History Main / FourthWallPsych

* ''WesternAnimation/TheAmazingWorldOfGumball'': When told that Gumball and Darwin are watching cartoons on pirate websites, their sister Anais chides them for doing so because those things "freeze all the ti... time." While the joke initially seemed to be like the show was freezing up, it turns out Anais stopped herself because she felt like she had to sneeze.

** Done more literal with the episode "Cheap Show" when Tilly mentions Cricket "broke the fourth wall" during his tantrum. All the Greens then glance toward the fourth wall (the viewers)...then we cut to the actual fourth wall in the living room which is broken.

* In the ''Series/BrooklynNineNine'' episode “The Night Shift,” when Jake Peralta tries to commandeer Jess Day’s vehicle, Jess shouts out, “It’s a crossover!” seemingly referencing the fact that it is a crossover with the show New Girl - but it turns out she is actually referencing the type of vehicle she is driving. (This is also an example of a Flashed-Badge Hijack.)

%% Image changes per Image Pickin' thread. https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/posts.php?discussion=1498924810078185500
%% Please do not replace or remove without starting a new thread.

* This happens in the opening credits for the second season of ''VisualNovel/HigurashiWhenTheyCry''. As the main cast is walking away, Rika turns around and seemingly waves to the audience. This seems appropriate after the revelation that [[OracularUrchin Rika]] [[spoiler: is the only one who [[ResetButton actually knows]] [[GroundhogDayLoop what's going on]]]]. However, after episode 13, when [[spoiler: [[NotSoImaginaryFriend Hanyuu]] finally works up the courage to go from secret observer to active participant, [[PromotionToOpeningTitles she gets an extra scene in the opening]], where it's clear that she's the one Rika was waving to]].

* In ComicBook/YoungAvengers vol. 2, Kid Loki appears to be delivering an AudienceMonologue in an amber void, elaborating on his character. On the next page, he is revealed to be [[spoiler: in a field of clouds in the sky at dusk, haranguing the ''real'' Loki]].
* The ''ComicBook/{{Futurama}}'' comic did this in issue 46, ''Follow the Reader''; it starts with the Professor talking directly to the reader to explain how the [[{{Gamebooks}} Choose Your Own Adventure]] format works. It then appears that he was babbling because Bender spiked his drink.
** Another issue had Bender say there were only three pages left...of the comic he was reading.

* ''ComicStrip/CalvinAndHobbes'' :

* ''Series/{{Scrubs}}'' does this on several occasions when they are not abusing the Fourth Wall outright.
** Three times in a row on one episode, with JD continually turning and asking, "What do you think?" "But what do you think?" "All that matters is what America thinks," about his new tailored Italian suit. It turns out he's asking 1. His friends 2. His residents 3. His tailor, who protests his name is "Amerigo", and adds of course he likes it, he made it.
** Happens again in the eighth season when they switched from NBC to ABC. JD points to the bottom corner of the frame (where the ABC logo/watermark resides) and comments "hey, that's new!", at which point the camera cuts to what he was actually pointing at.

* In a season 3 episode of ''Series/{{WEEDS}}'', Shane addresses the fourth wall and says "Yeah, it's just a bug in the system". In the next episode it is revealed that he was speaking to his late father, Judah.
* ''Furuhata Ninaburou'': just before the final act, Furuhata usually pauses the action to address the home audience directly, but in "Furuhata vs SMAP", he approaches the camera to apparently yell at the fourth wall for interfering in a crime scene--except that turns out to be a SMAP staff member.
* "Little Brown Noses", an episode of ''Series/MaidMarianAndHerMerryMen'': Marian and the gang are holding a charity telethon (despite the fact that it's TheDungAges and television hasn't been invented yet; it's that kind of series). After a while, the scene cuts away to show what the villains are up to, then cuts back to the telethon, where the MC goes into a back-from-the-commercial-break style "Welcome back" spiel. The camera then turns to the telethon's in-story audience, one of whom wonders out loud who's being welcomed back, since nobody's actually gone anywhere in the meantime.
* Happens in an episode of ''Series/HowIMetYourMother'' when Barney is addressing what appears to be the audience about Christmas being the time of giving. He then says the greatest gift is the gift of booty and "why not bang someone in need?", with the camera switching to the girl he was talking to.
* ''Series/{{Supernatural}}'' Castiel looks straight at the camera and says, "Let me tell you my story." Then we find out he's talking to God.
* ''Series/ThePrisoner1967'' has the episode "A, B, and C" where Number 6's dreams are examined for clues to why he resigned. In the end he figures out what's going on and takes control of the dream, and teases the Village overlords observing the process with the idea that he's about to reveal everything: "We mustn't disappoint the people watching."
* At the end of an episode of ''Series/BrotherlyLove'', a character looks like she is giving historical information to the audience, but she's just giving it to TheDitz in the cast.

