History Main / HighSchoolRejects

* ''Film/BackToTheFuture'': After Marty's trip to 1955 alters the timeline, TheBully Biff ends up becoming dominated by former weakling George (Marty's future father) and when Marty goes back to 1985, he discovers Biff became employed as a car-washer who serves his family and is intimidated by George, whereas in the original timeline, Biff was George's boss and their dynamic was reversed.

* ''The Party's Over'' by Caroline Cooney documents an {{Alpha Bitch}}'s transition to this as her refusal to plan for the future catches up with her.

* ''Film/RomyAndMichelesHighSchoolReunion'': The title characters learn that the former AlphaBitch Christy is an unhappy stay-at-home mom with two kids (and a third on the way) while he husband Billy--the former JerkJock captain of the football team--is an overweight loser working installing drywall for Christy's father. It is implied that the rest of Christy's GirlPosse (apart from Lisa) are in similar situations.

* [[spoiler:Biff]] in ''Film/BackToTheFuture'', after Marty's influence. And again in the [[Film/BackToTheFuturePartII second part]].
* Tommy and Darian, in ''Film/BeautifulGirls''. Tommy was a hockey star destined to be a snowplower. Darian was an AlphaBitch destined for an unhappy marriage. Though popular in high school, they are miserable adults, and the affair between the two of them ruins their lives further.

* In ''Film/RomyAndMichelesHighSchoolReunion'', the title characters learn that the former AlphaBitch Christy is an unhappy stay-at-home mom with two kids (and a third on the way) while he husband Billy--the former JerkJock captain of the football team--is an overweight loser working installing drywall for Christy's father. It is implied that the rest of Christy's GirlPosse (apart from Lisa) are in similar situations.
* Skip in ''Film/SlaughterHigh'', who was the HighSchoolHustler and leader of the cool kids, is now an unemployed loser who is living out of TheAllegedCar.
* Jay and Silent Bob from ''Film/TheViewAskewniverse''.
** Played with fairly frequently in Kevin Smith's work, come to think of it: Dante and Randal (''Film/{{Clerks}}'' and ''Film/ClerksII''); T.S. and Brodie (''Film/{{Mallrats}}''); Holden and Banky (''Film/ChasingAmy'') are a [[SubvertedTrope subversion]], though.
** In a non-Askewniverse example: Zack and Miri from Smith's 2008 film ''Film/ZackAndMiriMakeAPorno''.

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* Wayne and Garth from ''Film/WaynesWorld'' are High School Rejects, albeit unusually sympathetic ones.
* Jay and Silent Bob from ''Film/TheViewAskewniverse''.
** Played with fairly frequently in Kevin Smith's work, come to think of it: Dante and Randal (''Film/{{Clerks}}'' and ''Film/ClerksII''); T.S. and Brodie (''Film/{{Mallrats}}''); Holden and Banky (''Film/ChasingAmy'') are a [[SubvertedTrope subversion]], though.
** In a non-Askewniverse example: Zack and Miri from Smith's 2008 film ''Film/ZackAndMiriMakeAPorno''.

* Tommy and Darian, in ''Film/BeautifulGirls''. Tommy was a hockey star destined to be a snowplower. Darian was an AlphaBitch destined for an unhappy marriage. Though popular in high school, they are miserable adults, and the affair between the two of them ruins their lives further.

* Frank Zappa's song "Wind Up Working In A Gas Station" could be a TropeNamer.

If there's more than one of them, and they hang out together, they may also be the CatchPhraseSpoutingDuo. If they were the JerkJock, they're selling fat women shoes as a JadedWashout now. If they were the AlphaBitch, then they're now married to the JadedWashout, and probably several dress sizes overweight. Rejects are also frequently the RedHerring in crime dramas that have a teenaged victim. See also FutureLoser.

* Parodied in ''WesternAnimation/FamilyGuy'' in which Brian, as a teacher, calls out his disobedient students and tells them that they will become this trope if they continue. Cue them being interested in the idea of living low-end jobs, stand on their desks and say [[Film/DeadPoetsSociety "Oh captain, my captain!"]]

-->''"Stop giving me that pop-up ad for Classmates.com! There's a reason you don't talk to people for 25 years, because you don't particularly like them! Besides, I already know what the captain of the football team is doing these days: Mowing my lawn."''
--->'''-- [[Series/RealTimeWithBillMaher Bill Maher]]''', ''New Rules''

** Played with fairly frequently in Kevin Smith's work, come to think of it.
** Dante and Randal, T.S. and Brodie, Zack and Miri,...Holden and Banky are a subversion, though.

