Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
Changed line(s) 81 (click to see context) from:
* FakeBrit: Bob a few times, most notably as Terry Twillstein and Ernie. The latter might be one in-universe.
to:
* FakeBrit: Bob a few times, most notably as Terry Twillstein and Ernie. The latter might be one in-universe. David becomes a ''very'' fake one (in-universe) at the beginning of "A Talking Junkie" which irritates the other cast members.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
Changed line(s) 23 (click to see context) from:
* BadBadActing: Moe Phelps teaches the cast this.
to:
* BadBadActing: Moe Phelps teaches the cast this. Also "Natural Born Drunk: The Ronnie Dobbs Story", although a bit more subtle.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
Added DiffLines:
* BadBadActing: Moe Phelps teaches the cast this.
Added DiffLines:
* NoIndoorVoice: [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LafMgjmBV2k Bob Odenkirk has a reputation for this.]]
Added DiffLines:
* NothingIsTheSameAnymore: This is what Ernie goes through in the first episode.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
Added DiffLines:
* LookBothWays: What Ernie (Odenkirk) should have done as he's crossing the street noting that the traffic light has "really changed."
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
Added DiffLines:
* NoodleIncident: Pretty much the whole point of the Weeklong Romance sketch in the finale. Some events are described in more detail but a few details of Odenkirk's life during the weeklong break-up are left to our imaginations.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
Changed line(s) 186,187 (click to see context) from:
* StageDad: Bob and David are this to their daughter [[WhoNamesTheirKidDude Superstar]] in "Operation Hell on Earth." Also Josh Fenderman's mother.
** Jill plays one in the finale during the Josh Fenderman sketch.
** Jill plays one in the finale during the Josh Fenderman sketch.
to:
* StageDad: Bob and David are this to their daughter [[WhoNamesTheirKidDude Superstar]] in "Operation Hell on Earth." Also Josh Fenderman's mother.
**Jill plays one a StageMom in the finale during the Josh Fenderman sketch.
**
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
Changed line(s) 181 (click to see context) from:
* SoUnfunnyItsFunny: "Yeah, I tell ya, Jill's ingested so much soil [from not washing her vegetables], her stomach oughta be listed in the 'Worm Apartment Guide.'" ({{Beat}}.)
to:
* SoUnfunnyItsFunny: "Yeah, I tell ya, Jill's ingested so much soil [from not washing her vegetables], her stomach oughta be listed in the 'Worm Apartment Guide.'" ({{Beat}}.([[{{Beat}} Dead Silence]].)
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
Added DiffLines:
* SuspiciouslySimilarSong: Several.
** John Ennis' date song ("Chirp-a-dee doo dah") sounds a lot like "Zippity Doo Dah"
** "I'm a party girl" for Barbie Girl, although it was more spoofing {{Madonna}}.
** "Got a Good Thing Going'" for [[TheBeatles A Hard Day's Night]] song.
** John Ennis' date song ("Chirp-a-dee doo dah") sounds a lot like "Zippity Doo Dah"
** "I'm a party girl" for Barbie Girl, although it was more spoofing {{Madonna}}.
** "Got a Good Thing Going'" for [[TheBeatles A Hard Day's Night]] song.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
Changed line(s) 71 (click to see context) from:
* DisneyCreaturesOfTheFarce: The animated animals who assist Lyle in the Biosphere sketch.
to:
* DisneyCreaturesOfTheFarce: The animated animals who assist Lyle in the Biosphere sketch. Also the birds that accompany John Ennis on [[spoiler:what he thinks is]] his date.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
Added DiffLines:
* TeensAreMonsters: The Chip-on-the-Shoulder Club.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
Added DiffLines:
* ThreeWaySex: According to one of the female scientists in the Biosphere, she's joining two of the scientists (who also had plans for New Year's) for a threesome. Leaving Lyle all alone.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
Added DiffLines:
** A lot of Kedzie Matthews' jokes are this as well.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
Changed line(s) 181 (click to see context) from:
* SoUnfunnyItsFunny: "Yeah, I tell ya, Jill's ingested so much soil [from not washing her vegetables], her stomach oughta be listed in the 'Worm Apartment Guide.'" *{{Beat}}*
to:
* SoUnfunnyItsFunny: "Yeah, I tell ya, Jill's ingested so much soil [from not washing her vegetables], her stomach oughta be listed in the 'Worm Apartment Guide.'" *{{Beat}}*({{Beat}}.)
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
Changed line(s) 181 (click to see context) from:
* SoUnfunnyItsFunny: "I tell you Jill's ingested so much soil [from not washing her vegetables], her stomach outta be listed in the 'Worm Apartment Guide.'" No one laughs.
to:
* SoUnfunnyItsFunny: "I "Yeah, I tell you ya, Jill's ingested so much soil [from not washing her vegetables], her stomach outta oughta be listed in the 'Worm Apartment Guide.'" No one laughs.*{{Beat}}*
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
Changed line(s) 74 (click to see context) from:
* DontExplainTheJoke: See SoUnfunnyItsFunny
to:
* DontExplainTheJoke: See SoUnfunnyItsFunnySoUnfunnyItsFunny.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
Added DiffLines:
* DontExplainTheJoke: See SoUnfunnyItsFunny
-->'''David''': I'm sorry, it makes total sense. You have soil, worms live in soil, worms would have an apartment guide if they . . .
-->'''David''': I'm sorry, it makes total sense. You have soil, worms live in soil, worms would have an apartment guide if they . . .
Added DiffLines:
* SoUnfunnyItsFunny: "I tell you Jill's ingested so much soil [from not washing her vegetables], her stomach outta be listed in the 'Worm Apartment Guide.'" No one laughs.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
Deleted line(s) 169,170 (click to see context) :
* SirSwearsALot: Reverend Winston Dupree. Host of the appropriately titled "Swear to God"
--> "I have a question and I know you all have it too: What is up Satan's ass? All he wants to do is fuck us up, the dicklicker! Now the Lord said, 'I am the light of the world,' now he could have easily as said 'I am King Shit of Fuck Mountain! Why would you fuck with me?!'"
--> "I have a question and I know you all have it too: What is up Satan's ass? All he wants to do is fuck us up, the dicklicker! Now the Lord said, 'I am the light of the world,' now he could have easily as said 'I am King Shit of Fuck Mountain! Why would you fuck with me?!'"
Added DiffLines:
* SirSwearsALot: Reverend Winston Dupree. Host of the appropriately titled "Swear to God"
--> "I have a question and I know you all have it too: What is up Satan's ass? All he wants to do is fuck us up, the dicklicker! Now the Lord said, 'I am the light of the world,' now he could have easily as said 'I am King Shit of Fuck Mountain! Why would you fuck with me?!'"
--> "I have a question and I know you all have it too: What is up Satan's ass? All he wants to do is fuck us up, the dicklicker! Now the Lord said, 'I am the light of the world,' now he could have easily as said 'I am King Shit of Fuck Mountain! Why would you fuck with me?!'"
Added DiffLines:
* SkywardScream: See SayMyName
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
Added DiffLines:
* SoapOperaDisease: Entitilitus from the first episode.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
Added DiffLines:
* FanDisservice: This is the Womyn's Solidarity Collective's reaction to Bob and David taking off their shirts and dancing to club music.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
Added DiffLines:
* RogerRabbitEffect: See DisneyCreaturesOfTheFarce
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
Added DiffLines:
* DisneyCreaturesOfTheFarce: The animated animals who assist Lyle in the Biosphere sketch.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
Changed line(s) 208 (click to see context) from:
* WindingEyes: Happens in one of the links (the one between "Intervention" and "Car Wash Change Thief Action Squad") in which several people sport dollar signs at certain opportunites.
to:
* WindingEyes: WingDingEyes: Happens in one of the links (the one between "Intervention" and "Car Wash Change Thief Action Squad") in which several people sport dollar signs at certain opportunites.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
Added DiffLines:
** In "Jeepers Creepers," the "first stone" that hits Jeepers Creepers ricochets into the crowd and bounces off a woman's head, causing her to cartoonishly keel over. This was a ThrowItIn.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
Added DiffLines:
* YouHaveToHaveJews: The aforementioned Right Wing Militia Fanatic who claimed that his property was his own country. He ran cameras off his land whilst yelling that HBO stands for "Hebrew Box Office" and various complaints about the liberal Jew-run media (which Bob did himself in the opening sketch).
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
Added DiffLines:
* CameraChase: Parodied with David Cross playing a documentary show host. Whenever the camera cuts back to him, he starts at the back of the room and slowly walks forward as the camera zooms in. This happens several times until he runs out of room and hasn't finished his statement. After a moment of confusion, he steps back and the camera zooms out again so he can resume walking and talking.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
Added DiffLines:
* WindingEyes: Happens in one of the links (the one between "Intervention" and "Car Wash Change Thief Action Squad") in which several people sport dollar signs at certain opportunites.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
Changed line(s) 141 (click to see context) from:
* NoEnding: A lot of sketches on their own are like this, as all the sketches (much like MontyPythonsFlyingCircus) are linked together--the end of some sketches is the beginning of the next sketch. As comedy sketches are often hard to end on a high note, this arguably helps the show.
to:
* NoEnding: A lot of sketches on their own are like this, as all the sketches (much like MontyPythonsFlyingCircus) ''Series/MontyPythonsFlyingCircus'') are linked together--the together -- the end of some sketches is the beginning of the next sketch. As comedy sketches are often hard to end on a high note, this arguably helps the show.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
Removing YMMV tropes
Deleted line(s) 61 (click to see context) :
* CrowningMusicOfAwesome: All of Jeepers Creepers Semi-star. Also the remix of the theme song from the third episode.
