Is This Thing Still On?: Difference between revisions
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{{trope}}
{{quote|''"Is that camera still running?!"'' (gunfire)
|'''Kane''', ''[[Command & Conquer]]'' }}
A character is making an announcement on TV/the radio/a PA system/what-have-you. Either at the beginning or, more commonly, after the end, the character will be heard making some tangential offhand or vulgar remark, realize what he or she has just done, and ponder:
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"Oh God, is this thing still on?"
Compare [[Did I Just Say That Out Loud?]], [[Oh God, Did She Just Hear That?]] A spontaneous and usually
Time to go find that page... Wait. [[Self-Demonstrating Article|Is this still on?]]
{{examples}}
▲== Anime & Manga ==
* In the [[Show Within a Show]] for ''[[Lucky Star]]'', after the two hosts for Lucky Channel went off on a rampage, the "executive producer" is heard talking about how he had his doubts about them from the very beginning, before an underling informs him that the cameras are rolling, and he frantically orders someone to shut them off.
* Moral from [[Fullmetal Alchemist (anime)|the 2003 anime version]] of ''[[Fullmetal Alchemist (manga)|Fullmetal Alchemist]]''. Never rant about your evil plan in the audio room. Just don't.
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* A variation in ''[[Karin]]'': [[Hot Mom|Usui's mother]] is being molested by her boss in a supermarket, and he accidentally pushes her into the intercom, turning it on. They both get fired, resulting in her becoming very depressed and [[Emotion Eater|attracting the title character]].
* In [[Super Dimension Fortress Macross]] Kamjin is reporting via audio-visual radio to his new commander Breetai when his aide arrives and claims the prize of their bet about their ability to ram more of Breetai's ships than the number of their ramming ships by defolding not far enough. Breetai was not amused.
== Comic Books ==
* A variant is used in ''[[ROM Spaceknight]]'' when Rom manages to free himself from a female Dire Wraith scientist's restraints, gets to a friendly human who is similarly restrained and orders the trapped villain to free him. She does so, but also quietly turns on an intercom and plays up being trapped and threatened by the alien for the benefit of the lab complex's security forces. By the time Rom realizes what she is doing, it's too late and security is charging to the room.
* In an early issue of "Threeboot" ''[[Legion of Super-Heroes (comics)|Legion of Super-Heroes]]'', Cos went into a rant to Sun Boy about how the team was falling apart, without realising he had an open comchannel. This didn't help.
* ''[[The Far Side]]'' has a comic of a pair of airline pilots talking. One of them is horrified, screaming that the fuel light is on, and that they're all going to die. "Oh, wait. My mistake. That's the intercom light."▼
* In one of the strips for ''[[Brewster Rockit: Space Guy!|Brewster Rockit Space Guy]]'', the title character has to give a speech about the R.U. Sirius to the crew, but can't seem to figure out what he says. The inept Engineer Cliff Clewless attempts to feed him on what to say via a bug, but the plan quickly unravels when, shortly after having Brewster give the greeting, Cliff ends up being distracted by a female member passing by in his vicinity, tries to give a pickup line along the lines of "You must be a parking ticket, because you've got "fine" written all over you", and subsequently being peppersprayed, all of which Brewster ended up parroting, causing either Brewster to realize that it was still on or him parroting Cliff's response. Lieutenant Pamela Mae Snap later tells Agent X that the speech in question, despite the obvious fact that Brewster ended up actually parroting what he should say via a bug, was actually one of Brewster's better speeches, implying that the previous ones usually turned out far worse.▼
* In ''[[FoxTrot]]'', Roger is singing "Love Machine" in the shower, and Jason, who was programming the voice answering machine, included Roger singing "Love Machine" as part of the message as one of his pranks. A few weeks later, in the final panel, has Roger confronting Jason on this fact, and Jason reminds Roger that Roger [[Hoist by His Own Petard|was the one who bought the model that had a cord that reached all the way upstairs.]]▼
* In ''[[Doonesbury]]'', Mark has a "guest" named Chase Talbot on his radio show. Mark keeps dropping hints about their being a couple, and they argue about it during the commercial break before realizing the mike was still on.▼
== Fan Works ==
* In the ''[[
* ''[[The Vinyl Scratch Tapes]]'': It takes them until part three to figure out when they aren't on the air.
