History Main / TVTelephoneEtiquette

Compare RudelyHangingUo, where a character does this deliberately to make a point.

* In ''Series/LawAndOrder'' (and later ''Series/LawAndOrderSVU'') Captain Cragan invariably answered the phone by yelling "What?".

The inability for main characters who answer the phone to either hang up the phone, acknowledge the caller, or say any "good-bye" equivalent. This is because phone calls are often done solely for exposition.

* On ''Series/CovertAffairs'', Annie calls Auggie on this early in an episode, saying that "normal people" say good-bye. He replies that it's just one more reason not to. This becomes a very minor comedic subplot, until the end of the episode, when [[spoiler: Auggie is going off on his own to seek revenge. Annie knows something is wrong when he says . . .]]

* PlayedForLaughs in ''WesternAnimation/AmericanDad,'' when Steve and Hayley call France's mom for plot-related reasons. Once they have the needed exposition they put the phone down and start talking to each other, ignoring her.

* ''Series/{{NCIS}}'': They're repeat offenders, none worse than Gibbs, of course.

* Debra Morgan on ''Series/{{Dexter}}'' is also really bad with this.
* Happens on ''Series/{{Nikita}}'' a lot too, although it's kind of [[JustifiedTrope understandable]].

* Parodied in ''Series/ThatMitchellAndWebbLook'': one sketch features DaChief angrily yelling at a subordinate over the phone and slamming it down... only to pick it back up after a few moments and [[RealityEnsues apologize sincerely for being so rude and unprofessional.]]

* The book ''Nee Naw: Real Life Dispatches From Ambulance Control'' addresses the issue of citizens who [[JustForFun/TelevisionIsTryingToKillUs interact with emergency call takers this way]]. "In {{soap|opera}}s, people call for an ambulance, bark an incomplete address and then hang up. And then, ''nee naw nee naw'', [[AmbulanceCut the ambulance arrives]]." In real life, the dispatcher needs to keep you on the line to provide details about the patient's symptoms, verify where you are and generally make sure the paramedics are as informed as possible by the time they arrive, in addition to talking you through any first aid that may be necessary.

* The book ''Nee Naw: Real Life Dispatches From Ambulance Control'' complains about [[JustForFun/TelevisionIsTryingToKillUs people copying the way TV characters do this]] with ''emergency calls'' of all things. "In {{soap|opera}}s, people often just call for an ambulance, bark an incomplete address and then hang up. And then, ''nee naw nee naw'', [[AmbulanceCut the ambulance arrives]]." In real life, the dispatcher needs to keep you on the line to provide details about the patient's symptoms, verify where you are and generally make sure the paramedics are as informed as possible by the time they arrive, in addition to talking you through any first aid that may be necessary. Only hang up when the dispatcher ''tells'' you you can hang up.
** Cellphones have implemented a feature called Emergency Callback whenever you dial 9-1-1. This allows the operator to call the phone back... you know, in case you do this.
* Ever had a job that requires you to do customer service on the phone? If so, then you probably are already familiar with this.

[[folder:{{Film}}]]

* ''Film/{{Ghostbusters 1984}}'' features a moment where the 'Busters overworked secretary Janine answers the latest in an endless series of client calls with "Ghostbusters, whaddya want?!"

-->'''Shaft''': Vic, your case just busted wide open.
-->'''Androzzi''': So close it for me.
-->'''Shaft''': Cut the crap man, this is Shaft. Looks like you gonna have to close it yo'self, ''shitty''! (''cackles and hangs up, walks away, theme song music plays'')

[[folder:{{Literature}}]]

[[folder:LiveActionTV]]

[[folder:Theater]]
* ''Theatre/CraigsWife'': Harriet hangs up on Ethel's suitor Mr. Fredericks abruptly, after saying “I don't care to disturb her just now. I'm very sorry.” Justified in this instance as Harriet is trying to keep them apart.

* In ''WebVideo/TheGuild'', the leader of the evil guild is overtly rude over the phone. He answers the phone by stating the activity that you're interrupting, like "Journalling!" He also hangs up abruptly without saying goodbye, which confuses Cyd.
* The Website/JollyRogerTelephoneCompany provides bots are designed to frustrate telemarketers and scammers. Despite all their training, there are times when the bots wear them down so much that they simply end the call without saying goodbye in some fashion.

[[folder:WesternAnimation]]

-->'''Mah-Mah:''' ''Hey!'' What wrong with you?! I still here! Now tell me about your day.
-->'''Hayley:''' Oh, I'm sorry, Mah-Mah. Well, this morning I went--
-->'''Mah-Mah:''' ''(abruptly hangs up)'' Mah-Mah always hang up first.

-->'''Suzy''': Hello?! Peppa?

[[folder:VideoGames]]
* Inverted in the ''VideoGame/FalloutNewVegas'' DLC ''Old World Blues'': After Dr. Mobius delivers his terrifying broadcast from the Forbidden Dome, he caps it off with a cheerful "That is all. Bye bye."
* In ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfHeroesTrailsOfColdSteel'', nobody seems to say "good-bye" talking on the [=ARCUS=] unit. For example, when Instructor Neithardt calls Rean in Chapter 4 to ask him to swing by the lounge, he simply repeats his request at the end of the conversation and then clicks off. Rean even [[LampshadeHanging lampshades]] it at one point when Sara makes the same request...
-->'''Sara''': I'll be waiting in the faculty lounge. Later!
-->'''Rean''': Didn't even wait to hear my response...
[[/folder]]

[[folder:RealLife]]

* In ''Film/TheSmilingLieutenant'', the lieutenant gets the news from a lady friend that he is being forced to marry a princess he's not interested in. He hangs up the phone without saying goodbye.
* ''Film/{{Ghostbusters 1984}}'' features a moment where the 'Busters overworked secretary Janine answers the latest in an endless series of client calls with "Ghostbusters, whaddya want?!"
* Twice in ''Film/BridgeOfSpies''. In the first scene, Abel receives a phone call from his superiors and doesn't give any sort of greeting. Later on, the American agent receives a call from an East German agent, and silently picks up the phone, listens, then hangs up without a word. One would think in that situation it would be important to verify who you're talking to.

* The book ''Nee Naw: Real Life Dispatches From Ambulance Control'' complains about [[TelevisionIsTryingToKillYou people copying the way TV characters do this]] with ''emergency calls'' of all things. "In {{soap|opera}}s, people often just call for an ambulance, bark an incomplete address and then hang up. And then, ''nee naw nee naw'', [[AmbulanceCut the ambulance arrives]]." In real life, the dispatcher needs to keep you on the line to provide details about the patient's symptoms, verify where you are and generally make sure the paramedics are as informed as possible by the time they arrive, in addition to talking you through any first aid that may be necessary. Only hang up when the dispatcher ''tells'' you you can hang up.

* In ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfHeroesTrailsOfColdSteel'', nobody seems to say "good-bye" talking on the [=ARCUS=] unit. For example, when Instructor Neithardt calls Rean in Chapter 4 to ask him to swing by the lounge, he simply repeats his request at the end of the conversation and then clicks off.

* ''Film/{{Ghostbusters}}'' features a moment where the 'Busters overworked secretary Janine answers the latest in an endless series of client calls with "Ghostbusters, whaddya want?!"

* ''Franchise/StarWars'': Emperor Palpatine needs no comm etiquette, as is pointed out in ''Literature/ShadowsOfTheEmpire''. He has a habit of stating what he wants without greeting, then ending the conversation without any kind of farewell. His subordinates have learned to accept this as 'just one of those things'.