View source for To the Bat Noun

{{trope}}
{{quote|''"To the Bat-Poles! First we'd better get outfitted with our Bat-...Stuff."''|Ryan Stiles, ''[[Whose Line Is It Anyway?|Whose Line Is It Anyway]]''}}

Few [[Self-Demonstrating Article|Bat]]-things can seem so anti-climactic as characters going [[Self-Demonstrating Article|Bat]]-somewhere or entering a [[Self-Demonstrating Article|Bat]]-vehicle, but there's always a way of doing things dramatically. Simply make a character yell (with or without his arm up):

"To the car!"

or

"To that place!"

The first usage of this trope was on 1960s ''[[Batman (TV series)|Batman]]'' series (Does "To the [[Thememobile|Batmobile]]!" sound [[Self-Demonstrating Article|Bat]]-familiar?), and it was parodic even then. Most appearances of it nowadays are even more so, as the character will be ''overly'' dramatic about, say, going [[Self-Demonstrating Article|Bat]]-downstairs to eat [[Overly Long Gag|bat]]-something. Thus, it's a [[Dead Unicorn Trope]].

Rest assured if there's ''anything'' distinctive about someone's car, [[Fan Nickname|fans will dub it]] the [[Thememobile|InsertNameHere-mobile]].

Not to be confused with [[To the Batpole]]. Can be confused with [[What Do You Mean It's Not Awesome?]]. Also distinct from using a car's (or anything else's) trade name- that's [[Product Placement]].

Now, to the [[Overly Long Gag|Bat]]-examples!:
{{examples}}

==  Comic Books  ==

* Used and [[Lampshade Hanging|lampshaded]] in ''[[The Middleman]]'': all gadgets and outfits are middle-suffix.

==  Film  ==

* Used at the end of ''[[Young Frankenstein]]'', when the rehabilitated Monster accidentally rips off Inspector Kemp's wooden arm while shaking hands:
{{quote|'''Kemp''': Oh, shit... '''[Points dramatically with the arm]''' ''To the lumberyard!!''}}
* During ''It's a Very, Merry Muppet Christmas Movie'', after Kermit's little nephew Robin suggests him to call one of his famous friends after Miss Piggy leaves the Christmas play, Kermit says "To the starphone!" accompanied by Batman-sounding music.
* ''[[Flushed Away]]'': "Enough games. To the ratmobiles!
* ''[[Discworld/Hogfather|Hogfather]]'': {{smallcaps|Onwards, Binky, to the Hogfather's Castle of Bones}}

==  Literature  ==

* ''[[Discworld]]''
** In ''[[Discworld/Hogfather|Hogfather]]'', Archchancellor Ridcully shouts "To the laundry!" and points dramatically towards the ceiling, only to have his colleagues remind him that the University's laundry is in the basement. He then refines his battle cry to "''Down'' to the laundry!"
** ''[[Discworld/The Light Fantastic|The Light Fantastic]]'': Possibly a follow-up to a more played-straight example occurs when Archchancellor Galder Weatherwax keeps dramatically pointing at the ceiling to follow the path of the spell that turned the Librarian into an orangutan.
* Used straight several times in ''[[Lord of the Rings]]'':
** Gandalf: "To the bridge of Khazad-dûm!"
** Éomer: "Rohirrim! To the King!"
* [[Captain Underpants]]:
{{quote|'''Captain Underpants''': To the underwear cave!
'''Harold''': There is no underwear cave! }}
* Parodied in ''[[Animorphs]]'':
{{quote|''Marco'': To the Bat-morph, Robin!}}

==  Live Action TV  ==

* The [[Trope Namer]]: ''[[Batman (TV series)|Batman]]''.
** Alfred even took a leaf. Alfcycle, anyone?
* Parodied in ''[[Angel]]'' when Spike mocks the title character's hero complex by narrating as Angel saves a woman from being mugged. We can't hear the real dialogue between Angel and the woman, but we hear Spike speak for Angel, "Evil's still afoot, and I'm almost out of that nancy-boy hair gel I like so much. Quickly! To the Angelmobile! Away!"
* ''[[Mystery Science Theater 3000]]'' uses this trope to mock the title character of ''[[Puma Man]]'' when he attempts a heroic cape swish.
{{quote|'''Tom''': Into the Effeminate Mobile!}}
** And again in ''[[This Island Earth]]'':
{{quote|'''Crow''': This looks like a job for Weenieman! Into the Weeniemobile... Weenieman away!}}
** And ''[[Riding With Death]]'':
{{quote|'''Mike''': Into the Cupcake Mobile!}}
* Parodied in [[Mock the Week]] with Scenes We'd Like To See, "Lines you wouldn't hear in a superhero film"
{{quote|'''Frankie Boyle''': To the Bat-Caravan!}}
* ''[[How I Met Your Mother]]'': "To the Willowbrook Mall!"
* ''[[I'm in The Band]]'': Usually, though not always, "To the band van!"
** Although it can deteriorate all the way to "To the that way!"(sic).
* ''Seinfeld'': "To the Idiotmobile!"
* In one episode of ''Ned's Declassified School Survival Guide'', during one scene, Ned says, "To the library!"