Deleted line(s) 63 (click to see context) :
* CultClassic
Deleted line(s) 75,83 (click to see context) :
* EarWorm: Several
** The theme song probably tops all the other examples.
** "Legend, a legend, a third wheel legend . . ."
** "'Cause I'm a Superstar, in a Superstar machine . . ."
** "Chirpity Doo Da, Shiminy Shake, Look who's got his very first date . . ."
** All the songs in FUZZ: The Musical, but especially Ronnie's.
** Goin' on a Holiday
** New SanFrancisco
** You've got to follow your balloon . . .
** The theme song probably tops all the other examples.
** "Legend, a legend, a third wheel legend . . ."
** "'Cause I'm a Superstar, in a Superstar machine . . ."
** "Chirpity Doo Da, Shiminy Shake, Look who's got his very first date . . ."
** All the songs in FUZZ: The Musical, but especially Ronnie's.
** Goin' on a Holiday
** New SanFrancisco
** You've got to follow your balloon . . .
Deleted line(s) 116,117 (click to see context) :
* HoYay: And lots of it. Especially between Bob and [[DavidCross David]].
** [[{{HoYay/MrShow}} Enough to warrant its own page]]
** [[{{HoYay/MrShow}} Enough to warrant its own page]]
Deleted line(s) 153 (click to see context) :
* NauseaFuel: This is Titannica's reaction to the body of their fan Adam Jimmy.
Deleted line(s) 171 (click to see context) :
* RetroactiveRecognition: SarahSilverman, JackBlack, [[Series/TwentyFour Mary Lynn Rajskub]], Paul F Tompkins, and Brian Posehn all got their start here. Also somewhat applicable to [[Series/ArrestedDevelopment David Cross]] and [[BreakingBad Bob Odenkirk]]. The show also features the very first appearance of Puscifer, Maynard James Keenan's avant garde side project band.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
Changed line(s) 6,8 (click to see context) from:
''Mr Show'' was a highly influential sketch comedy show starring and written by Bob Odenkirk and Creator/DavidCross. The show aired on HBO for four seasons in the mid-to-late 90's. It is noted for its edgy, cynical, and oftentimes cruel sense of humor as well as the way the sketches would transition into each other, much like an episode of ''Series/MontyPythonsFlyingCircus''. The show filled its ranks with performers and writers from the alternative comedy scene, and served as a career springboard for many up-and-coming comedians. The show never obtained a great deal of popularity, and was eventually dumped into a poor time slot before getting canceled. However, the show earned a loyal cult following and has proved to be one of the more influential comedy shows in recent decades.
After its cancellation, the show was spun off into the feature film ''RunRonnieRun'', starring one of its recurring characters. The film spent years in DevelopmentHell before getting dumped straight to video.
After its cancellation, the show was spun off into the feature film ''RunRonnieRun'', starring one of its recurring characters. The film spent years in DevelopmentHell before getting dumped straight to video.
to:
After its cancellation, the show was spun off into the feature film
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
Namespace migration
Added DiffLines:
[[quoteright:240:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/mrshow_l_9209.jpg]]
[[caption-width-right:240:Bob Odenkirk and Creator/DavidCross]]
->''"Hey everybody, it's Bob and David!"''
''Mr Show'' was a highly influential sketch comedy show starring and written by Bob Odenkirk and Creator/DavidCross. The show aired on HBO for four seasons in the mid-to-late 90's. It is noted for its edgy, cynical, and oftentimes cruel sense of humor as well as the way the sketches would transition into each other, much like an episode of ''Series/MontyPythonsFlyingCircus''. The show filled its ranks with performers and writers from the alternative comedy scene, and served as a career springboard for many up-and-coming comedians. The show never obtained a great deal of popularity, and was eventually dumped into a poor time slot before getting canceled. However, the show earned a loyal cult following and has proved to be one of the more influential comedy shows in recent decades.
After its cancellation, the show was spun off into the feature film ''RunRonnieRun'', starring one of its recurring characters. The film spent years in DevelopmentHell before getting dumped straight to video.
----
!!This series provides examples of:
* AbusiveParents: A recurring theme in "Operation Hell on Earth." Bob and David talk about how their parents were this growing up, and how they want to raise their daughter Superstar better. Then they [[StageDad demand that she keep on working her tap dancing]]. She grows up to be even more screwed up than them. [[spoiler: She later gets revenge, coming back for her younger self, ordering Bob and David to tap]].
* {{Adorkable}}: A few of David's characters, such as Grass Valley Greg, Fartin' Gary or as himself singing "Superstar Machine."
* AlmostDeadGuy: Larry and all victims of IDS (Imminent Death Syndrome).
* AmusementParkOfDoom: The Devastator, a rollercoaster that is fatal to those who ride it. A news show covers it like it's a natural disaster, with local residents all afraid they'll be killed by it, then inexplicably showing up and standing in line for it.
* AnachronismStew: The Founding Fathers sketch about the origins of the American Flag's pattern, where they invent a design in order to make sure [[ItMakesSenseInContext no one ever defecates on it]]. It features Lincoln talking with a Brooklyn accent, also claiming to have slept with [[{{Playboy}} Playmates]]. [[SophisticatedAsHell They also swear a lot]].
-->'''Thomas Jefferson''': Dogpile on Gwinnett!
* ArmouredClosetGay: Wycked Sceptre. Too bad they're too dumb to realize they're this.
* ArsonMurderAndJaywalking: In the Hanged Man sketch, after Bob's character finds out David's (who he tried to murder) might have actually stole his newspapers . . .
-->'''Bob''': How many years did I have what I thought was innocent blood on my hands? How many nights have I laid awake sleepless unable to tell anyone what I'd done? How many of your ''stupid poems have I had to listen to?!''
* AuthorityInNameOnly: One sketch is opened with a ribbon-cutting by the Mayor of Television.
* AttackOfThePoliticalAd: Charles [=McHutchence=] and Harrison Greeley III keep doing this to each other. They eventually team up against Reverend Dwight Anders.
* AwLookTheyReallyDoLoveEachOther: After two guys get into a fight at a bar ("I'm in it for the long run, I'll marry your stupid ass!"), they get married and spend their marriage insulting and fighting with each other. After one of them finds out the other lied, they briefly separate, apologize and make up . . . then resume fighting [[spoiler: until one of them dies as an old man]].
* BadNewsInAGoodWay: The Bad News Breakers, two adorable little girls who are brought in to give people terrible news.
--> '''Bad News Breakers''': Your wife is cheating on you!
--> '''Bob''': Awww . . . who wants ice cream?
* BaldOfEvil: The ratings child alien.
* BestialityIsDepraved: The end of the [[spoiler: Biosphere]] sketch. Also, the final thoughts of [[spoiler: Derwin in the Lifeboat]] sketch.
* BitingTheHandHumor: The commercials that Bob and David made to advertise their new time slot of Mondays at midnight criticize the shittiness of the slot.
** In one commercial, David asserts that the show will try to infiltrate the homes of Americans while they aren't watching. "Mondays at midnight! A busy work night when everyone's asleep. Who watches television on Mondays at midnight? ''Exactly!''"
** In another, Bob and David try to decide when they'll get together to create ''Mr Show.'' David suggests Monday at midnight, and Bob likes it, because that way it will be "just for us!"
* BlameGame: The ''Coupon: The Movie'' film executives. After one executive accuses another of greenlighting the movie, they all chant his name. After Bob is accused, he chants his own name along with them.
* BreakingTheFourthWall: Just about every other sketch. Each episode begins with the hosts addressing the audience, which quickly gets sidetracked into the first sketch. In the first episode of the series, David transitions almost seamlessly from his dialogue in a sketch to start bitching about the poor location that HBO gave them to tape their show, then transitions right back into his sketch dialogue.
* BrickJoke:
** The "package" at the beginning and end of "Rudy Will Await Your Foundation."
** A lot of the episodes contain jokes which seem to tail off without an ending, only for the ending to burst into another sketch later in an episode.
** At the opening of one episode, David Cross grabs a banana and jokes, "Hey, who wants a banana?" as a pointless aside. At the end of the episode, some space apes watch the opening and freak out when David waves the banana around.
* BunnyEarsLawyer: Grass Valley Greg ''appears'' to be this [[spoiler: until it turns out he's bankrupt]].
** Philouza.
* TheCakeIsALie: In one sketch, this trope is pulled on John to get him to come their interventions. ''[[RuleOfThree Three times]]''.
* CampGay: Jack Black, of all people, plays one in the subway sketch, Tom Kenny plays one in Operation: Hell on Earth and another at the end of the Third Wheel sketch, David Cross plays one in Wee Time Toddler Wear, the same one in the Nostradamus sketch and another character in the "What To Think Network/Good News" sketch . . . this trope comes up quite a bit.
* CampStraight: [[spoiler: Toddy in Wee Time Toddler Wear]] is revealed to be this
-->'''[[spoiler: Toddy]]''': Oh no! NO! I ''know'' what you're thinking! Hey look, I've got a wife and three ''[[PrecisionFStrike fucking]]'' kids, OK?
* CandidCameraPrank: The end of the [[spoiler: Progressive Priest]] sketch.
* CasanovaWannabe: Lyle in the Biosphere sketch.
* CastingCouch: The Law Firm/Blowjob sketch.
* TheCastShowoff: David sings quite a bit in the show, most notably in "Third Wheel Legend," "Superstar Machine" and the "Hey Mr. Teacher" song from the [[spoiler: Up Your Mother's Ass]] sketch.
