Tour Guide Gag

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So, you're watching a Superman movie, and he is in the midst of a great action sequence. He flies past a plane and the point of view switches. Suddenly, you're watching the passengers on the inside of the plane. A voice chirps up on the intercom and says:

"...and to your left, you'll see Superman."

This is the basic tour guide gag; all the action is happening outside the vehicle, and we hear it explained on the inside of the vehicle. This can also include tours that appear in unlikely places. In those situations, the dialogue is not really necessary.

Examples of Tour Guide Gag include:

Anime and Manga

• At one point in Hellsing, Alucard and Anderson fight each other in an art museum. Disgusted with their attacking each other yet again, Seras picks up a group of tourists and guides them past the two - who promptly pose as statues.

Film

• In Muppet Treasure Island, an Establishing Shot of an island location gets interrupted by a tour group walking into the shot.

Tour guide: And here we have the jungle where they filmed Muppet Treasure Island.

• Killer Tomatoes Eat France: the villains have set up an ancient medieval castle as their base of operations. Fitting except for the tour groups that keep coming through.

Tour Guide: And this is a giant fire-breathing tomato. [tomato eats her]

• Played With in some fashion in the Get Smart film. A tour guide is showing a group around the museum display of the Cold War era, defunct CONTROL...which is alive and well, and the entrance is right beside the display.
• In Shrek Forever After Shrek's home is now part of a tour route. The green ogre is not amused, especially after the bus accidentally knocks over his outhouse, while he's using it.
• In Cats Don't Dance a studio tour gets caught in a flood and the guide assures the tourists that it's all just special effects.

Live Action Television

• Happens on a studio tour in season 3 of Arrested Development. Lampshaded by both parties.

Michael Bluth: More like "Malcolm in the Middle-of-Shooting" Frankie Muniz: (waving) That's alright! It's more important to show how we make the show than to actually make the show!

• Strangely averted on Thirty Rock, despite taking place in a TV studio and featuring a main character that conducts studio tours.

Video Games

• Played with in Tachyon the Fringe. In one mission, you have to babysit a cruiseliner carrying wealthy civilians to sight-see IN SPACE, and protect them from Space Pirate attacks. In the event that enemy fighters attack, you're offered a bonus if you can put on a show for the crowd. The tour guide commentates on your dog fight.

Web Comics

• Happened in Yet Another Fantasy Gamer Comic when an adventuring band captured Gren and Wolf, and wanted to use them as guides while going deeper. They oblige.

Web Original

• The Nostalgia Critic pulls this gag in his Raiders of the Story Arc review of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles when the Turtle Van can drive straight to the Technodrome without any problems.
  • Earlier, in Double Dragon as the heroes in a speedboat sail by a tour boat ("Up to your right, you'll see a shitty movie being made").

Western Animation

• In an episode of Family Guy Peter and his friends are trapped on what they believe to be a remote island. At one point, they decide to have an orgy, thinking no one will see. The next shot is of a cruise ship passing by the island:

Captain: And if you look to your right, you will see a group of homosexuals.

• Two episodes of Tiny Toon Adventures got mileage out of the line "And to your left is a naked pig." Poor Hamton.
• A Running Gag in Histeria!, which had the tour guide as a standard character.
• Rocko's Modern Life takes this Up to Eleven with the tour guide who absolutely refuses to let any tourist off the bus. Lest they face severe reprocussions