* In ''The Mrs Bradley Mysteries'', the title character frequently addresses the camera directly. Sometimes it turns out to be Fourth Wall Psych, other times it's actual Fourth Wallbreaking.

* The ScareChord is a beloved gag for this. At least three examples:
** Series/OddSquad explains it with a [[ItMakesSenseInContext double bass lady thinking the closet was a concert hall]]
** Scottish comedy duo Hale&Pace have a FilmNoir setting with the scared victim running to and fro - at the end it is revealed he runs on a giant piano
** Also Hale and Pace? The [[Film/{{Psycho}} legendary shower scene]]; the woman is screaming...because she spotted a violin-playing peeping tom.
* ''Series/SledgeHammer'' (in "Vertical") has a brilliant take on the ExplodingCalendar trope. No time passes at all, it was caused by a ventilator.
* In a ''Series/JustShootMe'' where Maya dates a man who thinks he's Creator/WoodyAllen, she narrates while looking at the screen seemingly in ''Film/AnnieHall'' NoFourthWall style. Only at the end do we learn that she's been talking to the water delivery guy.

-->'''Frasier:''' Before we begin, I'd like to say how honoured I am to be taking over this slot. Obviously, I have some rather big shoes to fill - my predecessor here was much beloved. But I have never been one to shrink from a challenge and I'm sure we'll enjoy many happy years here together in my new home.
::Then the camera pulls out to reveal Frasier is auditioning for a television show after being fired from his radio show in the fifth season finale.
-->'''Frasier:''' Now, today on "Medical Minute"...

* In ''Theatre/MeanGirls'', as the stage begins to move to it's next position, Karen states, "Is the room spinning?", implying that she's noticing the scene change, when in reality, she's just [[AlcoholInducedIdiocy really really drunk]].

* Played for scares in ''VideoGame/GhostTrick''. When someone tries to talk to a ghost and they aren't using the ghost world, their sprite will turn and directly face the viewer as if talking to the player themselves. [[spoiler: And when Yomiel does it, catching you in the act of trying to save Cabanela, it's fucking terrifying.]]
* This happens once in ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaTwilightPrincess''. While exploring Castle Town, you can run into a guy that appears to be trying to catch the attention of the actual player behind the screen. If you walk down his line of sight in game though, it turns out that he's actually addressing another (very confused) {{NPC}}.

* VideoGame/{{D|evilMayCry}}ante does this in his ending in ''VideoGame/MarvelVsCapcom3''. Talking [[spoiler:to ComicBook/GhostRider]].
* ''VideoGame/TeamFortress2'': In "[[SupplementalMaterial/TeamFortress2 Meet the Medic]]", the Scout is blasted by rockets and appears to crash into the camera, until it's revealed he actually flew against a window.
* ''VideoGame/LunarSilverStarStory'' has an inversion. [[spoiler:After capturing the White Dragon]], the Magic Emperor states that he will need a queen, [[spoiler:just as the camera pans down at Luna's back, and just as she's standing before him. The camera then switch's to Luna's ''{{h|eroicBSOD}}orrified'' face, complete with an extreme close up. We all know that she's staring at the Magic Emperor, but the fact that it looks as if she's looking directly at us increases the tension, not to mention making that particular scene even more creepy.]]
* Done in ''VideoGame/PokemonMysteryDungeonGatesToInfinity'' by Hydreigon, who shoves his face into the camera, and then seems to give the player a QuizzicalTilt. It's only shown to be the trope later, [[spoiler: when he explains to the partner Pokemon that the hero has been watching them from the human world, and proceeds to look to the camera once more before addressing them, after which it's revealed you've been seeing the world through their perspective during their absence.]]
* In ''VideoGame/MobiusFinalFantasy'', when Cloud is about to head to the Promised Land (a LeaningOnTheFourthWall for the upcoming ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyVIIRemake''), he looks straight at the camera while saying "come with me", seemingly asking the audience to play his new game, before turning his head to indicate that he meant Wol. (This is something of a callback to an earlier scene where Cloud had told Wol "come with me" while looking at Echo, leading her to think she was asking him on a date and Wol to criticise Cloud for not making it clear who he was talking to.)

