History Main / ICanExplain

* In ''[[https://archiveofourown.org/works/41986218 Home Movies]]'' (NSFW) has Kairi find a box marked "Sex Ed" and questions Sora about it. Sora recalls that Tidus gave it to him after he returned to the Destiny Islands after ''VideoGame/KingdomHeartsII'', supposedly to help him catch up on a Sex Ed class, but he never needed to open the box. When he does, it turns out to be a PornStash. Sora freaks out about opening it in front of Kairi and reflexively stammers "I can explain!", to which Kairi calmly points out that he just ''did'', and that he very obviously hadn't asked for it or known about it.

* The opening skit of the 2006 UsefulNotes/{{Emmy|Award}}s had host Creator/ConanOBrien wandering onto the sets of several TV shows. The final bit had him walking into an empty house, only to find himself in the middle of a "To Catch A Predator" segment and protesting to Chris Hansen, "This is very easy to explain."

--->'''Abed:''' I can explain! ''[beat]'' Oh, I thought you'd keep yelling over me. Okay, I can explain...[[note]]In keeping with the [[SurprisinglyRealisticOutcome more realistic tone this set]], his explanation is heard, and accepted to not have been malicious or intentional, and he is forgiven.[[/note]]

[[folder:Film - Animated]]

[[folder:Film - Live-Action]]

[[folder:Live Action TV]]

** When Tommy Merlyn discovers Oliver is the Vigilante, the fact that his best friend is someone completely different from the man he'd known all his life, let alone a multiple murderer, makes him rather bitter. When Oliver offers to explain the how and why Tommy just cuts him off, saying he can not longer believe anything that Oliver says.

* ''WesternAnimation/TheMitchellsVsTheMachines'': When the Mitchells try to infiltrate PAL's base, she tries to flush them out by revealing what they truly think of each other, and she screens footage of Katie confiding in Aaron that she didn't mean it when she told her father she believed in him and was only manipulating him to get her future back. Rick is [[EtTuBrute horrified and betrayed]] upon hearing this, and all poor Katie can get out is "Dad, let me explain."
* In ''WesternAnimation/{{Shaun the Sheep}} Movie'', Trumper tries to explain to the Farmer about his intention after almost succeding in throwing Shaun to the quarry. This only ends up as a distraction as the Bull of the farm pushes Trumper on the other edge of the quarry.
* ''WesternAnimation/UltimateAvengers'' has Bruce Banner's plot of using the Super Soldier Serum on himself so he could control the Hulk has been discovered so he gives out this explanation before being pinned down by Nick Fury.

* Subverted in ''Film/TheUsualSuspects'', where [[spoiler:Verbal's attempts to evade giving information to the police turn out to be an elaborate strategy to get the police to believe him when he actually does provide (wrong) information]].

* Said by [[Creator/TimCurry Dr. Frank N Furter]] in ''Film/TheRockyHorrorPictureShow'' before he sings his final song ("I'm Going Home"). Unfortunately for him, Riff Raff and Magenta don't buy his story and promptly shoot him.

** It should be noted, that was a ''fake'' mask the BigBad slipped into Stanley's jacket to make him look like a liar.
* ''Film/TheDeparted'' when Maddy, the psychiatrist, finds out Sullivan working for Costello.
-->'''Maddy''': You know, I thought I was the liar.
-->'''Sullivan''': Hey, I can explain that!
* Played for laughs in ''Film/TheBluesBrothers'' where the 'explanation' turns out to be [[HurricaneOfExcuses a series of increasingly unlikely excuses]]. Amazingly enough they do the job and let the brothers make their escape.
* The [[{{Film/Annie1982}} 1982]] and [[{{Film/Annie1999}} 1999]] film versions of ''Annie'' include the scene from the musical where Miss Hannigan defends herself regarding Annie's escape attempt, thinking that Grace Farrell came to the orphanage to investigate that incident.
* ''Film/DarkShadows'': When Barnabas catches Dr. Hoffman giving herself a transfusion of his blood, she quotes this trope verbatim.