* TheCatCameBack: A sketch [[DirectedByCastMember directed by David]] in the finale. Two friends who haven't seen each other a while, after having met at a bar, say their goodbyes to each other, but unintentionally keep running into each other on their way home, much to their irritation. Once [[spoiler: Jay doesn't run into Bob, he realizes something is wrong. It turns out Bob somehow died that night]].
* ChekhovsGun: [[spoiler: In a rare sketch comedy example, the swear jar from "Please Don't Kill Me".]]
* ClipShow: Has three mid-season specials that are this. Basically, a recap of the previous season and a preview for the next.
* CloudCuckoolander:
** John Baptiste Philouza.
** Also, F.F. Woodycooks. Now who wants ice cream?
* ClusterFBomb: Throughout the whole show, but most notably in the Globochem commercials sketch.
* ComingOutStory: The beginning of "Peanut Butter, Eggs and Dice" in a parody of The Puppy Episode of {{Ellen}}, in which David comes out as bald, in an attempt for ratings.
* CompanionCube: Red Balloon.
* {{Corpsing}}: A few times. Bob and Jill look like they're trying not to smile after the Third Wheel Legend song. After David as a fashion designer says to his lover "Extra cheese if you please! I'm on my knees!" Nostradamus smiles (which was a case of ThrowItIn). Tom as AbrahamLincoln almost breaks after saying "[[ItMakesSenseInContext Hey, put your poo box away!]]"
* CouchGag: During the theme song at the beginning of the episode, the phrase "Hey everybody! It's Bob and David!" or a variation is spoken by one of the cast members in the audience. For the first two seasons, it's Mary Lynn Rajskub. The third and fourth season openings are spoken by a character from one of the sketches from the episode.
* CreditsGag: Most-to-all of the credits gave "Special Thanks" to notable people not involved with the show.
* CreepyChild: The Ratings child (a.k.a. Lucien) an alien who gives content warnings (common on HBO) for the show.
* CrossOverPunchline: A stereotypical 80's comedian introduced in an episode is shown on an episode of ''DrKatzProfessionalTherapist'' doing the show's typical shtick of having a comedian deliver some of his punchlines at a psychiatry session.
* CrowningMusicOfAwesome: All of Jeepers Creepers Semi-star. Also the remix of the theme song from the third episode.
* {{Cult}}: Followers of "The Bob" who are going to go up "[[TitleDrop Heaven's Chimney]]". David has to be deprogrammed.
* CultClassic
* CureYourGays: The "Good News" show on the What-to-Think Network. A man claims he is cured, but then "relapses" back a few years later, then continues to go back and forth.
* DamnedByFaintPraise: NAMBLA does this to themselves when they attempt to bolster their public image with an ad campaign reminding the public that they're not serial killers.
* TheDanza: All the actors playing movie executives in "Coupon: The Movie" and everyone in the "Intervention" sketch shares the first name as the actor playing them, for some reason.
* ADateWithRosiePalms: Mike in the Phone Sex sketch (of course) does this while listening to his friend Glenn Peterson pretend to be a call girl.
-->'''Glen''': You're done?
-->'''Mike''': [[TooMuchInformation Fuck yeah man, you should see all this]].
* DawsonCasting: In-universe example: Three parents host a show called "No Adults Allowed" in which they play teenagers talking about all the things they should/shouldn't be doing. They then accuse the "real" teenager who won't go along with their show, accusing their generation of being [[{{TheSlacker}} slackers]].
* DetonationMoon: The Blow Up The Moon sketch.
* DisproportionateRetribution: Odenkirk plays a character who once tried to murder a man because he thought he was stealing his newspapers.
* TheDitz: A slow character Bob plays three times. Although not referred to by name in the show, [[AllThereInTheScript the commentaries state his name is Droopy]].
* DVDCommentary: The show's {{DVD}}s all contain creator commentaries. Many of them feature the cast members performing impromptu bits in various characters.
* EarWorm: Several
** The theme song probably tops all the other examples.
** "Legend, a legend, a third wheel legend . . ."
** "'Cause I'm a Superstar, in a Superstar machine . . ."
** "Chirpity Doo Da, Shiminy Shake, Look who's got his very first date . . ."
** All the songs in FUZZ: The Musical, but especially Ronnie's.
** Goin' on a Holiday
** New SanFrancisco
** You've got to follow your balloon . . .
* EleventyZillion: The Philouza sketch features the "Eleventy-Twelfth President of the United States."
* EvenEvilHasStandards: The audience gets so disgusted with the pro-NAMBLA psa during The Awards for Advertising American Ads that even a member of NAMBLA takes offense.
* EvilSoundsDeep: Lucien the ratings child has a deep man's voice, despite being a kid.
* FakeBrit: Bob a few times, most notably as Terry Twillstein and Ernie. The latter might be one in-universe.
* TheFantasticTropeOfWonderousTitles: The mid-season (between seasons 3 and 4) clip show "Mr. Show and the Incredible, Fantastical News Report." To a lesser extent, the mid-season (seasons 1 and 2) special "Fantastic Newness."
* FantasticRacism: "Racist in the Year 3,000" is about the last white human in the universe, who's equally racist against all manner of aliens because they're not white either.
** Also towards [[{{TheSlacker}} slackers]] in "The Biggest Failure in Broadway History." To the point where they have their own crappy drinking fountains and they get hosed at "No Slackers Allowed" locations.
* FatCamp: A rival camp for the Dalai Lama and the monks. [[MakesJustAsMuchSenseInContext They compete against each other]].
* FingerInTheMail: Parodied in a sketch in which a kidnapper calls the wealthy father of the boy he's kidnapped and demands to know whether he received his son's toe in the mail to prove his serious intent. Except he forgot to mail the toe. And he appears to have accidentally removed his ''own'' toe, instead of one of the kid's. And he's already released the kid. And the police are able to track his call while he's dithering about all of this. The kidnapper ends up trying to sell the father his own toe for $50.00. Obviously, [[StupidCrooks he's not a very effective kidnapper]].
* FoodFight: At the end of "It's a No-Brainer," featuring a catholic and satanist engaging in a {{Nickelodeon}}-style food fight.
* ForeignerForADay: A man gets the government's approval to make his home (in Montana) its own country, dubbing it "New Freeland." He eventually grows bored with it, so after "visiting" America, he's amazed by it and decides he wants to become a citizen. He later co-hosts an Olympics event featuring other leaders of newly-formed countries.
* FormerChildStar: Josh Fenderman from the final episode, in a parody of Corey Feldman.
* FunnyBackgroundEvent: Occasionally . . .
** When Josh Fenderman and Honesty in Motion perform, Jay Johnston is seen holding a saxophone, but suddenly just claps along with the song, as he probably realizes the song doesn't have a saxophone in it.
* FunnyForeigner: Both landlords in "Please Don't Kill Me." The new landlord, Shumul, was apparently based off of David and comedian Greg Behrendt's landlord at the time.
* TheGenerationGap: Parodied. After David shows up late for the show, Bob claims it's because he's from "the late 70s" whereas he's from "the mid 70s." David furiously refers to Bob as "Pops" and that his generation is of "one year later."
* GeorgeJetsonJobSecurity: In both sketches "Downsizing" and "Spunk."
* GlobalIgnorance: In the pilot episode, David reveals that Bob believes that there are only five U.S. states, and one of them is called "Chim-Cham." In another episode, a group of kids on an MTV show claim to have traveled all over the world, showing a crayon map of the places they have gone. The "world" is in the shape of the continental United States, divided up into countries such as "Germany" and "Europe."
* GoodShepherd: Father Jim from the first episode. Might be a case of GoodIsDumb, as he's a bit of a pushover [[spoiler: which results in his friends pranking him, getting him on a CandidCameraPrank]].
* AGoodNameForARockBand: Indomitable Spirit, although the armless former member reveals they were originally called "Flat Top Tony and the Purple Canoes" (which is the episode's TitleDrop). Also Wycked Sceptre.
* GoryDeadlyOverkillTitleOfFatalDeath: The Return of the Curse of the Creature's Ghost!
* GoshDangItToHeck: Used in the "Pallies" sketch in a parody of when movies are edited for television.
-->Anthony: "I'll tell you what, the both of yous can grab one of my '''BOOKS''' and '''MOTHER-FATHERS, CHINESE DENTIST'''"
* GospelChoirsAreJustBetter: In the Third Wheel Legend sketch.
* HearingVoices: Four people in a subway trying to help a man's relationship trouble are revealed to be "The Four Voices Within." They are: an old lady, a Japanese man, a biker and a gay guy.
* HetIsEw: When two parents try to out their "gay" son and he insists he's not, the father is furious. They even try to bring in ''[[ManlyGay Rodrigo]]" to "gay him up."
* HeterosexualLifePartners: Bob and David are this. Well, [[HoYay maybe not so much . . .]]
* HeyItsThatGuy: TomKenny, before becoming a well known [[SpongebobSquarepants voice actor]], was a regular cast member.
* HiddenWire: The flower the undercover cop wears (after leaving the bathroom) in "Bugged Drug Deal." See IncrediblyObviousBug.
* HideYourPregnancy: Jill in most of the third season, but averted in Fuzz: The Musical and Philouza.
* HilariousOuttakes: The show has these, but it's also parodied during "Young People and Companions" in which there are outtakes for a news show. Notably the couple whose son is missing laughing over their slip-of-the-tongue.
