Jackass Genie: Difference between revisions

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{{trope}}
{{trope}}
[[File:JackassGenie 1591.jpg|link=The Princess Planet|right| [http://www.theprincessplanet.com/?p=238 Let the wisher beware.]]]
[[File:JackassGenie 1591.jpg|link=The Princess Planet|frame|[http://www.theprincessplanet.com/?p=238 Let the wisher beware.]]]



{{quote|'''Brian''': These starlets have got to stop making deals with magical creatures because it always gets them in trouble!
{{quote|'''Brian''': These starlets have got to stop making deals with magical creatures because it always gets them in trouble!
'''Angelique''': I know absolutely, I mean we all saw when that genie granted [[Jennifer Aniston]] eternal youth, but then we saw that eternal youth would mean never growing up by having a lasting relationship or children.
'''Angelique''': I know absolutely, I mean we all saw when that genie granted [[Jennifer Aniston]] eternal youth, but then we saw that eternal youth would mean never growing up by having a lasting relationship or children.
'''Brian''': Also, we saw when [[Christina Ricci]] asked a wizard to make her skinny, but the catch was that he could make her head as big as he wanted...|'''[[The Onion]]''', "[http://www.theonion.com/video/witch-who-granted-beyonce-beauty-and-fame-takes-si,27002/ Witch Who Granted Beyonce's Beauty And Fame Takes Firstborn]"}}
'''Brian''': Also, we saw when [[Christina Ricci]] asked a wizard to make her skinny, but the catch was that he could make her head as big as he wanted...
|'''[[The Onion]]''', "[http://www.theonion.com/video/witch-who-granted-beyonce-beauty-and-fame-takes-si,27002/ Witch Who Granted Beyonce's Beauty And Fame Takes Firstborn]"}}


Generally speaking, a [[Literal Genie]] will make logical, if basic interpretations of a wish. Nothing more and nothing less than what [[Make a Wish|the wish]] ''explicitly'' states. This is so that when a wish backfires, we can laugh at the foolishness of whoever made the wish, as opposed to the genie, who's [[Punch Clock Villain|just doing their job]].
Generally speaking, a [[Literal Genie]] will make logical, if basic interpretations of a wish. Nothing more and nothing less than what [[Make a Wish|the wish]] ''explicitly'' states. This is so that when a wish backfires, we can laugh at the foolishness of whoever made the wish, as opposed to the genie, who's [[Punch Clock Villain|just doing their job]].
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{{examples}}
{{examples}}
== Anime and Manga ==

== Anime/Manga ==
* Subverted in ''[[Tenshi na Konamaiki]]''. Megumi wishes for manliness, so the genie, just to be an asshole, turns him into a girl. The subversion? {{spoiler|That's a false memory, planted by the spirit itself when it granted '''her''' wish to the best of its limited ability.}}
* Subverted in ''[[Tenshi na Konamaiki]]''. Megumi wishes for manliness, so the genie, just to be an asshole, turns him into a girl. The subversion? {{spoiler|That's a false memory, planted by the spirit itself when it granted '''her''' wish to the best of its limited ability.}}
* In ''[[Ah! My Goddess]]'' demons are like this in contrast of [[Benevolent Genie]]s of Heaven.
* In ''[[Ah! My Goddess]]'' demons are like this in contrast of [[Benevolent Genie]]s of Heaven.
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* Romeo from ''Make 5 Wishes''. To make it even worse, the first, small wish that Hanna asks for, for her crush to finally notice her, is granted without any ill effects at all, leading to her becoming more bold and making bigger wishes that backfire on her horribly. For the fifth and final wish, {{spoiler|she thinks he's screwed her over again, but he hasn't. She just doesn't ''realize'' that the fifth wish was granted exactly as she wanted.}}
* Romeo from ''Make 5 Wishes''. To make it even worse, the first, small wish that Hanna asks for, for her crush to finally notice her, is granted without any ill effects at all, leading to her becoming more bold and making bigger wishes that backfire on her horribly. For the fifth and final wish, {{spoiler|she thinks he's screwed her over again, but he hasn't. She just doesn't ''realize'' that the fifth wish was granted exactly as she wanted.}}
* The wish-granting devil in ''[[Dorohedoro]]'' prefers to grant wishes that are stupid or selfish. The main characters figure this out, and realize that he can be manipulated into granting selfless wishes if they're phrased in such a way as to sound selfish.
* The wish-granting devil in ''[[Dorohedoro]]'' prefers to grant wishes that are stupid or selfish. The main characters figure this out, and realize that he can be manipulated into granting selfless wishes if they're phrased in such a way as to sound selfish.



== Comic Books ==
== Comic Books ==
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* [[Demon Lords and Archdevils|Mephisto]], closest thing to [[Satan]] in [[Marvel Universe]], may sometimes dwell into this. Recently he decided to play along popular [[Urban Legend]] that sometimes devil may visit a bar and, if bartender will provide him with a good service, he will grant him a wish. When bartender asked for immortality, Mephisto dragged him to Hell, extracted all his blood when grinding him like a fresh meat and used it as an ink to write letters. Words are immortal.
* [[Demon Lords and Archdevils|Mephisto]], closest thing to [[Satan]] in [[Marvel Universe]], may sometimes dwell into this. Recently he decided to play along popular [[Urban Legend]] that sometimes devil may visit a bar and, if bartender will provide him with a good service, he will grant him a wish. When bartender asked for immortality, Mephisto dragged him to Hell, extracted all his blood when grinding him like a fresh meat and used it as an ink to write letters. Words are immortal.
== [[Fanfic]] ==
== Fan Works ==
* Japan in ''[[Axis Powers Hetalia]]'' [[Deconstruction]] fic ''Mistakes'' managed to Jackass Genie ''himself.'' He'd found out that his humans were [[World War Two|doing unspeakable things to his brothers]] and confronted his Prime Minister. Nation-tans have to obey orders from their human leaders. Under normal circumstances, "forget about them, we have bigger problems" would have been dismissed as a colloquialism, but Japan really, really wanted to forget that he'd played a part in getting his own brother raped. [[Laser-Guided Amnesia|So he did.]] China was not pleased.
* Japan in ''[[Axis Powers Hetalia]]'' [[Deconstruction]] fic ''Mistakes'' managed to Jackass Genie ''himself.'' He'd found out that his humans were [[World War Two|doing unspeakable things to his brothers]] and confronted his Prime Minister. Nation-tans have to obey orders from their human leaders. Under normal circumstances, "forget about them, we have bigger problems" would have been dismissed as a colloquialism, but Japan really, really wanted to forget that he'd played a part in getting his own brother raped. [[Laser-Guided Amnesia|So he did.]] China was not pleased.