* ''Series/GameOfThrones'': After his past as a spy for Varys is exposed, Jorah Mormont attempts to explain and make excuses for his actions, but his queen refuses to accept any of them.
* ''Series/{{Smallville}}'':
** Lex Luthor, in an attempt to convince a female friend that she deserves better, got her to a nightclub, where she found the man she is engaged with when he is supposed to be on a business trip. The guy says the line repeatedly. To quote a reviewer, "If you are just going to say that, it is clear that you can't explain s***."
** When Chloe and Clark are both [[NotHimself not themselves]], they do some intense making out right under Lana's nose. When Chloe strips Clark, the [[spoiler:red kryptonite]] is removed and he is back to normal. He says this to Lana who slams the door in his face after NotWhatItLooksLike. He can't explain anyway as he must save Chloe before she get herself killed [[spoiler:as some parasite makes her dangerously impulsive]], and Clark can't tell Lana about the [[spoiler:red kryptonite]] anyway.
** Lana once says this when Lex finds out she stole his car. There is absolutely nothing she could explain, really.
** Jimmy says this when Chloe, who is at the time his girlfriend, walk in on [[Comicbook/{{Supergirl}} Kara]] and him alone but not doing anything suspicious. Chloe's paranoia is somewhat justified given her [[spoiler:meteor infection]].
** Clark tells this to Lois when he "accidentally" left her in the rain for three hours.
** And again in "Echo" when he didn't show up [[spoiler:for a date.]]
** And ''again'' in "Escape" when Lois caught him [[spoiler:in the shower with a naked Chloe.]]
* A primary catchphrase on ''Series/GetSmart'' subverts this: "I can explain ''nothing''!" This is because Maxwell Smart works for a secret spy organisation, though as he's an IdiotHero it could also mean that he's in genuine ignorance.
* Almost a catchphrase for Major Nelson on ''Series/IDreamOfJeannie'', to the point where he once said, "I'm not sure what I did, sir, but I'm positive I have an explanation for it."
* ''Series/{{Supernatural}}'':
** A priest disturbs Sam as he's performing a séance in the church basement.
---> '''Sam:''' I can explain… actually, no I can't.
** A couple of Hunters discover Sam's role in starting the Apocalypse and declare they're going to blow his head off. Sam says he can explain, then flounders because he is in fact guilty as hell. So they kill him. [[DeathIsCheap Again.]]

* ''Series/StargateSG1'' episode "Upgrades". The protagonists are specifically told to remain on base by the general and promptly disobey their orders due to [[ImportedAlienPhlebotinum their superpower-giving and super-stupid making armbands]]. This leads to the following exchange:
-->'''General:''' Can you explain to me why several witnesses put you people at a restaurant in town last night?\\
'''[[AdventurerArchaeologist Daniel]]''' (interrupting Jack): Sir, I can explain everything! (Pauses) No, I can't.

*** In "[[Recap/BlackadderS4E2CorporalPunishment Corporal Punishment]]", Blackadder has been repreived from his death sentence by George's uncle, and then learnt that George and Baldrick got drunk and never actually ''asked'' his uncle to do so.

* ''Series/FatherTed'':
** Inverted when Ted is caught with a stolen whistle and ''attempts'' to explain everything with a hastily-improvised sob story about a crippled boy attempting to train a horse to win the Grand National. He stops halfway through when Dougal reveals that they found out the real culprit while Ted was out of the room.
** Played entirely straight, however, in "Are You Right There, Father Ted?", featuring the collector of Nazi memorabilia who has left his collection to Ted in his will for various farcical reasons - a collection Mrs Doyle has put up in the house, believing it to be the expected delivery of new furniture - just before Ted returns from the pub with the inhabitants of the island's Chinatown. Uses the seemingly common "I can explain everything... Actually, no, I can't" delivery.
* Subverted in ''Series/{{Coupling}}'' when Susan accuses her ex Patrick of filming them in bed together and keeping the video. Patrick responds with "I can explain.....Yes I did".
* Blurted by Nate in an episode of ''Series/{{Leverage}}''. When his ex-wife finds him after he came to Kiev when he heard she was in trouble, he speaks this line. It's also used in the first season finale when his ex-wife finds out that he was spying on her. WordOfGod says that he used the phrase a lot during their marriage.
* The ''Series/DrakeAndJosh'' pilot episode has this when the former caught the latter dressing up like a woman:
-->'''Drake:''' Oh my God!\\
'''Josh:''' I can explain!

