History Main / ExecutiveBallClicker

* ''Film/IronMan2'' has a one and a varation of one. First played straight with one serving as both FunnyBackgroundEvent and annoyance (Tony's trying to talk over the incessant tick-tick-tick) until he finally removes it. Later on when he gives control of the company over to Pepper, He tries to talk to her from across the desk but this perfectly balanced spinning doohickey that serves a similar aesthetic function is blocking his view. He finds it extremely annoying and asks if he can move it, but she says no.

Perhaps it is the fact that they have time to play with something useless, amusing and especially hypnotic (even for an executive toy), unlike everyone else, who is, nose-to-the-grindstone, focused on productivity. Maybe there is the fact that many models are MadeOfShiny and are often chome-like, echoing the popular image of the sleek, AsceticAesthetic hypermodern office furniture that we have popularly associated with executive corner offices since the early 70s. Plus, it offers that oh-so-executive functioning of operating with a single swipe or stroke: even when operating useful objects, executives seemingly never do more than press a button or sweep their hands over a panel, or sign their names. We often think of this "single stroke of the hand" as synonymous with "executive" as well.

This device, named after physicist Sir Isaac Newton, is a well-known science toy that operates on the principle of conservation of momentum and energy. If someone is an executive, they almost certainly have one on their desk. In fact, it nearly signifies "executive". There may be other executive office toys (Lava Lamps, Stress Balls, Rubik's Cubes), but there is something about the Newton's Cradle that especially reminds us of the executive's seat of power, influence and control.

* ''Fanfic/StoryShuffle'': "Coda" mentions one being on the desk of a Princess, where it's slightly unexpected.

Another purpose for the cradle is for the executive to fiddle with it while somebody is talking, to signify their lack of respect for the speaker or short attention span. This may be a PointyHairedBoss. Especially if they are a technology executive or an entertainment executive. If there's no one around to ignore, this can simply signify boredom with their position.

Another purpose for the cradle is for the executive to fiddle with it while somebody is talking, to signify their lack of respect for the speaker or short attention span. This may be a PointyHairedBoss. Especially if they are a technology executive or an entertainment executive.

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* In one episode of ''Series/Taskmaster'', Kerry Godliman brings in one, which Alex Horne calls by the trope name. Greg goes on to say "Executive Ball Clicker" is [[HoYay his nickname for Alex.]]

* ''Film/PacificRim'': During as HumongousMecha Gipsy Danger battles the enormous {{Kaiju}} Otachi, a missed punch crashes into an office building, tearing through desks, cubicles, and other furniture… and comes to a stop just far enough to tap a Newton's Cradle on a desk and start it clacking.

* In ''Film/PoliceAcademy 4: Citizens on Patrol'', Captain Harris has a Newton's cradle in his office. When Proctor fiddles with it, Harris says, "Don't you ever touch my balls without asking!".

* In the ''Film/XMen'' movies, Magneto isn't actually an executive, but being a villainous mastermind, the effect is mostly the same. Interestingly, the metal balls in his Newton's cradle aren't actually operating via inertia-- he's simulating the effect with his magnetokinesis, and they're actually floating in midair. When he leaves the room and is no longer paying attention to them, they fall to the floor.

* In ''WesternAnimation/{{Futurama}}'', "The Day The Earth Stood Stupid", a dumbed-down Prof. Farnsworth sticks his head between the balls of a Newton's Cradle as they go back and forth on his skull. "Ow! Ow! I'm a genius. Ow!"
* ''WesternAnimation/TheSimpsons''. When Homer starts his internet business he sets up a home office on the dining room table, including one of these. His "business" consists largely of him sitting at the table playing with it.

* ''Film/PacificRim'': During as HumongousMecha Gipsy Danger battles the enormous {{Kaiju}} Otachi, skyscrapers are toppled, cargo ships are smashed... and a single Newton's Cradle rocks from a gentle tap of Gipsy's fist.

* In the first major cutscene of the game ''VideoGame/Psychonauts2'', we see that Raz has one of these inside of his cubicle after he's become part of the Psychonauts, albeit one with small brains instead of metal balls. [[spoiler: Though it turns out this, along with everything else about the stiflingly corporate looking Psychonauts HQ seen in the cutscene is a false construct designed to keep [[TheDragon Dr. Loboto]] under control while they probe his brain for the identity of his boss.]] It doesn't last long.

* In the first major cutscene of ''VideoGame/Psychonauts2'', we see that Raz has one of these inside of his cubicle after he's become part of the Psychonauts, albeit one with small brains instead of metal balls. [[spoiler: Though it turns out this, along with everything else about the stiflingly corporate looking Psychonauts HQ seen in the cutscene is a false construct designed to keep [[TheDragon Dr. Loboto]] under control while they probe his brain for the identity of his boss.]]

It may also just be a kind of sloppy shorthand. Sometimes it may signify something, but other times it just may be the props department saying, "Fancy chair, check. Fancy desk, check. Clicky thingy, check."

Interestingly, as ''Series/MythBusters''' Adam and Jamie showed, this actually only works as a desktop item. It does not work on a grand scale.

* ''Webcomic/{{Sunstone}}'': In one of Lisa?s InUniverse stories, executive domme Allison has one of these. Interestingly, in this model, the balls are on hooks that can be detached. She utilizes these in an impromptu scene with Sarah.

* In ''Literature/{{Discworld}}'', Death, who has little grasp of why humans do things and tends to seize on the most peculiar things and then miss the point, has a toy on his desk with a single ball bearing and a large slab of metal. The bearing hits the metal and stops. That's it. (In the AnimatedAdaptation of ''Discworld/SoulMusic'', this was replaced by the skulls version.)

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* The third ''Advertising/{{Volvic}}'' commercial shows that tyrannosaurus Alan owns a Newton's cradle with skulls rather than balls alongside other office-like equipment.

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* The Music/NineInchNails video for Only is based around executive office toys. One of these represents the percussion and there's one of those boards full of blunt pins that everyone sticks on their faces (ew).

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* The third ''Advertising/{{Volvic}}'' commercial shows that tyrannosaurus Alan owns a Newton's cradle with skulls rather than balls.

TLP Note: Administrivia/RollingUpdates
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