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* WhatTheHellDad: Reicther's dad, William. He's very apathetic to the fact that his son has been arrested countless times, suspended from school, and even saw someone die in prison.
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* ShoutOut:
** Brock would much prefer to watch ''{{Futurama}}'' reruns then go on a blind date in "Quest for the Nintendo Wii".
** ''{{Guitar Hero}}''. Brian and Joel play the game drunk in one episode, while Reicther explains why he plays it nude in another.
** Brian mentions that ''{{Superbad}}'' has given him a complex about girls wearing skirts in "The Trials of Chris Hughes".
** Will after drinking his first beer: "It's like [[TheWizardofOz The Tin Man]] shot his load in my mouth!"
** After Brock accidentally takes Uppers, Reicther convinces him has a "bomb in the nose" much like in in the third ''Film/MissionImpossible'' film.
*** During the same incident, Brock becomes paranoid that Xerxes and the Persian army (''Film/ThreeHundred'') are coming for him.
** "By the power of grey skull!", the famous quote from ''WesternAnimation/HeManAndTheMastersOfTheUniverse1983'', is frequently uttered.
** Brian makes a strong case that ''Disney/TheLionKing'' is a rip off of "KimbaTheWhiteLion".
** Julianne Moore, Mariska Hargitay, Sandra Bullock, Leah Thompson, and Keira Knightly have been mentioned as celebrity crushes.
** ''{{Star Wars}}'' is seemingly named dropped almost every episode.
** Casey confuses the Four Spiritual Laws with the rules from ''{{Gremlins}}''.
** Joel compossed a list of what he called "Ignored Greatness", which included ''Series/ArrestedDevelopment'' and ''WesternAnimation/RockosModernLife''.
** Brock has a collection of toys from ''WesternAnimation/CaptainPlanetandthePlaneteers''.
** Just because Reverend Johnson is a man of God, doesn't mean he can't rock out to ''Music/PearlJam''.
** Brian would much rather play ''VideoGame/Left4Dead'' then watch Reicther try to flirt with a girl.
** "Never question Creator/PaulGiamatti!"
** Brock would much prefer to watch ''{{Futurama}}'' reruns then go on a blind date in "Quest for the Nintendo Wii".
** ''{{Guitar Hero}}''. Brian and Joel play the game drunk in one episode, while Reicther explains why he plays it nude in another.
** Brian mentions that ''{{Superbad}}'' has given him a complex about girls wearing skirts in "The Trials of Chris Hughes".
** Will after drinking his first beer: "It's like [[TheWizardofOz The Tin Man]] shot his load in my mouth!"
** After Brock accidentally takes Uppers, Reicther convinces him has a "bomb in the nose" much like in in the third ''Film/MissionImpossible'' film.
*** During the same incident, Brock becomes paranoid that Xerxes and the Persian army (''Film/ThreeHundred'') are coming for him.
** "By the power of grey skull!", the famous quote from ''WesternAnimation/HeManAndTheMastersOfTheUniverse1983'', is frequently uttered.
** Brian makes a strong case that ''Disney/TheLionKing'' is a rip off of "KimbaTheWhiteLion".
** Julianne Moore, Mariska Hargitay, Sandra Bullock, Leah Thompson, and Keira Knightly have been mentioned as celebrity crushes.
** ''{{Star Wars}}'' is seemingly named dropped almost every episode.
** Casey confuses the Four Spiritual Laws with the rules from ''{{Gremlins}}''.
** Joel compossed a list of what he called "Ignored Greatness", which included ''Series/ArrestedDevelopment'' and ''WesternAnimation/RockosModernLife''.
** Brock has a collection of toys from ''WesternAnimation/CaptainPlanetandthePlaneteers''.
** Just because Reverend Johnson is a man of God, doesn't mean he can't rock out to ''Music/PearlJam''.
** Brian would much rather play ''VideoGame/Left4Dead'' then watch Reicther try to flirt with a girl.
** "Never question Creator/PaulGiamatti!"
to:
* ShoutOut:
** Brock would much prefer to watch ''{{Futurama}}'' reruns then go on a blind date in "Quest for the Nintendo Wii".
** ''{{Guitar Hero}}''. Brian and Joel play the game drunk in one episode, while Reicther explains why he plays it nude in another.
** Brian mentions that ''{{Superbad}}'' has given him a complex about girls wearing skirts in "The Trials of Chris Hughes".
** Will after drinking his first beer: "It's like [[TheWizardofOz The Tin Man]] shot his load in my mouth!"
** After Brock accidentally takes Uppers, Reicther convinces him has a "bomb in the nose" much like in in the third ''Film/MissionImpossible'' film.
*** During the same incident, Brock becomes paranoid that Xerxes and the Persian army (''Film/ThreeHundred'') are coming for him.
** "By the power of grey skull!", the famous quote from ''WesternAnimation/HeManAndTheMastersOfTheUniverse1983'', is frequently uttered.
** Brian makes a strong case that ''Disney/TheLionKing'' is a rip off of "KimbaTheWhiteLion".
** Julianne Moore, Mariska Hargitay, Sandra Bullock, Leah Thompson, and Keira Knightly have been mentioned as celebrity crushes.
** ''{{Star Wars}}'' is seemingly named dropped almost every episode.
** Casey confuses the Four Spiritual Laws with the rules from ''{{Gremlins}}''.
** Joel compossed a list of what he called "Ignored Greatness", which included ''Series/ArrestedDevelopment'' and ''WesternAnimation/RockosModernLife''.
** Brock has a collection of toys from ''WesternAnimation/CaptainPlanetandthePlaneteers''.
** Just because Reverend Johnson is a man of God, doesn't mean he can't rock out to ''Music/PearlJam''.
** Brian would much rather play ''VideoGame/Left4Dead'' then watch Reicther try to flirt with a girl.
** "Never question Creator/PaulGiamatti!"ShoutOut: Has it's own page.
** Brock would much prefer to watch ''{{Futurama}}'' reruns then go on a blind date in "Quest for the Nintendo Wii".
** ''{{Guitar Hero}}''. Brian and Joel play the game drunk in one episode, while Reicther explains why he plays it nude in another.
** Brian mentions that ''{{Superbad}}'' has given him a complex about girls wearing skirts in "The Trials of Chris Hughes".
** Will after drinking his first beer: "It's like [[TheWizardofOz The Tin Man]] shot his load in my mouth!"
** After Brock accidentally takes Uppers, Reicther convinces him has a "bomb in the nose" much like in in the third ''Film/MissionImpossible'' film.
*** During the same incident, Brock becomes paranoid that Xerxes and the Persian army (''Film/ThreeHundred'') are coming for him.
** "By the power of grey skull!", the famous quote from ''WesternAnimation/HeManAndTheMastersOfTheUniverse1983'', is frequently uttered.
** Brian makes a strong case that ''Disney/TheLionKing'' is a rip off of "KimbaTheWhiteLion".
** Julianne Moore, Mariska Hargitay, Sandra Bullock, Leah Thompson, and Keira Knightly have been mentioned as celebrity crushes.
