Rocky Roll Call

Everything About Fiction You Never Wanted to Know.

Dr Scott: Janet!
Janet: Doctor Scott!
Brad: Janet!
Janet: Brad!
Frank: Rocky!
Rocky: (looks over)

Say My Name taken to the limit. A scene consisting entirely (or almost entirely) of characters saying other characters' names. This tends to occur when four or more characters happen to cross paths unexpectedly, often under very awkward circumstances. Usually ends when a character, not wanting to feel left out, says their own name or something entirely unrelated. When done right, the result is an instant Crowning Moment of Funny.

See also Say My Name. Not to be confused with Robot Roll Call.

Examples of Rocky Roll Call include:

Anime and Manga

  • Minami-ke: "Sensei! Ninomiya-kun! Sensei! Ninomiya-kun! Sensei! Ninomiya-kun!" **Ninomiya is run over by a car** "NINOMIYA-KUUUUN!!!"


Comic Books

  • In J. Michael Straczynski's run on Amazing Spider-Man, there's a story-line where a new villain steals Dr. Octopus's technology and builds himself a new, improved Octopus suit. He then takes a group of people, including Aunt May and Mary Jane, hostage:

Off-screen voice: Leave that woman alone!
Mary Jane: Thank God... Pe--
(it isn't Spider-Man)
Mary Jane: --ter?
Aunt May: Otto?
Dr. Octopus: May?
Aunt May: Otto...? Otto Octavius?
New villain: "Brad! Janet! Doctor Scott!"

  • One of the old Archie Comics features a story in which the only dialogue was the words "Archie" and "Veronica", said in different intonations each time. Archie and Veronica were on a date, Archie flirted with another girl, Veronica got mad at him and broke up with him, Betty and Reggie plotted to steal their respective objects of affection away, Archie and Veronica got back together, and Betty and Reggie pined. All with only two words.


Cross-media

  • In most incarnations of Transformers, there will be a scene early-on where the characters just happen to call each others names in quick succession. Presumably, this is so the kids know which toys to buy.
    • Transformers has the Transformers do this in classic fashion when they are informed of the location of the MacGuffin. By contrast, Optimus Prime simply introduces the Autobots and their roles to Sam.
  • In the deception campaign of War for Cybertron, Megatron, Barricade, and Brawl happen to call each others' names in three consecutive lines, along with Starscream's. When they meet Starscream's hologram a few minutes later, his first words are to introduce himself and say that he's been guarding the MacGuffin. In the Autobot campaign, Bumblebee introduces himself, the big red guy who just saved him tells his partner Ratchet to heal the damaged 'Bee, and 'Bee says he doesn't have time for that, as he's looking for Optimus to deliver a message to him. Guess who the big guy is?


Films -- Animation

Queen: Harold!
Fiona: Shrek!
Shrek: Fiona...
King: Fiona!
Fiona: Mom!
Queen: Harold!
Donkey: Donkey!

  • Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs takes this Up to Eleven, dragging it even longer and including a monkey wearing a speech-translation invention that often defaults to the monkey's own name.
  • Happened in The Lion King II. Concluded with Timon sarcastically introducing himself and Pumbaa. "Great! Now that we all know each other..."


Films -- Live-Action


Live-Action TV

  • The Dick Van Dyke Show, with Mel compalining to Rob about Buddy's insults. I don't remember the exact order, but we got a couple of rounds of "Rob!" "Buddy!" "Sally!" "Mel!" and then Buddy said "Your turn" to Mel.
  • The "Chief?" "McCloud!" running gag from the Mystery Science Theater 3000 show "Pod People" grows longer throughout the episode.
  • A Stargate Atlantis scene involves various characters acknowledging each other using their joint title -- "Colonel". McKay follows the introductions with "Seriously?"
  • From an episode of The Suite Life of Zack and Cody

London: Todd!
Todd: London!
Mr. Moseby: London!
Ilsa: Todd!
Maddie: Maddie!

Bailey: Cody.
Cody: Bailey.
Woody: Woody! Sorry, I wanted to play.

Sheldon: Doctor Gablehauser.
Doctor Gablehauser: Doctor Cooper.
Leonard: Doctor Gablehauser.
Doctor Gablehauser: Doctor Hofstader.
Raj: Doctor Gablehauser.
Doctor Gablehauser: Doctor Koothrapali.
Howard: Doctor Gablehauser.
Doctor Gablehauser: Mister Wolowitz.

  • Titus
    • Used as a Running Gag:

Titus: Erin!
Erin: Tommy!
Tommy: Erin!
Titus: Tommy!
Tommy: Erin!
Erin: Tommy!
Dave: Dave!
All: DAVE!
(Cue Dave looking smug as the audience laughs)

Dave: Don't yell at me, this is your deal, Titus.
Titus: Dave.
Dave: Titus.
Titus: Dave.
Dave: Titus.
Erin: Guys! This never goes anywhere!
Titus: Because you always interrupt it.

