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    Haven't read the whole thread so if anyone has already raised this I apologize.

    Young, well meaning, idealistic teacher starts at school in the crappy side of town and by dint of heroic dedication, empathy and compassion turns a school full of hooligans and criminals into a paradigm forward thinking education. A new one turns up every few years.

    Give me St. Trinians any day.
    Last edited by adams house cat; 22-06-2018, 15:31.

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      Originally posted by elguapo4 View Post
      As far as Law and Order were concerned in every murder in New York the body is discovered by a) an arguing couple or b) a pair of wise cracking repair men
      And the landlady wearing the ratty sweater knows a lot more than she's initially letting on.

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        Originally posted by adams house cat View Post
        Haven't read the whole thread so if anyone has already raised this I apologize.

        Young, well meaning, idealistic teacher starts at school in the crappy side of town and by dint of heroic dedication, empathy and compassion turns a school full of hooligans and criminals into a paradigm forward thinking education. A new one turns up every few years.

        Give me St. Trinians any day.
        And they're usually going to convert these hoodlums into mildly rebellious but otherwise good kids through the medium of some kind of artistic expression, whether it's glee club, or playing the recorder, or synchronised BMX ballet to old school rap.

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          Yes, they never do it through the medium of dedicated learning, extra homework, innovative lesson plans etc., or just moving the worst troublemakers to the table nearest the front of the room, do they?

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            The school principal has three scenes: 1) welcoming new teacher, giving world-weary advice about how to survive 2) telling teacher this synchronised BMX ballet nonsense won't work, and 3) the non-speaking concession scene at the end, a look and nod will say it all.

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              Originally posted by Amor de Cosmos View Post
              In the UK it's frequently a dog being walked first thing in the morning.
              Or posh students punting.

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                ^ I've already forgotten the context for these since yesterday, so have just spent a pleasant minute trying to guess. Was it 'finding the Jules Rimet Trophy'?

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                  Mrs Thistle and I have identified some regular clichés in the series Elementary. I think it's a way of identifying the writer who has written the episode.

                  One habit they have is the perp in a room with Sherlock, Watson, Bell and the Captain and each of the 4 main characters deliver a chunk of the plot explanation to the perp who then admits it or just has that "my crimes have caught up with me" look on his face.

                  Another thing we've noticed is either a) a totally incidental character like the paperboy who comes to the house while Sherlock and Watson are looking at the crime scene, or b) the person they tell who says they can't believe it and everybody loved Fred who's just been gruesomely garrotted in a local park, is the one whodunnit.

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                    In any TV show written by Shonda Rhimes, one character will invariably exclaim in an argument: "You don't get yo day that." Doesn't matter what gender, ethnicity or age. They all speak the same.

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                      Originally posted by Patrick Thistle View Post
                      Mrs Thistle and I have identified some regular clichés in the series Elementary. I think it's a way of identifying the writer who has written the episode.

                      One habit they have is the perp in a room with Sherlock, Watson, Bell and the Captain and each of the 4 main characters deliver a chunk of the plot explanation to the perp who then admits it or just has that "my crimes have caught up with me" look on his face.

                      Another thing we've noticed is either a) a totally incidental character like the paperboy who comes to the house while Sherlock and Watson are looking at the crime scene, or b) the person they tell who says they can't believe it and everybody loved Fred who's just been gruesomely garrotted in a local park, is the one whodunnit.
                      To be fair to the show's writers, many of those crop up regularly in Conan Doyle's original stories too.

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                        I don't think I've ever watched a Shonda Rhimes show, so I was a bit surprised when the Netflix deal happened. Maybe I watched a few minutes of Scandal, but I don't remember anything about it.

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                          Without wishing to get all pervy, I've happily spent a while with it just to dreamily look at Kerry Washington.

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                            If we're on Shonda Rhimes, every episode of every show (but particularly prominent on Scandal) will have a character giving a way too long monologue In. A Very Specific. Shonda Rhimes. Metre. With Pauses for Breath. And Emphasis. Because The Point. Is A Very Important Point.

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                              I don't regret not watching Shonda Rhimes shows now. But then, I can't even watch Sorkin's writing any more. It's just too idiosyncratic.

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                                Are you saying that you can't handle the truth?

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                                  You just don't get it, do you?

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                                    John Mulaney has a few good bits on Law & Order, including the bartender that recognizes everyone ever and the guy who can't be bothered to stop unloading a van to talk about a murder.

                                    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-HKy4bVKD1w

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                                      Originally posted by WOM View Post
                                      You just don't get it, do you?
                                      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BzlQTeUzC4s

                                      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lDk5wDBR3hA

                                      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uqXdG0bPeYA
                                      Last edited by Hot Pepsi; 26-06-2018, 16:18.

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                                        To be fair, I think, to Law and Order what might appear to be cliches may stem from the fact that Dick Wolf tends to use his "stock company" for support roles.

