Meanwhile Back At The: Difference between revisions

{{trope}}

 

Cutting between different storylines. The phrase itself probably originated in theater, then became common in radio drama, where all scene changes had to be signaled verbally. Also a very common [[Stock Phrase]] in [[Comic Books]].

A side effect of [[Two Lines, No Waiting]].

 

 

== [[Anime]] and [[Manga]] ==

* In ''[[Axis Powers Hetalia]]'', when the scene switches to England (both the character and country).

 

* Used hilariously in the ''[[Axis Powers Hetalia]]'' fanfiction ''[http://www.fanfiction.net/s/6904903/15/Chasing_An_Empty_Dream Chasing an Empty Dream]'', when Prussia tries to get Germany to call Italy and tell him {{spoiler|that Germany knows about his past as the Holy Roman Empire.}}

[[Breaking the Fourth Wall|(Back in the plot…)]] }}

 

== [[Film]] ==

* Parodied in the film ''[[Spaced Invaders]]'' as Blaznee spins through the radio dial while stuck on board the spaceship while it's hidden in the barn as "Meanwhile, elsewhere on the planet..." which lets him discover that the whole invasion {{spoiler|was caused by misinterpreting the Orson Welles ''War of the Worlds'' Halloween radio broadcast being done by a local radio station}}.

 

* Parodied on ''[[Mystery Science Theater 3000]]'': when a scene change results in an [[Establishing Shot]] characteristic of some other show, they'll mention it, as in "Meanwhile, on ''[[Trapper John MD]]''."

** And in ''[[High School Big Shot]]'':

 

== [[Music]] ==

* The Cadets' song "Stranded in the Jungle" (covered by the [[New York Dolls]]) contains this, transitioning between verses and choruses using "Meanwhile, back in the jungle" and "Meanwhile, back in the States"

* Also done in "Meanwhile Back at the Ranch" by the Clark Family Experience, a short-lived country music band composed of six brothers (who are also cousins to Ryan Tedder of [[One Republic]]).

 

== [[Radio]] ==

* Frequently played with in ''[[The Goon Show]]'', often cutting away to places that hadn't been seen before and wouldn't be seen again:

'''Greenslade''': We just thought you'd be interested... We return you now to our story. }}

 

 

== [[Web Comics]] ==

** Ethan has said that this is one of his favorite jokes.

 

== [[Web Original]] ==

** This is [http://yugioh.wikia.com/index.php?title=Yu-Gi-Oh:_The_Abridged_Movie_-_Transcript&diff=309642&oldid=309637 alleged] (anonymously) to be yet another ''[[Monty Python]]'' reference, but the closest actual ''[[Monty Python's Flying Circus]]'' quote would be "Meanwhile, not very far away..."

* In ''[[Dragon Ball Abridged|DBZ Abridged]]'', the narrator says the Bonanza line to cue a scene of the all the side characters talking about the earlier series when they actually, y'know, did things besides watch fights on TV and collect the corpses afterward. The subsequent scene shift is the narrator delivering a deadpan "Meanwhile, back at the ''plot''..."

** Done a few other times, too, including the Hall of Justice version once.

* In ''[[The Secret Life of Dolls]]'', [[Cleolinda Jones]] parodies this, linking to this trope page:

* [[Yu-Gi-Oh GX the Abridged Series|Meanwhile, At the toolshed...]]

* The '[http://knowyourmeme.com/memes/meanwhile-in-x Meanwhile, in X]' meme (X filling in for any location.)

** Meanwhile at [[Valve]]...

* A meme on [http://verydemotivational.memebase.com/?s=meanwhile Very Demotivational] involves pictures of people or objects doing something bizarre with the caption "Meanwhile, in [place the picture was taken]..." Often [[Japan]].

 

== [[Western Animation]] ==

* ''[[Family Guy]]'' did this in the episode "A Perfect Castaway" with a [[Frank Welker]] soundalike dating Meg. "Meanwhile, under Megan`s bra..."