* Uncle Rico, in ''Film/NapoleonDynamite'' who mentally relives his high school football playing glory days, while cooking up various schemes to make money, all of which are degrading and ineffective.
* Tommy and Darian, in ''Film/BeautifulGirls''. Tommy was a hockey star destined to be a snow plower. Darian was an AlphaBitch destined for an unhappy marriage. Though popular in high school, they are miserable adults, and the affair between the two of them ruins their lives further.
* In ''Film/RomyAndMichelesHighSchoolReunion'', Romy and Michelle learn that the former AlphaBitch Christy is an unhappy stay-at-home mom with two kids (and a third on the way) while he husband Billy--the former JerkJock captain of the football team--is an overweight loser working installing drywall for Christy's father. It is implied that the rest of Christy's GirlPosse (apart from Lisa) are in similar situations.

* ''The Party's Over'' by Caroline Cooney documents an AlphaBitch's transition to this as her refusal to plan for the future catches up with her.

* Invoked by the AV club faculty advisor in ''Series/FreaksAndGeeks''.

* Frank Zappa's song "Wind Up Working In A Gas Station" could be a trope namer.

* Parodied in ''WesternAnimation/FamilyGuy'' in which Brian, as a teacher, calls out his disobedient students and tells them that they will become this trope if they continue. Cue them being interested in the idea of living low-end jobs, stand on their desks and say "Oh captain, my captain!"

* In ''Film/RomyAndMichellesHighSchoolReunion'', Romy and Michelle learn that the former AlphaBitch Christy is an unhappy stay-at-home mom with two kids (and a third on the way) while he husband Billy--the former JerkJock captain of the football team--is an overweight loser working installing drywall for Christy's father. It is implied that the rest of Christy's GirlPosse (apart from Lisa) are in similar situations.

* Wayne and Garth from ''Film/WaynesWorld'' are HighSchoolRejects, albeit unusually sympathetic ones.

The kids you knew in {{high school}} who are working at gas stations now.

* ''The Party's Over'' by Caroline Cooney documents an {{Alpha Bitch}}'s transition to this as her refusal to plan for the future catches up with her.

* ''Series/{{Cold Case}} adores'' this trope.

* Not high school, but this trope was invoked in ''{{ComicStrip/Frazz}}'', after Caulfield has a run-in with the school bully:

If there's more than one of them, and they hang out together, they may also be the CatchPhraseSpoutingDuo. If they were the JerkJock, they're selling fat women shoes as a JadedWashout now. If they were the AlphaBitch, then they're now married to the JadedWashout, and probably several dress sizes overweight. Rejects are also frequently the RedHerring in crime dramas that have a teenaged victim.

* Jay and Silent Bob from ''Franchise/TheViewAskewniverse''.

** Also Dante and Randal, T.S. and Brodie, Zack and Miri,...Holden and Banky are a subversion, though.

* BruceSpringsteen's "Glory Days" gives several examples.

--->'''-- [[RealTimeWithBillMaher Bill Maher]]''', ''New Rules''

* Invoked by the AV club faculty advisor in ''FreaksAndGeeks''.

* The ''{{Beavis and Butthead}}'' rip-offs on ''Series/StepByStep''.

* Jay and Silent Bob from TheViewAskewniverse.

* [[spoiler:Biff]] in ''Film/BackToTheFuture'', after Marty's influence. And again in the second part.

* Tommy and Darian, in ''Film/BeautifulGirls''. Tommy was a hockey star destined to be a snow plower. Darian was an {{Alpha Bitch}} destined for an unhappy marriage. Though popular in high school, they are miserable adults, and the affair between the two of them ruins their lives further.

* Weevil from Veronica Mars is a High School Reject who quickly became a major supporting character. When the show moved on from high school, he did indeed fail to get his diploma (due to being arrested at graduation) and instead has had several casual jobs, the first of which was in a gas station.
* The ''{{Beavis and Butthead}}'' rip-offs on ''StepByStep''.
* Eddie Winslow's friends Willie and Weasel on ''FamilyMatters''. Waldo Faldo was this too when he was introduced in the series but evolved into Eddie's best friend and was given a job and a girlfriend.
* One of these is one the first victims (possibly the very first) to be killed by a meteor freak in {{Smallville}}.
* Invoked by the AV club faculty advisor in ''FreaksAndGeeks''.

* Tim from OneTreeHill was an annoying basketball player. Four years after graduating, it is revealed in season 5 that he is now a pizza delivery man.

* Wayne and Garth from ''WaynesWorld'' are HighSchoolRejects, albeit unusually sympathetic ones.

* Tommy and Darian, in ''BeautifulGirls''. Tommy was a hockey star destined to be a snow plower. Darian was an {{Alpha Bitch}} destined for an unhappy marriage. Though popular in high school, they are miserable adults, and the affair between the two of them ruins their lives further.

* ''BeavisAndButthead''.