* HollywoodSatanism: The Hail Satan Network, which acts pretty much like an actual gospel show.
* HoYay: And lots of it. Especially between Bob and [[DavidCross David]].
** [[{{HoYay/MrShow}} Enough to warrant its own page]]
* ILoveTheDead: The reason [[spoiler: James Whitcroft]] thinks he saw a [[spoiler: monster party in the graveyard]].
* IceCreamKoan: At the end of the Progressive Priest sketch, Father Jim gives us one of these
-->'''Father Jim''': When life gives me lemons, I make lemonade. When I ask someone for a glass of water and they give me a glass of sand, I turn it over, make a sand castle and then pretend I'm the king. If somebody throws a rock at my head, I pretend that the bruise is a faded tattoo, and that I was once a sailor and ran a sweatshop in Singapore . . . I'm not too proud of that time in my imaginary life.
* IncrediblyObviousBug: In a sketch, an undercover police officer uses a variety of very poorly disguised cameras and microphones in an attempt to bust a criminal.
* ImAHumanitarian: A few sketches. One in which the only survivor of a plane crash reveals that he ate all of the other survivors only hours after they landed.
* InspirationallyDisadvantaged: Parodied with Indomitable Spirit.
* {{Jerkass}}: Several characters
** The (adult) adopted son.
** The uninvited party guest in the first episode.
* KavorkaMan: David plays several of these, including Ronnie Dobbs, Lee from "Our Secret Love" and Derwin from the Lifeboat sketch.
* KeepCirculatingTheTapes: The second midseason special (a ClipShow) wasn't included on any of the [=DVDs=], unlike the other two.
* {{Keet}}: Also several . . .
** David (playing a version of himself) comes off this way at times. As well as a few of his characters.
** . . . like Grass Valley Greg.
** The Charlie Callas-esque "Johnny" from Dr. X's telethon.
* TheKlutz: Thomas in "The Story of Everest" sketch.
* LampshadeHanging: ''Incredibly'' self-aware, many of its jokes were based on mocking the common tropes.
* LeatherMan: One sketch features a band playing Fire Island, with an audience completely consisting of leather men.
* LieDetector: The subject of a season 3 sketch. Odenkirk plays a character subject to one of these. At first he's asked standard questions ("Have you ever drank alcohol to excess?" "Have you ever taken an illegal drug?"), but then he's asked even more outlandish and improbable questions ("Have you ever killed a man . . . with your mind?"). He always answers "Yes" to every question, with the machine's silence indicating he's telling the truth.
* LookMaIAmOnTV: In an award show, one of the presenters, who is stationed in the audience, suddenly becomes amazed when he can see himself and his fellow presenters on the big screen. He begins shouting and waving at the presenters onstage trying to get them to acknowledge him.
* LoonyFan: Adam Jimmy in the Titannica sketch.
* LostAtSea: The Lifeboat sketch.
* LoveMartyr: Possibly Terry for Ronnie.
* MajorMinorInconvenience: See Mayostard and Mustardayonnaise under StrawmanProduct.
* MegaCorp: The recurring Globochem.
* {{Metaphorgotten}}: In the Lifeboat sketch, one of the audience members from the JerrySpringer-esque show (who's lost at sea with them) tries to tell everyone how to handle their situation. He tells the pregnant woman "You need to respect the baby, because life is precious, and god, and the bible." Also the episode's TitleDrop.
** Possibly also
-->'''Ronnie''': Terry . . . I thought you was in Hawaii.
-->'''Terry''': A lot of people think a lot of things about Hawaii.
* MethodActing: Parodied in a season 1 sketch where a reporter (Odenkirk) highlights an actor (Cross) who spent months studying crowds for an extra part in a crowd scene, attended medical school for two years to play a doctor with one line in a Creator/MelBrooks film and has now had the frontal lobe of his brain removed and replaced with bubble wrap to play a lobotomized mental patient as realistically as possible.
* MissingEpisode: Parodied. Bob and David bill the beginning of one of their episodes as their "Lost Episode," so they can trot it out years later to much fanfare. At the end of the episode, they have all the cast members say "goodbye" to the tape of the episode, then give it to their security guard so he can lose it. He tosses the tape into outer space in a ''[[ASpaceOdyssey 2001]]'' parody.
* MisterDescriptor
* MonsterMash: The sketch ''Monster Parties: Fact or Fiction?''
* TheMusical: One episode includes an entire musical based on an old traveling salesman joke.
* NakedPeopleAreFunny: The Streakers sketch.
* NauseaFuel: This is Titannica's reaction to the body of their fan Adam Jimmy.
* NegativeContinuity: Understandable as this is sketch comedy (and if you consider recurring sketches to be in order). Ronnie [[spoiler: dies of entitilitus]] in the first episode but [[spoiler: is alive and well]] in FUZZ: The Musical.
* NoEnding: A lot of sketches on their own are like this, as all the sketches (much like MontyPythonsFlyingCircus) are linked together--the end of some sketches is the beginning of the next sketch. As comedy sketches are often hard to end on a high note, this arguably helps the show.
* OddlyNamedSequel2ElectricBoogaloo: During the Josh Fenderman sketch, a director is referred to as being "the best thing to come out of Hollywood since sliced bread, not to mention its sequel "Sliced Bread II: Electric Boogaloo."
* OneHitWonder: "Superstar Machine" by Li'l Davey Cross.
* OverlyLongGag: The Everest sketch involves a character repeatedly falling into some shelves and knocking over his mother's thimble collection, again and again and again. In the commentary, the cast recalls how agonizing it was to reset the stage each time.
** "Legend of the Third Wheel" has one with David Cross's song
** Change for a Dollar
* OscarBait: Parodied with The Dewey Awards, which are specifically given to actors who play mentally challenged characters.
* TheOtherDarrin: Tammy (Ronnie Dobbs' wife) is played Mary Lynn Rajskub in the first episode and Jill Talley in "[=FUZZ=]: The Musical", as Rajskub was no longer involved with the show.
* PerfectlyCromulentWord: Edmund Premington is introduced as "a hunter, an explorer, a novelist, and an adventurer; a travelliare, an explorist, and a noveller."
* PissTakeRap: Bob does this at the beginning of "A Talking Junkie," not too long after he claims to David that he raps because he's "from the streets." He also plays a character who does this in the "Monk Academy" sketch.
* PoliceAreUseless: "Drunk Cops." Also, in FUZZ: The Musical, the cops who are playing themselves don't handle the fight between Ronnie and Terry, two cops who are on duty come in.
* PredatoryBusiness: The Fairsley sketch.
* PrettyFlyForAWhiteGuy: The music duo Three Times One Minus One is a parody of this (particularly the WPCBCN--The White People Co-Opting Black Culture Network). The host of the "Video Soul" show they appear on fits this trope even more.
* RagsToRiches: Ronnie Dobbs, in both the first episode sketch and TheMovie.
* RatingsStunt: Parodied: During the VerySpecialEpisode / ComingOutStory, Bob goes "Here comes the highest rated moment in television!" Of course, the result is hilariously underwhelming and quickly forgotten.
* RedOniBlueOni: David is usually the red to Bob's blue.
* RetroactiveRecognition: SarahSilverman, JackBlack, [[Series/TwentyFour Mary Lynn Rajskub]], Paul F Tompkins, and Brian Posehn all got their start here. Also somewhat applicable to [[Series/ArrestedDevelopment David Cross]] and [[BreakingBad Bob Odenkirk]]. The show also features the very first appearance of Puscifer, Maynard James Keenan's avant garde side project band.
* RevengeOfTheSequel: Parodied with Return Of The Curse of the Creature's Ghost
* RightWingMilitiaFanatic: Mountain Dougie. See ForeignerForADay.
* RockOpera: Parodied with ''Jeepers Creepers'', "The Biggest Failure in Broadway History."
* SarcasmBlind: In one sketch, Sharwood writes angry letters, using sarcasm. The people who receive it take it at face value.
* SayMyName: Movie!Terry does this while holding [[spoiler: the corpse of]] movie!Ronnie. The actual Terry Twillstein said that his scream lasted for two hours and "set a new record for screaming."
* ScaryBlackMan: The Men's Club of Allah.
-->"When you need security, look for the symbol of the friendly, scary black man. The Men's Club of Allah."
* SirSwearsALot: Reverend Winston Dupree. Host of the appropriately titled "Swear to God"
--> "I have a question and I know you all have it too: What is up Satan's ass? All he wants to do is fuck us up, the dicklicker! Now the Lord said, 'I am the light of the world,' now he could have easily as said 'I am King Shit of Fuck Mountain! Why would you fuck with me?!'"
* ShirtlessScene: While trying to host a "targeted at women" (read: sexist) daytime show, Bob and David both do this, believing they're catering to them.
* ShockCollar: David has to wear one of these in the second episode, as required by Senator Tankerbell, part of a program monitoring artists. He gets a surge of "low level" electricity if he steps on a stage.
-->'''David''': It's not low level, Bob. It really hurts.
* SketchComedy: A serviceable representation of the genre.
* SlapstickKnowsNoGender: Nancy in the Thrilling Miracles sketch.
* SmokingHotSex: A David character does this after his (male) best friend pretends to be a call girl (at his demand) after losing a bet.
* SmugSnake: William Vanlandingham III, leader of the fat kid's camp and enemy of the Dalai Lama.
* SpaceJews: Menocu in "Racist in the Year 3,000," though he insists that he's only half Jewish.
