History Main / IGotARock

In the HalloweenEpisode of ''WesternAnimation/TheAddamsFamily1992'', the Addams' neighbors, the Normanmiers, give the trick-or-treaters spoonfuls of potato salad.

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* A Crest commercial featured employees entering schools and giving children "healthy candy." Once it was established that the kids did not appreciate being given healthy snacks instead of candy, the employee would break the news that the healthy candy was going to replace all Halloween Candy. The reactions were filmed with each of them varying from verbal disgust to one child who even kicked the employee. The overarching message becomes clear at the end of the advertisement. Forget trying to trick kids with healthy replacements. Just let them eat the candy and have them brush their teeth.

* In the ''Literature/{{Goosebumps}}'' book "The Haunted Mask", Carly Beth gets apples. Since EvilFeelsGood with the mask on, she throws it at the house.
** The short story ''The Wish'' has the protagnist getting a literal rock from a woman. The rock turns out to be what grants the titular wish.

* In ''VideoGame/AnimalCrossingNewHorizons'', in addition to reeling in [[FishingForSole boots, cans and tires]] while fishing, it's also possible to catch a single stone; which can be used for ItemCrafting, but still relatively useless on its own.

*** In an easter egg you can give Homsar shaving cream or a wrench. However, [[CloudCuckoolander Homsar reacts favorably]] when given them.

** In another Treehouse of Horror opening Bart complains that Flanders gave them toothpaste, in which Lisa complains about it being [[ComicallyMissingThePoint ''mini'' toothpaste]] and another when Bart empties his trick or treat bag ''(While dressed as Charlie Brown).''

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* ''{{Webcomic/Bug|Martini}}'' shows us the worst houses to visit during Halloween. These houses give out, in turn, a newborn, a detonator, and a pencil; [[http://www.bugcomic.com/comics/halloween-part-1/ take your pick]].

* In the OEL ''ILuvHalloween'', the first house the main characters go to gives them an apple, and after that all the houses give them Hostess Snack-like treats. They attempt to break the 'curse' by [[RazorApples hiding a razor blade in the apple]] and giving it to the chief of police, who has the old lady who gave it to them arrested.

* In the {{Trope Namer|s}}, ''WesternAnimation/ItsTheGreatPumpkinCharlieBrown'', all of the other kids get candy but Charlie Brown always gets a rock in his treat bag.

* VideoGame/AnimalCrossingNewHorizons: In addition to reeling in [[FishingForSole boots, cans and tires]] while fishing, it's also possible to catch a single stone; which can be used for ItemCrafting, but still relativly useless on it's own.

* In ''Seris/DoOver'', Joel's parents gave people energy bars.

* In the ChristmasSpecial ''Film/AMuppetFamilyChristmas'', there's not only a rock, it's a ''regifted'' rock -- and getting it is regarded as a good thing. The "nice yellow pebble" has been circulated as a gift among the Fraggles thirty-seven times, then is given to Robin the Frog, who gives it to Grover.

* And a troper's aquantance claims to have given some kids a bag of onions. They apparently loved the joke.
** This troper remembers a woman who offered a giant carrot(fresh from her garden), along with some candy. Some kids in my group actually took the carrot.

The {{Trope Namer|s}} is from the ''{{ComicStrip/Peanuts}}'' HalloweenSpecial, ''WesternAnimation/ItsTheGreatPumpkinCharlieBrown''.

[[folder:Anime and Manga]]

[[folder:Fanfiction]]
* In the ''WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagic'' fanfic "[[http://www.fanfiction.net/s/7497772/1/Rarity-s-Absence Rarity's Absence]]", Rarity explains to Twilight that the reason she never goes out on Nightmare Night is that as a filly, she went out trick or treating one year... and got ''nothing'' but rocks.

[[folder:Film]]

* In ''Series/That70sShow'', Kitty decides to give out raisins. Eggs are promptly thrown at the windows.
-->'''Kitty''': Raisins are nature's candy!\\
'''Red''': And eggs are nature's hand grenade.