** ''{{Star Wars}}'' is seemingly named dropped almost every episode.
** Casey confuses the Four Spiritual Laws with the rules from ''{{Gremlins}}''.
** Joel compossed a list of what he called "Ignored Greatness", which included ''Series/ArrestedDevelopment'' and ''WesternAnimation/RockosModernLife''.
** Brock has a collection of toys from ''WesternAnimation/CaptainPlanetandthePlaneteers''.
** Just because Reverend Johnson is a man of God, doesn't mean he can't rock out to ''Music/PearlJam''.
** Brian would much rather play ''VideoGame/Left4Dead'' then watch Reicther try to flirt with a girl.
** "Never question Creator/PaulGiamatti!"
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* ParanormalEpisode: The series had an episode where Reicther's birthday is interrupted supposedly by ghosts but it's actually just [[spoiler:a prank by Casey and Chris.]]
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* TheUnreveal: It's never revealed what exactly Brian did to Frankie Marks when they were little, but according to Will is was REALLY bad and must not happen again.
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* WriteWhatYouKnow: Based on interviews, The Lunchroom is based on Bruce Snyder's own high school days, and Will Cooper is based on his younger self.
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* WriteWhatYouKnow: Based on interviews, The Lunchroom is based on Bruce Snyder's own high school days, and Will Cooper is based on his younger self.self.
* YourCheatingHeart: Amidst a really bad fight,[[spoiler:Kay and Brock made out while she was still with Casey.]]
** One of Season 5's big story arcs revolved around [[spoiler:Cathy having a one night stand behind Joel's back.]]
* YourCheatingHeart: Amidst a really bad fight,[[spoiler:Kay and Brock made out while she was still with Casey.]]
** One of Season 5's big story arcs revolved around [[spoiler:Cathy having a one night stand behind Joel's back.]]
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** Kate Davison has been dealing with mental illness since the 1st Grade.
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** Stacy's real father was killed when she only a baby
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** Stacy's real father was killed when she only a babybaby.
** It's pretty much all but confirmed that Reicther's grandfather was a Nazi.
** It's pretty much all but confirmed that Reicther's grandfather was a Nazi.
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* DysfunctionJunction: The Gang lives at this junction:
** Brian's mother is a raging alcoholic, with no desire to change.
** Brock has two moms, which has lead to many angry outbursts against school bullies.
** Ellen's father walked out when she was young, causing her to be overly cautious when it comes to romantic relationships.
** Stacy's real father was killed when she only a baby
** Brian's mother is a raging alcoholic, with no desire to change.
** Brock has two moms, which has lead to many angry outbursts against school bullies.
** Ellen's father walked out when she was young, causing her to be overly cautious when it comes to romantic relationships.
** Stacy's real father was killed when she only a baby
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* EarlyInstallmentWeirdness: In early seasons, Brock could be just as sarcastic and weird as Reicther. There's even an early Season 2 episode where he shows interest in basketball.
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* SpinOff: There was going to be a spin-off centered on Stacy's adventures in Chicago but plans were cancelled before any script was finished.
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* TheReasonYouSuckSpeech: After he torments him all night, Brandon Brim lets The Gang have it.
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* TheReasonYouSuckSpeech: After he Reichter torments him all night, Brandon Brim lets The Gang have it.
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* SpinOff: There was going to be a spin-off centered on Stacy's adventures in Chicago but plans were cancelled before any script was finished.
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* TheReasonYouSuckSpeech: After he torments him all night, Brandon Brim lets The Gang have it.
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* TheReasonYouSuckSpeech: After he Reichter torments him all night, Brandon Brim lets The Gang have it.
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** "By the power of grey skull!", the famous quote from ''WesternAnimation/{{He-man and the Masters of the Universe}}'', is frequently uttered.
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** "By the power of grey skull!", the famous quote from ''WesternAnimation/{{He-man and the Masters of the Universe}}'', ''WesternAnimation/HeManAndTheMastersOfTheUniverse1983'', is frequently uttered.
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* MidSeasonWhamEpisode: Season 4. Episode 8 ends with [[spoiler:Stacy discovering she's pregnant a few days before heading off to college.]]
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* MidSeasonWhamEpisode: MidSeasonTwist: Season 4. Episode 8 ends with [[spoiler:Stacy discovering she's pregnant a few days before heading off to college.]]
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** "Never question PaulGiamatti!"
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** "Never question PaulGiamatti!"
Creator/PaulGiamatti!"
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** Brian makes a strong case that ''{{The Lion King}}'' is a rip off of "KimbaTheWhiteLion".
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** Brian makes a strong case that ''{{The Lion King}}'' ''Disney/TheLionKing'' is a rip off of "KimbaTheWhiteLion".
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** "You think {{Aquaman}} wanted to be {{Aquaman}}? Fuck no! Talking to fish isn’t a power! That’s just some bullshit."
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** "You think {{Aquaman}} ComicBook/{{Aquaman}} wanted to be {{Aquaman}}? Aquaman? Fuck no! Talking to fish isn’t a power! That’s just some bullshit."
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** Likewise, ''{{Aquaman}}'' is brought up constantly. Will even wrote a screenplay about him.
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** Likewise, ''{{Aquaman}}'' ''ComicBook/{{Aquaman}}'' is brought up constantly. Will even wrote a screenplay about him.
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** Joel compossed a list of what he called "Ignored Greatness", which included ''{{Arrested Devevlopment}}'' and ''WesternAnimation/RockosModernLife''.
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** Joel compossed a list of what he called "Ignored Greatness", which included ''{{Arrested Devevlopment}}'' ''Series/ArrestedDevelopment'' and ''WesternAnimation/RockosModernLife''.
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** Joel compossed a list of what he called "Ignored Greatness", which included ''{{Arrested Devevlopment}}'' and ''{{Rocko's Modern Life}}''.
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** Joel compossed a list of what he called "Ignored Greatness", which included ''{{Arrested Devevlopment}}'' and ''{{Rocko's Modern Life}}''.
''WesternAnimation/RockosModernLife''.
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** Joel compossed a list of what he called "Ignored Greatness", which included ''{{Arrested Devevlopment}}'' and ''{{Rocko's Modern Life}}''.
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** ''{{Star Wars}}'' is seemingly named dropped almost every episode.
** Casey confuses the Four Spiritual Laws with the rules from ''{{Gremlins}}''.
** Casey confuses the Four Spiritual Laws with the rules from ''{{Gremlins}}''.
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* {{Foreshadowing}}:
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* {{Foreshadowing}}:{{Foreshadowing}}: [[spoiler: Stacy]] mentions she has a thing for Keira Knightley and other female celebrities.
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** Julianne Moore, Mariska Hargitay, Sandra Bullock, Leah Thompson, and Keira Knightly have been mentioned as celebrity crushes.
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** Brian makes a strong case that ''{{The Lion King}}'' is a rip off of ''{{Manga/Kimba the White Lion }}''
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** Brian makes a strong case that ''{{The Lion King}}'' is a rip off of ''{{Manga/Kimba the White Lion }}''
"KimbaTheWhiteLion".