==  Music  ==

* The song "One More River" by James Reyne has the line, "Pick up the Batphone and dial my number."
* [[Eminem]]: To the Rapmobile! Let's go! (Guess who's back guess who's back <small>guess who's back guess who's back</small>)

==  Newspaper Comics  ==

* In a memorable ''[[Calvin and Hobbes]]'' strip, Calvin wonders out loud why his heroes don't fight realistic villains. Hobbes suggests that the fights would involve writing letters to the editor and so forth. As Calvin says that he sees the problem, Hobbes ends the strip with the line "Quick! To the Bat-Fax!"

==  Professional Wrestling  ==

* [[WWE]] wrestler The Hurricane used to do this as a parody of Batman, saying things like "To the Hurricave!" and "To the Hurricycle!"

==  Video Games  ==

* The Red Baron in ''[[Empire Earth]]'': To the skies!
* ''[[Professor Layton]]'': Unfortunately, this never happens, despite him calling his car the Laytonmobile.
* Some variation of "To the Freedom Flyer!" appeared in ''[[Freedom Force]]''.

== Web Comics ==
* Naturally, ''[[Sluggy Freelance]]'' had to get [http://www.sluggy.com/comics/archives/daily/040509 into the act] with the Bum-Mobile and the Bum-Jet, except there's no Bum-Mobile and the Bum-Jet is a cardboard box that Torg makes engine sounds to.
* The [[Trope Namer]] was parodied in [http://www.webcomicsnation.com/eddurd/everydayheroes/series.php?view=single&ID=76616 this] ''[[Everyday Heroes]]'' episode.
* Combined with [[Gratuitous German]] in [http://www.irregularwebcomic.net/2614.html this] [[Irregular Webcomic]] strip. "To die Fledermauszeppelin!"
* [http://www.marrymemovie.com/main/2007/08/25/page-42-crazy-adventure-time/ "I'm just pointing dramatically. It doesn't have to be in the right direction."]


== Web Original ==
* ''[[Homestar Runner]]'': Used in the Strong Bad Email [http://www.homestarrunner.com/sbemail48.html ghosts] (followed immediately by a Batman-style scene transition):
{{quote|'''Strong Bad''': The Cheat! Meet me in the Strong Bad Cave!
'''The Cheat''': [quizzical noise]
'''Strong Bad''': Erm, well... meet me in the closet and, uh... we'll put on some costumes. }}
** Also used in an [[Easter Egg]] in [http://www.homestarrunner.com/sbemail195.html love poems], where Strong Sad expects to be called on the Strong Badphone.
* Parodied in ''[[Yu-Gi-Oh!: The Abridged Series|Yu-Gi-Oh the Abridged Series]]'': "Into the Kaibacave!"
** Not to mention the Kaibacopter! ([[Tradesnark™|Trademark]])
** "To the Mokubamobile!"
*** There isn't a Mokubamobile.
* Lampshaded in ''[[PS238]]'', where one of the problems with the school is that the superpowered students respond to going on lunch breaks by declaring in unison: "To the cafeteria -- For Justice!".
* In ''[[The Nostalgia Critic]]'' review of [[The Wizard (film)]] "To the shit-mobile!". Followed by a shot of the shit-mobile in action, complete with music from ''[[Batman (TV series)|Batman]]''.
* '[[Weebl and Bob]]'': In the Team Laser Explosion episodes, Captain Exploserous Laser (Weebl) always responds to calls from the mayor with "To the skies!"
* ''[[The Nostalgia Chick]]'': The Chick, in one of her rare [[Large Ham]] moments: "'''To Wikipedia!'''"