* SpiritualSuccessor: Had several of these, in terms of some of the same actors working together. TheSarahSilvermanProgram had a few Mr. Show alum in leads and several actors made guest appearances. MoralOrel was produced by Dino Stamatopoulos, Jay Johnston and Scott Adsit. ''Series/ArrestedDevelopment'' featured David in a lead but had several Mr. Show actors guest star (including Bob). TimAndEric and TomGoesToTheMayor were produced by Bob Odenkirk but also included several Mr Show actors in guest appearances.
* StageDad: Bob and David are this to their daughter [[WhoNamesTheirKidDude Superstar]] in "Operation Hell on Earth." Also Josh Fenderman's mother.
** Jill plays one in the finale during the Josh Fenderman sketch.
* StealthPun: Unclear if it's intentional, but in the Progressive Priest sketch from the first episode, David's {{Jerkass}} character orders "Father Jim" to carry him across the room, which he obliges. So he's [[spoiler: carrying a Cross]], David even holds his arms out.
* StraightGay: Probably happens more often than CampGay. Carl in the Biosphere sketch (although his homosexuality is informed secondhand), Terry Twillstein is this, [[BiTheWay unless . . .]]
* StrawmanProduct: Used a number of times in various parody ads.
** In one ad war, a mom-and-pop grocery store is repeatedly slandered by a massive corporate chain, which insinuates that rats infest the produce and your children will get kidnapped by white slavers.
** Another ad campaign for Mayostard, a bottled mayo-and-mustard combo, goes to absurd lengths to suggest that getting sandwich spreads from two different bottles is an unbearable waste of time and effort. Then a competing product, Mustardayonnaise, enters the picture. Then the post-credits gag introduces [[SerialEscalation Mustmayostardayonnaise]], because having to apply Mayostard and Mustardayonnaise is such an enormous time sink, it will cause you to miss your daughter growing up, graduating college, and then [[MindScrew growing older than you and dying.]]
* SwearJar: In "Please Don't Kill Me." See [[spoiler: ChekhovsGun]].
* TakeThat: All over the place . . .
** Inside The Actor towards ''Inside The Actors' Studio'' and James Lipton.
** Three Times One Minus One towards PrettyFlyForAWhiteGuy musicians.
** "Good News" towards CureYourGays organizations.
* TechMarchesOn: Party tapes, DAT players, and probably more.
* ThereAreNoGoodExecutives. Bit of a recurring theme in "If You're Going To Write a Comedy Scene, You're Going to Have Some Rat Feces in There." Particularly the "Downsizing" sketch.
* TheresNoBInMovie: Possibly a [[SubvertedTrope subversion]] with The Return of the Curse of the Creature's Ghost.
* ThirdWheel: Jerry in the appropriate titled "Third Wheel Legend" sketch ([[EarWorm and sings a song about it]]) to his two friends on their honeymoon. The husband likes having him around but the wife is annoyed. Bob [[BreakingTheFourthWall breaks the fourth wall]] at the end of the sketch to reveal the writer in the audience . . . the sketch was written for their friend Geri, who is the third wheel between him and ''his'' husband.
* ThisIsForEmphasisBitch: Outside the studio is a sign saying "TV Taping in progress; Shut up, bitch!"
** David also wears a t-shirt with the phrase "Shut Up Bitch!" in a sketch where he's very enthusiastic.
** "Men 'r' stupid. Women 'r stupider.' We need to get married. I did. Get in line! ({{Beat}}.) Get in line, you dumb bitch!"
* TitleDrop: The title of each episode is actually a line from the show that the writers select on a whim. However, sometimes the line is from a sketch that gets cut from the actual episode. The show also uses its own name very often due to its self-referential comedy.
* ToiletHumor: "America, you shit on us? I shit on you!" Too bad he ''can't''. Also, the titular sketch of "Rudy Will Await Your Foundation."
** And fake poo.
* TooHotForTV: Parodied with "The Car Wash Change Thief Action Squad: Too Hot For TV".
* TooIncompetentToOperateABlanket: The mayostard/mustardayonnaise featured a series of ads for products combining mayo and mustard in a single jar, like Hellman's [[http://www.hellmanns.us/products/dijonnaise_mustard.aspx Dijonnaise]]. In the end, a guy is shown missing out on the important moments in his life because the process of spreading mustard then mayonnaise was simply too time consuming. The first [=GloboChem=] sketch features Janeane Garofalo as a woman who simply can't organize the bags in her kitchen, shouting, "Help me!" at the camera. The solution is "bag hutch," a box to put bags in. The writers had to change the name of the product because "bag box" was already the name of a product that did the exact same thing.
* TransparentCloset:
** Wyckyd Sceptre, who insist that having all-male orgies is not gay at all, it's just a party.
** In another sketch, a "Scared Straight" councilor appears repeatedly on a Christian chat show to talk about his most recent lapse into "homosinuality".
* UnintentionalPeriodPiece: Largely [[AvertedTrope averted]]. The show largely avoided making references to current subjects. If it did, it was usually through parodies with different names (i.e. FUZZ for Series/{{Cops}}). Most of these sketches are still funny without knowing what they parodied.
* VerySpecialEpisode: Parodied, of course. See ComingOutStory. Said scene is followed by a trip to the "Ratings Man."
* VomitIndiscretionShot: Bob throwing up during the bloopers at the beginning of "Rudy Will Await Your Foundation" [[spoiler: which is the episode's [[TheStinger stinger]]/BrickJoke]].
* WalkingShirtlessScene: Ronnie Dobbs, usually.
* WithFriendsLikeThese: The Intervention sketch. When one of them has a problem that needs to be discussed, most try to come up with a one-liner taking shots at said victim. And all of them are annoyed with Bob ''having'' interventions, to the point where they resolve that by [[spoiler: killing him]]. Bob still tries to help them with that plan.
* YouClonedHitler: A sketch in which after cloning has been perfected, Hitler clones are mass-produced in order to serve Jewish families. The Hitler clones, are their own time, frequent bars and talk about how hard it is to find dates.
* YoungerThanTheyLook: Several of the cast members, most look about their age, if not slightly older (some are OlderThanTheyLook nowadays). None of the main cast was born before the 60s, and the show aired from 95-98.
* YourCheatingHeart: A married couple in "Goin' on a Holiday" are revealed to both be cheating on the other. ''With the same man''. [[spoiler: Turns out he's seeing the whole family as well, including the daughter, daughter's boyfriend and the ''grandparents.'' [[OverlyLongGag As well as a pair of twins.]]]]
----
[[caption-width-right:240:Bob Odenkirk and Creator/DavidCross]]
->''"Hey everybody, it's Bob and David!"''
''Mr Show'' was a highly influential sketch comedy show starring and written by Bob Odenkirk and Creator/DavidCross. The show aired on HBO for four seasons in the mid-to-late 90's. It is noted for its edgy, cynical, and oftentimes cruel sense of humor as well as the way the sketches would transition into each other, much like an episode of ''Series/MontyPythonsFlyingCircus''. The show filled its ranks with performers and writers from the alternative comedy scene, and served as a career springboard for many up-and-coming comedians. The show never obtained a great deal of popularity, and was eventually dumped into a poor time slot before getting canceled. However, the show earned a loyal cult following and has proved to be one of the more influential comedy shows in recent decades.
After its cancellation, the show was spun off into the feature film ''RunRonnieRun'', starring one of its recurring characters. The film spent years in DevelopmentHell before getting dumped straight to video.
----
!!This series provides examples of:
* AbusiveParents: A recurring theme in "Operation Hell on Earth." Bob and David talk about how their parents were this growing up, and how they want to raise their daughter Superstar better. Then they [[StageDad demand that she keep on working her tap dancing]]. She grows up to be even more screwed up than them. [[spoiler: She later gets revenge, coming back for her younger self, ordering Bob and David to tap]].
* {{Adorkable}}: A few of David's characters, such as Grass Valley Greg, Fartin' Gary or as himself singing "Superstar Machine."
* AlmostDeadGuy: Larry and all victims of IDS (Imminent Death Syndrome).
* AmusementParkOfDoom: The Devastator, a rollercoaster that is fatal to those who ride it. A news show covers it like it's a natural disaster, with local residents all afraid they'll be killed by it, then inexplicably showing up and standing in line for it.
* AnachronismStew: The Founding Fathers sketch about the origins of the American Flag's pattern, where they invent a design in order to make sure [[ItMakesSenseInContext no one ever defecates on it]]. It features Lincoln talking with a Brooklyn accent, also claiming to have slept with [[{{Playboy}} Playmates]]. [[SophisticatedAsHell They also swear a lot]].
-->'''Thomas Jefferson''': Dogpile on Gwinnett!
* ArmouredClosetGay: Wycked Sceptre. Too bad they're too dumb to realize they're this.
* ArsonMurderAndJaywalking: In the Hanged Man sketch, after Bob's character finds out David's (who he tried to murder) might have actually stole his newspapers . . .
-->'''Bob''': How many years did I have what I thought was innocent blood on my hands? How many nights have I laid awake sleepless unable to tell anyone what I'd done? How many of your ''stupid poems have I had to listen to?!''
* AuthorityInNameOnly: One sketch is opened with a ribbon-cutting by the Mayor of Television.
* AttackOfThePoliticalAd: Charles [=McHutchence=] and Harrison Greeley III keep doing this to each other. They eventually team up against Reverend Dwight Anders.
* AwLookTheyReallyDoLoveEachOther: After two guys get into a fight at a bar ("I'm in it for the long run, I'll marry your stupid ass!"), they get married and spend their marriage insulting and fighting with each other. After one of them finds out the other lied, they briefly separate, apologize and make up . . . then resume fighting [[spoiler: until one of them dies as an old man]].