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                                          Originally posted by Your Usual Table View Post
                                          In any disaster movie/sci-fi blockbuster, the brilliant scientist in possession of hard evidence of impending doom will repeatedly try to warn others but will be slapped down by vested interests or faceless bureaucracy. The scientist, if male, will almost always have unkempt hair and several days' stubble and be kitted out in the sweat-soaked clothes of a penniless postgraduate. His nadir will be reached when he's in a long, loud corridor of an Important Government Building desperately trying to get his Old College Friend, who will be immaculately-dressed and ooze smug condescension, to listen to him and use his influence to persuade the People In Power that they have to act now. The scientist will always carry in his hand stacks of papers to support his theory but will invariably struggle to locate the key piece of evidence when pressed, nervously shuffling through the papers saying "It's on page... it's... it's... I, uh... I must have..." If interrupted he'll shout "I'M NOT CRAZY!" which will echo down the corridor and cause a moment of extreme discomfort for Old College Friend who will patronisingly tell him, "Steve... You're a fine scientist, it's true. But this is politics. It's a world you'll never understand. Leave this one to the professionals, huh?"

                                          If by some miracle the scientist does get an audience with the People In Power he will find himself alone and isolated standing in front of a table of suits and military types (usually flanked by screens showing incoming data from across the world) who will say, "So you want us to evacuate the entire west coast of the United States based on... a few coffee-stained pieces of paper, is that right Dr. Pulaski?" Despite his best efforts to prove that the objects hurtling towards Earth at great speed could result in the end of the human race his arguments will be dismissed as "evidently just old Soviet satellites re-entering the atmosphere. The President's Scientific Advisor has assured him that they pose no threat."

                                          When tragedy does eventually strike, Old College Friend will be among dozens of people desperately trying to board a helicopter about to depart from the roof of a skyscraper as the entire city burns around them. Old College Friend will be depicted barging vulnerable people out of the way with cries of "Let me through! Let me through, damn it!"

                                          The scientist will react to the vista by sitting down calmly and wistfully adjusting the time on the precious old watch given to him as a last gift by his dying father just before being consumed by flames.
                                          Originally posted by Boris Carpark View Post
                                          Thunderous applause for the above but if I might suggest....?

                                          Rugged, dedicated but mis-understood scientist has geek-chic cool specs. Also an exasperated/estranged wife/girlfriend who is also a tough, hard-hitting, puts up with no crap journalist (also unbelievably attractive of course) who picks up on the presumed planetary armageddon (or whatever) story when rugged scientist ex is late for/ misses cute daughters game/recital/party. "it's ok honey, sure your dad loves you..." "he doesn't, sniffs, he loves his work more.." **ex thinks- its not LL Ike Steve to miss Chlamydia's party or whatever, maybe there's something in this. I'd better talk to my editor**

                                          Also- President's science advisor who dismisses our hero's theory has immaculate white coat, tweed suit & bow tie. When he dismisses the theory he looks like he's just smelt a rank guff. The president hears his dismissal, look between him & our hero, holds up a hand at advancing body guards, points at his now ex-advisor & drawls "get this guy outta here...I wanna here what this guy has to say.."
                                          Everyone looks all shocked at each other.
                                          Our hero looks embarrassed & modest, he's not good at this sort of thing.
                                          His ex looks over & realises what she saw in him & looks over her glasses & shares a look with her more dumpy mate....
                                          Originally posted by Various Artist View Post
                                          Yes, huge applause for that one YUT. I can almost see the corridors of your Important Government Building now, smell the smug condescension radiating from the Old College Friend and hear the square jaws of the People In Power setting firmly against the poor scientist.

                                          I like Boris' correlative too. I was imagining more like with all other avenues firmly shut down to him, our misunderstood scientist's only way back into the plot is if the OCF or some other occupant of the IGB has a teenage kid who's also got a whiff of the way the global winds are blowing, has mad computer hacking skillz and happens to be roaming around the IGB unchecked, allowing him to bump into the mortified scientist after the latter has been peremptorily dismissed from the presence of the PIP. They can then smuggle themselves into an Important Computer Lab/out of the building in order to start attempting a unilateral and unsanctioned saving of the world, preferably alongside a tough-but-secretly-clever girl, a wisecracking black guy and a small dog.
                                          Originally posted by San Bernardhinault View Post
                                          In addition, with our unkempt, largely unregarded scientist who specialises in the obscure field related to the oncoming Doom, it should be noted that despite him being unregarded, as soon as The People In Power accept that Doom Is Coming, the scientist will be involved in all the decision making and often have audiences with the President. Nobody will remark on this astonishing promotion.

                                          It should also be noted that the President, unlike all the advisers, will listen to the scientist, be considered and reasonable against the advice of The People In Power.

                                          In a further corollary, should The President be killed by the Forces of Doom, the VP will be charming, qualified, intelligent and considered. Should the President survive, though, the VP will be a conniving, conspiring, corrupt and possibly racist scumbag trying to usurp the President. Anyone who holds the actual office of President during a disaster movie is always a Very Good Person.
                                          Originally posted by Your Usual Table View Post
                                          Hahaha, thanks folks and all good suggestions! We have the meat of Generic Nineties Summer Blockbuster here. I'd like to add that when Brilliant Scientist (as he's now known) is meeting the PIP and warns that the President's science people may be wrong the head of the PIP will say, "Even if it is these 'dark matter meteors' or whatever it is you call them about to hit Earth then there's no need for concern - it'll provide us with an opportunity to field test Mr. Reynolds' new Missile Defence System."