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** Brian makes a strong case that ''{{The Lion King}}'' is a rip off of ''{{Manga/Kimba the White Lion }}''
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**"You think {{Aquaman}} wanted to be {{Aquaman}}? Fuck no! Talking to fish isn’t a power! That’s just some bullshit."
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''The Lunchroom'' is an original virtual series sitcom, created by Bruce Snyder about a group of mid-teen outcasts and their day-to-day adventures growing up in Indiana. The series ran for five seasons with 70 episodes produced all together.
The show follows a group of friends, regularly called "the gang," which consists of Will Cooper, Joel Mayberry, Brian Vandele, Brock Warner, Casey Jennings, Chris Hughes, and Reicther.
The show added several more characters to the main cast as it went along, including CoolTeacher Mr. John Parker, Brian's half sister Stacy Cifaretto, Will’s love interest Ellen Conner, the overly optimistic health teacher Ms. Diane Ballard, and Cathy Matthews, a popular girl long admired by Brian.
.
----
!![The Lunchroom] contains examples of:
* AbortedArc:
** Joel's mom getting remarried and moving her family were dropped after Season 1.
** The episode "With Friends Like These.." was suppose to be the start of a storyline involving Casey "breaking up" with The Gang and looking for new friends. This was later dropped.
** Stacy's attempts at figuring out what to do after high school were dropped after only a few episodes in Season 3.
** "Suicidals Deserve to Die" sets up an arc of Will chasing after Stacy which never happened.
* AccidentalPervert: Will staring at James Kelly's penis.
* AlcoholicParent: Brian and Stacy's mom but it's PlayedForLaughs.
* AmusingInjuries:
** Reicther getting a consussion while playing the board game Risk.
** Casey damaging his eye in a collision with a motocycle.
** Brock breaking his ribs while stopping Reicther and his potato gun.
** Joel being beaten up with textbooks during a Senior prank.
* AscendedExtra: Mr. Parker appeared briefly in Season 2 before becoming one of the show's main characters.
** Kirk, Joseph, Tom Lawrence, Principal Stevens, and Cathy were suppose only appear one time before becoming recurring characters.
* AsleepInClass: The show often had scenes with characters falling asleep in class. One example involved Brian, Reicther, and Will sleeping during Mr. Parker's class and being awaken by Parker's air horn.
* AxesAtSchool: [[spoiler:Brian brings his ninja weapons into school for one of Will's films.]]
* TheBeard: In the episode titled "Guess Who's Coming Out at Dinner?", Jordan is afraid to come out to his religious mother by himself, so he recruits Brian to pose as his boyfriend. It doesn't go well.
* BerserkButton:
** Don't mock the Bass guitar around Kirk.
** If you're overly optimistic, stay away from Mr. Parker.
** Do not ask Brian ** Don't help any women with a crossword puzzle.
** If you're a teacher, don't be condescending to Brock.
* BigManOnCampus: James Kelly.
* BirthdayEpisode: The episode "What Was That?" focuses mostly on Reicther's birthday.
* BlackBestFriend: Chris Hughes.
* BlackandNerdy: Chris Hughes.
* Blackmail: Will and Ellen blackmailed [[spoiler:Mr. Parker and Ms. Ballard]] after seeing them have sex during a free period.
* BoardGame: The Gang constantly play the board game Risk throughout the series.
* BookEnds: Season 4 begins with [[spoiler:Brian's failed suicide]] and ends with [[spoiler:Kate successfully killing herself.]]
* BottleEpisode: "Waiting for Kirsten". The whole episode is set backstage at play rehearsals.
* BreakoutCharacter: Reicther.
* BreatherEpisode: "Love Conquers All", the Stacy episode from Season 5, could be thought of as this, considering it sits right in between [[spoiler:Superintendent Brooks dying]], and [[spoiler:Principal Stevens taking people hostage at prom.]]
* BrilliantButLazy: Despite failing grades and apathy towards school, Brian has been shown to be quite intelligent.
* TheBully: Jason Tolbert. [[spoiler:Who Casey accidentally injures at one point.]]
* TheBusCameBack: [[spoiler:Stacy]] returns in the final season.
* ButtMonkey: Richard.
* CallBack:
** In "The Beginning of the End", Dr. Carter mentions Reicther's head injury from "Comfortably Numb", which Reicther has no memory of.
** The montage of The Gang getting for school in the Season 5 premiere mirrors the montage from the first episode.
** In Season 5's "The Mourning After", Reicther is the target of a series of pranks by a mysterious prankster. [[spoiler: The prankster is revealed to be Richard, who wants revenge for Reicther's actions during Freshmen year. This harkens back Season 1's "A Tale of Two Brides", when Reicther couldn't stop asking inapporiate questiosn about Richard's disability.]]
** In the pilot episode, we learn that Brian trying to write a fantasy novel called ''The Chronicles of Haven''. The story is referenced in later episodes, and the finished novel is the main focus of Season 4's "Writing Wrongs".
* TheCameo: "The Last Time" has The Gang messing with Ron Farmer from the VirtualSeries ''[[Reporting Live]]''.
* CannotSpitItOut: Will and Ellen are in love but can't vocalize it for two seasons.
** Reicther, Casey, and Brock were all attracted to fellow student Sarah but none of them ever said anything.
* CharacterizationMarchesOn: Mr. Parker started off as a ConspiracyTheorist before becoming CoolTeacher.
** Joseph started off as a FunnyForeigner but quickly transformed into TheStoner after hanging with Kirk.
** Casey TookaLevelinDumbass in later seasons.
* CheckPlease: Subverted in "Quest for the Nintendo Wii". When Brock's blind date hooks up with an ex on their restaurant table, intead of fleeing, he queitly sits and finishes his meal.
* ChekhovsGunman: Several characters are introduced slowly in the series before joining the main cast.
** Mr. Parker made a brief appearance in the Season 2 premiere before joining the main cast in Season 3.
** Cathy Matthews appeared in one Brian-centric episode before her introduction as a recurring character in season 3. In Season 4 she would become a main cast member.
** Arthur Winchester was a random member of Drama Club in Season 4 before becoming Will's main rival for Ellen in Season 5.
* ChuckCunninghamSyndrome: Both of Will's love interests, Rene and Meadow.
** Ellen's supposed best friend Rory Reid.
* CliffHanger: [[spoiler:Season 3 ends with Brian attempting suicide, the end result which is revealed next season.]]
** "Time Stands Still": [[spoiler:The episode ends with a giant car wreck involving most of The Gang and leaves their fates up in the air.]]
* ComicallySmallBribe: Much to the chagrin of Will, Ellen accepts a Ring Pop as a bribe to hide to the fact that [[spoiler: Mr. Parker is having sex with Ms. Ballard.]]
* ComingofAgeStory: One of the series main themes.
* CompressedVice: The Gang become addicted to a homemade candy called Yenom and suffer withdrawl effects over just a few days. It's all PlayedForLaughs.
