History Main / CloudcuckoolandersMinder

* Sometimes, the companions are dragged into taking care of the [[DoctorWho Doctor!]] Generally restricted to Four and Eleven though.

* Louise of MiscellaneousError spends most of her time trying to keep her brother, Jack, from killing himself or anybody else.

* At least part of Kenren's job in ''{{Saiyuki}} Gaiden'' is to make sure Tenpou can function in the real world and not get burried under mess, though it is a volentery aspect of it.

* Even if ''HaruhiSuzumiya'' hadn't been a RealityWarper Kyon's life would have been a lot easier if he hadn't meet the titular character to begin with. But instead he allowed himself to be forced into her self created club to search for aliens, time travelers, [=ESPers=] etc. and keep her entertained.

* In ''AzumangaDaioh'' Chiyo-chan is one of these to [[CloudCuckoolander Osaka]]. Particularly amusing since the former is much younger than the later.

* Generally keeping them out of trouble (calming down angry locals, posting bail, finding directions to the nearest stationary store or farmer's market, etc).

[[folder: {{Anime}} and {{Manga}}]]

* In ''HayateTheCombatButler'' Sharna Alamgir were, according to the mangaka, created to play the StraightMan to Fumi Hibino's goofball character and basically exists to provide [[DeadpanSnarker snappy comebacks]]. It must be a bit hard for her, since she is a foreign exchange student herself.
* Even if ''HaruhiSuzumiya'' hadn't been a RealityWarper Kyon's life would have been a lot easier if he hadn't meet the titular character to begin with. But instead he allowed himself to be forced into her self created club to search for aliens, time travelers, ESP'ers etc. and keep her entertained.

[[folder: {{Comics}}]]
* In ''{{Transmetropolitan}}'' the Filthy Assistants, Channon Yarrow an ex-stripper-nun turned bodyguard and Yelena Rossini a chain smoking would be writer, are this to gonzo journalist Spider Jerusalem. Yes, they really are the sane ones.
* In ''{{Sandman}}'' Barnabas the Dog is assigned by Destruction to accompany and watch over his sister, Delerium (her name says it all).

[[folder: {{Literature}}]]

[[folder: LiveActionTelevision]]

[[folder: RealLife]]
* The geologist responsible for putting forward an important aspect of plate tectonics (who's name escapes me right now) was known for having very strange speech patterns. When he died a friend of his (who knew what he was on about) rephrased things for him.

[[folder: WesternAnimation]]

* Nani is this to Lilo in ''LiloAndStitch''. When social services threatens to separate them, she explains that she's the only one who can understand Lilo's actions.

[[folder: VideoGames]]

* At some of the cast of ''{{BlazBlue}}'' try to keep [[CatGirl Taokaka]] out of trouble when they can (particularly [[spoiler: her progenitor]] [[OldMaster Jubei]], his student [[TheHero Ragna]] and Tao's more level headed CoolBigSis and mentor Torakaka).

* In ''Dragon Age II'', Varric serves this role for his older brother Bartrand, who lacks social skills. Later on, he also serves this role for Merrill as she tries to adapt to life in the city.

[[AC: {{Anime}} and {{Manga}}]]

[[AC: {{Comics}}]]

[[AC: {{Literature}}]]

[[AC: LiveActionTelevision]]

[[AC: RealLife]]

[[AC: WesternAnimation]]

[[AC: VideoGames]]

* In ''Dragon Age II'', Varric serves this role for his older brother Bartrand, who lacks social skills. Later on, he also serves this role for Merrill as she tries to adapt to life in the city.

Put simply, this trope is about someone who has the task (be it as a friend or their actual job) of keeping an eye on the resident {{cloudcuckoolander}}, FishOutOfWater or other strange person. They might be a close friend, relative, hired bodyguard or nanny or even just a plain old servant. As long as they accompany someone who's a bit crazy and try to prevent things getting out of hand, they're this trope.

* Herren from ''[[DragonAge Dragon Age: Origins]]'' is one to his boyfriend Wade.

* Cecile Croomy, the BeleagueredAssistant to [[MadScientist Lloyd Asplund]], also serves as his minder in all things professional and social, since he has [[CloudCuckooLander no interest in doing so himself, preferring his]] HumongousMecha.

Related tropes include; BeleagueredAssistant, NerdNanny, BattleButler, SavvyGuyEnergeticGirl, OldRetainer, TheCaretaker (who looks after someone who wouldn't look after themselves), LivingEmotionalCrutch and TranslatorBuddy (a friend who translates for him).

* In AzumangaDaioh Chiyo-chan is one of these to [[CloudCuckoolander Osaka]]. Particularly amusing since the former is much younger than the later.

* In GAGeijutsukaArtDesignClass Mizubuchi is this to the art club president; Awara. She even lampshaded it once, noting that she has a friend who she always needs to take care of.
* In HayateTheCombatButler Sharna Alamgir were, according to the mangaka, created to play the StraightMan to Fumi Hibino's goofball character and basically exists to provide [[DeadpanSnarker snappy comebacks]]. It must be a bit hard for her, since she is a foreign exchange student herself.
* Even if HaruhiSuzumiya hadn't been a RealityWarper Kyon's life would have been a lot easier if he hadn't meet the titular character to begin with. But instead he allowed himself to be forced into her self created club to search for aliens, time travelers, ESP'ers etc. and keep her entertained.

