope is usually [[Playing with a Trope|played with]]. Sometimes the [[Fan Service|viewers at home are shown]] what the character sees, usually in the underwear variety [[Hand or Object Underwear|unless there's some handy scenery]] - sometimes they will [[Fan Disservice|wish they couldn't]]. Sometimes, there really will be someone naked or in their underwear.


This is definitely ''not'' [[Truth in Television]]; if this isn't a [[Discredited Trope]] yet, it should be. The notion that such a visualization can ease the nerves that come with public speaking is nonsense, as explained [http://www.examiner.com/presentation-and-communications-skills-in-los-angeles/visualize-your-audience-underwear in this editorial.] In fact, assuming a speaker is actually ''capable'' of vividly calling forth this image under the stressful circumstances of speech delivery, [http://blog.jvf.com/2009/01/24/public-speaking-myths-imagining-your-audience-in-their-underwear-makes-you-less-nervous/ this blog post] does a good job of explaining why [[Advice Backfire|it might backfire]], especially if you happen to be a young male student with attractive women in the audience. Most textbooks on the subject give advice that revolves around keeping the speaker focused on the actual content of the speech and successful delivery, not something that would be pointlessly distracting.
This is definitely ''not'' [[Truth in Television]]; if this isn't a [[Discredited Trope]] yet, it should be. The notion that such a visualization can ease the nerves that come with public speaking is nonsense, as explained [http://www.examiner.com/presentation-and-communications-skills-in-los-angeles/visualize-your-audience-underwear in this editorial.] In fact, assuming a speaker is actually ''capable'' of vividly calling forth this image under the stressful circumstances of speech delivery, [http://blog.jvf.com/2009/01/24/public-speaking-myths-imagining-your-audience-in-their-underwear-makes-you-less-nervous/ this blog post] does a good job of explaining why [[Advice Backfire|it might backfire]], especially if you happen to be a young male student with attractive women in the audience. Most textbooks on the subject give advice that revolves around keeping the speaker focused on the actual content of the speech and successful delivery, not something that would be pointlessly distracting.
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== [[Literature]] ==
== [[Literature]] ==
* The stand-up comic main character in Louis Sachar's ''Dogs Don't Tell Jokes'' uses this in one of his jokes.
* The stand-up comic main character in Louis Sachar's ''Dogs Don't Tell Jokes'' uses this in one of his jokes.
* In ''[[Discworld (Literature)/Unseen Academicals|Unseen Academicals]]'', it's noted that very few people can stand up to Mrs Whitlow, UU's [[Almighty Janitor|terrifying housekeeper]], and it is ''not'' advisable to try and imagine her naked.
* In ''[[Discworld/Unseen Academicals|Unseen Academicals]]'', it's noted that very few people can stand up to Mrs Whitlow, UU's [[Almighty Janitor|terrifying housekeeper]], and it is ''not'' advisable to try and imagine her naked.


== [[Live Action TV]] ==
== [[Live Action TV]] ==
* ''[[Gilmore Girls]]'': Richard advises against this, he had a [[Squick]] when doing this with a audience of Bulgarians.
* ''[[Gilmore Girls]]'': Richard advises against this, he had a [[Squick]] when doing this with a audience of Bulgarians.
* In one episode of ''[[Red Dwarf (TV)|Red Dwarf]]'', Kochanski encourages Kryten to stand up to people by imagining them on the toilet. When it actually comes down do it though, he can't manage it. So he forces them, at gunpoint, to go sit on the toilet so that he can laugh and them and have the courage to say that 'No, he does not want to be reset to factory settings'. For some unaccountable reason they decide to do it anyway.
* In one episode of ''[[Red Dwarf]]'', Kochanski encourages Kryten to stand up to people by imagining them on the toilet. When it actually comes down do it though, he can't manage it. So he forces them, at gunpoint, to go sit on the toilet so that he can laugh and them and have the courage to say that 'No, he does not want to be reset to factory settings'. For some unaccountable reason they decide to do it anyway.
* On ''[[Friends]]'', Phoebe is uncomfortable with singing to children. She suggests this strategy, but is cautioned against it, 'cause "that's sort of how the last guy was fired."
* On ''[[Friends]]'', Phoebe is uncomfortable with singing to children. She suggests this strategy, but is cautioned against it, 'cause "that's sort of how the last guy was fired."
* Used hilariously in one episode of ''[[Big Wolf On Campus]]''. Of course, Tommy gets it wrong and thinks you're supposed to imagine yourself naked.
* Used hilariously in one episode of ''[[Big Wolf on Campus]]''. Of course, Tommy gets it wrong and thinks you're supposed to imagine yourself naked.