== Films -- Animated ==
== Films -- Animated ==
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* Dr. Facilier in ''[[The Princess and the Frog]]''. When reading Prince Naveen's fortune, he "predicts" that Naveen wishes for "the green" and to be able to "hop from place to place." Naveen never actually says anything like this, nor does he even acknowledge this as an accurate "prediction," yet Facilier transforms him into a frog anyways.
* Dr. Facilier in ''[[The Princess and the Frog]]''. When reading Prince Naveen's fortune, he "predicts" that Naveen wishes for "the green" and to be able to "hop from place to place." Naveen never actually says anything like this, nor does he even acknowledge this as an accurate "prediction," yet Facilier transforms him into a frog anyways.
** Naveen agreed to Facilier's deal when he shook his hand, tacitly giving him permission to make the wishes described come true. This was of course very stupid, as it meant giving to the "genie" in this scenario both the phrasing ''and'' the execution of the wish, which is just asking to get screwed over.
** Naveen agreed to Facilier's deal when he shook his hand, tacitly giving him permission to make the wishes described come true. This was of course very stupid, as it meant giving to the "genie" in this scenario both the phrasing ''and'' the execution of the wish, which is just asking to get screwed over.



== Films -- Live-Action ==
== Films -- Live-Action ==
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* Near the end of ''[[Leprechaun (film)|Leprechaun]] 2'' the Leprechaun is trapped in a wrought iron safe by Morty, who forces the Leprechaun into granting him three wishes. The Leprechaun grants Morty's wish for his gold by materializing it into his stomach. After the Leprechaun makes Morty waste his second wish by wishing him free of the safe, the Leprechaun grants the third wish (getting the gold out) by ripping Morty open, killing him.
* Near the end of ''[[Leprechaun (film)|Leprechaun]] 2'' the Leprechaun is trapped in a wrought iron safe by Morty, who forces the Leprechaun into granting him three wishes. The Leprechaun grants Morty's wish for his gold by materializing it into his stomach. After the Leprechaun makes Morty waste his second wish by wishing him free of the safe, the Leprechaun grants the third wish (getting the gold out) by ripping Morty open, killing him.
* The titular pencil from the short film ''[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4MjTb5A68VA Pencil Face]''. The girl asked for a lollipop. The pencil materialised a {{spoiler|black hole which sucked her in}}
* The titular pencil from the short film ''[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4MjTb5A68VA Pencil Face]''. The girl asked for a lollipop. The pencil materialised a {{spoiler|black hole which sucked her in}}



