Wild Card Excuse: Difference between revisions
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[[File:TWGOK83 09 RH350i 1447.png|link=The World God Only Knows|right]] |
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{{quote|''"Uhhh... internet."''|'''Timmy Turner''' to everyone who asks where he got his stuff from, ''[[The Fairly |
{{quote|''"Uhhh... internet."''|'''Timmy Turner''' to everyone who asks where he got his stuff from, ''[[The Fairly OddParents]]''}} |
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The '''Wild Card Excuse''' is a Subtrope of [[Blatant Lies]]. It often consists of a [[Blatant Lies]] or a [[Lame Excuse]] that is elevated to a [[Running Gag]] in the series. |
The '''Wild Card Excuse''' is a Subtrope of [[Blatant Lies]]. It often consists of a [[Blatant Lies]] or a [[Lame Excuse]] that is elevated to a [[Running Gag]] in the series. |
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** Actually, when the cage appears, the line is something like "Why is there a cage here? Isn't this a music room?". The piano appears at the end, and the punchline is: "Why is there a piano here?" "Well, it ''is'' a music room, after all." |
** Actually, when the cage appears, the line is something like "Why is there a cage here? Isn't this a music room?". The piano appears at the end, and the punchline is: "Why is there a piano here?" "Well, it ''is'' a music room, after all." |
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* ''[[School Rumble]]'': "... cause this is the Tea club, after all." |
* ''[[School Rumble]]'': "... cause this is the Tea club, after all." |
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* In ''[[Detective Conan]]'', Conan often blurts out smart observations in a crime scene in front of the grownups. His excuse of knowing this? [[I Know Mortal Kombat|He watches a lot of television]] hiding the fact he's a 17-year-old [[Teen Genius]] inside a 7-year-old body. |
* In ''[[Detective Conan]]'', Conan often blurts out smart observations in a crime scene in front of the grownups. His excuse of knowing this? [[I Know Mortal Kombat|He watches a lot of television]] hiding the fact he's a 17-year-old [[Teen Genius]] inside a 7-year-old body. |
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== Literature == |
== Literature == |
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* In [[Everworld]] the characters often pretend to be traveling minstrels as a cover for the fact that they're from an alternate dimension |
* In [[Everworld]] the characters often pretend to be traveling minstrels as a cover for the fact that they're from an alternate dimension |
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* [[Terry Pratchett]] [[Lampshade Hanging|lampshades]] this one in the [[Johnny Maxwell Trilogy]]. |
* [[Terry Pratchett]] [[Lampshade Hanging|lampshades]] this one in the [[Johnny Maxwell Trilogy]]. |
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{{quote|[[It's for a Book|A project]]. If Saddam Hussein had said he was doing a project on Kuwait, the Gulf War might never have happened.}} |
{{quote|[[It's for a Book|A project]]. If Saddam Hussein had said he was doing a project on Kuwait, the Gulf War might never have happened.}} |
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== [[Live Action TV]] == |
== [[Live Action TV]] == |
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* In ''[[Sliders]]'', whenever the team lands on a new world and has to explain why they don't know what's going on, they use the excuse "We're from Canada." We've hardly ever seen it fail. Although one time they had to pretend to be illegal immigrants from Canada the entire episode, who had snuck south into Mexico for work. (Thanks to the non-existence of America in the middle, and Mexico ending up with California.) |
* In ''[[Sliders]]'', whenever the team lands on a new world and has to explain why they don't know what's going on, they use the excuse "We're from Canada." We've hardly ever seen it fail. Although one time they had to pretend to be illegal immigrants from Canada the entire episode, who had snuck south into Mexico for work. (Thanks to the non-existence of America in the middle, and Mexico ending up with California.) |
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** That gag may have been used because the show originally filmed in Vancouver althought set in San Francisco. |
** That gag may have been used because the show originally filmed in Vancouver althought set in San Francisco. |
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* ''[[Buffy the Vampire Slayer]]'' mostly averted this, our heroes generally coming up with new, individualized (if implausible) excuses each time. On the other hand, Sunnydale's police department (when not suffering from [[Sunnydale Syndrome]]) usually covered up monster attacks by explaining that it was "gangs on PCP." |
* ''[[Buffy the Vampire Slayer]]'' mostly averted this, our heroes generally coming up with new, individualized (if implausible) excuses each time. On the other hand, Sunnydale's police department (when not suffering from [[Sunnydale Syndrome]]) usually covered up monster attacks by explaining that it was "gangs on PCP." |
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* Used often in ''[[Smallville]]'' during the earlier seasons, when any questions Clark Kent was asked about his interest in the caves or any Native American symbols that were related to his Kryptonian heritage were met with "It's for a term paper"—to the point where [[Lex Luthor]] himself actually [[Lampshade Hanging|lampshades]] it later. |
* Used often in ''[[Smallville]]'' during the earlier seasons, when any questions Clark Kent was asked about his interest in the caves or any Native American symbols that were related to his Kryptonian heritage were met with "It's for a term paper"—to the point where [[Lex Luthor]] himself actually [[Lampshade Hanging|lampshades]] it later. |
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* A variation in ''[[Doctor Who]]'', the question being "Who are you?" and the answer being "I'm the Doctor.", rarely yielding any further questions. |
* A variation in ''[[Doctor Who]]'', the question being "Who are you?" and the answer being "I'm the Doctor.", rarely yielding any further questions. |
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** There are sometimes further questions, but very rarely answers, at least none that are directly relevant. |
** There are sometimes further questions, but very rarely answers, at least none that are directly relevant. |
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* On ''[[Lost]]'', mentioning Canada is always a clue that the speaker is lying. Fugitive Kate tells Ray she's Canadian. Ethan claims to be from Ontario. The Others believe Bonnie and Greta are on assignment in Canada, not jamming signals in the Looking Glass Station. In "The Other 48 Days," Nathan tells Ana-Lucia he's from Canada, which is probably true, but the audience is meant to ''think'' it's a lie because Ethan said the same thing. |
* On ''[[Lost]]'', mentioning Canada is always a clue that the speaker is lying. Fugitive Kate tells Ray she's Canadian. Ethan claims to be from Ontario. The Others believe Bonnie and Greta are on assignment in Canada, not jamming signals in the Looking Glass Station. In "The Other 48 Days," Nathan tells Ana-Lucia he's from Canada, which is probably true, but the audience is meant to ''think'' it's a lie because Ethan said the same thing. |
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* ''[[Saturday Night Live]]'' - The [[Coneheads]] handwave their weirdness by claiming to be from France. |
* ''[[Saturday Night Live]]'' - The [[Coneheads]] handwave their weirdness by claiming to be from France. |
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== Western Animation == |
== Western Animation == |
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* ''[[The Fairly |
* ''[[The Fairly OddParents]]'': A [[Running Gag]] response earlier on happens every time Timmy is asked where he got his wished-for stuff from. Namely the quick response "Internet". See also the page quote. |
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** One episode subverts this Trope: |
** One episode subverts this Trope: |
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{{quote|'''Dad''': ''[seeing that Timmy's room is full of stuff that he hasn't bought for him] "Young man, where did you get all these nice things?"'' |
{{quote|'''Dad''': ''[seeing that Timmy's room is full of stuff that he hasn't bought for him] "Young man, where did you get all these nice things?"'' |
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[[Category:Truth and Lies]] |
[[Category:Truth and Lies]] |
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[[Category:Stupidity Tropes]] |
[[Category:Stupidity Tropes]] |
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[[Category: |
[[Category:{{PAGENAME}}]] |
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