{{quote| '''Tommy:''' All you got to do is picture yourself...naked.<br />
{{quote| '''Tommy:''' All you got to do is picture yourself...naked.<br />
'''Lori:''' Tommy, you're supposed to picture the audience naked. }}
'''Lori:''' Tommy, you're supposed to picture the audience naked. }}
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{{quote| '''McBurney:''' Some advice? Try an old standard. Picture all those uniforms naked.<br />
{{quote| '''McBurney:''' Some advice? Try an old standard. Picture all those uniforms naked.<br />
'''Abby:''' Including you? }}
'''Abby:''' Including you? }}
* An episode of ''[[Buffy the Vampire Slayer (TV)|Buffy the Vampire Slayer]]'' features this trope in Season 1 when the high school is holding a talent show.
* An episode of ''[[Buffy the Vampire Slayer]]'' features this trope in Season 1 when the high school is holding a talent show.
{{quote| '''Cordelia:''' I, I can't go out there. All those people staring at me and judging me like I'm some kind of... Buffy! What if I mess up?<br />
{{quote| '''Cordelia:''' I, I can't go out there. All those people staring at me and judging me like I'm some kind of... Buffy! What if I mess up?<br />
'''Giles:''' Cordelia, there, uh, there-there's, uh, uh, an adage, uh, that, uh, if you're feeling nervous then, uh, you should imagine the entire audience are in their underwear.<br />
'''Giles:''' Cordelia, there, uh, there-there's, uh, uh, an adage, uh, that, uh, if you're feeling nervous then, uh, you should imagine the entire audience are in their underwear.<br />
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'''Cordelia:''' Yeah. }}
'''Cordelia:''' Yeah. }}
** Anya ends up [[Comically Missing the Point]] when she suggests that Buffy deal with anxiety on her first day of work by imagining herself naked.
** Anya ends up [[Comically Missing the Point]] when she suggests that Buffy deal with anxiety on her first day of work by imagining herself naked.
* ''[[Angel (TV)|Angel]]''. Kate Lockley is nervous about giving a speech for her father's retirement party. Angel suggests she try "that old saw about imagining people in their underwear". Kate's eyes flick downward to check out Angel's body and she mutters "[[Double Entendre|Way ahead of you]]."
* ''[[Angel]]''. Kate Lockley is nervous about giving a speech for her father's retirement party. Angel suggests she try "that old saw about imagining people in their underwear". Kate's eyes flick downward to check out Angel's body and she mutters "[[Double Entendre|Way ahead of you]]."
** And in "Parting Gifts"
** And in "Parting Gifts"
{{quote| '''Barney:''' “I’m sensing a little performance anxiety here. Little trick, picture everybody__”<br />
{{quote| '''Barney:''' “I’m sensing a little performance anxiety here. Little trick, picture everybody__”<br />
'''Cordelia:''' “In their underwear.”<br />
'''Cordelia:''' “In their underwear.”<br />
'''Barney:''' “I was going to say dead, but hey, if that underwear thing works for you...” }}
'''Barney:''' “I was going to say dead, but hey, if that underwear thing works for you...” }}
* Kyle tells this to Synclaire in an episode of ''[[Living Single (TV)|Living Single]]'' but since Synclaire will be naked in her performance he adds, "However, in this case, perhaps you should imagine yourself in your underwear" and dissolves into laughter.
* Kyle tells this to Synclaire in an episode of ''[[Living Single]]'' but since Synclaire will be naked in her performance he adds, "However, in this case, perhaps you should imagine yourself in your underwear" and dissolves into laughter.
* In the fourth season of ''[[The Shield]],'' Glenn Close's character Captain Monica Rawling is nervous delivering a speech to the other police. Vic tells her that normally you're supposed to imagine the audience naked but "with this audience, I wouldn't recommend it."
* In the fourth season of ''[[The Shield]],'' Glenn Close's character Captain Monica Rawling is nervous delivering a speech to the other police. Vic tells her that normally you're supposed to imagine the audience naked but "with this audience, I wouldn't recommend it."
* ''[[Glee]]'s'' Lauren Zizes wants to perform a number for the club in "Comeback", but is nervous. Puck tells her to imagine the audience in their underwear. [[Hilarity Ensues|Hilarity, naturally, ensues.]] [http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-JQ2MjPgmCGo/TV0lhynzchI/AAAAAAAAEbw/2Jjb8-B8c8o/s1600/Glee-Cast-Underwear02.png Everything's fine], until the camera hits [http://images.buddytv.com/articles/20110216-glee0213b2.jpg Sue]. As a tip, don't drink anything while viewing this scene.