* ''[[Yet again, with a little extra help]]'' gives us one when, after Sarutobi welcomes the crowd to the Chunin Exam Finals, followed by Naruto and Sasuke performing their Firestorm combo. After {{spoiler|Orochimaru}} and Hiruzen comment on the jutsu, one of the latter's aides informs him his mic is still on, leading to the following:
{{quote|"What? The microphone is still on? This is why I hate technology... erm oh wait, they can still hear me. Um. YES! So welcome everyone to the Chunin exams! How do I turn this damn thing off again?"}}
* In the ''[[Calvin at Camp]]'' episode "[[Legends of the Hidden Temple|Legends of the Hidden Campus]]," Eddy is caught on tape admitting that the game is completely rigged. Luckily for him, no one seems to notice or care.
* In the ''[[Harry Potter]]'' fanfic ''[https://www.fanfiction.net/s/9051968/1/Harry-Potter-Unexpected-Animagus Harry Potter: Unexpected Animagus]
==
* ''[[Toy Story (franchise)|Toy Story]] 2'', with Tour Guide Barbie at the end. Undoubtedly one of the best parts of the movie.
* Darla Dimple in ''[[Cats Don't Dance]]''. She tells off Danny the cat, because she's angry he's upstaged her at her big premiere. Unaware that in her frantic attempts to sabotage him from doing so, she accidentally turned on one of the boom mics. So her boss and all of Hollywood hears her scream, "I should've drowned you all when I ''[[Power Echoes|FLOODED THE STAGE!!!]]''"
* Subverted in ''[[Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy]]'' -- "What? I'm on right now?... I don't believe you." Ron Burgundy in fact cheerfully and obliviously subverts this two more times in the movie, being compelled to say anything that's written on the teleprompter—something which takes a much darker (though still hilarious) turn when a mean-spirited prank causes him to drop the F-Bomb on live television.
* A time reverse case in ''[[Head of State]]'' when Mays make a bad comment regarding school shooting to the camera, thinks it wasn't on yet, but it was revealed that it was on all the time and is still recording. Lewis then use the tape to attack Mays' presidential campaign.
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** Told as a joke in ''[[Good Will Hunting]]''.
** In an extended version he says, "After we finish our coffee let's screw the stewardess." Upon hearing that, the stewardess storms to the cockpit in fury, only to be stopped by an elderly passenger who says: "Why such a hurry? They've yet to finish their coffee first."
== Literature ==
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* ''[[A Series of Unfortunate Events]]'': In the eighth book Count Olaf began laughing maniacally until his girlfriend informed him the intercom was still on.
* ''A Colder War'', a [[Cthulhu Mythos]] short story by [[Charles Stross]]. [[The End of the World as We Know It]] (World War Three with [[Eldritch Abomination]] weapons) comes about because Ronald Reagan makes his "bombing in five minutes" joke (see "[[Real Life]]") before a live mike.
== Live-Action TV ==
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{{quote|'''Rudy:''' How do I turn this thing off?!}}
* In the ending credit ''[[Roseanne]]'' episode, '''The Parenting Trap''', Roseanne is discussing with Neil Conrad on a family way of explaining about erections on an [[Breaking the Fourth Wall| ABC show]]. Conrad was trying to explain how the censors would interfere. This leaves Rosanne to explain to Conrad that it was "too late" for the protest. Cue this [https://youtu.be/K0oDbfvy-l0 moment].
== Radio ==▼
* The famous [[Urban Legend]] has it some children's radio presenter in the '30s finished up his show, then said "That oughtta hold the little bastards!" on an open mic. He was allegedly fired immediately. The slip is supposedly uttered by Uncle Don, but [http://www.snopes.com/radiotv/radio/uncledon.asp his career says otherwise].▼
* A 1969 NBC radio news capsule ended with the anchor recapping the headline, followed by somebody in the background uttering the word "bullshit".▼
== Music ==
* In the last chorus of ''Steve Earle'' by [[Sugarland]], the line "The others wanted your whole heart, but I just want your sleeve..." degenerates into a rapid-fire stream of speech-- "...and the shirt that goes with it 'cause it smells like you and you know I like to sleep in that, and a vacation house, at the beach, and a really small wedding, only 'bout three hundred people, did I tell you that I've got kids?..."—until Jennifer Nettles finally stops to ask, "Is this thing on?"