* ContinuityNod: A Season 4 episode centered on Brian trying to get feedback on his fantasy story, one which he started writing in the very first episode.
** In Season 5, The Prankster who tormets Reicther turns out to be [[spoiler: Richard who's getting him back for making cripple jokes in Season 1.]]
** Characters occasionally will mention Reicther's head injury from "Comfortably Numb" something he has no memory of.
** The opening Sesaon 5 montage mirrors the opening montage from the first episode.
* CoolLoser: The Gang.
* CoolTeacher:
** Mr. Parker
** Suberted in "Everybody Loves Mr. E": the eponymous character is a young substitute who is this to most the student body but his puns and grating personality drive Brock and Mr. Parker crazy.
* CosmeticCatastrophe: The episode "With Friends Like These..." had a blind girl doing Stacy's make-up. It did not end well.
* CosmicPlaything: Characters frequently addressed God, especially when things were going bad. Even Casey, a known Atheist, had no problem cursing God for the bad things in life.
* TheCouch: Or in this case, The Gang's lunch table.
* CrossOver: One semi-crossover with the VirtualSeries ''Reporting Live'':
** Sports reporter Ron Farmer showed up in the Season 3 finale as a sort of CrossoverPunchline. As he makes a special report, he is unaware that Will, Chris, and Brian are mooning him in the background.
* CreatorBreakdown: Brian starts to lose it in "Writing Wrongs" when no one will review his book, ''The Chronicles of Haven''. He creates a phony user name and praises his own work on a highly acclaimed website called SimplyNovels. Even with the fake praise, no one reads the story which leads Brian to rant against the site and ultimately gets him banned.
* DeanBitterman: Principal Bob Stevens.
* DeadpanSnarker: Most characters, especially Mr. Parker.
* DemotedtoExtra: Happened to Rene David in Season 2. Despite being Will's love interest and the closest thing to a female lead the show had in the first season, she only has a few minors scenes before dissappearing without explanation.
* DidIJustSayThatOutLoud?: Brock does this in the middle of class after Mr. Zimmer mocks him for being a nerd:
-->'''Brock:'''"WHO GIVES A FLYING FUCK ABOUT ATTENDING BULLSHIT SPORTING EVENTS, YOU STUPID FUCK-FACE!"
* DoesThisRemindYouofAnything?: In "Prozac Candy" The Gang's sugar withdrawal is played like they're withdrawaling from heroin.
-->'''Brian:'''"We should shoot the Yenom into are veins!"
-->'''Chris:'''"That way we'll get the sugar rush faster!"
* DocumentaryEpisode: "Reality Bites" has a {{Jerkass}} film producer making a documentary about Brian.
* DownerBeginning: The very first scene of the series is Casey being dumped by his promiscuous girlfriend Lacie.
* DownerEnding: [[spoiler: "Rehearsals for Depatures" ends with Kate killing herself.]]
** [[spoiler: "The Trials of Chris Hughes" ends with Chris getting expelled from school, getting kicked out of the country, and having to register as a sex offender.]]
* DramaticIrony: Season five opens with Casey promising Brock he'll find him a girlfriend [[spoiler: only to have Brock end up making out with Kay.]]
* EmbarrassingFirstName: Reicther's first name is Kevin, which is embarrassing to him.
* EmbarrassingMiddleName: Chris' middle name is Langston.
* EroticDream: Season 3 opens with Will having one about Salma Hayek.
* EscalatingWar: A Senoir prank war against The Gang quickly gets out of hand in "Special Needs".
* EverybodyisSingle: The Gang in Season 1.
* EvilTeacher: Mr. Zimmer and Mr. Drake (the substitue in "Comics and Comedians") have no problem openly mocking Brock and Joel for being nerds.
** Principal Stevens. [[spoiler:He goes to great lengths to ruin Chris Hughes' life after he finds his daughter performing oral sex on him. Even worse, he's secretly a member of TheKlan and it's hinted that his actions against Chris are racially motivated.]]
* [[spoiler:FakingTheDead: Brian in "Brian's Odyssey.]]
* FeudEpisode: Casey and Reicther go through this in the episode "Prozac Candy" when they discover they both like the same girl
** One of the story arcs in Season 5 revolved around [[spoiler: Casey feuding with Brock after he made out with Kay.]]
* {{Flanderization}}: Casey got dumber as the series went along but also more caring and romantic.
** Reicther got wackier throughout the seasons until the end of Sesaon 5 thanks to some CharacterDevelopment.
* {{Foreshadowing}}:
** When Chris and Kate first meet in "Shades of Gray", she briefly mentions [[spoiler: that she was just released from Eastern Psyche for having "problems".]]
** "The Mourning After" showed [[spoiler: Principal Stevens as a member of TheKlan foreshadowing his battles with Chris Hughes.]]
** In "Quest for the Nintendo Wii", Brian blows off the S.A.T.s to stand in line for a new video game console [[spoiler: foreshadowing his struggles in school.]]
** Chris doesn't realize that Lorelei is [[spoiler: Principal Stevens' dautghter]] even though he first met her right outside his office.
* FriendswithBenefits: Subverted with Parker and Ballard. The two have no strings attached sex and never develop romantic feelings for each other.
* FunPersonified: Reicther. Since he's the one character who never gets dramatic storylines, he's generally considered by fans as the most entertaining part of the show.
* GarageBand: The Bog Standard, The Jeff Goldblum Experience.
* Gayngst: Stacy.
* GeniusDitz: Casey can be ditzy but it's been shown he gets better grades then the rest of The Gang and is enrolled in numerous advanced classes.
** Kirk may act goofy when high but when sober he's seen reading Time magazine and debating politics with Joseph.
* GilliganCut: In "Guess Who's Coming Out at Dinner?", when The Gang can't decide who will act as Jordan's boyfriend, Brian enters wanting to know what they're talking about. Cut to Brian in the car, on the way to Jordan's.
* GirlNextDoor: Cathy Matthews, until later seasons revealed she was more flawed then people thought.
* GlobalIgnorance: Everyone assumes Joseph is from Iran when he's actually from Iraq.
* GoodParents: Casey's parents. They get very protective of him when he's persecuted for being an atheist.
* GoodPeopleHaveGoodSex: Subverted. Most sex scenes are awkward or PlayedForLaughs.
* HappilyEverAfter: [[spoiler:Will and Ellen.]]
* HeterosexualLifePartners:
** Kirk and Joseph spent almost every waking second with each other.
* HiddenDepths: "Time Stands Still" shows Kirk getting serious when it's revealed he cares deeply about music. His aloof stoner persona is completely absent here.
** Reicther was the wacky comic relief until he meet Laura and grew into a more developed character.
* HolierThanThou: The Bible-thumping, HeteronormativeCrusader Jordan who [[spoiler:ironically is a closeted homosexual.]]
* HollywoodNerd: Subverted. The Gang are more realistic nerds rather then the Urkel or Screech stereotypes.