* BadNewsInAGoodWay: The Bad News Breakers, two adorable little girls who are brought in to give people terrible news.
--> '''Bad News Breakers''': Your wife is cheating on you!
--> '''Bob''': Awww . . . who wants ice cream?
* BaldOfEvil: The ratings child alien.
* BestialityIsDepraved: The end of the [[spoiler: Biosphere]] sketch. Also, the final thoughts of [[spoiler: Derwin in the Lifeboat]] sketch.
* BitingTheHandHumor: The commercials that Bob and David made to advertise their new time slot of Mondays at midnight criticize the shittiness of the slot.
** In one commercial, David asserts that the show will try to infiltrate the homes of Americans while they aren't watching. "Mondays at midnight! A busy work night when everyone's asleep. Who watches television on Mondays at midnight? ''Exactly!''"
** In another, Bob and David try to decide when they'll get together to create ''Mr Show.'' David suggests Monday at midnight, and Bob likes it, because that way it will be "just for us!"
* BlameGame: The ''Coupon: The Movie'' film executives. After one executive accuses another of greenlighting the movie, they all chant his name. After Bob is accused, he chants his own name along with them.
* BreakingTheFourthWall: Just about every other sketch. Each episode begins with the hosts addressing the audience, which quickly gets sidetracked into the first sketch. In the first episode of the series, David transitions almost seamlessly from his dialogue in a sketch to start bitching about the poor location that HBO gave them to tape their show, then transitions right back into his sketch dialogue.
* BrickJoke:
** The "package" at the beginning and end of "Rudy Will Await Your Foundation."
** A lot of the episodes contain jokes which seem to tail off without an ending, only for the ending to burst into another sketch later in an episode.
** At the opening of one episode, David Cross grabs a banana and jokes, "Hey, who wants a banana?" as a pointless aside. At the end of the episode, some space apes watch the opening and freak out when David waves the banana around.
* BunnyEarsLawyer: Grass Valley Greg ''appears'' to be this [[spoiler: until it turns out he's bankrupt]].
** Philouza.
* TheCakeIsALie: In one sketch, this trope is pulled on John to get him to come their interventions. ''[[RuleOfThree Three times]]''.
* CampGay: Jack Black, of all people, plays one in the subway sketch, Tom Kenny plays one in Operation: Hell on Earth and another at the end of the Third Wheel sketch, David Cross plays one in Wee Time Toddler Wear, the same one in the Nostradamus sketch and another character in the "What To Think Network/Good News" sketch . . . this trope comes up quite a bit.
* CampStraight: [[spoiler: Toddy in Wee Time Toddler Wear]] is revealed to be this
-->'''[[spoiler: Toddy]]''': Oh no! NO! I ''know'' what you're thinking! Hey look, I've got a wife and three ''[[PrecisionFStrike fucking]]'' kids, OK?
* CandidCameraPrank: The end of the [[spoiler: Progressive Priest]] sketch.
* CasanovaWannabe: Lyle in the Biosphere sketch.
* CastingCouch: The Law Firm/Blowjob sketch.
* TheCastShowoff: David sings quite a bit in the show, most notably in "Third Wheel Legend," "Superstar Machine" and the "Hey Mr. Teacher" song from the [[spoiler: Up Your Mother's Ass]] sketch.
* TheCatCameBack: A sketch [[DirectedByCastMember directed by David]] in the finale. Two friends who haven't seen each other a while, after having met at a bar, say their goodbyes to each other, but unintentionally keep running into each other on their way home, much to their irritation. Once [[spoiler: Jay doesn't run into Bob, he realizes something is wrong. It turns out Bob somehow died that night]].
* ChekhovsGun: [[spoiler: In a rare sketch comedy example, the swear jar from "Please Don't Kill Me".]]
* ClipShow: Has three mid-season specials that are this. Basically, a recap of the previous season and a preview for the next.
* CloudCuckoolander:
** John Baptiste Philouza.
** Also, F.F. Woodycooks. Now who wants ice cream?
* ClusterFBomb: Throughout the whole show, but most notably in the Globochem commercials sketch.
* ComingOutStory: The beginning of "Peanut Butter, Eggs and Dice" in a parody of The Puppy Episode of {{Ellen}}, in which David comes out as bald, in an attempt for ratings.
* CompanionCube: Red Balloon.
* {{Corpsing}}: A few times. Bob and Jill look like they're trying not to smile after the Third Wheel Legend song. After David as a fashion designer says to his lover "Extra cheese if you please! I'm on my knees!" Nostradamus smiles (which was a case of ThrowItIn). Tom as AbrahamLincoln almost breaks after saying "[[ItMakesSenseInContext Hey, put your poo box away!]]"
* CouchGag: During the theme song at the beginning of the episode, the phrase "Hey everybody! It's Bob and David!" or a variation is spoken by one of the cast members in the audience. For the first two seasons, it's Mary Lynn Rajskub. The third and fourth season openings are spoken by a character from one of the sketches from the episode.
* CreditsGag: Most-to-all of the credits gave "Special Thanks" to notable people not involved with the show.
* CreepyChild: The Ratings child (a.k.a. Lucien) an alien who gives content warnings (common on HBO) for the show.
* CrossOverPunchline: A stereotypical 80's comedian introduced in an episode is shown on an episode of ''DrKatzProfessionalTherapist'' doing the show's typical shtick of having a comedian deliver some of his punchlines at a psychiatry session.
* CrowningMusicOfAwesome: All of Jeepers Creepers Semi-star. Also the remix of the theme song from the third episode.
* {{Cult}}: Followers of "The Bob" who are going to go up "[[TitleDrop Heaven's Chimney]]". David has to be deprogrammed.
* CultClassic
* CureYourGays: The "Good News" show on the What-to-Think Network. A man claims he is cured, but then "relapses" back a few years later, then continues to go back and forth.
* DamnedByFaintPraise: NAMBLA does this to themselves when they attempt to bolster their public image with an ad campaign reminding the public that they're not serial killers.
* TheDanza: All the actors playing movie executives in "Coupon: The Movie" and everyone in the "Intervention" sketch shares the first name as the actor playing them, for some reason.
* ADateWithRosiePalms: Mike in the Phone Sex sketch (of course) does this while listening to his friend Glenn Peterson pretend to be a call girl.
-->'''Glen''': You're done?
-->'''Mike''': [[TooMuchInformation Fuck yeah man, you should see all this]].
* DawsonCasting: In-universe example: Three parents host a show called "No Adults Allowed" in which they play teenagers talking about all the things they should/shouldn't be doing. They then accuse the "real" teenager who won't go along with their show, accusing their generation of being [[{{TheSlacker}} slackers]].
* DetonationMoon: The Blow Up The Moon sketch.
* DisproportionateRetribution: Odenkirk plays a character who once tried to murder a man because he thought he was stealing his newspapers.
* TheDitz: A slow character Bob plays three times. Although not referred to by name in the show, [[AllThereInTheScript the commentaries state his name is Droopy]].
* DVDCommentary: The show's {{DVD}}s all contain creator commentaries. Many of them feature the cast members performing impromptu bits in various characters.
* EarWorm: Several
** The theme song probably tops all the other examples.
** "Legend, a legend, a third wheel legend . . ."
** "'Cause I'm a Superstar, in a Superstar machine . . ."
** "Chirpity Doo Da, Shiminy Shake, Look who's got his very first date . . ."
** All the songs in FUZZ: The Musical, but especially Ronnie's.
** Goin' on a Holiday
** New SanFrancisco
** You've got to follow your balloon . . .
* EleventyZillion: The Philouza sketch features the "Eleventy-Twelfth President of the United States."
* EvenEvilHasStandards: The audience gets so disgusted with the pro-NAMBLA psa during The Awards for Advertising American Ads that even a member of NAMBLA takes offense.
* EvilSoundsDeep: Lucien the ratings child has a deep man's voice, despite being a kid.
* FakeBrit: Bob a few times, most notably as Terry Twillstein and Ernie. The latter might be one in-universe.
* TheFantasticTropeOfWonderousTitles: The mid-season (between seasons 3 and 4) clip show "Mr. Show and the Incredible, Fantastical News Report." To a lesser extent, the mid-season (seasons 1 and 2) special "Fantastic Newness."
* FantasticRacism: "Racist in the Year 3,000" is about the last white human in the universe, who's equally racist against all manner of aliens because they're not white either.
** Also towards [[{{TheSlacker}} slackers]] in "The Biggest Failure in Broadway History." To the point where they have their own crappy drinking fountains and they get hosed at "No Slackers Allowed" locations.
* FatCamp: A rival camp for the Dalai Lama and the monks. [[MakesJustAsMuchSenseInContext They compete against each other]].
* FingerInTheMail: Parodied in a sketch in which a kidnapper calls the wealthy father of the boy he's kidnapped and demands to know whether he received his son's toe in the mail to prove his serious intent. Except he forgot to mail the toe. And he appears to have accidentally removed his ''own'' toe, instead of one of the kid's. And he's already released the kid. And the police are able to track his call while he's dithering about all of this. The kidnapper ends up trying to sell the father his own toe for $50.00. Obviously, [[StupidCrooks he's not a very effective kidnapper]].
* FoodFight: At the end of "It's a No-Brainer," featuring a catholic and satanist engaging in a {{Nickelodeon}}-style food fight.
* ForeignerForADay: A man gets the government's approval to make his home (in Montana) its own country, dubbing it "New Freeland." He eventually grows bored with it, so after "visiting" America, he's amazed by it and decides he wants to become a citizen. He later co-hosts an Olympics event featuring other leaders of newly-formed countries.