== Literature ==
== Literature ==
* In ''[[The Monkey's Paw|The Monkeys Paw]]'', the first wish is for two hundred pounds. Which is received via the eldest son dying in a horrible accident at work and the corporation giving them a settlement out of pity because this story was written in an age where lawsuits for this kind of thing were unheard of.
* In ''[[The Monkey's Paw]]'', the first wish is for two hundred pounds. Which is received via the eldest son dying in a horrible accident at work and the corporation giving them a settlement out of pity because this story was written in an age where lawsuits for this kind of thing were unheard of.
** Just to show how old this trope is, the characters in this story were aware of it and more worried one of them was going to be killed by the money falling from the sky in change and beaning them on the head.
** Just to show how old this trope is, the characters in this story were aware of it and more worried one of them was going to be killed by the money falling from the sky in change and beaning them on the head.
** [[It Got Worse|It gets worse.]] The mother of their son is so distraught she forces her husband to wish the son alive again - but she didn't specify what shape she wanted him back in. It turns out he'd died in an accident that had horribly mutilated him, and they hear a knock on the door. We never do find out just what shape the son is in, because when the mother goes to answer the door, he rushes back in order to make his final wish, which is presumably to wish the son dead and back in his grave, because when the mother opens the door, no one is there.
** [[It Got Worse|It gets worse.]] The mother of their son is so distraught she forces her husband to wish the son alive again - but she didn't specify what shape she wanted him back in. It turns out he'd died in an accident that had horribly mutilated him, and they hear a knock on the door. We never do find out just what shape the son is in, because when the mother goes to answer the door, he rushes back in order to make his final wish, which is presumably to wish the son dead and back in his grave, because when the mother opens the door, no one is there.
* In ''[[Harry Potter]] and the Order of the Phoenix'', Kreacher takes an "OUT!" shouted at him by Sirius as an excuse to {{spoiler|leave Grimmauld Place and go to the Malfoys, giving Voldemort a source of information about Harry}}.
* In ''[[Harry Potter]] and the Order of the Phoenix'', Kreacher takes an "OUT!" shouted at him by Sirius as an excuse to {{spoiler|leave Grimmauld Place and go to the Malfoys, giving Voldemort a source of information about Harry}}.
** Also, Death, in the tale of the Three Brothers in ''[[The Tales of Beedle the Bard]]'', pretends to congratulate the titular brothers for cheating death, and rewards them, with full intention of being this. Only the [[Youngest Child Wins|youngest brother]] sees through the ruse and has his reward tailored specifically to prevent Death doing this to him. The other brothers are [[Karmic Death|not so lucky]].
** Also, Death, in the tale of the Three Brothers in ''[[The Tales of Beedle the Bard]]'', pretends to congratulate the titular brothers for cheating death, and rewards them, with full intention of being this. Only the [[Youngest Child Wins|youngest brother]] sees through the ruse and has his reward tailored specifically to prevent Death doing this to him. The other brothers are [[Karmic Death|not so lucky]].
* In [[Larry Niven]]'s '[[The Magic Goes Away (novel)|The Magic Goes Away]]' universe, it is established that literal genies in a bottle do exist. They can only be coaxed out of the bottle with the promise to play the 'game of jynn', where they match wits with the human that freed them. So presenting the client human with three wishes, and placing some kind of sadistic twist to the request is their only motivation to grant wishes in the first place. Granted, the only persons that can gain possession of a genie are some very old and canny sorcerers, who believe they can outwit the genie. So at least there is sport in this contest.
* In [[Larry Niven]]'s ''[[The Magic Goes Away (novel)|The Magic Goes Away]]'' universe, it is established that literal genies in a bottle do exist. They can only be coaxed out of the bottle with the promise to play the "game of jynn", where they match wits with the human that freed them. So presenting the client human with three wishes, and placing some kind of sadistic twist to the request is their only motivation to grant wishes in the first place. Granted, the only persons that can gain possession of a genie are some very old and canny sorcerers, who believe they can outwit the genie. So at least there is sport in this contest.
* In ''[[Castle in the Air]]'', the sequel to ''[[Howl's Moving Castle (novel)|Howl's Moving Castle]]'', Abdullah has the company of one of these {{spoiler|who turns out to be Howl transformed by a Djinn}}. At one point he manages to actually outwit the Genie who claims he will grant every wish in the worst possible way by wishing for a friend who is running to go to the nearest castle that isn't in his home country. {{spoiler|And even that is kind of twisted.}}
* In ''[[Castle in the Air]]'', the sequel to ''[[Howl's Moving Castle (novel)|Howl's Moving Castle]]'', Abdullah has the company of one of these {{spoiler|who turns out to be Howl transformed by a Djinn}}. At one point he manages to actually outwit the Genie who claims he will grant every wish in the worst possible way by wishing for a friend who is running to go to the nearest castle that isn't in his home country. {{spoiler|And even that is kind of twisted.}}
* In the ''[[Discworld]]'' book ''[[Discworld/Eric|Eric]]'' the title character attempts to summon a demon to make a [[Deal with the Devil]] for three wishes. Demons, needless to say, give people "exactly what they asked for and exactly what they didn't want", although Eric doesn't really make it that difficult.
* In the ''[[Discworld]]'' book ''[[Discworld/Eric|Eric]]'' the title character attempts to summon a demon to make a [[Deal with the Devil]] for three wishes. Demons, needless to say, give people "exactly what they asked for and exactly what they didn't want", although Eric doesn't really make it that difficult.
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* ''[[A Song of Ice and Fire]]'' has Mirri Maz Duur. Daenerys asks her to save his husband, Drogo's life, who has an infected wound. She can do it, right? She warns her that saving a life would cost another one. Dany cleverly asks if the price would be her life, for which the answer is no. [[What Could Possibly Go Wrong?]] {{spoiler|Dany's yet unborn son is killed, and while Drogo lives, he became a [[Soulless Shell]].}}
* ''[[A Song of Ice and Fire]]'' has Mirri Maz Duur. Daenerys asks her to save his husband, Drogo's life, who has an infected wound. She can do it, right? She warns her that saving a life would cost another one. Dany cleverly asks if the price would be her life, for which the answer is no. [[What Could Possibly Go Wrong?]] {{spoiler|Dany's yet unborn son is killed, and while Drogo lives, he became a [[Soulless Shell]].}}
* ''[[The Book of Lost Things]]'': A greedy and gluttonous man requests that the Crooked Man pay him in gold the weight of everything that he has eaten at a buffet. The Golden Man complies...by pouring molten gold down his throat.
* ''[[The Book of Lost Things]]'': A greedy and gluttonous man requests that the Crooked Man pay him in gold the weight of everything that he has eaten at a buffet. The Golden Man complies...by pouring molten gold down his throat.



== Live Action TV ==
== Live Action TV ==
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* ''[[You Can't do that on Television]]'' has the Genie doing hit-and-run wishes, leaving the other person in a mess. "My work here is done."
* ''[[You Can't do that on Television]]'' has the Genie doing hit-and-run wishes, leaving the other person in a mess. "My work here is done."
* In the ''[[Round the Twist]]'' episode "Santa Claws", when each member of the family gets two wishes. Bronson wishes to be bigger than his brother Pete. Instead of making him a few inches taller, Claws makes him about as tall as the lighthouse (how he does this ''inside'' the lighthouse without killing him goes unexplained). Bronson is forced to wish himself back to normal.
* In the ''[[Round the Twist]]'' episode "Santa Claws", when each member of the family gets two wishes. Bronson wishes to be bigger than his brother Pete. Instead of making him a few inches taller, Claws makes him about as tall as the lighthouse (how he does this ''inside'' the lighthouse without killing him goes unexplained). Bronson is forced to wish himself back to normal.
* In [[The X-Files]] episode Je Souhaite, the genie is a [[Literal Genie]], but the genie who turned -her- into a genie seems to have been a jackass genie. She was living in medieval France, and had made 3 wishes - a stout mule, a magic bag full of turnips, and 'great power and a long life.' The genie decided to use that last wish to turn her into a genie trapped in his place. Jerk. She herself tends to be pretty mean also, but only when the wishes are stupid. Which, according to her, is 'all the time':
* In ''[[The X-Files]]'' episode "Je Souhaite", the genie is a [[Literal Genie]], but the genie who turned ''her'' into a genie seems to have been a jackass genie. She was living in medieval France, and had made three wishes -- a stout mule, a magic bag full of turnips, and "great power and a long life". The genie decided to use that last wish to turn her into a genie trapped in his place. Jerk. She herself tends to be pretty mean also, but only when the wishes are stupid. Which, according to her, is "all the time":
{{quote|'''Mulder:''' You know, I think I'm beginning to see the problem here. You say that most people make the wrong wishes, right?
{{quote|'''Mulder:''' You know, I think I'm beginning to see the problem here. You say that most people make the wrong wishes, right?
'''Jenn:''' Without fail. It's like giving a chimpanzee a revolver. }}
'''Jenn:''' Without fail. It's like giving a chimpanzee a revolver. }}
** It's clear that she is in fact a Jackass Genie (or a bitch, as Mulder puts it more bluntly after she makes everyone on Earth vanish after he wishes for 'peace on Earth'). She resents the fact that everyone's wishes are, in the end, self serving. The only wish she doesn't deliberately screw up is the one Mulder makes to turn her back into an ordinary person.
** It's clear that she is in fact a Jackass Genie (or a bitch, as Mulder puts it more bluntly after she makes everyone on Earth vanish after he wishes for "peace on Earth"). She resents the fact that everyone's wishes are, in the end, self-serving. The only wish she doesn't deliberately screw up is the one Mulder makes to turn her back into an ordinary person.
* Most of the [[Monster of the Week|Imagin]] in ''[[Kamen Rider Den-O]]'' fall into Jackass territory. A particular example is the Jellyfish Imagin; its contractor wanted to find the time capsule he and his deceased fiancée buried a year before, but the Imagin simply finds some random time capsule and tries to claim it's good enough. When the man refuses, the Imagin starts physically attacking him and yelling at him to open the damn box.
* Most of the [[Monster of the Week|Imagin]] in ''[[Kamen Rider Den-O]]'' fall into Jackass territory. A particular example is the Jellyfish Imagin; its contractor wanted to find the time capsule he and his deceased fiancée buried a year before, but the Imagin simply finds some random time capsule and tries to claim it's good enough. When the man refuses, the Imagin starts physically attacking him and yelling at him to open the damn box.
** In this case, it springs from the Imagins' agenda: when they successfully complete a contract, they can then open a portal to the past using their contractor's strongest memory (in this case, the day the man and his fiancée buried the capsule), at which point they go on a rampage and try to alter history.
** In this case, it springs from the Imagins' agenda: when they successfully complete a contract, they can then open a portal to the past using their contractor's strongest memory (in this case, the day the man and his fiancée buried the capsule), at which point they go on a rampage and try to alter history.
* Most genies in ''[[Charmed]]'' are of the [[Jerkass]] type. They're tricksters by heart and will twist wishes in order to gain their freedom.
* Most genies in ''[[Charmed]]'' are of the [[Jerkass]] type. They're tricksters by heart and will twist wishes in order to gain their freedom.
* ''[[Special Unit 2]]'' has a unique case. The genie in question doesn't actually have magic powers, other than being able to turn into dust and hide in small objects. Thus, when people make outrageous wishes, she has to fulfill them personally. For example, when a guy asked for a million dollars, she walked off, robbed a bank, then left him with the evidence and the cops on his ass while she disappeared. She still interprets such wishes negatively, though, because she wants to get through them as fast as possible. Once she reaches her quota, she'll have free will.
* ''[[Special Unit 2]]'' has a unique case. The genie in question doesn't actually have magic powers, other than being able to turn into dust and hide in small objects. Thus, when people make outrageous wishes, she has to fulfill them personally. For example, when a guy asked for a million dollars, she walked off, robbed a bank, then left him with the evidence and the cops on his ass while she disappeared. She still interprets such wishes negatively, though, because she wants to get through them as fast as possible. Once she reaches her quota, she'll have free will.