* Zigzagged by Monokuma in ''VisualNovel/DanganronpaTriggerHappyHavoc''. [[spoiler:With the reveal that the killing game is being broadcast to the whole world, many of the previous fourth wall breaks are explained... except for the Monokuma Theater segments, where he breaks the fourth wall directly.]]

** In Q-end 2 [[spoiler: Eric asks Sean who is Zero. If you give correct answer Sean will point at the camera and say "Zero is You, Delta!". Turns out Zero is with them pretending to be blind, deaf and in the wheelchair, [[BeneathSuspicion which is why everyone ignored him]]. And he's been there the whole time, and everything was shown from his perspective.]]
** In Perceptive end [[spoiler: Sean points crossbow at the camera, says [[ApologeticAttacker "I'm really sorry"]] and shots Zero.]]
* At the beginning of ''VisualNovel/SteinsGate'', Okabe appears to be addressing the audience through the screen, introducing himself and the other members of Future Gadgets Laboratory. Eventually the camera angle changes and we see that he's actually speaking to an animated character on a screen named Alpaca-Man.
* ''VisualNovel/ParanormasightTheSevenMysteriesOfHonjo'': [[spoiler: The Storyteller, who is presented as a FourthWallObserver, is eventually revealed to have been talking to the spirit of an onmyoji named Seiman throughout the entire game, Seiman having been the PlayerCharacter the whole time.]]

* ''WebAnimation/TheMostPopularGirlsInSchool'': Brittnay and Mackenzie seem to have this going on in episode 10. When Brittnay brings up Taylor [=McDevitt=] and the water park incident she walks up to the camera, seemingly telling it to the viewers. Mackenzie does the same when she proclaims that Shay Van Buren will now be known as '''Gay''' van Buren. They're both simply telling it to their fellow cheer squad and are only looking away for dramatic effect but it lead them instead to look directly at us.

-->'''Jose''': And don't you mention this to anybody!
-->'''Cremity''': What? I didn't hear anything!

* In a ''Killroy and Tina'' strip, TheDitz Brandon says he's saying [[AsYouKnow what Tina already knows]] for the benefit of those people watching them -- and it turns out a couple of nearby kids ''are'' eavesdropping on the characters.
%%* Beautifully exemplified in [[http://www.explosm.net/comics/1401/ this]] ''Webcomic/CyanideAndHappiness'' strip.

* In one [[http://www.egscomics.com/index.php?id=2051 strip]] of ''Webcomic/ElGoonishShive'', Tedd appears to be commenting on a stupid mistake that Elliot made despite not being around to witness it. However, he is quickly revealed to instead be commenting on a similar situation in the sitcom that he was watching, meaning that he was merely LeaningOnTheFourthWall rather than breaking it.
* Done in ''Webcomic/SluggyFreelance'' once in very random filler, in which Torg is at first clearly addressing the audience and talking about the filler (and about BreakingTheFourthWall), but then is suddenly shown to be talking to Gwynn, who asks him why he calls her "you guys" and what the FourthWall is.
* ''Webcomic/SleeplessDomain'': The comic's interstitial pages between chapters routinely feature an enigmatic FourthWallObserver named Anemone, who speaks directly to the reader to give exposition on the world of the comic or comment on the events of the preceding chapter. The last panels of [[https://www.sleeplessdomain.com/comic/interstitial-5 Interstitial 5]], however, reveal that she isn't actually speaking to the reader, but is instead TalkingToTheDead to a framed portrait of a mysterious woman in an EtherealWhiteDress.

