Rise of Zitboy: Difference between revisions

{{trope}}

 

The world of fiction, however, didn't seem to get the memo. In fiction, especially shows and movies aimed at kids and teens, any character who develops acne ([[Always Female|usually a girl]], but there are male examples too) will treat it like it's the end of the world, even if it's ''just one pimple''.

Usually this is used as a plot device when a female character is preparing for a date, school dance or something similar. She is bubbly and excited that she'll finally be going out with the boy of her dreams and knows in her heart that it will be the best day of her life. But then, the night before her plans, she notices in the mirror that she has a huge zit that in many cases resembles a flashing LED light (except for the "flashing" part, of course, unless [[Rule of Funny]] is in play), usually right in the middle of her forehead. She will then spend the remainder of her time fretting over the fact that she doesn't have perfect skin and will usually take drastic measures to hide or remove the pimple. Her attempts usually fail and the acne is eventually revealed to her peers, who treat it like some kind of hilarious mutation the likes of which they've never seen.

 

 

With male characters, however, this is usually played completely for laughs and there is [[Butt Monkey|no sympathy]] shown to them by any of the other characters at all.

Strangely, most shows that use this trope depict the character as only having one pimple, with the rest of their face being completely clear. If a show is known for anything supernatural or the protagonist has a [[Imagine Spot|vivid imagination]], expect the zit to become a speaking sentient creature.

 

 

{{examples}}

 

== Anime and Manga ==

 

== [[Comic Books]] ==

 

== [[Literature]] ==

== [[Live Action TV]] ==

* The subject of an entire episode of ''[[The Cosby Show]]''.

* In an episode of ''[[The Wonder Years]]'', Kevin gets a zit just several days before a nice girl is supposed to visit his family's home. Kevin doesn't want that zit to be her first impression of him and tries several measures to hide or get rid of it to no avail, including covering it up with a bandage with the excuse that he got into a fight. When the girl and her family finally arrive, it turns out that she has a zit too, and so the whole thing becomes no big deal.

* ''[[My So-Called Life]]'', "The Zit". However, as usual for a [[Deconstruction]], the zit doesn't get very much attention.

 

== [[Western Animation]] ==

* ''[[Johnny Test]]'' had an episode involving a new miracle pimple-removing skin cream. Of course this being ''[[Johnny Test]]'', the cream has side effects, namely causing all the removed zits to merge together into one creature.

** Only cheerleaders.

 

{{reflist}}

[[Category:Plots]]