== Music ==
== Music ==
* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xn4bmm0_2ps As You Wish] by Persuader.
* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xn4bmm0_2ps "As You Wish"] by Persuader.



== Religion and Mythology ==
== Religion and Mythology ==
* Iblis is a well known example he refuse to bow down to humans and saw humans as weak which is the reason Iblis is sent to Hell
* Iblis is a well known example he refuse to bow down to humans and saw humans as weak which is the reason Iblis is sent to Hell.
* Nanabozho, the trickster spirit of Ojibwa mythology, was once visited by a group of humans. One wished for eternal life, and was turned into a stone. Another wished to be lucky at hunting, and was turned into a fox. The rest, seeing where it was going, asked to enchant their talismans with healing power. This time, Nanabozho granted the wish because they didn't ask for too much. Later, caught in an Orpheus plot, they ended up losing it anyway.
* Nanabozho, the trickster spirit of Ojibwa mythology, was once visited by a group of humans. One wished for eternal life, and was turned into a stone. Another wished to be lucky at hunting, and was turned into a fox. The rest, seeing where it was going, asked to enchant their talismans with healing power. This time, Nanabozho granted the wish because they didn't ask for too much. Later, caught in an Orpheus plot, they ended up losing it anyway.
* Most wish-granting genies in the Arabian tales are [[Benevolent Genie]]s, but then, they didn't have to grant wishes, either. Some non-wish-granting genies would instead offer such options as "You may choose how you would like to die," or "Should I [[Baleful Polymorph|change you into an dog, an ass, or an ape]]?" Thus taking Jackass Genie to a whole new (old?) level.
* Most wish-granting genies in the Arabian tales are [[Benevolent Genie]]s, but then, they didn't have to grant wishes, either. Some non-wish-granting genies would instead offer such options as "You may choose how you would like to die," or "Should I [[Baleful Polymorph|change you into an dog, an ass, or an ape]]?" Thus taking Jackass Genie to a whole new (old?) level.
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**** {{spoiler|"Peacefully in my bed after a very long and nice life."}}
**** {{spoiler|"Peacefully in my bed after a very long and nice life."}}
* [[Greek Mythology|Aphrodite]] in the Trojan War. She promises Paris that the most beautiful woman in the world will fall in love with him and keeps her word but neglects to mention that the most beautiful woman in the world is already married - to a powerful king who won't be too happy.
* [[Greek Mythology|Aphrodite]] in the Trojan War. She promises Paris that the most beautiful woman in the world will fall in love with him and keeps her word but neglects to mention that the most beautiful woman in the world is already married - to a powerful king who won't be too happy.



