Don't take it personally, babe, it just ain't your story
September 14, 2013 2:45 PM Subscribe
Are there any films/tv which do this: have a moment where it seems like a character is breaking the 4th wall and speaking directly to the camera/audience only to have the camera pull back to reveal the person they were actually talking to?
Especially interested in examples where the words spoken before the second interlocutor is revealed could be interpreted as metacommentary, but also once the second person shows up, have a more "in world" meaning.
Especially interested in examples where the words spoken before the second interlocutor is revealed could be interpreted as metacommentary, but also once the second person shows up, have a more "in world" meaning.
Response by poster: I guess I should mention that situations where the thing being portrayed is itself a play, tv show or film set (and the initial speaker an actor/actress) are of less interest.
posted by juv3nal at 2:52 PM on September 14, 2013
posted by juv3nal at 2:52 PM on September 14, 2013
The first thing I think of is the "Who Shot Mr Burns" episode of the Simpsons where Police Chief Wiggums says something like, "Well I can't figure it out. Can YOU?" pointing to the viewer, and then it pulls back to reveal Dr. Hibbert or someone going "Um, I guess I could give it a shot" or something.
posted by sweetkid at 3:05 PM on September 14, 2013 [10 favorites]
posted by sweetkid at 3:05 PM on September 14, 2013 [10 favorites]
Oh haha, I just looked at the TV tropes link and it's the opposite, Hibbert pointing at Wiggum. Which makes more sense I guess. (Insert Hibbert chuckle).
posted by sweetkid at 3:17 PM on September 14, 2013 [1 favorite]
posted by sweetkid at 3:17 PM on September 14, 2013 [1 favorite]
30 Rock: "What's that? You've never heard of Sandwich Day?"
posted by bondcliff at 4:44 PM on September 14, 2013 [1 favorite]
posted by bondcliff at 4:44 PM on September 14, 2013 [1 favorite]
The first scene in swordfish where John travolta seems to address the audience talking about film clichés and then the camera pulls back to reveal who he's actually talking to.
posted by almostwitty at 11:53 PM on September 14, 2013
posted by almostwitty at 11:53 PM on September 14, 2013
My New Suit, an episode of Scrubs, has great fun with this (it's about a minute in).
posted by captainawesome at 1:07 AM on September 15, 2013
posted by captainawesome at 1:07 AM on September 15, 2013
Part 2 of "Throw Maw Maw from the House" from Raising Hope starts with Cloris Leachman (as Maw Maw), in a nursing home, speaking directly into the camera, recapping Part 1.
Cut to the opposite view, and she's sitting, facing a wall, talking to it. The two nursing home staffers who were watching her, discuss how she's always talking to that wall, telling crazy stories, like about the time she won an Oscar, or how she used to date Warren Beatty.
posted by mon-ma-tron at 11:51 AM on September 15, 2013 [1 favorite]
Cut to the opposite view, and she's sitting, facing a wall, talking to it. The two nursing home staffers who were watching her, discuss how she's always talking to that wall, telling crazy stories, like about the time she won an Oscar, or how she used to date Warren Beatty.
posted by mon-ma-tron at 11:51 AM on September 15, 2013 [1 favorite]
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by Knappster at 2:52 PM on September 14, 2013 [1 favorite]