* ''[[Glee]]'s'' Lauren Zizes wants to perform a number for the club in "Comeback", but is nervous. Puck tells her to imagine the audience in their underwear. [[Hilarity Ensues|Hilarity, naturally, ensues.]] [http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-JQ2MjPgmCGo/TV0lhynzchI/AAAAAAAAEbw/2Jjb8-B8c8o/s1600/Glee-Cast-Underwear02.png Everything's fine], until the camera hits [http://images.buddytv.com/articles/20110216-glee0213b2.jpg Sue]. As a tip, don't drink anything while viewing this scene.
** [[Completely Missing the Point|Wait,]] why is Finn wearing a ''[[Mighty Morphin Power Rangers]]'' shirt?
** [[Completely Missing the Point|Wait,]] why is Finn wearing a ''[[Mighty Morphin Power Rangers]]'' shirt?
* ''[[Married With Children]]'': Marcy does this to get over her fear of public speaking. For some reason it turns her on immensely, a feeling she transmits to her appreciative audiences.
* ''[[Married... with Children]]'': Marcy does this to get over her fear of public speaking. For some reason it turns her on immensely, a feeling she transmits to her appreciative audiences.
* Thelma tries this in an episode of [[Amen (TV)|Amen]]. It backfires and makes her even ''more'' nervous and uncomfortable.
* Thelma tries this in an episode of [[Amen]]. It backfires and makes her even ''more'' nervous and uncomfortable.


== [[Newspaper Comics]] ==
== [[Newspaper Comics]] ==
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== [[Web Original]] ==
== [[Web Original]] ==
* In ''[[Five Second Films]]'''s "Jon Worley Gives a Speech" http://5secondfilms.com/watch/jon_worley_gives_a_speech , Brian gives this advice to Jon... who is giving a speech on fighting obesity at the Burn Unit.
* In ''[[5 Second Films]]'''s "Jon Worley Gives a Speech" http://5secondfilms.com/watch/jon_worley_gives_a_speech , Brian gives this advice to Jon... who is giving a speech on fighting obesity at the Burn Unit.


== [[Web Comics]] ==
== [[Web Comics]] ==
* In the webcomic ''[[Nip and Tuck]]'', shy porcupine Zelda is uncomfortable with interviewing her childhood crush Nip. Charlotte says, [http://www.rhjunior.com/NT/00752.html in jest], this trope. Then Nip swam across the pool. The last three strips show Zelda grinning and blushing more and more, but not without escaping the notice of Charlotte.
* In the webcomic ''[[Nip and Tuck]]'', shy porcupine Zelda is uncomfortable with interviewing her childhood crush Nip. Charlotte says, [http://www.rhjunior.com/NT/00752.html in jest], this trope. Then Nip swam across the pool. The last three strips show Zelda grinning and blushing more and more, but not without escaping the notice of Charlotte.
* In the webcomic ''[[Brat-Halla]]'', Hod's stage fright causes his powers to go awry. One guy has everybody present strip to the underwear, until he's reminded that Hod is blind.
* In the webcomic ''[[Brat Halla]]'', Hod's stage fright causes his powers to go awry. One guy has everybody present strip to the underwear, until he's reminded that Hod is blind.
* ''[[Notfunny Cartoons]]'' has a really, really weird subversion - a man comes to a job interview, only to find out that ''the interviewers are actually naked so he can't imagine they were'', just to spite him. (His comment? "Aww.") [http://nichtlustig.de/toondb/090225.html It has to be seen to be believed] (although it's only available in German right now).
* ''[[Notfunny Cartoons]]'' has a really, really weird subversion - a man comes to a job interview, only to find out that ''the interviewers are actually naked so he can't imagine they were'', just to spite him. (His comment? "Aww.") [http://nichtlustig.de/toondb/090225.html It has to be seen to be believed] (although it's only available in German right now).
* ''[[Two Kinds]]'' gives us [http://twokinds.net/?p=415 this].
* ''[[Two Kinds]]'' gives us [http://twokinds.net/?p=415 this].
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== [[Western Animation]] ==
== [[Western Animation]] ==
* ''[[The Simpsons (Animation)|The Simpsons]]'': In the episode "Homer Defined", Homer becomes a hero after accidentally saving the power plant. When he's invited to give a speech about how he did it, he imagines the audience in their underwear, then shrieks and hides behind the podium because he imagined himself in his underwear, too.
* ''[[The Simpsons (animation)|The Simpsons]]'': In the episode "Homer Defined", Homer becomes a hero after accidentally saving the power plant. When he's invited to give a speech about how he did it, he imagines the audience in their underwear, then shrieks and hides behind the podium because he imagined himself in his underwear, too.