== Newspaper Comics ==
== Newspaper Comics ==
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** In this game, "being careful" means ensuring that your caster has a high enough Wisdom score to word the wishes properly, or by using "bad" effects to your advantage. Having the genie "summon an army" nets you 50 rabbits. Needless to say, a bunch of harmless, completely ordinary bunnies won't do any damage by themselves, but they make for a very nice distraction: enemies tend to attack the closest target, so if the rabbits are between you and the enemies, the enemies will waste turns attacking the rabbits while you pepper them with arrows and blast them with magic.
** In this game, "being careful" means ensuring that your caster has a high enough Wisdom score to word the wishes properly, or by using "bad" effects to your advantage. Having the genie "summon an army" nets you 50 rabbits. Needless to say, a bunch of harmless, completely ordinary bunnies won't do any damage by themselves, but they make for a very nice distraction: enemies tend to attack the closest target, so if the rabbits are between you and the enemies, the enemies will waste turns attacking the rabbits while you pepper them with arrows and blast them with magic.
* Witsarnemitea of [[Utawarerumono]] has a little habit of granting some really jerkassy wishes, though it's mostly limited to his 'destructive' side. Want immortality? [[And I Must Scream|Have fun being an unkillable red blob for all eternity]]. Want to know more about me? [[Grand Theft Me|Have fun being my host while I possess you and destroy your id]]. Plus you have to [[Deal with the Devil|promise your soul into servitude]] to get ''anything.''
* Witsarnemitea of [[Utawarerumono]] has a little habit of granting some really jerkassy wishes, though it's mostly limited to his 'destructive' side. Want immortality? [[And I Must Scream|Have fun being an unkillable red blob for all eternity]]. Want to know more about me? [[Grand Theft Me|Have fun being my host while I possess you and destroy your id]]. Plus you have to [[Deal with the Devil|promise your soul into servitude]] to get ''anything.''
* TATARI, AKA 'Night of Wallachia' from [[Melty Blood]] does this. He manifests the rumors and desires of where he forms, but twists them all into his [[Omnicidal Maniac]] persona. A village hoped for good crops? He used their bodies as fertilizer. Two feuding villages desired peace? He killed them all, ending the conflict by proxy.
* TATARI, AKA 'Night of Wallachia' from ''[[Melty Blood]]'' does this. He manifests the rumors and desires of where he forms, but twists them all into his [[Omnicidal Maniac]] persona. A village hoped for good crops? He used their bodies as fertilizer. Two feuding villages desired peace? He killed them all, ending the conflict by proxy.
* Comes back to bite the wish giver's ass in ''[[Neverwinter Nights 2]]: Mask of The Betrayer''. A quest involves helping a wizard get his soul back from a Devil. The solution? Learn that an infernal contract is null if the Devil forces the signer to fulfill its conditions. One of the conditions is that the signer kill someone. The wizard got a wish as part of a previous part of the deal and accidentally wishes that his mentor was "gone," because the devil knew "gone" didn't mean "kill" but killed the master anyways, he is counted as having forced the Wizard to fulfill the contract, rendering it null.
* Comes back to bite the wish giver's ass in ''[[Neverwinter Nights 2]]: Mask of The Betrayer''. A quest involves helping a wizard get his soul back from a Devil. The solution? Learn that an infernal contract is null if the Devil forces the signer to fulfill its conditions. One of the conditions is that the signer kill someone. The wizard got a wish as part of a previous part of the deal and accidentally wishes that his mentor was "gone," because the devil knew "gone" didn't mean "kill" but killed the master anyways, he is counted as having forced the Wizard to fulfill the contract, rendering it null.
* Doesn't really have anything to do with ''wishes'', but the genie King Graham finds in ''[[King's Quest V]]'' [[Have a Nice Death|locks whoever released him in the bottle.]] If you gave the bottle to the greedy witch, great. [[Fate Worse Than Death|If not...]]
* Doesn't really have anything to do with ''wishes'', but the genie King Graham finds in ''[[King's Quest V]]'' [[Have a Nice Death|locks whoever released him in the bottle.]] If you gave the bottle to the greedy witch, great. [[Fate Worse Than Death|If not...]]
* Arguably happens with the magic box in ''[[Fable II]]''. While not a "genie" as such, it grants your wish, but only after {{spoiler|Your sister, family, and pet are all dead (possibly) and you've had to buy the place anyway for a million. Not to mention all the other horrible things that happen to your character on the way."}} Not a nice box, really.
* Arguably happens with the magic box in ''[[Fable II]]''. While not a "genie" as such, it grants your wish, but only after {{spoiler|Your sister, family, and pet are all dead (possibly) and you've had to buy the place anyway for a million. Not to mention all the other horrible things that happen to your character on the way."}} Not a nice box, really.
** However, since the exact wording of the wish was never given, you could see it as having been fulfilled when the two of them go to the castle, {{spoiler|unless it included the word "live".}}
** However, since the exact wording of the wish was never given, you could see it as having been fulfilled when the two of them go to the castle, {{spoiler|unless it included the word "live".}}
* In ''Persian Wars'' your character will encounter a genie, and if he asks to never be thirsty, he will be turned into a fish. Later, on the same campaign, after a drought, you can ask a demon to make rain... resulting in him flooding the world.
* In ''[[Persian Wars]]'' your character will encounter a genie, and if he asks to never be thirsty, he will be turned into a fish. Later, on the same campaign, after a drought, you can ask a demon to make rain... resulting in him flooding the world.
* Used ''benevolently'' in the ending for ''[[Jak and Daxter|Jak 3]]'': {{spoiler|After granting Daxter's wish for a comfortable pair of pants, Daxter's human girlfriend innocently states that she wished she had a pair of pants like that. The Precursors grant her wish... and also turn her into an Ottsel so she can fit into them.}} Anywhere else, this would be a perfect example of this trope {{spoiler|except in this case, the ''Precursors'' are Ottsels, too!}}
* Used ''benevolently'' in the ending for ''[[Jak and Daxter|Jak 3]]'': {{spoiler|After granting Daxter's wish for a comfortable pair of pants, Daxter's human girlfriend innocently states that she wished she had a pair of pants like that. The Precursors grant her wish... and also turn her into an Ottsel so she can fit into them.}} Anywhere else, this would be a perfect example of this trope {{spoiler|except in this case, the ''Precursors'' are Ottsels, too!}}
** Earlier in the game {{spoiler|the Precursors (while talking through their floating hologram thing) offer to turn Jak into a Precursor. However, Count Veger shows up with a gun and demands that he be turned into one instead. You can guess what happens. While this may be an example of [[Literal Genie]] at first glance, keep in mind that during this scene, NO ONE (not even the player) knew what the Precursors REALLY looked like...}}
** Earlier in the game {{spoiler|the Precursors (while talking through their floating hologram thing) offer to turn Jak into a Precursor. However, Count Veger shows up with a gun and demands that he be turned into one instead. You can guess what happens. While this may be an example of [[Literal Genie]] at first glance, keep in mind that during this scene, NO ONE (not even the player) knew what the Precursors REALLY looked like...}}
* In ''[[The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess|The Legend of Zelda Twilight Princess]]'', one character asks a Poe for incredible wealth, so the Poe fills his house with treasure, [[And I Must Scream|paralyzes him, turns his eyes to gemstones,]] and [[And Your Little Dog, Too|turns his cat into solid gold.]] Ouch.
* In ''[[The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess]]'', one character asks a Poe for incredible wealth, so the Poe fills his house with treasure, [[And I Must Scream|paralyzes him, turns his eyes to gemstones,]] and [[And Your Little Dog, Too|turns his cat into solid gold.]] Ouch.
* In the backstory of ''[[Sacrifice]]'', protagonist Eldred summoned a powerful demon called Marduk and charged him to destroy the armies of his political rivals, who were rebelling against the empire he was stewarding. Marduk obliged by [[Omnicidal Maniac|destroying the entire world]], forcing Eldred to escape into another dimension.
* In the backstory of ''[[Sacrifice]]'', protagonist Eldred summoned a powerful demon called Marduk and charged him to destroy the armies of his political rivals, who were rebelling against the empire he was stewarding. Marduk obliged by [[Omnicidal Maniac|destroying the entire world]], forcing Eldred to escape into another dimension.
* In the [[Interactive Fiction]] game ''[http://ifwiki.org/index.php/The_Djinni_Chronicles The Djinni Chronicles]'' you are a djinn who grants people's wishes. Apparently, due to the nature of the magic the djinn uses to grant the wishes, any wish-granting will inevitably carry something unpleasant with itself, no matter if the djinn wants it or not. The only exception are wishes free from 'San'--which apparently is best translated as 'selfishness'.
* In the [[Interactive Fiction]] game ''[http://ifwiki.org/index.php/The_Djinni_Chronicles The Djinni Chronicles]'' you are a djinn who grants people's wishes. Apparently, due to the nature of the magic the djinn uses to grant the wishes, any wish-granting will inevitably carry something unpleasant with itself, no matter if the djinn wants it or not. The only exception are wishes free from 'San'--which apparently is best translated as 'selfishness'.
* ''[[Wizardry]] VI: Bane of the Cosmic Forge'' features the titular Cosmic Forge, which allows one to [[Rewriting Reality|rewrite reality]]. The titular Bane is its tendency to make what one writes happen in the worst possible manner. One minor character, for example, wanted to be loved by the queen and wrote as much with the Forge. He was promptly turned into a giant serpent because... the queen loves snakes.
* ''[[Wizardry|Wizardry VI: Bane of the Cosmic Forge]]'' features the titular Cosmic Forge, which allows one to [[Rewriting Reality|rewrite reality]]. The titular Bane is its tendency to make what one writes happen in the worst possible manner. One minor character, for example, wanted to be loved by the queen and wrote as much with the Forge. He was promptly turned into a giant serpent because... the queen loves snakes.
* Erazor Djinn, the [[Big Bad]] of ''[[Sonic Storybook Series|Sonic and the Secret Rings]]''. Ironically enough, the one time he actually does fulfill a wish, he does them perfectly, and every wish is exactly how Sonic wants it.
* Erazor Djinn, the [[Big Bad]] of ''[[Sonic Storybook Series|Sonic and the Secret Rings]]''. Ironically enough, the one time he actually does fulfill a wish, he does them perfectly, and every wish is exactly how Sonic wants it.
* ''[[The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim]]'' has this with Clavicus Vile. Want to cure your loved one of lycanthropy? He'll give you an axe. Want a cure to vampirism? He'll have someone kill you. Want to end the Civil War? He'll do nothing, letting the dragons run rampant until everyone on both sides are dead.
* ''[[The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim]]'' has this with Clavicus Vile. Want to cure your loved one of lycanthropy? He'll give you an axe. Want a cure to vampirism? He'll have someone kill you. Want to end the Civil War? He'll do nothing, letting the dragons run rampant until everyone on both sides are dead.
** It's implied that he's gotten worse since his appearance in ''[[The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion|Oblivion]]'', where the player gave him an artifact which he used to [[Literal Split Personality|split]] himself and his [[The Conscience|conscience]], Barbas the dog.
** It's implied that he's gotten worse since his appearance in ''[[The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion|Oblivion]]'', where the player gave him an artifact which he used to [[Literal Split Personality|split]] himself and his [[The Conscience|conscience]], Barbas the dog.