* In the final scene of the second season of ''WesternAnimation/BeastWars'', Megatron rants about how he's changed history so that the villains win. At the end of his speech, he points towards the screen and exclaims "And YOU! You no longer EXIST!" In context, he's pointing to the Maximals who were just in the foreground as the shot zoomed in.[[note]]However, this isn't made clear until after the fact. For all the viewers knew at the time (or any unspoiled, first-time viewers, for that matter), that really could have been [[DownerEnding the end]] right there. According to WordOfGod, they weren't even sure there would even be another season, hence why the second season ends with "ToBeContinued?" (i.e., [[TheEndOrIsIt with the question mark included]]).[[/note]]
* In the middle of one episode of ''WesternAnimation/TheReplacements'', Sheldon essentially summarizes everything that had happened thus far in the episode, after which he looks directly at the fourth wall and says "What do YOOUUU think [will happen]?" Cut to Buzz, who is standing right in front of him.
* This was a RunningGag in ''WesternAnimation/TheJimmyTimmyPowerHour''. Sheen would ask, seemingly no one in particular, "Do you know what this means?! Do you?" He would then lean directly at the camera, asking "Do ''yoooouuu?"'' We then switch angles and zoom out to see that each time, he's asking Libby, who exasperatedly tells him to back off.
* ''WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagic'':
** In "Fall Weather Friends", Spike keeps narrating the Iron Pony competition between Rainbow Dash and Applejack. Twilight Sparkle keeps asking, "Who are you talking to?!" and then he'd point to other characters who were off screen until that moment.
** The episode "Lesson Zero" of 'has Pinkie Pie, the resident fourth-wall master, skip over to a picnic with a basket, and when she uncovers it, a cluster of balloons floats out and carries it away. Pinkie then appears to look at the audience for approval of her gag, and being disappointed when she doesn't see a reaction. This is due to her taking up the entire screen before hand focusing the viewer on the party pony. A second look shows that she's actually looking for a reaction from Fluttershy, whom the viewer likely didn't notice enter the frame via zoom-out.
** In the same season, in "A Friend In Deed", Pinkie's "morning workout" involves making random silly faces and noises to the camera... until we find out she's actually trying to entertain the baby twins Pound and Pumpkin Cake.
* The ''WesternAnimation/MuppetBabies1984'' episode, "Once Upon an Egg Timer" begins with Gonzo wearing 3D glasses and saying, "Hey! I can see you in 3D! Boy, and I thought I had a big schnozola!" as he faces the camera. It is then revealed that he was talking to Piggy. Piggy is not amused.

* ''WesternAnimation/TheAmazingWorldOfGumball'': When told that Gumball and Darwin are watching cartoons on pirate websites, their sister Anais chides them for doing so because those things "freeze all the ti... time." While the joke initially seemed to be like the show was freezing up, it turns out Anais stopped herself because she felt like she had to sneeze.

** {{Zig zagged|Trope}} in "Who Shot Mr. Burns?". Dr. Hibbert says that he can't solve the case, then points at the audience and asks, "Can ''you''?" In its initial airing, he really was pointing at the audience -- this was the season finale and the first part of a two-part episode (the only two-parter in the show' history), and in between seasons Fox held a viewer contest where the audience could guess who the shooter was. But in the episode itself -- as preserved in syndication -- the camera pulls away slightly to reveal that Hibbert was pointing at Chief Wiggum.

* In a Special chapter of ''Manga/NoMatterHowILookAtItItsYouGuysFaultImNotPopular'', after Tomoko, Yuu, and Kotomi finish watching the Lottes' latest game, Kotomi mentions how the baseball team has recently been doing a collaboration with some manga or anime about a loner protagonist. At first, it sounds like they're referring to their own manga, which was indeed involved in a collaboration with Chiba Lotte Marines at the time, but then they catch a poster advertising the project and it turns out they were referring to ''LightNovel/MyYouthRomanticComedyIsWrongAsIExpected''.

* 'WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagic'':

** In "Who Shot Mr. Burns?" Dr. Hibbert says that he can't solve this case, and then points at the audience and asks, "Can you?" The camera then pulls out slightly to show that he's really pointing at Chief Wiggum.[[note]]It should be noted that this is the show's only 2 part episode, and that part 1 was a season finale. During the summer between seasons Fox did in fact run a viewer contest (which has heavily advertised leading up to the finale) to try to guess who the shooter was. Making this a zigzagged trope, as at the time of the original airing he '''really was''' talking to the audience. Of course this is no longer the case in syndication.[[/note]]

* Since the only camera in ''Slashers'' is also the only cameraman in the studio, the entire movie blends this with LeaningOnTheFourthWall. Characters speaking to the camera could be addressing the cameraman, the live studio audience or the movie viewer. Megan {{invoke|dTrope}}s {{Fanservice}} by taking her top off, to hold the camera's attention for a rant about [[YouBastard spectator blood sports and consumers of glamorized violence directed at the viewer]]. The slashers themselves [[EvilIsHammy ham it up for their fans]], {{lampshad|eHanging}}ing the audience's bloodthirst.

-->-- '''Jack Donaghy''', ''Series/ThirtyRock'', opening [[Recap/ThirtyRockS4E1Season4 the premiere episode of Season 4]]

* In the ''WesternAnimation/AdventureTime'' episode "The Eyes", Finn and Jake both look at the camera while Finn says he has the feeling that someone is watching them. The camera pans back during the last part of the sentence to show that they're actually looking out the window at a horse standing on a nearby hill, watching them.

->''"Hello, everyone. I'm so happy to see all of you, and to welcome you to Season Four. ''[Beat]'' …which is, of course, the name of this restaurant, the number one Asian fusion restaurant in New York."''
-->-- '''Jack Donaghy''', ''Series/ThirtyRock''

--->'''Jose''': And don't you mention this to anybody!
--->'''Cremity''': What? I didn't hear anything!