-->'''Fez''': An apple? Where's my candy, you son of a bitch?!
* In a ''Series/SaturdayNightLive'' sketch from the 1970s, the extraterrestrial Coneheads give out beer and "fried chicken embryos" (eggs). None of the children retaliate, but the Coneheads do get an angry visit from neighborhood parents, who are mollified when the aliens give their explanatory {{Catchphrase}}, "We are from France." They apologize about the beer but continue dispensing the fried eggs when assured that's okay.

* When {{Series/Roseanne}} was shown her horrible future by The Ghost Of Halloween Yet To Come, she was giving kids fun-sized ''tubes of toothpaste''.

[[folder:Newspaper Comics]]
* While the gag was codified in the ''WesternAnimation/ItsTheGreatPumpkinCharlieBrown'' TV special (see Western Animation below), a ''ComicStrip/{{Peanuts}}'' newspaper strip from November 1, 1975 has Charlie Brown mentioning to Peppermint Patty that all he got the night before was a rock. Peppermint Patty then replies that she didn't get ''anything'' (she'd waited in the pumpkin patch with Linus, only to get banished by him for offending the Great Pumpkin by asking him for a baseball glove), prompting Charlie Brown to offer her his rock.
* ''ComicStrip/FoxTrot''
** Andy has given out veggie bars and "Almond Soys", and then complains that nobody appreciates it.
** ''[=FoxTrot=]'' also had a comic where Jason and Marcus went to each house in the neighborhood to get a sample of what they'd be giving out on Halloween so that they could avoid this. Of course, everyone gave them lame foods so that they wouldn't come back. In another, they've wised up and are instead at the supermarket, watching neighbors through binoculars and taking notes on what kind of candy they're buying.
--> '''Marcus:''' Can you believe some kids trick-or-treat at random?
** While watching the {{Trope Namer|s}}, Jason concocts a scheme where Charlie Brown would eat the rocks, get surgery for his intestines, and sue the pants off the people who gave him rocks - for not telling him they weren't candy.
* A common RunningGag in ''ComicStrip/BigNate'' is that Nate's house is always egged on Halloween because his dad keeps on handing out horrible things like yogurt-covered raisins as "treats".
* Stuart in ''ComicStrip/{{Retail}}'' (who, for some context, only cares about holidays if there's a big sale attached) dressed up as Santa and gave out candy canes and Grumbel's Christmas sale flyers one Halloween. The kids plan to egg his house in retaliation.
* From ''ComicStrip/TheWizardOfId'', the King [[http://www.gocomics.com/wizardofid/2016/10/24 gives out toothbrushes]], causing the Wizard (who plans to create real zombies for the Halloween party) to [[HypocriticalHumor call him a monster]].