== Visual Novels ==
== Visual Novels ==
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** ''[[Fate/hollow ataraxia]] subverts this, though. {{spoiler|Angra Manyu AKA the Holy Grail doesn't want to grant wishes like this. The only wish he personally granted was to save Bazett from dying.}}
** ''[[Fate/hollow ataraxia]] subverts this, though. {{spoiler|Angra Manyu AKA the Holy Grail doesn't want to grant wishes like this. The only wish he personally granted was to save Bazett from dying.}}
*** It's... a bit more complicated than that. {{spoiler|The Grail wasn't originally one of these. The man who became Angra Mainyu was just some poor schmuck who got tortured to death by his village to serve as a scapegoat for all humanity's sins. This technically qualified him as a Heroic Spirit, and he was summoned in the Third Grail War. When he was killed, the Grail tried to grant the wish for an embodiment of all the evils of the world, which transformed the Grail into an incarnation of Angra Mainyu that was more of a mindless curse than an actual entity. The Cursed Grail and the Servant Avenger are distinct but connected existences, so while Avenger may not want to grant wishes in this manner, the Grail will fulfill its function regardless of what he desires if someone makes a wish on it.}}
*** It's... a bit more complicated than that. {{spoiler|The Grail wasn't originally one of these. The man who became Angra Mainyu was just some poor schmuck who got tortured to death by his village to serve as a scapegoat for all humanity's sins. This technically qualified him as a Heroic Spirit, and he was summoned in the Third Grail War. When he was killed, the Grail tried to grant the wish for an embodiment of all the evils of the world, which transformed the Grail into an incarnation of Angra Mainyu that was more of a mindless curse than an actual entity. The Cursed Grail and the Servant Avenger are distinct but connected existences, so while Avenger may not want to grant wishes in this manner, the Grail will fulfill its function regardless of what he desires if someone makes a wish on it.}}
* In ''[[Hatoful Boyfriend]]'''s Bad Boys Love route, it's revealed that {{spoiler|Doctor Shuu made a promise to Ryuuji Kawara that he would grant any wish his son Ryouta wanted. Ryouta's wish was for humans and birds to live in peace and Doctor Shuu, being [[Deadly Doctor|Doctor]] [[Ax Crazy|Shuu]], decided that the best way to grant this wish was to exterminate the entire human race because humans and birds can't keep on fighting if one side is dead, after all. Oh, and his methods to bring about said end of the human race involve deliberately weakening Ryouta's immune system so he can infect him with a virus that kills any humans who come too close to him and then letting his childhood friend/love interest Hiyoko get fatally close to him to test the virus, which leaves Ryouta traumatized for life when he finds out about this. But hey, it was all done to grant a wish Ryouta made when he was a fledgling and didn't know how warped his mysterious benefactor's psyche was at that time! Isn't that so nice of Doctor Shuu?}}
* In ''[[Hatoful Boyfriend]]''{{'}}s Bad Boys Love route, it's revealed that {{spoiler|Doctor Shuu made a promise to Ryuuji Kawara that he would grant any wish his son Ryouta wanted. Ryouta's wish was for humans and birds to live in peace and Doctor Shuu, being [[Deadly Doctor|Doctor]] [[Ax Crazy|Shuu]], decided that the best way to grant this wish was to exterminate the entire human race because humans and birds can't keep on fighting if one side is dead, after all. Oh, and his methods to bring about said end of the human race involve deliberately weakening Ryouta's immune system so he can infect him with a virus that kills any humans who come too close to him and then letting his childhood friend/love interest Hiyoko get fatally close to him to test the virus, which leaves Ryouta traumatized for life when he finds out about this. But hey, it was all done to grant a wish Ryouta made when he was a fledgling and didn't know how warped his mysterious benefactor's psyche was at that time! Isn't that so nice of Doctor Shuu?}}



