History Main / ReadingAheadInTheScript

* ''ThatMitchellAndWebbLook'' features fly-on-the-wall style sections with the actors having chats as themselves on the set. In one of them, Robert Webb points out that these are as scripted as the rest of the show, and shows David Mitchell the script for the sketch they're in, which includes the direction "David looks at the script. It reads: David looks at the script. It reads:..."

* Played with in ''VideoGame/TheSimpsonsGame'', in which Bart looks up the walkthrough for the game online to find out what they have to do next. Subverted in that he gets cut off before he actually says what they need to do by aliens attacking the house, and the rest of the plot evolves from there.

* In ''Series/TheFamousJettJackson: TheMovie'', actor Jett Jackson meets his RefugeeFromTVLand counterpart Silverstone and informs him that the shooting script has Silverstone KilledOffForReal in the last episode, meaning the real Silverstone is doomed if his world continues to mimic the televised fiction.

* Strangely, the entire story of ''Series/Heroes'', a sci-fi drama based on comic books, exists in-universe as... a comic book. This is an important plot point early on-- a character finds their own comic and reads ahead a little, effectively consulting the oracle before their quest.

-->-- '''[[WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagic Pinkie Pie]]''', ''FanFic/TurnaboutStorm''

* ''FanFic/TurnaboutStorm'': [[WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagic Pinkie]] doesn't waste any time; she already had a good part of the script read beforehand, thus she already knew what one of [[VisualNovel/AceAttorney Phoenix's]] next destinations was, and that "something strange" was going to happen there. At least she had the courtesy of not reading too far into it to avoid spoilers.

* ''ForbiddenBroadway Strikes Back'' has a weird variation - the characters from ''Theatre/{{Rent}}'' read ahead in the script for ''Theatre/LaBoheme'' (the opera on which the plot of ''Rent'' is VERY loosely based) to see what they should do next.

* In one of the {{Xanth}} novels, the main characters come across a character whose talent is to read the chapter name. Unfortunately for them, this occurs in a chapter titled "X". Partially justified in that the novels are occasionally said to be copies of historical texts created by Muses, who update them in real-time, so the character could just be checking the title of the chapter the Muse is working on. Also, RuleOfFunny.

-->-- '''Pinkie Pie''', ''FanFic/TurnaboutStorm''

-->'''Pinkie Pie''', ''FanFic/TurnaboutStorm''

->I didn't look too far into it since I don't like spoilers, y'know, ruins the fun in the story.

* Inverted in the ''WesternAnimaton/TazMania'' episode "Retakes Not Included". Bull and Axl realise that they have digressed too long and that the plot has moved on without them. They flip backwards through the script in order to catch up and prevent taz from eating a cute fluffy bunny.

[[folder:Video Games]]
* Played with in ''VideoGame/TheSimpsonsGame'', in which Bart looks up the walkthrough for the game online to find out what they have to do next. Subverted in that he gets cut off before he actually says what they need to do by aliens attacking the house, and the rest of the plot evolves from there.
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* Played with in ''TheSimpsonsGame'', in which Bart looks up the walkthrough for the game online to find out what they have to do next. Subverted in that he gets cut off before he actually says what they need to do by aliens attacking the house, and the rest of the plot evolves from there.

!!Straight examples:

[[folder:Fan Fiction]]

* In the series finale of ''SmallWonder'', Vanessa (posing as Vicki) does this, to the chagrin of the film director.

[[folder:Web Comics]]

* Disney's ''{{Disney/Aladdin}}''. The Genie pulls out a copy of the movie's script and tries to feed Aladdin his next lines, which will have him use his third wish to free the Genie.

* PlayedForLaughs in ''Film/RobinhoodMenInTights'', when Lucky Lucha bests Robin, during [[AffablyEvil Prince]] [[BigBad John's]] archery contest, by [[SplittingTheArrow splitting his arrow.]] Robin literally pulls out the movie's script and quickly flips through it, 'til he finds where it says he gets another shot. Prince John and [[{{Angrish}} the Sheriff]] [[TheDragon of Rottingham]], along with the rest of the cast, consult their own copies and see that he's right. Cue Robin's [[DeusExMachina "Patriot Arrow".]]