[[folder:Real Life / Truth In Television]]
* Dentists:
** Good or nice dentists will give out toothbrushes, to the disappointment of the kids.
*** Alternatively, they may hand out sugarless gum, which is (generally) better from the kids' point of view.
** Mean dentists will give out the best candy, eagerly rubbing their hands together at the idea of [[strike: torturing the kids in the dentist's chair soon]] getting a couple thousand bucks from the kid's insurance provider for services rendered.
** The best dentists will open their door in full dentist garb, a scary smile, and give regular candy to those who haven't run in fear yet.
*** Complete with functioning power drill.
* [[http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2013/oct/30/nd-woman-hand-out-fat-letters-instead-candy-hallow In 2013]], a woman in North Dakota allegedly gave children she considered "moderately obese" a letter instead of candy, though there was suspicion that [[http://www.thedickinsonpress.com/content/likely-fake-halloween-letter-creates-plenty-buzz it was a gag]] created by a radio show.
* A pediatrician who was offering money to the kids at her door, and asking that they give their loot to her. The newspaper however did not report if her trees/shrubbery got [=TPed=] or not, but it does seem likely she did.
** Some doctors/dentists found a friendlier way to get all that candy away from the kids: they host a "candy buyback" on the day after Halloween. The kids choose which of their sweet loot to trade in for money or prizes, and keep the stuff they REALLY want (often only a fraction of the original haul).
* Apples and popcorn balls are commonly subject to this trope because unless the giver is a trusted friend, [[RazorApples most parents will make their children throw them away.]]
** However, in the last couple decades, packaged, wrapped popcorn balls have become more common, making them less subject to this. Prepackaged apple-slices, too, but for most kids those will fall firmly under the auspice of this trope.
* Toys have become a more popularly stocked item in recent years, ranging from the meh (stuff that is pretty much the cheaper sort of party favors) to genuinely cool-- mini cans of Play-Doh, anyone?
* Some people give away comic books, and [[Administrivia/TropesAreTools reportedly kids have usually reacted really well to this change of pace]].
** In particularly religious households, especially in America, Halloween is seen as a pagan holiday; and they will distribute religious comics instead of candy. Several ComicBook/ChickTracts are specifically intended to be handed out to trick-or-treaters, usually (rather ironically) the ones arguing that Halloween is an evil pagan holiday. In the tracts themselves (see "[[http://www.chick.com/reading/tracts/1065/1065_01.asp Stinky]]" for example), some characters are positively portrayed [[LeaningOnTheFourthWall giving out tracts as treats]]. Somewhat {{averted|Trope}} when the children in the tracts appear quite excited to receive them, and in real life, to his credit, Chick does recommend including a bag of candy along with the tracts.
--> "And here's a nice treat for you... little ''comic books''!"
* In recent years, savory snacks have been showing up on store shelves, particularly chips and pretzels. They seem to go over well.
* And a troper's aquantance claims to have given some kids a bag of onions. They apparently loved the joke.
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[[folder:Video Games]]
* In ''VideoGame/CityOfHeroes'', the Halloween event includes a MiniGame in which you can "trick or treat" for Halloween-themed items or temporary abilities. One of these is a rock (ranged weapon, minor damage).
** It's common in-game for a teammate to announce "I got a rock" and for the rest of the team to congratulate that player.
** The description of the power was actually "You got a rock."
* In the early days of ''VideoGame/WorldOfWarcraft'', Blizzard used to occasionally release audio plays featuring a band of gnome adventurers who are frequently mistaken for children. During the Halloween episode, everyone they met on their adventure thought they were trick-or-treaters and gave them treats. It was a running gag that the same one every time would get a rock as a gift, causing another to ask if it's one of the many types of ore or gems in the game. "No, just a rock."
** In the actual Halloween events, players can get handfuls of candy from buckets on each inn. You get candy, including the kind you can trade for vanity pets, or trinkets that count towards achievements, yes, but also can get temporary BalefulPolymorph, Tooth Picks (which do nothing but give you a ten-second buff that makes your mouth shine) or penny bags, which are bags that only have one slot (when the most basic bags have four) and sell for one measly copper.
* The name of this trope is a cheat code in ''VideoGame/{{Geneforge}}''. It [[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin gives you one rock]]. [[spoiler:No use has ever been found for this.]]
* Early on in ''VideoGame/CostumeQuest'', when the siblings Wren and Reynold go trick-or-treating, the adult in the very first house they visit is so repulsed by their costumes that all they give them is some old marzipan they dug up from their couch.
* ''VideoGame/WorldOfTanks'' does this for both Halloween and Christmas by running special ops. For Halloween, it's called Trick or Treat and for Christmas it's Naughty or Nice. In both events, getting the Treat/Nice reward gives you something useful like a consumable item, while the Trick/Naughty reward is something like a single coin, 1 XP, or (for Christmas) a lump of coal (which does absolutely nothing).
* During Halloween season in ''VideoGame/{{Terraria}}'' enemies drop goodie bags. Although you may not get a rock, you will, however, get rotten eggs 1/4 of the time.
* During ''VideoGame/DCUniverseOnline'''s Halloween event, you can loot granola bars and toothbrushes as VendorTrash.
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[[folder:Webcomics]]

[[folder:Web Original]]
* In ''WebVideo/YuYuHakushoAbridged'', the neighborhood watch committee warns about this when trick or treating at houses with old people.