== [[Web Comics]] ==
== [[Web Comics]] ==
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* ''[[Nerf Now]]'' had [http://www.nerfnow.com/comic/520 Monkey's Paw].
* ''[[Nerf Now]]'' had [http://www.nerfnow.com/comic/520 Monkey's Paw].
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20130830103220/http://www.kiwisbybeat.com/minusb60.html This] [https://web.archive.org/web/20130830102722/http://www.kiwisbybeat.com/minusb61.html genie] from ''[[Minus]]'' He doesn't bother with irony, opting instead to clobber people for no reason. (One person wishes to fly and [[Fastball Special|gets flicked into the air,]] but that's probably a coincidence.) Double-subverted for [[Even Evil Has Standards|the last wisher.]]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20130830103220/http://www.kiwisbybeat.com/minusb60.html This] [https://web.archive.org/web/20130830102722/http://www.kiwisbybeat.com/minusb61.html genie] from ''[[Minus]]'' He doesn't bother with irony, opting instead to clobber people for no reason. (One person wishes to fly and [[Fastball Special|gets flicked into the air,]] but that's probably a coincidence.) Double-subverted for [[Even Evil Has Standards|the last wisher.]]



== [[Web Original]] ==
== [[Web Original]] ==
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* [https://web.archive.org/web/20100219082718/http://www.theonion.com/content/node/40087 This article] from [[The Onion]], in which Justice Scalia meets a genie who grants him a strict constructionist interpretation of his wish for "a hundred billion bucks."
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20100219082718/http://www.theonion.com/content/node/40087 This article] from [[The Onion]], in which Justice Scalia meets a genie who grants him a strict constructionist interpretation of his wish for "a hundred billion bucks."
* From ''[[Things Mr. Welch Is No Longer Allowed to Do In An RPG]]'', [http://theglen.livejournal.com/89715.html #568]: "My first wish cannot be 'I wish you grant all my wishes to the spirit and letter of the wish.'"
* From ''[[Things Mr. Welch Is No Longer Allowed to Do In An RPG]]'', [http://theglen.livejournal.com/89715.html #568]: "My first wish cannot be 'I wish you grant all my wishes to the spirit and letter of the wish.'"
* [[Saturday Morning Breakfast Cereal|Saturday Morning Breakfast Cereal's]] offshoot "SMBC Theater" features [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A0y5dHmVRIc&NR=1 an episode of this]; {{spoiler|subverted when the "victims" turn out to be [[Complete Monster]]s}}.
* ''[[Saturday Morning Breakfast Cereal]]''{{'}}s offshoot "SMBC Theater" features [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A0y5dHmVRIc&NR=1 an episode of this]; {{spoiler|subverted when the "victims" turn out to be [[Complete Monster]]s}}.
* [http://hyperboleandahalf.blogspot.com/2010/08/this-comic-was-inspired-by-experience-i.html This ''Hyperbole and a Half'' post] is all about this trope.
* [http://hyperboleandahalf.blogspot.com/2010/08/this-comic-was-inspired-by-experience-i.html This ''Hyperbole and a Half'' post] is all about this trope.
* In the [[Homestar Runner]] toon ''[http://www.homestarrunner.com/ween09.html Doomy Tales of the Macabre]'', Marzipan wishes on a crystal ball for a new boyfriend. Since Strong Sad is playing [[Killer Game Master]] with everyone's fates, she ends up with Coach Z.
* In the ''[[Homestar Runner]]'' toon ''[http://www.homestarrunner.com/ween09.html Doomy Tales of the Macabre]'', Marzipan wishes on a crystal ball for a new boyfriend. Since Strong Sad is playing [[Killer Game Master]] with everyone's fates, she ends up with Coach Z.
{{quote|'''Coach Z:''' Hey there, my little [[Funetik Aksent|lovejorb!]] [[Gross Up Close-Up|These bunions, corns and calluses]] aren't gonna pumice themselves!}}
{{quote|'''Coach Z:''' Hey there, my little [[Funetik Aksent|lovejorb!]] [[Gross Up Close-Up|These bunions, corns and calluses]] aren't gonna pumice themselves!}}
* Its a popular forum game to play "Wish Corrupter" the basic premise of the game is for Poster A to make a wish, Poster B grants it, but with either a literal or jackass twist. Poster B then wishes, Where Poster Q grants, and so on.
* Its a popular forum game to play "Wish Corrupter" the basic premise of the game is for Poster A to make a wish, Poster B grants it, but with either a literal or jackass twist. Poster B then wishes, Where Poster Q grants, and so on.
* In the ''Christmas Tree of Might'' special, ''[[Dragon Ball Abridged]]'' turned Shenron into one of these when Krillin wished for the best tree ever. Shenron was so flat-out pissed that he proceeded to summon space pirates to plant a Christmas tree (of Might!) that would consume all the joy in the world.
* In the ''Christmas Tree of Might'' special, ''[[Dragon Ball Abridged]]'' turned Shenron into one of these when Krillin wished for the best tree ever. Shenron was so flat-out pissed that he proceeded to summon space pirates to plant a Christmas tree (of Might!) that would consume all the joy in the world.