                                          When the extraterrestrial menace is looming towards Earth, all will be gathered in a situation room watching video footage of a massive object bearing down on the planet. Several thousand bright objects - missiles - will shoot towards it and explode in a firestorm that obscures the object. OCF will whoop and cheer, drunk on vindication and success, only to have his celebrations cut short (after a dramatic pause) with an urgent, "Wait!" from someone else in the room... On the screen the firestorm will disperse revealing the object looming more ominously than before. "It... it's a mistake... It has to be a mistake!" shouts OCF. "Begin the evacuation", orders the President, repeating the order louder for dramatic effect. OCF speeds off downtown in his luxury car to collect his glamorous model girlfriend from their penthouse apartment. She, in his absence, has gone into the city and is busy using parts of her designer dresses as field dressings for wounded citizens, explaining her skills as a field medic with, "I dropped out of John Hopkins' to pursue a career in modelling." OCF finds her and desperately tries to drag her away with him, "Diana, we have to go NOW!" She'll look at him with bitterness and rejection - how could she ever have loved this heartless coward? He'll curse her do-gooder nature and will speed off back to the skyscraper where he has a date with destiny...
                                          Alert, everyone – I think they've actually gone and made this. Just caught the start of it on the Horror Channel (Freeview #70 in the UK):

                                          Impact Earth

                                          A former Nasa asteroid tracker discovers a looming collision that could potentially wipe out Earth, but his flawed reputation means his warnings are not taken seriously. Sci-fi drama, starring Bernard Curry, Brooke Langton and Caitlin Carver.


                                          I have to watch this now, I swear it must be YUT's screenplay.

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                                            Oh, we're off to a flyer. Our heroic but misunderstood Stubbly Scientist is sitting on the bonnet of his car at night, looking up at the stars with his c.11-year-old son and philosophising about life and the cosmos, before sidetracking to ask, "So, how's Mom? Is she still seeing [Some Guy]?"

                                            This is going to be composed of the purest, unadulterated cliché, I can feel it. Trope bingo cards at the ready.

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                                              Stubbly Scientist: "We're facing an impact event that could destroy most of North America."
                                              Older Mentor Figure, other end of phone putting ice into glass of whisky: "And a global catastrophe for the rest of the world."

                                              OMF has already asked if SS's female assistant is easy on the eye as well as 25 and a brilliant research scientist. She is. Fortunately they're "just good friends".

                                              SS goes off to his wife's house late at night, gets friendly reception and sees son, but discussion with Severely Short-Haired Estranged Wife in porch then descends into recrimination because he's "always so busy looking up at the stars he never sees what's important down here". SSHEW wants a divorce.

                                              SS goes back to office in a huff. Brilliant Female Assistant is there, she's run the numbers. Bad things afoot in space. However, the "force of attraction" is at work here in earth too, and they snog. OMF appears on screen with new numbers and mildly lascivious commentary. BFA does the calculations in her head. Flash, I love you, but we only have 17 hours to save the earth!

                                              There's gonna be a weird-ass, dysfunctional road trip with SS, BFA, SSHEW and son, with common criminals, the FBI and an asteroid on their tail. This is gold.
                                              Last edited by Various Artist; 07-07-2018, 22:55. Reason: Stubbly, not Stubby

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                                                Meteorites have hit major American cities and forced our dysfunctional clan's car off the road. They're gonna make a 12-mile hike through woods to reach OMF's House. I predict bears. Or possibly a mountain lion. No, wait, the Redneck Criminal Element are on their trail, and we all know rednecks get a +5 move bonus through backwoods.

                                                Elsewhere, important people in are talking about the White House, evacuations, and firing a missile at the asteroid. Stay tuned!

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                                                  Come on, VA. This is edge of the seat stuff!

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                                                    Sorry wibl, I was agog for the last bit.

                                                    Suffice to say the rednecks attacked, one was pinned by a tree after a meteorite strike, our heroes were saved from the other one by a passing father and daughter out searching for somewhere safe to hole up themselves, the good guys all take shelter in OMF's survival bunker filled with super computer equipment, and there's lots of tension as the military prepare their nuke and the father of the daughter loses his shit because he thinks our heroes will turn on them when the rations start to run short. Fortunately SS notices his boy and the girl playing pool, and instantly spots how they can use a satellite's thrusters to fire it into another asteroid, and thereby use that asteroid to knock the first one off course from hitting the earth, and also punches out the father when he tries to attack, and ties the latter to a chair. Cue lots of Hollywood Hacking by SS and mostly his BFA, plenty of shots of screens, radar etc. to save the CGI budget, while the father calms down and is untied from the chair. It all ends, of course, in last-second success and the Important Military Man finally acquiesces to the request of SS's Erstwhile Boss Figure (who had fired him because of, I don't know, being a maverick) to stand down the nuclear missile (or "missle", as it actually says on a screen readout), and everyone lives happily ever after, the end.

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