* {{Homage}}: In the episode "The Lost Weekend", Brian gets into a car wreck with famous actor Jerry Seinfeld. The episodes contains dozens of references to the actor's famous sitcom, {{Seinfeld}}:
-->'''Dr. Carter''': "Will you sign my puffy shirt?"
** "Comfortably Numb" is told BacktoFront much in the same style as the film Film/{{Memento}}.
* HomoeroticSubtext: Will with Joel. A recurring joke has Will trailing off everytime he describes how handsome Joel is:
-->'''Will''': "I keep getting lost in his beautiful, soulful eyes"
* IHitYouYouHitTheGround: "You come near me or her again I will end your life. That's not a threat: it's a goddamn promise."
* The "ILoveYou" Stigma: The focus of part two of "Time Stands Still". Ellen says "I love you" to Will only to receive a reference to TheEmpireStrikesBack in return.
* InterruptedIntimacy: Parker and Ballard are in the middle of having sex during a free period when Will and Ellen walk in.
* IvyLeagueForEveryone: Subverted. When The Gang graduate high school, most end up going to state or community colleges.
** Subverted again. Kay actually turns down a full ride to Yale to be with Casey at a state college.
* IWasToldThereWouldBeCake: Chris bribes Brock, Reicther, and Brian with a trip to the pet store to get them to go to a party.
* KilledOffforReal: [[spoiler:Kate Davidson]]
* LampshadeHanging: Dr. Carter does this in "The Beginning of the End", in response to the numerous times The Gang have been in the hospital.
** Casey and Brian were roaming the halls during school when Casey wonders aloud "Why aren't we in class?" Brian responds with an indifferent "Fuck it."
* LastNameBasis: Only twice in the series (in the first and last episodes) has anyone ever used Reicther's first name.
* LimitedSocialCircle: For a lot of the show's run it is just The Gang. While friendly with various other students, it's implied they just don't want other friends outside the group. This is why they go to such extremes when it looks like Brandon Brim might join their group in Season 4.
** Ellen mostly just hangs out with Will and Cathy.
* LocalHangout: The Shake Shop.
* MakeUporBreakUp:
** Joel and Cathy: Once. After dating for nearly a year, they break-up in Season 5 after Joel finds out about Cathy's cheating. They get back together briefly after the prom episode but end things forever in the series finale.
* MidSeasonWhamEpisode: Season 4. Episode 8 ends with [[spoiler:Stacy discovering she's pregnant a few days before heading off to college.]]
** Season 5. The middle of the season saw [[spoiler:Chris Hughes being kicked out of school and moving back to England.]]
* MistakenforGay: Constantly happening to Will. Doesn't help that takes Brock to the Prom and [[spoiler:accidentally made out with Tom Lawrence.]]
* MistakenforTerrorist: Happens to Will and Chris when they say the word "bomb" while waiting in an airport.
* MistakenNationality: Joseph Saïd is Iraqi but others have mistaken him for either a Hindu or an Irani.
* TheMovie: Almost happened. The writers considered ending the show with Season 3 so they could make a feature length movie. This idea was dropped in favor of doing two more seasons.
* NaziGrandpa: [[spoiler:It's highly suggested that Reicther's great grandfather was this.]]
* NoEnding: A lot of early episodes have this.
* NoSocialSkills:
** Both parts of "Time Stands Still" show Reicther literally has no idea how to interact with women he has feelings for. He decides not to talk at all to avoid further embarrassement.
* NoodleIncident: Brian beating up Frankie Marks.
* OffScreenBreakup: Will/Meadow Le Cerva,[[spoiler:Joel/Cathy]].
* OldShame: Will's ''Garfield'' book collection.
** Joel's love of the musician Prince.
-->'''Joel:'''"Never lie to me again about having a Prince album!"
* OnlySaneMan: Brock and Mr. Parker are frequently this.
* OverprotectiveDad: Reverend Mark Johnson frequently causes trouble for Kay and Casey.
* {{Paper-ThinDisguise}}: Joel's occasional British altar ego, "Nigel Pennyworth."
* ParodyEpisode:
** "Master Debaters" parodies ''TheWestWing''.
** "Everybody Hurts": Brock ending things with Sarah features fantasies that parody ''{{Friends}}'', ''Series/TheSopranos'', ''Film/{{Casablanca}}'', and ''Film/AnnieHall''.
** "See How They Run" spoofs the HBO prison series ''Series/{{Oz}}''.
** "The Lost Weekend" parodies ''{{Seinfeld}}''.
** "Comfortably Numb" parodies BacktoFront stories such as ''Film/{{Memento}}''.
* RealSongThemeTune: Marvin Gaye's version of "Ain't That Peculiar".
* ReferenceOverdosed
* RousingSpeech: Reicther gives one to The Gang in "Life's Too Short."
* RunningGag: Several:
** Joel's overeagerness to fight.
** Brian's misuse of the word "liberal".
** Reicther's bizarre drawings.
** Casey inadvertently causing havoc in Rev. Johnson's life.
* SeinfeldianConversation: Many:
** The debate about Natalie Portman's chest size in "The Show Must Go On"
** Will and Ellen's discussing the true meaning of the Muppet song "The Rainbow Connection."
** "Time Stands Still" opens with The Gang talking about how zombies could be scarier.
-->'''Casey:'''"Zombies plus wings equals: we're fucked."
** Characters frequently argue about fictional characters fighting and who would win such as Wolverine vs. Spider-Man and Mario vs. Link
** The ''{{Star Wars}}'' conversations. Way too many to list.
** Likewise, ''{{Aquaman}}'' is brought up constantly. Will even wrote a screenplay about him.
* SequelEpisode: "Guess Who's Coming Out at Dinner?" is a sequel to "By All Means" which itself was a sequel to "A Tale of Two Brides".
* SharedUniverse: ''The Lunchroom'' exists in the same universe as ''WebSeries/{{Better Days}}'' and ''{{Reporting Live}}'', due to Ron Farmer being in all three.
* ShoutOut:
** Brock would much prefer to watch ''{{Futurama}}'' reruns then go on a blind date in "Quest for the Nintendo Wii".
** ''{{Guitar Hero}}''. Brian and Joel play the game drunk in one episode, while Reicther explains why he plays it nude in another.
** Brian mentions that ''{{Superbad}}'' has given him a complex about girls wearing skirts in "The Trials of Chris Hughes".
** Will after drinking his first beer: "It's like [[TheWizardofOz The Tin Man]] shot his load in my mouth!"
** After Brock accidentally takes Uppers, Reicther convinces him has a "bomb in the nose" much like in in the third ''Film/MissionImpossible'' film.
*** During the same incident, Brock becomes paranoid that Xerxes and the Persian army (''Film/ThreeHundred'') are coming for him.
** "By the power of grey skull!", the famous quote from ''WesternAnimation/{{He-man and the Masters of the Universe}}'', is frequently uttered.
* SitcomArchNemesis: Principal Stevens, for Mr. Parker and later Chris Hughes.
