Short List

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Attention workers, we have completed our evaluation of the plant. We regret to announce the following lay-offs, which I will read in alphabetical order: Simpson, Homer That is all. —Horst, The Simpsons

A "List" that is so short it doesn't seem appropriate to call it a list (probably no more than 2 items). Even so, it is presented in a "list format". Sometimes the list is so short it doesn't have any items on it at all, just a name/title.

An obsessed list-maker is frequently responsible for a Short List.

Contrast Long List. Not to be confused with a list of selected, often elite, candidates from which a final choice is to be made.

Examples of Short List include:

Literature

• In the Dresden Files book Summer Knight, Harry Dresden states that the list of people he trusts is one person long. (It's Murphy, in case you're wondering.)

Live-Action TV

• The Late Show with Stephen Colbert had a bit called "The Late Show's Tolerance Tips" that fits.
• In Saturday Night Live:
  • In one 2017 episode, there was a list given of people willing to perform for Donald Trump's inauguration that had just two entries on it.
  • In a different 2017 SNL episode, the list of Trump's accomplishments as president 100 days in office consisted of "nominated Neil Gorsuch".
• Yes Prime Minister: The episode "The Bishop's Gambit" shows that, while it's up to the Prime Minister to advise the Sovereign who to name as a bishop of the Church of England, the Church Commissioners always provide a list of only two candidates, one of whom is obviously unsuitable.

Music

• In I'm Gonna Kill Santa Claus, Danny Gonzalez makes tries to make a list of reasons to not kill Santa, but couldn't get past writing out the title.

New Media

• In one episode of The Great War YouTube channel series OUT OF THE TRENCHES (Marines - Schutztruppe - Artillery Sound), one person numbers his only question.

Western Animation

• In The Simpsons, after Homer's workplace is bought out, Horst lists out the workers to be fired in alphabetical order. Homer is the only person on the list.
• SpongeBob SquarePants:
  • In Season 4 episode "The Pink Purloiner", Patrick surprises SpongeBob by appearing behind him while SpongeBob was spying on him. When asked what he was doing, Patrick answers "Nothing. I just finished" and takes out an actual to-do list to mark accordingly.
  • Season 7 episode "New Fish in Town" has Patrick and SpongeBob ask Squidward if he can keep an eye out for takers, since Patrick was renting out his front yard. Squidward makes a show of pulling out his planner and pointing out that he had "no such thing" on the schedule for today.

Real Life

• As mentioned on the Canadian Politics page (and showing that the Yes Prime Minister example above has some Truth in Television), the Governor General of Canada is supposed to be chosen by the Sovereign from a list of candidates provided by the Prime Minister. As of 2019, the Prime Minister's list of potential appointees to the position of Governor General over the last few decades has been exactly one name long.