* ''WesternAnimation/BobsBurgers'': The kids' first trick-or-treat outing without Bob in "Full Bars" has them getting truly lame treats from the local merchants - fortune cookies, number tags from the deli 'so they can be first in line', packets of taco sauce - so they head for the greener pastures of Kingshead Island, where all the rich families live.

* When ''WesternAnimation/CowAndChicken'' wear business suits for Halloween, the guy at the first house accuses them of not wearing a costume and refuses to give them anything. The guy at the next house (a mansion) thinks they're ordinary adults and gives them job application forms.

* In ''[[Comicbook/TheFlash Impulse]]'' #45, Max Mercury (a time-jumping hero who grew up in TheWildWest) gives out homemade popcorn balls to trick-or-treaters, who react with horror at the thought they could be RazorApples. His daughter, a dentist, tells him, "The world has changed since you were a kid in ... what was it, the 1400s?" and then gives the kids coupons for $5 off their next dental cleaning. The kids leave vowing to tell everyone that "this house ''sucks''!"

* When {{Music/KISS}} was on ''Series/MadTV'', they did a bit where they went trick-or-treating and Peter Criss got a rock... but he loves rock!

-->'''Cleveland:''' I got a big tax refund. Uncle Sam sent me $500.\\

* DoubleSubverted in the ''WesternAnimation/JusticeLeagueAction'' episode "Trick or Threat!", where a few kids dressed as the Justice League compare their Halloween goodies. One kid dressed as John Constantine outright ''says'' "[[ShoutOut I got a rock]]....''candy stick!"'', pulling out a lollipop which he proceeds to suck in imitation of the adult Constantine. Then another kid dressed as Dr. Fate complains that another house gave them toothbrushes, and a kid dressed like Batman says that while he's glad to see adults thinking about kids' dental hygiene, he's still going to egg the place.

[[caption-width-right:296:[-''"I don't understand it. I went trick-or-treating and all I got was a bag full of rocks."''-]]]

* Some people give away comic books, and [[TropesAreTools reportedly kids have usually reacted really well to this change of pace]].

* While there is a ''TabletopGame/{{Munchkin}}'' card with this name, it refers to a treasure chest rather than Halloween. Still counts. (Oddly, the rock can come in extremely handy to break a tie or instantly smash the Glass Jaw.)

* ''WesternAnimation/BobsBurgers'' - the kids' first trick-or-treat outing without Bob has them getting truly lame treats from the local merchants - fortune cookies, number tags from the deli 'so they can be first in line', packets of taco sauce - so they head for the greener pastures of the island where all the rich families live.

-->'''Kid:''' That's enough, Mister.\\

'''Scott:''' ARE YOU REJECTING MY HOSPITALITY?!\\
'''Kid:''' No, sir!

* Those incredibly flimsy spider-shaped plastic rings that are supposed to glow in the dark but don't.
** That said, some toys avert this trope nicely-- mini cans of Play-Doh, anyone?

* [[ComicBook/TheSimpsons Ned Flanders has a segment in ''Bart Simpson's Heebie-Jeebie Hullabaloo'' (a collection of Halloween stories and skits) called "Halloween Hoedown at the Flanderosa." One panel shows him dressed as a scarecrow and giving the kids who come trick-or-treating to his house "a hug and the glimmering glow of friendship"; Milhouse is noticeably confused to see Flanders putting his arms around him.

[[folder: Newspaper Comics ]]

[[folder: Real Life / Truth In Television ]]

[[folder: Video Games ]]

[[folder: Web Animation ]]

[[folder: WebComics ]]