** Mr. E, for Mr. Parker.
** Arthur Winchester, for Will.
** The Gang, for Brandon Brim.
** Reicther, for Richard.
** Rev. Johnson, for Casey.
** May, for Brock.
** Jordan, for The Gang.
** Nadine, for Ellen.
* SixStudentClique:
** The Head: Will
** The Muscle: Brian
** The Quirk: Casey
** The Pretty One: Joel
** The Smart One: Brock
** The Wild One: Reicther
** Chris doesn't fit into a slot as he started off as he's more BritishStuffiness and ForeignExchangeStudent.
* SomebodyDoesntLoveRaymond: In "Join the Army", Casey becomes obsessed with proving he's not an asshole to his ex-girlfriend Lacie.
* SpicyLatina: Nadine Santos.
* TakeThat: "She's just talking about ''{{Grey's Anatomy}}'' or ''{{Desperate Housewives}}'' or whatever crappy show you girls are watching now a days."
* TeacherStudentRomance: Subverted in "Forgetting Ellen Conner". Reicther and Ms. Ballard end up kssing in her class but it's only because: 1)He does it against her will 2)He does soley to win a bet with The Gang.
* TeenPregnancy:[[spoiler:Stacy (raising her child) and Cathy (miscarriage).]]
* TerribleIntervieweesMontage: Casey's audition tape for the school news.
* TheReasonYouSuckSpeech: After he torments him all night, Brandon Brim lets The Gang have it.
* TheirFirstTime: Occurs frequently, usually PlayedForLaughs.
** Stacy's first time with Dave is painfully awkward, borderline CringeHumor.
** Joel and Cathy's first time happens in his family's jeep. Things turn ugly when Joel's mom and stepdad (unaware of them in the back), head off to an important awards dinner.
* TheresNoBInMovie: One episode has The Gang obsessing over ''Morning Zombie'' about a zombie who only eats humans in the morning.
* TimeSkip: After Season 2, each season covers one school year resulting in 3-4 month time skips between seasons.
* TitledAfterTheSong: Several episodes are titled after songs:
** "Bad Day": Named after a R.E.M. song.
** "Fast Car": Named after a Tracy Chapman song.
** "Fooling Myself": Named after a Billie Holiday song.
** "Trouble in Mind": Named after a Jimmy Witherspoon song.
** "Instant Karma": Named after a John Lennon song.
** "Slow Fuse": Named after a Johnny Otis song.
** "Heart's Place": Named after a Stan Getz song.
** "Everybody Hurts" Named after a R.E.M. song.
** "The Last Time": Named after a Rolling Stones song.
** "Ain't Too Proud to Beg": Named after a Temptations song.
** "Comfortably Numb": Named after a Pink Floyd song.
** "A Change Is Gonna Come": Named after a Sam Cooke song.
** "The Show Must Go On": Named after a Pink Floyd song.
** "Rehearsals for Departure": Named after a Damien Jurado song
** "Time Stands Still": Named after a Rush song.
* TheTalk: "Bisexuals are just liberal wishy washies who can't choose a side."
* TookaLevelinJerkass: Principal Stevens and Arthur Winchester in Season Five.
* Training Montage: When Ellen trains Will in movie trivia.
* TwoTeacherSchool: During the first two seasons, Mr. Zimmer and Mrs. O'Malley were the only teachers that appeared.
* VacationEpisode: The episode "Fast Car". Stacy finally gets her driver's license and The Gang decide to go on a road trip through Indiana.
* WackyGuy: Reicther.
** Mr. Parker in earlier seasons.
* WackyMarriageProposal: Casey proposes to Kay even as her father is breaking down her door, threatening to murder him.
* WhamEpisode
** The season three finale, "The Last Time" ends with [[spoiler:Brian attempting suicide.]]
** The last scene of Season 4's "Rehearsals for Depature" where it's revealed [[spoiler:Kate Davidson has killed herself.]]
** The conclusion of the Blackout two-parter has [[spoiler:Superintendent Brooks dying of a heart attack and Principal Stevens taking his place. If that weren't enough, he quickly makes Ms. Ballard the school's new principal in the same scene.]]
* WhamLine: From "Comfortably Numb":
-->'''Dr. Millsaps:''' [[spoiler:"Congratulations Stacy. You're pregnant."]]
* WhatCouldHaveBeen:
** The writers wanted to do a {{Homage}} episode to ''{{The Breakfast Club}}'' in Season 5. Sadly, it was never finished.
** An early Season 2 idea was to do ''{{The Lord of the Rings}}'' but featuring the show's characters (with Will, Joel, Brian, and Brock as the Hobbits, Casey as Aragon, Kirk as Gimili, Chris as Legolas, Reicther as Gollum, Mr. Parker as Gandalf, and Stacy as Arwen).
* WhatHappenedtotheMouse?: Will's love interests Rene David and Meadow Le Cerva both disappear without explanation at the end of Season 2.
* WhereItAllBegan: [[spoiler:The last time Chris and Kate see each other in person is at the middle school playground where they had their first date.]]
* WholeEpisodeFlashback: "The Trials of Chris Hughes" shows how Chris came into so much trouble with Principal Stevens.
* WildTeenParty: Loreali's party in "The Trials of Chris Hughes".
** [[spoiler:Chris']] farewell party in "It Happened One Night".
** Suberted in "Kirk's Party". Will thinks this is what Kirk's big celebration will be, so he avoids it but it ends up being the complete opposite.
* WillTheyOrWontThey: Will and Ellen during the last two seasons.
** In the end [[spoiler:Will and Ellen finally get together after a near death experience.]]
* WorkingTitle: Before it was ''The Lunchroom'', the show had a series of working titles including ''Glory Days'', ''Better Days'', ''With Friends Like These...'', and ''My Adventures in High School''.
* WorstNewsJudgmentEver: When reporting on the War in Iraq, the local paper reports with the headline, "The Shit Hits the Fan for Iraq!"
* WriteWhatYouKnow: Based on interviews, The Lunchroom is based on Bruce Snyder's own high school days, and Will Cooper is based on his younger self.
The show follows a group of friends, regularly called "the gang," which consists of Will Cooper, Joel Mayberry, Brian Vandele, Brock Warner, Casey Jennings, Chris Hughes, and Reicther.
The show added several more characters to the main cast as it went along, including CoolTeacher Mr. John Parker, Brian's half sister Stacy Cifaretto, Will’s love interest Ellen Conner, the overly optimistic health teacher Ms. Diane Ballard, and Cathy Matthews, a popular girl long admired by Brian.
.
----
!![The Lunchroom] contains examples of:
* AbortedArc:
** Joel's mom getting remarried and moving her family were dropped after Season 1.
** The episode "With Friends Like These.." was suppose to be the start of a storyline involving Casey "breaking up" with The Gang and looking for new friends. This was later dropped.
** Stacy's attempts at figuring out what to do after high school were dropped after only a few episodes in Season 3.
** "Suicidals Deserve to Die" sets up an arc of Will chasing after Stacy which never happened.
* AccidentalPervert: Will staring at James Kelly's penis.
* AlcoholicParent: Brian and Stacy's mom but it's PlayedForLaughs.