* FormerChildStar: Josh Fenderman from the final episode, in a parody of Corey Feldman.
* FunnyBackgroundEvent: Occasionally . . .
** When Josh Fenderman and Honesty in Motion perform, Jay Johnston is seen holding a saxophone, but suddenly just claps along with the song, as he probably realizes the song doesn't have a saxophone in it.
* FunnyForeigner: Both landlords in "Please Don't Kill Me." The new landlord, Shumul, was apparently based off of David and comedian Greg Behrendt's landlord at the time.
* TheGenerationGap: Parodied. After David shows up late for the show, Bob claims it's because he's from "the late 70s" whereas he's from "the mid 70s." David furiously refers to Bob as "Pops" and that his generation is of "one year later."
* GeorgeJetsonJobSecurity: In both sketches "Downsizing" and "Spunk."
* GlobalIgnorance: In the pilot episode, David reveals that Bob believes that there are only five U.S. states, and one of them is called "Chim-Cham." In another episode, a group of kids on an MTV show claim to have traveled all over the world, showing a crayon map of the places they have gone. The "world" is in the shape of the continental United States, divided up into countries such as "Germany" and "Europe."
* GoodShepherd: Father Jim from the first episode. Might be a case of GoodIsDumb, as he's a bit of a pushover [[spoiler: which results in his friends pranking him, getting him on a CandidCameraPrank]].
* AGoodNameForARockBand: Indomitable Spirit, although the armless former member reveals they were originally called "Flat Top Tony and the Purple Canoes" (which is the episode's TitleDrop). Also Wycked Sceptre.
* GoryDeadlyOverkillTitleOfFatalDeath: The Return of the Curse of the Creature's Ghost!
* GoshDangItToHeck: Used in the "Pallies" sketch in a parody of when movies are edited for television.
-->Anthony: "I'll tell you what, the both of yous can grab one of my '''BOOKS''' and '''MOTHER-FATHERS, CHINESE DENTIST'''"
* GospelChoirsAreJustBetter: In the Third Wheel Legend sketch.
* HearingVoices: Four people in a subway trying to help a man's relationship trouble are revealed to be "The Four Voices Within." They are: an old lady, a Japanese man, a biker and a gay guy.
* HetIsEw: When two parents try to out their "gay" son and he insists he's not, the father is furious. They even try to bring in ''[[ManlyGay Rodrigo]]" to "gay him up."
* HeterosexualLifePartners: Bob and David are this. Well, [[HoYay maybe not so much . . .]]
* HeyItsThatGuy: TomKenny, before becoming a well known [[SpongebobSquarepants voice actor]], was a regular cast member.
* HiddenWire: The flower the undercover cop wears (after leaving the bathroom) in "Bugged Drug Deal." See IncrediblyObviousBug.
* HideYourPregnancy: Jill in most of the third season, but averted in Fuzz: The Musical and Philouza.
* HilariousOuttakes: The show has these, but it's also parodied during "Young People and Companions" in which there are outtakes for a news show. Notably the couple whose son is missing laughing over their slip-of-the-tongue.
* HollywoodSatanism: The Hail Satan Network, which acts pretty much like an actual gospel show.
* HoYay: And lots of it. Especially between Bob and [[DavidCross David]].
** [[{{HoYay/MrShow}} Enough to warrant its own page]]
* ILoveTheDead: The reason [[spoiler: James Whitcroft]] thinks he saw a [[spoiler: monster party in the graveyard]].
* IceCreamKoan: At the end of the Progressive Priest sketch, Father Jim gives us one of these
-->'''Father Jim''': When life gives me lemons, I make lemonade. When I ask someone for a glass of water and they give me a glass of sand, I turn it over, make a sand castle and then pretend I'm the king. If somebody throws a rock at my head, I pretend that the bruise is a faded tattoo, and that I was once a sailor and ran a sweatshop in Singapore . . . I'm not too proud of that time in my imaginary life.
* IncrediblyObviousBug: In a sketch, an undercover police officer uses a variety of very poorly disguised cameras and microphones in an attempt to bust a criminal.
* ImAHumanitarian: A few sketches. One in which the only survivor of a plane crash reveals that he ate all of the other survivors only hours after they landed.
* InspirationallyDisadvantaged: Parodied with Indomitable Spirit.
* {{Jerkass}}: Several characters
** The (adult) adopted son.
** The uninvited party guest in the first episode.
* KavorkaMan: David plays several of these, including Ronnie Dobbs, Lee from "Our Secret Love" and Derwin from the Lifeboat sketch.
* KeepCirculatingTheTapes: The second midseason special (a ClipShow) wasn't included on any of the [=DVDs=], unlike the other two.
* {{Keet}}: Also several . . .
** David (playing a version of himself) comes off this way at times. As well as a few of his characters.
** . . . like Grass Valley Greg.
** The Charlie Callas-esque "Johnny" from Dr. X's telethon.
* TheKlutz: Thomas in "The Story of Everest" sketch.
* LampshadeHanging: ''Incredibly'' self-aware, many of its jokes were based on mocking the common tropes.
* LeatherMan: One sketch features a band playing Fire Island, with an audience completely consisting of leather men.
* LieDetector: The subject of a season 3 sketch. Odenkirk plays a character subject to one of these. At first he's asked standard questions ("Have you ever drank alcohol to excess?" "Have you ever taken an illegal drug?"), but then he's asked even more outlandish and improbable questions ("Have you ever killed a man . . . with your mind?"). He always answers "Yes" to every question, with the machine's silence indicating he's telling the truth.
* LookMaIAmOnTV: In an award show, one of the presenters, who is stationed in the audience, suddenly becomes amazed when he can see himself and his fellow presenters on the big screen. He begins shouting and waving at the presenters onstage trying to get them to acknowledge him.
* LoonyFan: Adam Jimmy in the Titannica sketch.
* LostAtSea: The Lifeboat sketch.
* LoveMartyr: Possibly Terry for Ronnie.
* MajorMinorInconvenience: See Mayostard and Mustardayonnaise under StrawmanProduct.
* MegaCorp: The recurring Globochem.
* {{Metaphorgotten}}: In the Lifeboat sketch, one of the audience members from the JerrySpringer-esque show (who's lost at sea with them) tries to tell everyone how to handle their situation. He tells the pregnant woman "You need to respect the baby, because life is precious, and god, and the bible." Also the episode's TitleDrop.
** Possibly also
-->'''Ronnie''': Terry . . . I thought you was in Hawaii.
-->'''Terry''': A lot of people think a lot of things about Hawaii.
* MethodActing: Parodied in a season 1 sketch where a reporter (Odenkirk) highlights an actor (Cross) who spent months studying crowds for an extra part in a crowd scene, attended medical school for two years to play a doctor with one line in a Creator/MelBrooks film and has now had the frontal lobe of his brain removed and replaced with bubble wrap to play a lobotomized mental patient as realistically as possible.
* MissingEpisode: Parodied. Bob and David bill the beginning of one of their episodes as their "Lost Episode," so they can trot it out years later to much fanfare. At the end of the episode, they have all the cast members say "goodbye" to the tape of the episode, then give it to their security guard so he can lose it. He tosses the tape into outer space in a ''[[ASpaceOdyssey 2001]]'' parody.
* MisterDescriptor
* MonsterMash: The sketch ''Monster Parties: Fact or Fiction?''
* TheMusical: One episode includes an entire musical based on an old traveling salesman joke.
* NakedPeopleAreFunny: The Streakers sketch.
* NauseaFuel: This is Titannica's reaction to the body of their fan Adam Jimmy.
* NegativeContinuity: Understandable as this is sketch comedy (and if you consider recurring sketches to be in order). Ronnie [[spoiler: dies of entitilitus]] in the first episode but [[spoiler: is alive and well]] in FUZZ: The Musical.
* NoEnding: A lot of sketches on their own are like this, as all the sketches (much like MontyPythonsFlyingCircus) are linked together--the end of some sketches is the beginning of the next sketch. As comedy sketches are often hard to end on a high note, this arguably helps the show.
* OddlyNamedSequel2ElectricBoogaloo: During the Josh Fenderman sketch, a director is referred to as being "the best thing to come out of Hollywood since sliced bread, not to mention its sequel "Sliced Bread II: Electric Boogaloo."
* OneHitWonder: "Superstar Machine" by Li'l Davey Cross.
* OverlyLongGag: The Everest sketch involves a character repeatedly falling into some shelves and knocking over his mother's thimble collection, again and again and again. In the commentary, the cast recalls how agonizing it was to reset the stage each time.
** "Legend of the Third Wheel" has one with David Cross's song
** Change for a Dollar
* OscarBait: Parodied with The Dewey Awards, which are specifically given to actors who play mentally challenged characters.
* TheOtherDarrin: Tammy (Ronnie Dobbs' wife) is played Mary Lynn Rajskub in the first episode and Jill Talley in "[=FUZZ=]: The Musical", as Rajskub was no longer involved with the show.
* PerfectlyCromulentWord: Edmund Premington is introduced as "a hunter, an explorer, a novelist, and an adventurer; a travelliare, an explorist, and a noveller."
* PissTakeRap: Bob does this at the beginning of "A Talking Junkie," not too long after he claims to David that he raps because he's "from the streets." He also plays a character who does this in the "Monk Academy" sketch.
* PoliceAreUseless: "Drunk Cops." Also, in FUZZ: The Musical, the cops who are playing themselves don't handle the fight between Ronnie and Terry, two cops who are on duty come in.