* ''Series/{{Chef}}'': In a season one episode, Gareth wigs out on Everton in his signature style. After a minute or two, they pause, and Everton slowly looks at the camera. Then Chef does. This is, of course, the camera placed there earlier by a documentary film crew.

* ''Film/PiratesOfSiliconValley'': The movie starts off with Steve Jobs talking about a film. You think he is talking about the movie when he is really talking to the director of the "1984" commercial, Ridley Scott.

* Since the only camera in ''Slashers'' is also the only cameraman in the studio, the entire movie blends this with LeaningOnTheFourthWall. Characters speaking to the camera could be addressing the cameraman, the live studio audience or the movie viewer. Megan {{invoke|dTrope}}s {{Fanservice}} by taking her top off, to hold the camera's attention for a rant about [[YouBastard spectator blood sports and consumers of glamorized violence directed at the viewer]]. The slashers themselves [[EvilIsHammy ham it up for their fans]], {{lampshad|eHanging}}ing the audience's bloodthirst.

* One scene of ''Film/BrooklynsFinest'' has [[Creator/DonCheadle Tango]] doing this, though it was clearly shown who he was speaking to before this.
* Oliver Stone's ''Film/{{JFK}}'' ends with Jim Garrison making a passionate speech about the importance of truth, however much people in power try to bury it, with the camera angle making it look like he's talking directly to the audience toward the end.
* The Creator/LaurelAndHardy short ''Helpmates'' opens with Ollie seemingly addressing the audience and scolding them for throwing a wild party the night before. Camera pulls back and we see that he's actually [[MirrorMonologue talking to himself in the mirror]].

* ''Series/CountArthurStrong'': From time to time, Arthur adresses an imaginary audience. He has no idea there really ''is'' an audience, he's just acting out a fantasy.

* The episode "Lesson Zero" of ''WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagic'' has Pinkie Pie, the resident fourth-wall master, skip over to a picnic with a basket, and when she uncovers it, a cluster of balloons floats out and carries it away. Pinkie then appears to look at the audience for approval of her gag, and being disappointed when she doesn't see a reaction. This is due to her taking up the entire screen before hand focusing the viewer on the party pony. A second look shows that she's actually looking for a reaction from Fluttershy, whom the viewer likely didn't notice enter the frame via zoom-out.

%%** The whole idea of Pinkie Pie being a fourth wall breaker initially was based on an animation error in the final shot of the season 1 episode "Bridle Gossip" that makes her appear to be staring at the camera, then the production team made her a fourth wall-breaker ''intentionally''.
%%*** There ''was'' the time she held back the IrisOut at the end of the pilot.
** In "Fall Weather Friends", Spike keeps narrating the Iron Pony competition between Rainbow Dash and Applejack. Twilight Sparkle keeps asking, "Who are you talking to?!" and then he'd point to other characters who were off screen until that moment.

* ''WesternAnimation/TheAmazingWorldOfGumball'': When told that Gumball and Darwin are watching cartoons on pirate websites, she chides them for doing so because those things "freeze all the ti... time." While the joke initially seemed to be like the show was freezing up, it turns out Anais stopped herself because she felt like she had to sneeze.

** Then the camera pulls out to reveal Frasier is auditioning for a television show after being fired from his radio show in the fifth season finale.
--->'''Frasier:''' Now, today on "Medical Minute"...

* ''Webcomic/SleeplessDomain'': The comic's interstitial pages between chapters routinely feature an enigmatic FourthWallObserver named Anemone, who speaks directly to the reader to give exposition on the world of the comic or comment on the events of the preceding chapter. The last panels of [[https://www.sleeplessdomain.com/comic/interstitial-5 Interstitial 5]], however, reveal that she has not actually been speaking to the reader, but is instead TalkingToTheDead to a framed picture of the Woman in White.

-->--'''Jack Donaghy''', ''Series/ThirtyRock''

* Beautifully exemplified in [[http://www.explosm.net/comics/1401/ this]] ''Webcomic/CyanideAndHappiness'' strip.

* ''Webcomic/OzyAndMillie'' [[http://ozyandmillie.org/2002/12/16/ozy-and-millie-1057/ "Just making random expository statements."]]

** In "Fall Weather Friends", Spike keeps narrating the Iron Pony competition between Rainbow Dash and Applejack. Twilight keeps asking, "Who are you talking to!?" and then he'd point to other characters who were off screen until that moment.