* AmusingInjuries:
** Reicther getting a consussion while playing the board game Risk.
** Casey damaging his eye in a collision with a motocycle.
** Brock breaking his ribs while stopping Reicther and his potato gun.
** Joel being beaten up with textbooks during a Senior prank.
* AscendedExtra: Mr. Parker appeared briefly in Season 2 before becoming one of the show's main characters.
** Kirk, Joseph, Tom Lawrence, Principal Stevens, and Cathy were suppose only appear one time before becoming recurring characters.
* AsleepInClass: The show often had scenes with characters falling asleep in class. One example involved Brian, Reicther, and Will sleeping during Mr. Parker's class and being awaken by Parker's air horn.
* AxesAtSchool: [[spoiler:Brian brings his ninja weapons into school for one of Will's films.]]
* TheBeard: In the episode titled "Guess Who's Coming Out at Dinner?", Jordan is afraid to come out to his religious mother by himself, so he recruits Brian to pose as his boyfriend. It doesn't go well.
* BerserkButton:
** Don't mock the Bass guitar around Kirk.
** If you're overly optimistic, stay away from Mr. Parker.
** Do not ask Brian ** Don't help any women with a crossword puzzle.
** If you're a teacher, don't be condescending to Brock.
* BigManOnCampus: James Kelly.
* BirthdayEpisode: The episode "What Was That?" focuses mostly on Reicther's birthday.
* BlackBestFriend: Chris Hughes.
* BlackandNerdy: Chris Hughes.
* Blackmail: Will and Ellen blackmailed [[spoiler:Mr. Parker and Ms. Ballard]] after seeing them have sex during a free period.
* BoardGame: The Gang constantly play the board game Risk throughout the series.
* BookEnds: Season 4 begins with [[spoiler:Brian's failed suicide]] and ends with [[spoiler:Kate successfully killing herself.]]
* BottleEpisode: "Waiting for Kirsten". The whole episode is set backstage at play rehearsals.
* BreakoutCharacter: Reicther.
* BreatherEpisode: "Love Conquers All", the Stacy episode from Season 5, could be thought of as this, considering it sits right in between [[spoiler:Superintendent Brooks dying]], and [[spoiler:Principal Stevens taking people hostage at prom.]]
* BrilliantButLazy: Despite failing grades and apathy towards school, Brian has been shown to be quite intelligent.
* TheBully: Jason Tolbert. [[spoiler:Who Casey accidentally injures at one point.]]
* TheBusCameBack: [[spoiler:Stacy]] returns in the final season.
* ButtMonkey: Richard.
* CallBack:
** In "The Beginning of the End", Dr. Carter mentions Reicther's head injury from "Comfortably Numb", which Reicther has no memory of.
** The montage of The Gang getting for school in the Season 5 premiere mirrors the montage from the first episode.
** In Season 5's "The Mourning After", Reicther is the target of a series of pranks by a mysterious prankster. [[spoiler: The prankster is revealed to be Richard, who wants revenge for Reicther's actions during Freshmen year. This harkens back Season 1's "A Tale of Two Brides", when Reicther couldn't stop asking inapporiate questiosn about Richard's disability.]]
** In the pilot episode, we learn that Brian trying to write a fantasy novel called ''The Chronicles of Haven''. The story is referenced in later episodes, and the finished novel is the main focus of Season 4's "Writing Wrongs".
* TheCameo: "The Last Time" has The Gang messing with Ron Farmer from the VirtualSeries ''[[Reporting Live]]''.
* CannotSpitItOut: Will and Ellen are in love but can't vocalize it for two seasons.
** Reicther, Casey, and Brock were all attracted to fellow student Sarah but none of them ever said anything.
* CharacterizationMarchesOn: Mr. Parker started off as a ConspiracyTheorist before becoming CoolTeacher.
** Joseph started off as a FunnyForeigner but quickly transformed into TheStoner after hanging with Kirk.
** Casey TookaLevelinDumbass in later seasons.
* CheckPlease: Subverted in "Quest for the Nintendo Wii". When Brock's blind date hooks up with an ex on their restaurant table, intead of fleeing, he queitly sits and finishes his meal.
* ChekhovsGunman: Several characters are introduced slowly in the series before joining the main cast.
** Mr. Parker made a brief appearance in the Season 2 premiere before joining the main cast in Season 3.
** Cathy Matthews appeared in one Brian-centric episode before her introduction as a recurring character in season 3. In Season 4 she would become a main cast member.
** Arthur Winchester was a random member of Drama Club in Season 4 before becoming Will's main rival for Ellen in Season 5.
* ChuckCunninghamSyndrome: Both of Will's love interests, Rene and Meadow.
** Ellen's supposed best friend Rory Reid.
* CliffHanger: [[spoiler:Season 3 ends with Brian attempting suicide, the end result which is revealed next season.]]
** "Time Stands Still": [[spoiler:The episode ends with a giant car wreck involving most of The Gang and leaves their fates up in the air.]]
* ComicallySmallBribe: Much to the chagrin of Will, Ellen accepts a Ring Pop as a bribe to hide to the fact that [[spoiler: Mr. Parker is having sex with Ms. Ballard.]]
* ComingofAgeStory: One of the series main themes.
* CompressedVice: The Gang become addicted to a homemade candy called Yenom and suffer withdrawl effects over just a few days. It's all PlayedForLaughs.
* ContinuityNod: A Season 4 episode centered on Brian trying to get feedback on his fantasy story, one which he started writing in the very first episode.
** In Season 5, The Prankster who tormets Reicther turns out to be [[spoiler: Richard who's getting him back for making cripple jokes in Season 1.]]
** Characters occasionally will mention Reicther's head injury from "Comfortably Numb" something he has no memory of.
** The opening Sesaon 5 montage mirrors the opening montage from the first episode.
* CoolLoser: The Gang.
* CoolTeacher:
** Mr. Parker
** Suberted in "Everybody Loves Mr. E": the eponymous character is a young substitute who is this to most the student body but his puns and grating personality drive Brock and Mr. Parker crazy.
* CosmeticCatastrophe: The episode "With Friends Like These..." had a blind girl doing Stacy's make-up. It did not end well.
* CosmicPlaything: Characters frequently addressed God, especially when things were going bad. Even Casey, a known Atheist, had no problem cursing God for the bad things in life.
* TheCouch: Or in this case, The Gang's lunch table.
* CrossOver: One semi-crossover with the VirtualSeries ''Reporting Live'':
** Sports reporter Ron Farmer showed up in the Season 3 finale as a sort of CrossoverPunchline. As he makes a special report, he is unaware that Will, Chris, and Brian are mooning him in the background.
* CreatorBreakdown: Brian starts to lose it in "Writing Wrongs" when no one will review his book, ''The Chronicles of Haven''. He creates a phony user name and praises his own work on a highly acclaimed website called SimplyNovels. Even with the fake praise, no one reads the story which leads Brian to rant against the site and ultimately gets him banned.
* DeanBitterman: Principal Bob Stevens.