* The Cuban Boys' "Cognoscenti vs. Intelligentsia", a cover of Roger Miller's "[[Robin Hood (Disney film)|Whistle Stop]]", ends with a reenactment of the supposed Uncle Don incident.
== Newspaper Comics ==
▲* ''[[The Far Side]]'' has a comic of a pair of airline pilots talking. One of them is horrified, screaming that the fuel light is on, and that they're all going to die. "Oh, wait. My mistake. That's the intercom light."
▲* In one of the strips for ''[[Brewster Rockit: Space Guy!|Brewster Rockit Space Guy]]'', the title character has to give a speech about the R.U. Sirius to the crew, but can't seem to figure out what he says. The inept Engineer Cliff Clewless attempts to feed him on what to say via a bug, but the plan quickly unravels when, shortly after having Brewster give the greeting, Cliff ends up being distracted by a female member passing by in his vicinity, tries to give a pickup line along the lines of "You must be a parking ticket, because you've got "fine" written all over you", and subsequently being peppersprayed, all of which Brewster ended up parroting, causing either Brewster to realize that it was still on or him parroting Cliff's response. Lieutenant Pamela Mae Snap later tells Agent X that the speech in question, despite the obvious fact that Brewster ended up actually parroting what he should say via a bug, was actually one of Brewster's better speeches, implying that the previous ones usually turned out far worse.
▲* In ''[[FoxTrot]]'', Roger is singing "Love Machine" in the shower, and Jason, who was programming the voice answering machine, included Roger singing "Love Machine" as part of the message as one of his pranks. A few weeks later, in the final panel, has Roger confronting Jason on this fact, and Jason reminds Roger that Roger [[Hoist by His Own Petard|was the one who bought the model that had a cord that reached all the way upstairs.]]
▲* In ''[[Doonesbury]]'', Mark has a "guest" named Chase Talbot on his radio show. Mark keeps dropping hints about their being a couple, and they argue about it during the commercial break before realizing the mike was still on.
▲== Radio ==
▲* The famous [[Urban Legend]] has it some children's radio presenter in the '30s finished up his show, then said "That oughtta hold the little bastards!" on an open mic. He was allegedly fired immediately. The slip is supposedly uttered by Uncle Don, but [http://www.snopes.com/radiotv/radio/uncledon.asp his career says otherwise].
▲* A 1969 NBC radio news capsule ended with the anchor recapping the headline, followed by somebody in the background uttering the word "bullshit".
== Tabletop Games ==
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The new lieutenant, horrified at the detail spewing from the speakers about various uses for the butt of the co-pilot's las-pistol, runs down the aisle to switch off the intercom, trips over a boltgun, and lands flat on her face.
A new recruit sitting opposite turns and says, "Whoa! Calm down Ma'am! He's gotta take that shit first!" }}
== Theater ==
* In ''Follies'', Max and Stella Deems say that their radio career ended this way.
== Video Games ==
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* Used in one of Eggman's PA announcements in ''[[Sonic Colors]]'':
{{quote|"Please beware of the spikes on the Asteroid Coaster -- they are sharp.... ''Really, we have to warn people about '''spikes?''' Like they won't notice the spikes, I mean come on -- the cars are '''nothing but spikes!''' Unbelievable! Wh -- uh -- my what is still on?''"}}
* During ''[[World of Warcraft]]''{{'}}s Operation Gnomeregan event, the [[Mad Scientist]] who's taken over the gnomes' underground city uses a "Brag-Bot" to taunt the heroes. First he launches into his rant, stops to make sure that the mike is on, and then starts over. Later, while gloating how his trump card will vaporize everyone, he wishes aloud that he could see his arch-rival's face before realizing that the mike is ''still'' on.
* In ''[[Godzilla: Destroy All Monsters Melee]]'', the Vortaak leader finishes his speech, pauses for about two seconds, and realizes the camera is still rolling.