** Used again in ''[[The Simpsons (Animation)|The Simpsons]]''. Homer is hired by Mr. Burns to help him write an important speech. Due to the fact that at the time he was hired, Homer had been using medical marijuana and found everything funny. Since he was clean now, and no longer found Burns funny, Marge suggests Homer [[Squick|picture Mr. Burns naked]], [[Brain Bleach|resulting in him screaming]]. Trying to make the situation better, she then changes it to picturing him in a funny hat. This idea is worse, causing Homer to curl up in a ball shuddering.
** Used again in ''[[The Simpsons (animation)|The Simpsons]]''. Homer is hired by Mr. Burns to help him write an important speech. Due to the fact that at the time he was hired, Homer had been using medical marijuana and found everything funny. Since he was clean now, and no longer found Burns funny, Marge suggests Homer [[Squick|picture Mr. Burns naked]], [[Brain Bleach|resulting in him screaming]]. Trying to make the situation better, she then changes it to picturing him in a funny hat. This idea is worse, causing Homer to curl up in a ball shuddering.
* Happens in an episode of ''[[The Replacements]]'' with the twist that one of the audience [Shelton] actually is sitting there in his underwear.
* Happens in an episode of ''[[The Replacements]]'' with the twist that one of the audience [Shelton] actually is sitting there in his underwear.
* ''[[Spongebob SquarePants]]'' episode "Squilliam Returns": In an attempt to stand up to [[The Minnesota Fats|his rival]] Squidward tries to imagine Squilliam in his underwear, only to discover that Squilliam is really, really buff.
* ''[[SpongeBob SquarePants]]'' episode "Squilliam Returns": In an attempt to stand up to [[The Minnesota Fats|his rival]] Squidward tries to imagine Squilliam in his underwear, only to discover that Squilliam is really, really buff.
{{quote| '''Squidward:''' [[Ho Yay|Oh no, he's hot!]]}}
{{quote| '''Squidward:''' [[Ho Yay|Oh no, he's hot!]]}}
** In the episode "Oral Report", Sandy gives SpongeBob special goggles that let him see people in their underwear so he can get over his fear of speaking in public. Unfortunately, Patrick breaks them, which makes it seem as if the underwear come to life and heckle SpongeBob.
** In the episode "Oral Report", Sandy gives SpongeBob special goggles that let him see people in their underwear so he can get over his fear of speaking in public. Unfortunately, Patrick breaks them, which makes it seem as if the underwear come to life and heckle SpongeBob.
* At one point in ''[[Rocko's Modern Life]]'' the turtle, Filbert, can't realize his dreams of becoming a lounge singer because of stage fright. He's given this advice. It doesen't work. ("It's just too disgusting!" "Euw, you're right...") Until he's asked to perform at a club hosting a nudists' convention...
* At one point in ''[[Rocko's Modern Life]]'' the turtle, Filbert, can't realize his dreams of becoming a lounge singer because of stage fright. He's given this advice. It doesen't work. ("It's just too disgusting!" "Euw, you're right...") Until he's asked to perform at a club hosting a nudists' convention...
* Sam does this on an episode of ''[[Rocket Power]]''. Nervous about asking some classmates for a favor, he says to himself "picture the audience in their underwear." Unfortunately, he does it backwards, picturing himself standing in front of them in his underwear. It works anyway, as he says to himself, "Close enough."
* Sam does this on an episode of ''[[Rocket Power]]''. Nervous about asking some classmates for a favor, he says to himself "picture the audience in their underwear." Unfortunately, he does it backwards, picturing himself standing in front of them in his underwear. It works anyway, as he says to himself, "Close enough."
* When Stan on ''[[American Dad (Animation)|American Dad]]'' revealed he had never killed anyone his colleagues, and Roger, decided to help him, setting up several scenarios for him to pop his killing cherry, as they termed it. One had this advice.
* When Stan on ''[[American Dad]]'' revealed he had never killed anyone his colleagues, and Roger, decided to help him, setting up several scenarios for him to pop his killing cherry, as they termed it. One had this advice.
{{quote| '''Ray:''' If you start to get nervous, imagine them naked. You start to get really nervous, ''make'' them get naked. Still nervous? ''You'' get naked; you can do whatever you want, you're killing these people!}}
{{quote| '''Ray:''' If you start to get nervous, imagine them naked. You start to get really nervous, ''make'' them get naked. Still nervous? ''You'' get naked; you can do whatever you want, you're killing these people!}}
* Apparently the oldest daughter in ''[[Bob's Burgers]]'' is so awkward and nervous when talking in public because she's always picturing everyone naked, at all times (Or she is just a pervert). Her brother advised her to imagine audience with clothes.
* Apparently the oldest daughter in ''[[Bob's Burgers]]'' is so awkward and nervous when talking in public because she's always picturing everyone naked, at all times (Or she is just a pervert). Her brother advised her to imagine audience with clothes.
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