* PredatoryBusiness: The Fairsley sketch.
* PrettyFlyForAWhiteGuy: The music duo Three Times One Minus One is a parody of this (particularly the WPCBCN--The White People Co-Opting Black Culture Network). The host of the "Video Soul" show they appear on fits this trope even more.
* RagsToRiches: Ronnie Dobbs, in both the first episode sketch and TheMovie.
* RatingsStunt: Parodied: During the VerySpecialEpisode / ComingOutStory, Bob goes "Here comes the highest rated moment in television!" Of course, the result is hilariously underwhelming and quickly forgotten.
* RedOniBlueOni: David is usually the red to Bob's blue.
* RetroactiveRecognition: SarahSilverman, JackBlack, [[Series/TwentyFour Mary Lynn Rajskub]], Paul F Tompkins, and Brian Posehn all got their start here. Also somewhat applicable to [[Series/ArrestedDevelopment David Cross]] and [[BreakingBad Bob Odenkirk]]. The show also features the very first appearance of Puscifer, Maynard James Keenan's avant garde side project band.
* RevengeOfTheSequel: Parodied with Return Of The Curse of the Creature's Ghost
* RightWingMilitiaFanatic: Mountain Dougie. See ForeignerForADay.
* RockOpera: Parodied with ''Jeepers Creepers'', "The Biggest Failure in Broadway History."
* SarcasmBlind: In one sketch, Sharwood writes angry letters, using sarcasm. The people who receive it take it at face value.
* SayMyName: Movie!Terry does this while holding [[spoiler: the corpse of]] movie!Ronnie. The actual Terry Twillstein said that his scream lasted for two hours and "set a new record for screaming."
* ScaryBlackMan: The Men's Club of Allah.
-->"When you need security, look for the symbol of the friendly, scary black man. The Men's Club of Allah."
* SirSwearsALot: Reverend Winston Dupree. Host of the appropriately titled "Swear to God"
--> "I have a question and I know you all have it too: What is up Satan's ass? All he wants to do is fuck us up, the dicklicker! Now the Lord said, 'I am the light of the world,' now he could have easily as said 'I am King Shit of Fuck Mountain! Why would you fuck with me?!'"
* ShirtlessScene: While trying to host a "targeted at women" (read: sexist) daytime show, Bob and David both do this, believing they're catering to them.
* ShockCollar: David has to wear one of these in the second episode, as required by Senator Tankerbell, part of a program monitoring artists. He gets a surge of "low level" electricity if he steps on a stage.
-->'''David''': It's not low level, Bob. It really hurts.
* SketchComedy: A serviceable representation of the genre.
* SlapstickKnowsNoGender: Nancy in the Thrilling Miracles sketch.
* SmokingHotSex: A David character does this after his (male) best friend pretends to be a call girl (at his demand) after losing a bet.
* SmugSnake: William Vanlandingham III, leader of the fat kid's camp and enemy of the Dalai Lama.
* SpaceJews: Menocu in "Racist in the Year 3,000," though he insists that he's only half Jewish.
* SpiritualSuccessor: Had several of these, in terms of some of the same actors working together. TheSarahSilvermanProgram had a few Mr. Show alum in leads and several actors made guest appearances. MoralOrel was produced by Dino Stamatopoulos, Jay Johnston and Scott Adsit. ''Series/ArrestedDevelopment'' featured David in a lead but had several Mr. Show actors guest star (including Bob). TimAndEric and TomGoesToTheMayor were produced by Bob Odenkirk but also included several Mr Show actors in guest appearances.
* StageDad: Bob and David are this to their daughter [[WhoNamesTheirKidDude Superstar]] in "Operation Hell on Earth." Also Josh Fenderman's mother.
** Jill plays one in the finale during the Josh Fenderman sketch.
* StealthPun: Unclear if it's intentional, but in the Progressive Priest sketch from the first episode, David's {{Jerkass}} character orders "Father Jim" to carry him across the room, which he obliges. So he's [[spoiler: carrying a Cross]], David even holds his arms out.
* StraightGay: Probably happens more often than CampGay. Carl in the Biosphere sketch (although his homosexuality is informed secondhand), Terry Twillstein is this, [[BiTheWay unless . . .]]
* StrawmanProduct: Used a number of times in various parody ads.
** In one ad war, a mom-and-pop grocery store is repeatedly slandered by a massive corporate chain, which insinuates that rats infest the produce and your children will get kidnapped by white slavers.
** Another ad campaign for Mayostard, a bottled mayo-and-mustard combo, goes to absurd lengths to suggest that getting sandwich spreads from two different bottles is an unbearable waste of time and effort. Then a competing product, Mustardayonnaise, enters the picture. Then the post-credits gag introduces [[SerialEscalation Mustmayostardayonnaise]], because having to apply Mayostard and Mustardayonnaise is such an enormous time sink, it will cause you to miss your daughter growing up, graduating college, and then [[MindScrew growing older than you and dying.]]
* SwearJar: In "Please Don't Kill Me." See [[spoiler: ChekhovsGun]].
* TakeThat: All over the place . . .
** Inside The Actor towards ''Inside The Actors' Studio'' and James Lipton.
** Three Times One Minus One towards PrettyFlyForAWhiteGuy musicians.
** "Good News" towards CureYourGays organizations.
* TechMarchesOn: Party tapes, DAT players, and probably more.
* ThereAreNoGoodExecutives. Bit of a recurring theme in "If You're Going To Write a Comedy Scene, You're Going to Have Some Rat Feces in There." Particularly the "Downsizing" sketch.
* TheresNoBInMovie: Possibly a [[SubvertedTrope subversion]] with The Return of the Curse of the Creature's Ghost.
* ThirdWheel: Jerry in the appropriate titled "Third Wheel Legend" sketch ([[EarWorm and sings a song about it]]) to his two friends on their honeymoon. The husband likes having him around but the wife is annoyed. Bob [[BreakingTheFourthWall breaks the fourth wall]] at the end of the sketch to reveal the writer in the audience . . . the sketch was written for their friend Geri, who is the third wheel between him and ''his'' husband.
* ThisIsForEmphasisBitch: Outside the studio is a sign saying "TV Taping in progress; Shut up, bitch!"
** David also wears a t-shirt with the phrase "Shut Up Bitch!" in a sketch where he's very enthusiastic.
** "Men 'r' stupid. Women 'r stupider.' We need to get married. I did. Get in line! ({{Beat}}.) Get in line, you dumb bitch!"
* TitleDrop: The title of each episode is actually a line from the show that the writers select on a whim. However, sometimes the line is from a sketch that gets cut from the actual episode. The show also uses its own name very often due to its self-referential comedy.
* ToiletHumor: "America, you shit on us? I shit on you!" Too bad he ''can't''. Also, the titular sketch of "Rudy Will Await Your Foundation."
** And fake poo.
* TooHotForTV: Parodied with "The Car Wash Change Thief Action Squad: Too Hot For TV".
* TooIncompetentToOperateABlanket: The mayostard/mustardayonnaise featured a series of ads for products combining mayo and mustard in a single jar, like Hellman's [[http://www.hellmanns.us/products/dijonnaise_mustard.aspx Dijonnaise]]. In the end, a guy is shown missing out on the important moments in his life because the process of spreading mustard then mayonnaise was simply too time consuming. The first [=GloboChem=] sketch features Janeane Garofalo as a woman who simply can't organize the bags in her kitchen, shouting, "Help me!" at the camera. The solution is "bag hutch," a box to put bags in. The writers had to change the name of the product because "bag box" was already the name of a product that did the exact same thing.
* TransparentCloset:
** Wyckyd Sceptre, who insist that having all-male orgies is not gay at all, it's just a party.
** In another sketch, a "Scared Straight" councilor appears repeatedly on a Christian chat show to talk about his most recent lapse into "homosinuality".
* UnintentionalPeriodPiece: Largely [[AvertedTrope averted]]. The show largely avoided making references to current subjects. If it did, it was usually through parodies with different names (i.e. FUZZ for Series/{{Cops}}). Most of these sketches are still funny without knowing what they parodied.
* VerySpecialEpisode: Parodied, of course. See ComingOutStory. Said scene is followed by a trip to the "Ratings Man."
* VomitIndiscretionShot: Bob throwing up during the bloopers at the beginning of "Rudy Will Await Your Foundation" [[spoiler: which is the episode's [[TheStinger stinger]]/BrickJoke]].
* WalkingShirtlessScene: Ronnie Dobbs, usually.
* WithFriendsLikeThese: The Intervention sketch. When one of them has a problem that needs to be discussed, most try to come up with a one-liner taking shots at said victim. And all of them are annoyed with Bob ''having'' interventions, to the point where they resolve that by [[spoiler: killing him]]. Bob still tries to help them with that plan.
* YouClonedHitler: A sketch in which after cloning has been perfected, Hitler clones are mass-produced in order to serve Jewish families. The Hitler clones, are their own time, frequent bars and talk about how hard it is to find dates.
* YoungerThanTheyLook: Several of the cast members, most look about their age, if not slightly older (some are OlderThanTheyLook nowadays). None of the main cast was born before the 60s, and the show aired from 95-98.
* YourCheatingHeart: A married couple in "Goin' on a Holiday" are revealed to both be cheating on the other. ''With the same man''. [[spoiler: Turns out he's seeing the whole family as well, including the daughter, daughter's boyfriend and the ''grandparents.'' [[OverlyLongGag As well as a pair of twins.]]]]
----