== Western Animation ==
== Western Animation ==
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** Something similar happens to Scrooge McDuck in ''[[DuckTales (1987)]]'', but Scrooge is savvy enough to insist that the wish-granting leprechaun not touch his marker. Of course, the leprechaun simply has someone else duplicate his marker. A [[Subverted Trope|subversion]], however, in that the correct stump was booby-trapped.
** Something similar happens to Scrooge McDuck in ''[[DuckTales (1987)]]'', but Scrooge is savvy enough to insist that the wish-granting leprechaun not touch his marker. Of course, the leprechaun simply has someone else duplicate his marker. A [[Subverted Trope|subversion]], however, in that the correct stump was booby-trapped.
*** Another ''[[DuckTales (1987)]]'' example would be the Djinni (no relation to the Genie from ''[[DuckTales the Movie: Treasure of the Lost Lamp]]'').
*** Another ''[[DuckTales (1987)]]'' example would be the Djinni (no relation to the Genie from ''[[DuckTales the Movie: Treasure of the Lost Lamp]]'').
* This is how genies (or at least Norm) work in ''[[Fairly Oddparents|The Fairly OddParents]]''.While Timmy's first wish from Norm counts as a [[Literal Genie]] moment (Timmy wished for an omelet, but not for it to appear on a plate), Norm gets immense satisfaction from the result of Timmy touching a burning hot omelet. Again, when Timmy wishes that "Trixie Tang [his [[Love Interest]]] loved Timmy Turner," he goes so far as to include the names to prevent this trope. As a result, his love interest is now in love with everyone ''else'' in the world named "Timmy Turner." Later on, though, he proves his status as a Jerkass by granting Timmy's wish for a million dollars by having Timmy's Dad ''counterfeit'' the money and be on the run from the cops as a result. Curiously, when Timmy wishes he had a lawyer, Norm (inadvertently?) summons up one who's highly competent and succeeds in undoing the damage Norm has caused, rather than following his normal tendencies and giving Timmy an incompetent lawyer.
* This is how genies (or at least Norm) work in ''[[The Fairly OddParents]]''. While Timmy's first wish from Norm counts as a [[Literal Genie]] moment (Timmy wished for an omelet, but not for it to appear on a plate), Norm gets immense satisfaction from the result of Timmy touching a burning hot omelet. Again, when Timmy wishes that "Trixie Tang [his [[Love Interest]]] loved Timmy Turner," he goes so far as to include the names to prevent this trope. As a result, his love interest is now in love with everyone ''else'' in the world named "Timmy Turner." Later on, though, he proves his status as a Jerkass by granting Timmy's wish for a million dollars by having Timmy's Dad ''counterfeit'' the money and be on the run from the cops as a result. Curiously, when Timmy wishes he had a lawyer, Norm (inadvertently?) summons up one who's highly competent and succeeds in undoing the damage Norm has caused, rather than following his normal tendencies and giving Timmy an incompetent lawyer.
** Norm looked really confused when he granted the lawyer wish, so it's likely that his confusion resulted in him not really thinking about the wish, thus causing him to summon a competent lawyer.
** Norm looked really confused when he granted the lawyer wish, so it's likely that his confusion resulted in him not really thinking about the wish, thus causing him to summon a competent lawyer.
** When Crocker gets a hold of Norm, he wishes for a series of absurdly impractical deathtraps for Timmy, prompting Norm to ''act'' somewhat benevolent but only to suggest that Crocker is not evil ''enough'' and that "Mars is really nice this time of year." When Timmy defeats Crocker and asks Norm to send him to Mars, he's so delighted to have his suggestion taken that he provides Timmy with a spacesuit to enjoy seeing Crocker act out the ending of [[Total Recall]].
** When Crocker gets a hold of Norm, he wishes for a series of absurdly impractical deathtraps for Timmy, prompting Norm to ''act'' somewhat benevolent but only to suggest that Crocker is not evil ''enough'' and that "Mars is really nice this time of year." When Timmy defeats Crocker and asks Norm to send him to Mars, he's so delighted to have his suggestion taken that he provides Timmy with a spacesuit to enjoy seeing Crocker act out the ending of [[Total Recall]].
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* On an episode of ''[[Superfriends]]'', Gleek unleashes a genie that a baddie has been seeking. The genie disregards his simian master, and instead calls the baddie who failed to obtain him master, obeying his evil wishes.
* On an episode of ''[[Superfriends]]'', Gleek unleashes a genie that a baddie has been seeking. The genie disregards his simian master, and instead calls the baddie who failed to obtain him master, obeying his evil wishes.
* A rare aversion in ''[[Timon and Pumbaa]]: The Series'', where the two cause trouble to themselves after each wished for a million wishes from a genie they found near the watering hole and ended up fighting for each of them. Doesn't prevent the genie from acting like a jerkass the whole time.
* A rare aversion in ''[[Timon and Pumbaa]]: The Series'', where the two cause trouble to themselves after each wished for a million wishes from a genie they found near the watering hole and ended up fighting for each of them. Doesn't prevent the genie from acting like a jerkass the whole time.
* Warren Plotnik from ''[[Cyberchase]]'' is apparantly an evil genie described by Hacker as the most evil being in all of Cyberspace, and actually wants to free him in one episode so he can overthrow the Mother Board and take over Cyberspace himself. Unfortunately, Warren's only weakness turns out to be his own mother.
* Warren Plotnik from ''[[Cyberchase]]'' is apparently an evil genie described by Hacker as the most evil being in all of Cyberspace, and actually wants to free him in one episode so he can overthrow the Mother Board and take over Cyberspace himself. Unfortunately, Warren's only weakness turns out to be his own mother.


{{reflist}}
{{reflist}}