* In the ''Series/{{Seinfeld}}'' episode "The Heart Attack", George is in the hospital, thinking he's had a heart attack. After learning from the doctor that he didn't, [[ComedicSociopathy Jerry decides to mess with George]], leading to this:
-->'''George:''' Kill me now. I'm begging you. Let's just get it over with. Be a pal. Just take the pillow and put it over my face.\\
'''Jerry:''' ''[nonchalant]'' Well, uh, what, kinda like this? ''[[[VorpalPillow forces the pillow down on George's face]]]''\\
'''George:''' WHAT ARE YOU DOING?! WHAT ARE YOU, CRAZY?! ''[Elaine walks in]''\\
'''Elaine:''' JERRY! ''[Jerry stops]''\\
'''Jerry:''' ''[mock guilt]'' Elaine... what are ''you'' doing here? ''[removes pillow]''\\
-'''George:''' Jerkoff.
* ''Series/ElChavoDelOcho'':
** Whenever Doña Florinda assumes Don Ramón did or tried to do something to her son, she won't listen to whatever explanation he's got to offer.
** Also, Don Ramón once told his daughter Professor Jirafales was coming to visit him. Her immediate reaction was loudly pleading him not to believe anything Professor Jirafales says. Don Ramón asked her what he'd say and she realized she spoke too much.

* ''Series/{{NCIS}}'' had a scene where Tony was doing a horse impression and suddenly realized from everyone's expressions that Director Vance was [[RightBehindMe right behind him]]:
-->'''Tony:''' ''[without daring to turn and look]'' I can explain, sir.\\
'''Vance:''' Sit down, Doctor,[[note]]He's accompanied by an NCIS psychiatrist[[/note]] this should be good.
* ''Series/BuffyTheVampireSlayer'': When Oz cheats on Willow in "[[Recap/BuffyTheVampireSlayerS4E6WildAtHeart Wild a Heart]]", his attempt to explain gets a curt response from Buffy. "Now would be a good time for your [[TheStoic trademark stoicism]]."
* ''Series/TheFreshPrinceOfBelAir'': When Will and Carlton venture into Jazz's rough neighborhood and Carlton becomes "hip", Will dreams about him going home like this and declaring his intent to drop out of school. Will rushes in, feebly insisting, "I can explain", only to have Phil being strangling him.
* The opening skit of the 2006 Emmys had host Conan O'Brien wandering onto the sets of several TV shows. The final bit had him walking into an empty house, only to find himself in the middle of a "To Catch A Predator" segment and protesting to Chris Hansen, "This is very easy to explain."
* ''Series/UFO1970'': Straker spends a lot of time away from home getting S.H.A.D.O up and running, but can't tell his wife what he's up to because his organisation is top secret and may [[KilledToUpholdTheMasquerade kill anyone who knows too much.]] His wife [[MistakenForCheating suspects him of having an affair]], and hires a private eye who photographs Straker with one of his BridgeBunnies. On being confronted with the 'evidence' and a demand for a divorce, Straker is so desperate he's willing to tell her everything, but she cuts him off by [[TooMuchInformation saying she doesn't want to know]], thinking he's referring to his non-existent affair.
* ''Series/{{Arrow}}'':
** When Sara Lance's ex-girlfriend Nyssa al Ghul of the League of Assassins turns up to [[{{Yandere}} claim her]], Sara starts to give this trope to her current lover Oliver Queen, only for Oliver (no stranger to [[DatingCatwoman complex relationships]]) to state that she doesn't have to--his only concern is for Sara's safety. At the end of the episode Sara tries to explain where [[BackFromTheDead she's been for the past six years]] to her sister Laurel, who cuts her off with TheReasonYouSuckSpeech and GetOut
** When Tommy Merlyn discovers Oliver is the Vigilante, the fact that his best friend is someone completely different from the man he'd known all his life, let alone a multiple murderer, makes him rather bitter. When Oliver offers to explain the how and why Tommy just cuts him off, saying he can not longer believe anything that Oliver says.

* Twice in the episode "Prehibernation Week" of ''WesternAnimation/SpongebobSquarepants'', an ordinarily normal-looking fish is revealed to apparently wear Osh-Kosh overalls, a beanie, and a giant lollipop underneath his regular clothes (well, okay, the second time Sandy just ripped up a building from its foundation and revealed the fish in the kiddy clothes, but anyway). One short pause later, the fish responds with "Uhh, I can explain..."

* ''WesternAnimation/TheSimpsons'': In "Homer vs. the Eighteenth Amendment" Homer smuggles beer during Prohibition by hiding it in bowling balls. [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xnELqa8vgj0 He invokes this trope]] when confronted by Marge.
-->''I can explain Marge, please let me explain! Oh why won't you let me explain?!''