History Main / GrillingPyrotechnics

** In a [[https://www.gocomics.com/crankshaft/2023/04/30 more recent story arc]], NASA would recieve signals from a nearby UFO that turned out to be... a [[AnimateInanimateObject sentient grill]] named Ch'Bril, launched into space by none other by Crankshaft himself, back in 2018. After being blasted through a wormhole and upgraded by aliens, it returned to seek out whom it believed to be its father Crankshaft, by hitching a ride on Dimorphos, altering its path to be on a direct collision course with Earth within the next 1,000 years. Since NASA wasn't capable of sending a second DART ship to the asteroid in time, they resorted to the "down and dirty" launch attempt... In other words, having Crankshaft launch another grill into Dimorphos.

** In a [[www.gocomics.com/crankshaft/2023/04/30 more recent story arc]], NASA would recieve signals from a nearby UFO that turned out to be... a [[AnimateInanimateObject sentient grill]] named Ch'Bril, launched into space by none other by Crankshaft himself, back in 2018. After being blasted through a wormhole and upgraded by aliens, it returned to seek out whom it believed to be its father Crankshaft, by hitching a ride on Dimorphos, altering its path to be on a direct collision course with Earth within the next 1,000 years. Since NASA wasn't capable of sending a second DART ship to the asteroid in time, they resorted to the "down and dirty" launch attempt... In other words, having Crankshaft launch another grill into Dimorphos.

* ''ComicStrip/{{Crankshaft}}'': Crankshaft is known for his impressive grilling explosions. This was once [[LampshadeHanging lampshaded]] by having the city council help deal with budget problems by replacing their Fourth of July fireworks show with Crankshaft lighting his grill. A cause has been found: Homeland Security wants Cranky's "secret barbecue sauce" as it's apparently more powerful than most military-grade explosives.

[[folder:Fan Works]]
* In the ''{{Literature/Discworld}}'', [[AmoralAfrikaner Howondalandian]] Assassin Doctor Johanna Smith-Rhodes hosts an Octeday-afternoon ''braai'' for staff and students from the [[UsefulNotes/SouthAfrica Homeland]]. She entrusts the lighting of the barbecue grill to senior students in her [[StuffBlowingUp Applied Exothermic Alchemy]] course. They never fail to get it up and running - safely - within seconds. More in the writings of Creator/AAPessimal.

** Homer empties an entire can of lighter fluid on the grill, and then gets a second can and adds some more. The resulting fireball could be [[DistantReactionShot seen from miles away.]]
** Subverted another time when Homer drenches the barbecue with an [[OverlyLongGag interminable]] amount of fluid, then shields his face to drop in the match. [[AntiHumor It peacefully ignites a serviceable glow]].

This can be TruthInTelevision, except for the AmusingInjuries. Two to three thousand people are admitted to hospitals every year due to failing to safely light a grill, and some of those incidents are fatal. [[AndKnowingIsHalfTheBattle Just so you know]], the proper way to light a charcoal grill is to pour in a layer of charcoal, squirt in the lighter fluid, ''leave it alone for ten or fifteen minutes'', and ''then'' light the charcoal. Better yet, use a starting cube (or some newspaper) and a [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chimney_starter chimney starter] instead.]

This is commonly caused by a character taking a TimTaylorTechnology approach to lighter fluid, but it could be a sign of more general ineptitude. Either way, it's rarely a one-time event, and is generally elevated to an [[RunningGag "annual ritual."]]

This can be TruthInTelevision, except for the AmusingInjuries. Two to three thousand people are admitted to hospitals every year due to failing to safely light a grill, and some of those incidents are fatal. [[AndKnowingIsHalfTheBattle Just so you know]], the proper way to light a charcoal grill is to pour in a layer of charcoal, squirt in the lighter fluid, ''leave it alone for ten or fifteen minutes'', and ''then'' light the charcoal. Better yet, use a starting cube (or some newspaper) and a [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chimney_starter chimney starter.]]

** Peter also does it twice; the first time actually predates his father making it a RunningGag (the result of spraying lighter fluid on hot coals), the second is [[InvokedTrope deliberate]] for his Father's Day present in a manner of BreakingTheFourthWall.

* In the ''{{Literature/Discworld}}'', [[AmoralAfrikaner Howondalandian]] Assassin Doctor Johanna Smith-Rhodes hosts an Octeday-afternoon ''braai'' for staff and students from the [[UsefulNotes/SouthAfrica Homeland]]. She entrusts the lighting of the barbecue grill to senior students on her [[StuffBlowingUp Applied Exothermic Alchemy]] course. They never fail to get it up and running - safely - within seconds. More in the writings of Creator/AAPessimal.

* ''Series/HomeImprovement'' once featured an attempt to set the record for shortest time to prepare a charcoal grill for cooking. {{Tim|TaylorTechnology}} pulled it off in 3.2 seconds using jet fuel and liquid oxygen. The grill promptly took off like a rocket. [[BrickJoke It landed in a lake at the end of the episode.]]

* ''Website/DarwinAwards'': An "At Risk Survivor" award went to a pair of guys who started their barbecue grill, then realized they were short of charcoal. So they loaded their still smoldering grill on to the back of their pick-up to drive it round to a friend's place who had some charcoal. No prizes for guessing what happens when you air at high speed through smoldering coals. Their truck ended up going up in flames.

* ''ComicStrip/CalvinAndHobbes'': One strip features Calvin's attempt to convince his dad to invoke this trope by using gasoline instead of lighter fluid.

* In the ''{{Literature/Discworld}}'',
[[/folder]] [[AmoralAfrikaner Howondalandian]] Assassin Doctor Johanna Smith-Rhodes hosts an Octeday-afternoon ''braai'' for staff and students from the [[UsefulNotes/SouthAfrica Homeland]]. She entrusts the lighting of the barbecue grill to senior students on her Applied Exothermic Alchemy course. They never fail to get it up and running within seconds. More in the writings of Creator/AAPessimal.

[[folder:Jokes]]