{{quote|"That is all. ([[Beat]]) ...Am I still on? Oh. Well. We now return you to... whatever it was you were doing. Idiots."}}
* In ''[[Subnautica]]'' you receive a radio message from Alterra HQ letting you know that they can't get a rescue ship out to you and that they've sent plans for a ship you can build to the computer in the ''Aurora''{{'}}s captain's quarters... in between ordering a ham and cheese from an office sandwich run, all of which is ''also'' sent as part of the message.
== Web Comics ==
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* ''[[Schlock Mercenary]]'', with quarantined "[http://www.schlockmercenary.com/2012-05-17 zombie]".
* Inverted in ''[[Megatokyo]]'': "is this thing already on?" happened to [http://megatokyo.com/strip/68 work well for Kimiko].
* In ''Swords'' a god [https://swordscomic.com/swords/XC/ makes this mistake].
== Web Original ==
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{{quote|'''Controllers''': "We heard that, 479'er."
'''479'er''': "Yup. That's cause I transmitted it." }}
* [[De Rez]] [https://web.archive.org/web/20151014200452/http://www.escapistmagazine.com/videos/view/de-rez/41-Searching-for-Gordon-Freeman "Searching For Gordon Freeman"]: While having a private discussion about the fact that the cameraman doesn't know how to edit, Dave decides they can work with it, doing everything in one take, as long as there are no screw-ups. Then, "Is that on?"
== Western Animation ==
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* In one episode of ''[[Combo Niños|Combo Ninos]]'', Diadoro makes unflattering comments about the audience just as his assistant has finished repairing the equipment and activating the microphone.
* The "beginning" variant shows up in ''[[Batman: The Animated Series|Batman the Animated Series]]''. After the theme of the "Jokers Wild" casino is revealed on live television (complete with revolving laughing Joker head) reporter Summer Gleeson is caught on camera muttering, "Just disgusting."
== Real Life ==
* This happens often enough that one mantra of politics is "Every microphone is live." But to get down to specifics...
* [[George W. Bush]]:
** Bush's much-mocked "get Syria to get Hezbollah to stop doing this shit" aside to Tony Blair concerning the Middle East. The [http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/middle_east/article688879.ece full transcript] is enlightening, and ends with a literal "Is this thing on?"
** Then there was the time when Bush had a press conference with some US troops in Iraq, a PR event advertised as the President's chance to have a "frank, spontaneous conversation" with the soldiers. Problem was, a news channel picked up a live feed of the conference room before the event showing a full-blown ''rehearsal'' with every question and cute one-liner laid out in advance.
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* During the eighties and early nineties it was very common for US TV networks to transmit satellite feeds without any form of scrambling or encryption so anyone with a satellite dish and satellite TV tuner could view them. Because of this it was possible for people to watch (and record) satellite interviews as they were being conducted. For live broadcasts, the feed was usually setup far before the interview began and when the network cut to commercial or another segment of the program the satellite feed usually stayed on leading to many real-life instances of this trope. Several of them were collected in a documentary called ''Spin''
* News anchor Sue Simmons, displeased with some off-camera incident, unleashes a hilarious [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ETnp8Tq3CFw bit of profanity.] She later apologized, but David Letterman still had a tremendous amount of fun at her expense.
* Pat Robertson [https://web.archive.org/web/20130824004908/http://www.time.com/time/specials/packages/article/0,28804,1953778_1953776_1953758,00.html had a simliar blunder] when he tried to insult the caller he had just spoken to, thinking his mic was off. It wasn't.
* At the end of an interview, having thought that the broadcast had ceased, Mel Gibson added a little something to the end of his farewell to the interviewer [https://web.archive.org/web/20120304000756/http://news.ninemsn.com.au/entertainment/1008066/mel-gibson-denies-abusing-reporter-on-live-tv he probably didn't intend to go to air].
* During a group photo with his sons, Prince Charles muttered "I can't stand that man," referring to a prominant newspaper's royal correspondent. Naturally, because the man ''was'' that newspaper's royal correspondent, he had to report this comment about himself in the press.
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