Carla: TURK!
Dr. Cox: KELSO!
Danni: Oh, Danni!
J.D.: Turk!
Dr. Cox: Kelso!
J.D.: Danni!
Danni: Turk!
Turk: Carla?
J.D.: Not here.
Turk: Danni!

  • Happens in the Seinfeld episode "The Virgin":

Jerry: Hi, Marla.
Marla: Jerry.
Jerry: George, Marla
Georga: Marla.
Marla: George. Jerry, Stacey.
Jerry: Stacey.
Stacey: Jerry.
Jerry: George, Stacey.
George: Stacey.
Stacey: George.
Jerry: (hinting) George.
George: (getting the hint) Jerry. Marla... Stacey!

Moze: (menacingly) Meaney.
Meaney: (menacingly) Mosely. Crabgrass.
Crabgrass: (menacingly) Meaney. Mosely.
Moze: (hurt) Crabgrass!
Crabgrass: (apologetic) Mosely!
Meany: (taunting) Crabgrass... I mean, Mosely!
Moze and Crabgrass: (menacingly) Meaney.

Margaret: Colonel Blake...
Henry Blake: Oh, uh, Major Houlihan, Major Stoner.
Margaret: Major.
Maj. Stoner: Major.
Henry Blake: Major. Major Burns, Major Stoner.
Frank Burns: Major.
Maj. Stoner: Major, Major.
Hawkeye: Major Pierce.
Henry Blake: Major.
Hawkeye: Well, I think we've made a major breakthrough here.

Ted: Royce!
Movie!Tony: Stella!
Royce: Ted?
Movie!Stella: Tony!
Movie!Ted: Tony?!?
Barney: Ted?
Ted: Barney?
(Barney slurps his drink)


Recorded and Stand Up Comedy

  • Stan Freberg has a comedy routine called "John and Marsha" that consists of nothing but the titular John and Marsha repeatedly speaking each other's names with different intonations. And it's hilarious!


Video Games

Shepard: Wrex.
Wrex: Shepard.
Shepard: Wrex.
Wrex: Shepard.

Rahesia: Shen!
Shen: Rahesia!
(Rahesi's father shows up)
Rahesia: Father!
Shen: Mr. Matale!
Mr. Matale: Rahasia!
(Shen's father shows up)
Shen: Father!
Rahesia: Mr. Sandral!
Matale: Nurick!
Sandral: Ahlan!

Elaine: GUYBRUSH!
Guybrush: Elaine...?
Elaine: GUUUYBRUUUUSH!
LeChuck: LECHUCK! Arr, this name shoutin' be fun!

Jonathan: Charlotte!
Charlotte: Jonathan!
Jonathan: Charlotte!
Charlotte: Jonathan!
Jonathan: Charlotte!...

First Enemy: Dr. Scott! Hero Name!
Dr. Frank N. Scott: Hero Name!
Second Enemy: Hero Name! Dr. Scott!


Web Comics

Samantha: Dad!
Sam's father: Samantha!
Elan: Haley!
Haley: Elan!
Belkar: Hot chick!


Western Animation

Mr. Krabs: Plankton!
Plankton: Krabs!
Mr. Krabs' Mom: Eugene!
Mr. Krabs: Mommy?!
Plankton: Mommy?
SpongeBob: SpongeBob!

Flintheart Glomgold: Scrooge!
Scrooge McDuck: Glomgold!
El Capitan: Los ninos!
Huey, Dewey & Louie: That guy!
Flintheart Glomgold: (as he and El Capitan run off) We'll do lunch sometime!

  • Family Guy, between Quagmire, Cleveland, Loretta, Lois, Peter and Bonny. Which finishes off with Loretta angrily prodding Cleveland to say her name as she had been left out.
  • The Penguins of Madagascar has one with the 2010 Christmas Special "The All-Nighter Before Christmas." The Crowning Moment of Funny was Mort finishing the roll call with the non-sequitur "Potato!"
  • Dexter's Laboratory: "Dexter!" "Mandark!" "DeeDee!"
    • While they do it a lot in general, the science fair episode took it up to eleven where the entire conclusion (Dexter and Mandark having to rescue Deedee from a monster using their giant robots) has them communicating in nothing but their three names.
  • Space Ghost Coast to Coast, during an interview with Kevin Smith:

Kevin Smith: Zorak.
Zorak: Kevin.
Kevin Smith: (throws horns) Zorak!
Zorak: Kevin!
Kevin Smith: ZORAAAK!
Zorak: KEVIIIN!!!
Space Ghost: SPAAAAAAACE GHOOOOOOOOST!