* In {{Sandman}} Barnabas the Dog is assigned by Destruction to accompany and watch over his sister, Delerium (her name says it all).

* Beetee appears to serve as this to Wiress in [[TheHungerGames Catching Fire]].

* The title character of the TV show {{Monk}}, who suffers from OCD, employs a helpful companion (Sharona in early seasons, then Natalie). She hands out sanitizing wipes, does all manner of dirty work, explains his odd mannerisms to others, and generally runs interference between him and the world.

* In ''{{Fallout}} 3'' you essentially serve as this to Moira Brown when you're doing her (exceptionally long) quest chain to gather data for writing a survival guide. You can even talk her out of pursuing said dream (but only [[BreakTheCutie if you're feeling cruel]]).

* Translating what they're saying from [[TechnoBabble whatever]] [[WordSaladHumour their]] [[TheUnintelligible preferred]] form of communication may be.

Related tropes include; BeleagueredAssistant, NerdNanny, BattleButler, SavvyGuyEnergeticGirl, OldRetainer, TheCaretaker (who looks after someone who wouldn't look after themselves) and LivingEmotionalCrutch

* Even if HaruhiSuzumiya haven't been a RealityWarper Kyon's life would have been a lot easier if he hadn't meet the titular character to begin with. But instead he allowed himself to be forced into her self created club to search for aliens, time travelers, ESP'ers etc. and keep her entertained.

* The title character of the TV show {{Monk}}, who suffers from OCD, employs a helpful companion (Sharona in early seasons, then Natalie). She hands out sanitizing wipes, does all manner of dirty work, explains his odd mannerisms to others, and generally runs interference between him and the world.

* In GAGeijutsukaArtDesignClass Mizubuchi is this to the art club president; Awara. She even lampshaded it once, noting that she has a friend who she always needs to keep an eye on.
* The titular character of HayateTheCombatButler and Sharna Alamgir were, according to the mangaka, created to play the StraightMan to Fumi Hibino's goofball character and basically exists to provide [[DeadpanSnarker snappy comebacks]]. It must be a bit hard for her, since she is a foreign exchange student herself.
* Even if HaruhiSuzumiya haven't been a RealityWarper Kyon's life would have been a lot easier if he hadn't meet the titular character to begin with. But instead he allowed himself to be forced into her self created club and search for aliens, time travelers, ESP'ers etc. to keep her entertained.

* The geologist responsible for putting forward an important aspect of plate tectonics (who's name escapes me right now) was known for having very strange speech patterns. When he died a friend of his (who knew what he was on about) rephrased things for him.
* Leela is this to Fry (being his boss) for the first few episodes of ''{{Futurama}}''. After that he adapts and no longer acts like a FishOutOfTemporalWater.
* The main characters in the ''AceAttorney'' series tend to be this to their sidekicks (at the very least they occasionally manage to prevent them from doing something stupid).
* A more serious version appears in ''TheSuffering'' where there's an EscortMission (optional, but you'll need to complete it to get the best ending) that involves guiding around a drugged up, traumatised teenager who's so out of it he thinks you're his father.
* In ''{{Fallout}} 3'' you essentially serve as this to Moira Brown when you're doing her (exceptionally long) quest chain to gather data for writing a survival guide. You can even talk her out of pursuing said dream (but only [[BreakTheCutie if you're feeling cruel]]).
* Rincewind is assigned this role (as a literal tour guide) for Twoflower in the ''{{Discworld}}'' series.
* At some of the cast of ''{{BlazBlue}}'' try to keep [[CatGirl Taokaka]] out of trouble when they can (particularly [[spoiler: her progenitor]] [[OldMaster Jubei]], his student [[TheHero Ragna]] and Tao's more level headed CoolBigSis and mentor Torakaka).
* The title character of the TV show {{Monk}}, who suffers from OCD, employs a helpful companion (Sharona in early seasons, then Natalie). She hands out sanitizing wipes, does all manner of dirty work, explains his odd mannerisms to others, and generally runs interference between him and the world.
* Another serious version; Simon of {{Firefly}} acts as this for his "not altogether there" sister.
* In ''{{Fringe}}'' Astrid and Peter are this to Walter.
* [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ronald_Graham Ronald Graham]] is a RealLife example.
* Dr. Watson acts as one of these to the eccentric and blunt ''SherlockHolmes''.
* In ''{{Transmetropolitan}}'' the Filthy Assistants, Channon Yarrow an ex-stripper-nun turned bodyguard and Yelena Rossini a chain smoking would be writer, are this to gonzo journalist Spider Jerusalem. Yes, they really are the sane ones.
* In AzumangaDaioh Chiyo-chan is one of these to [[CloudCuckoolander Osaka]]. Particularly amusing since the former is much younger than the later.
* In {{Sandman}} Barnabas the Dog is assigned by Destruction to accompany and watch over his sister, Delerium (her name says it all).

* Even if HaruhiSuzumiya haven't been a RealityWarper Kyon's life would have been a lot easier if he hadn't meet the titular character to begin with. But instead he allowed himself to be forced into her self created club and search for aliens, time travelers, ESP'ers etc. to keep her entertained.