== Western Animation ==
* ''[[Batman: The Brave And The Bold|Batman the Brave And The Bold]]''
** The Joker, of all people, does this in : "To the Batmobile!"
** Plastic Man spoofs this as well. "Quick! To the Plas-Cave!"
* As a direct ''[[Batman (TV series)|Batman]]'' parody, Adam West/Catman in ''[[The Fairly Odd Parents]]''.
** "To the Crocker Cave!"
* As always, ''[[The Simpsons]]'' did it:
** Bart was accused of stealing from the church collection plate, Lisa accuses Reverend Lovejoy's daughter of taking the money and framing Bart, and explains that they'll find all the stolen funds in her room. Homer stands up, points dramatically, and shouts, "To the little girl's room!"
** Another time, during ''Dial Z For Zombie'', a ''Treehouse of Horror'' segment, when Springfield was in the midst of a [[Zombie Apocalypse]], Lisa suggests using the library to find out a way to stop them. Homer pulls a shotgun out of nowhere, gives a [[Dramatic Gun Cock]] while pointing with it, and declares: "To the Book Depository!"
** And in the episode where Sideshow Bob tries to kill Selma, Homer actually says, "To the Simpsonmobile!"
*** To make even more like [[Batman (TV series)|the trope namer]], next to the garage there was a sign next to their garage telling the distance between them and their intended destination.
** Beekeeper: "To the Beemobile!" "You mean your Chevy?" ([[Beat]]) "Yes."
** An uncharacteristically moving performance by Ralph Wiggum, playing George Washington, motivates the school bullies to learn about his history. Dolph shouts "To the library!", to which Jimbo enthusiastically agrees.
** The time Marge gave Wolfgang Puck an idea for a new dish: "To the Puckmobile!"
* Parodied several times in ''[[Jimmy Neutron]]'' with Jimmy's semi-catchphrase"TO THE LAB!" Sheen eventually got in on the act by trying to insert "To the lab!" every time they would go anywhere, eventually settling for "To this place first, and ''then''... the lab!" After that, they occasionally shared the use of the phrase, though Sheen's uses were always more of the Lampshade variety.
** For further parody, the time that Sheen got in on the act, they ended up ''not'' going to the lab.
* ''[[Futurama]]'' has played with it a few times. Professor Farnsworth shouts "To the laboratory!"... only to have everyone walk there at their normal pace.
** And of course, the mandatory employee meeting called with "To the Mandatorium!"
** And in case of emergencies, "To the Calamitorium!"
{{quote|These are all the exact same place, obviously.}}
** Bender exhorts the others to get on the Planet Express Ship with "To the Flying Machine!"
* ''[[Family Guy]]'' plays with this three times:
** In an early episode, Peter shouts, "To the Batcave!" and slides down a pole to Batman-sounding music, only to end up in a cave filled with bats, who swarm on him.
** In a later episode, he shouts, "To the Peter-copter!" and appears in a helicopter shaped like his head, which promptly crashes on Joe's lawn. Then he shouts, "To the Hinden-Peter!" and appears in a dirigible with his face on the front, which crashes in flames into his neighbor's house. Joe's outraged cry: "How can you afford these things???"
** In yet another episode, Peter shouts, "To the Pope-Mobile!" This is followed by a Batman-style scene transition, and a shot of Peter chauffeuring the Pope out of the Bat Cave, while the Batman music plays.
* In the ''[[Drawn Together]]'' episode "Captain Girl", Wooldoor, in his role as Captain Hero's new sidekick, repeatedly shouts phrases like "To the Wool-''noun''!", culminating in the "Wooldelorean", his time machine.
* ''[[SpongeBob SquarePants]]''; Elderly Batman parody Mermaid Man is fond of these, but, due to his advanced age, occasionally requires a moment to catch his breath before finishing the declaration. The drama is also undercut by his tendency to shuffle off slowly and lose track of his [[Thememobile|Invisible Boatmobile]].
* ''[[Avatar: The Last Airbender]]'': Sokka invokes this trope when he picks where to spend his mini-vacation. He always did have a [[Large Ham|flair for the dramatic]].
{{quote|'''Sokka''': I'd like to spend my vacation '''At The library!'''}}
* ''[[Superfriends]]'': The Friends had to get everywhere—and fast!
* ''[[Invader Zim]]'': Zim once got lost and had to take a taxi back home: "Take me to...[[Large Ham|that way!]]"
* ''[[The Spectacular Spider-Man]]'': When Hobie Brown {{spoiler|has to take over Harry's role in the play}}, the [[Large Ham|drama teacher]] shouts "To the dressing-room, Brown!"
* In every episode of ''[[George of the Jungle|Super Chicken]]'', after the eponymous chicken's [[Transformation Sequence]], he'd head off for his flying domed giant egg with:
{{quote|'''Super Chicken''': "To the super coop, Fred!"
'''Fred''': "Roger wilcox!" }}
* ''[[The Emperor's New Groove|The Emperors New Groove]]'' features a villainous version with Yzma's "To the secret lab!"
* ''[[Batfink]]'' is a fun example. With the phrase often being "To the *something*-mobile" when going to a vehicle, how does it work when the protagonist is a bat? The answer: "To the Batillac!"
* [[The Cat in the Hat Knows a Lot About That!|"Quick! To the Thingamajigger!"]]
* [[Dan Vs.|"To the Carmobile!"]]
* [[Dynomutt Dog Wonder|"The Falcon Flash! Quick, Dog Wonder! To the Falcon's Lair!]]
** "To the Falconcar!"
* [[The Fairly Odd Parents|"To the internet!"]]
** "To the Crocker-Cave!"
* In ''[[Johnny Bravo]]'', [[Adam West]] himself proclaims "To the Adam Westmobile!", but then immediately grumbles that it's a stupid name. Johnny insists that it's cool, which restores Adam's spirits.

----
{{quote|Now, to [[The Stinger|the Stinger-Page]]!}}

{{reflist}}
[[Category:Stock Phrases]]
[[Category:To the Bat Noun]]