* DeadpanSnarker: Most characters, especially Mr. Parker.
* DemotedtoExtra: Happened to Rene David in Season 2. Despite being Will's love interest and the closest thing to a female lead the show had in the first season, she only has a few minors scenes before dissappearing without explanation.
* DidIJustSayThatOutLoud?: Brock does this in the middle of class after Mr. Zimmer mocks him for being a nerd:
-->'''Brock:'''"WHO GIVES A FLYING FUCK ABOUT ATTENDING BULLSHIT SPORTING EVENTS, YOU STUPID FUCK-FACE!"
* DoesThisRemindYouofAnything?: In "Prozac Candy" The Gang's sugar withdrawal is played like they're withdrawaling from heroin.
-->'''Brian:'''"We should shoot the Yenom into are veins!"
-->'''Chris:'''"That way we'll get the sugar rush faster!"
* DocumentaryEpisode: "Reality Bites" has a {{Jerkass}} film producer making a documentary about Brian.
* DownerBeginning: The very first scene of the series is Casey being dumped by his promiscuous girlfriend Lacie.
* DownerEnding: [[spoiler: "Rehearsals for Depatures" ends with Kate killing herself.]]
** [[spoiler: "The Trials of Chris Hughes" ends with Chris getting expelled from school, getting kicked out of the country, and having to register as a sex offender.]]
* DramaticIrony: Season five opens with Casey promising Brock he'll find him a girlfriend [[spoiler: only to have Brock end up making out with Kay.]]
* EmbarrassingFirstName: Reicther's first name is Kevin, which is embarrassing to him.
* EmbarrassingMiddleName: Chris' middle name is Langston.
* EroticDream: Season 3 opens with Will having one about Salma Hayek.
* EscalatingWar: A Senoir prank war against The Gang quickly gets out of hand in "Special Needs".
* EverybodyisSingle: The Gang in Season 1.
* EvilTeacher: Mr. Zimmer and Mr. Drake (the substitue in "Comics and Comedians") have no problem openly mocking Brock and Joel for being nerds.
** Principal Stevens. [[spoiler:He goes to great lengths to ruin Chris Hughes' life after he finds his daughter performing oral sex on him. Even worse, he's secretly a member of TheKlan and it's hinted that his actions against Chris are racially motivated.]]
* [[spoiler:FakingTheDead: Brian in "Brian's Odyssey.]]
* FeudEpisode: Casey and Reicther go through this in the episode "Prozac Candy" when they discover they both like the same girl
** One of the story arcs in Season 5 revolved around [[spoiler: Casey feuding with Brock after he made out with Kay.]]
* {{Flanderization}}: Casey got dumber as the series went along but also more caring and romantic.
** Reicther got wackier throughout the seasons until the end of Sesaon 5 thanks to some CharacterDevelopment.
* {{Foreshadowing}}:
** When Chris and Kate first meet in "Shades of Gray", she briefly mentions [[spoiler: that she was just released from Eastern Psyche for having "problems".]]
** "The Mourning After" showed [[spoiler: Principal Stevens as a member of TheKlan foreshadowing his battles with Chris Hughes.]]
** In "Quest for the Nintendo Wii", Brian blows off the S.A.T.s to stand in line for a new video game console [[spoiler: foreshadowing his struggles in school.]]
** Chris doesn't realize that Lorelei is [[spoiler: Principal Stevens' dautghter]] even though he first met her right outside his office.
* FriendswithBenefits: Subverted with Parker and Ballard. The two have no strings attached sex and never develop romantic feelings for each other.
* FunPersonified: Reicther. Since he's the one character who never gets dramatic storylines, he's generally considered by fans as the most entertaining part of the show.
* GarageBand: The Bog Standard, The Jeff Goldblum Experience.
* Gayngst: Stacy.
* GeniusDitz: Casey can be ditzy but it's been shown he gets better grades then the rest of The Gang and is enrolled in numerous advanced classes.
** Kirk may act goofy when high but when sober he's seen reading Time magazine and debating politics with Joseph.
* GilliganCut: In "Guess Who's Coming Out at Dinner?", when The Gang can't decide who will act as Jordan's boyfriend, Brian enters wanting to know what they're talking about. Cut to Brian in the car, on the way to Jordan's.
* GirlNextDoor: Cathy Matthews, until later seasons revealed she was more flawed then people thought.
* GlobalIgnorance: Everyone assumes Joseph is from Iran when he's actually from Iraq.
* GoodParents: Casey's parents. They get very protective of him when he's persecuted for being an atheist.
* GoodPeopleHaveGoodSex: Subverted. Most sex scenes are awkward or PlayedForLaughs.
* HappilyEverAfter: [[spoiler:Will and Ellen.]]
* HeterosexualLifePartners:
** Kirk and Joseph spent almost every waking second with each other.
* HiddenDepths: "Time Stands Still" shows Kirk getting serious when it's revealed he cares deeply about music. His aloof stoner persona is completely absent here.
** Reicther was the wacky comic relief until he meet Laura and grew into a more developed character.
* HolierThanThou: The Bible-thumping, HeteronormativeCrusader Jordan who [[spoiler:ironically is a closeted homosexual.]]
* HollywoodNerd: Subverted. The Gang are more realistic nerds rather then the Urkel or Screech stereotypes.
* {{Homage}}: In the episode "The Lost Weekend", Brian gets into a car wreck with famous actor Jerry Seinfeld. The episodes contains dozens of references to the actor's famous sitcom, {{Seinfeld}}:
-->'''Dr. Carter''': "Will you sign my puffy shirt?"
** "Comfortably Numb" is told BacktoFront much in the same style as the film Film/{{Memento}}.
* HomoeroticSubtext: Will with Joel. A recurring joke has Will trailing off everytime he describes how handsome Joel is:
-->'''Will''': "I keep getting lost in his beautiful, soulful eyes"
* IHitYouYouHitTheGround: "You come near me or her again I will end your life. That's not a threat: it's a goddamn promise."
* The "ILoveYou" Stigma: The focus of part two of "Time Stands Still". Ellen says "I love you" to Will only to receive a reference to TheEmpireStrikesBack in return.
* InterruptedIntimacy: Parker and Ballard are in the middle of having sex during a free period when Will and Ellen walk in.
* IvyLeagueForEveryone: Subverted. When The Gang graduate high school, most end up going to state or community colleges.
** Subverted again. Kay actually turns down a full ride to Yale to be with Casey at a state college.
* IWasToldThereWouldBeCake: Chris bribes Brock, Reicther, and Brian with a trip to the pet store to get them to go to a party.
* KilledOffforReal: [[spoiler:Kate Davidson]]
* LampshadeHanging: Dr. Carter does this in "The Beginning of the End", in response to the numerous times The Gang have been in the hospital.
** Casey and Brian were roaming the halls during school when Casey wonders aloud "Why aren't we in class?" Brian responds with an indifferent "Fuck it."
* LastNameBasis: Only twice in the series (in the first and last episodes) has anyone ever used Reicther's first name.
* LimitedSocialCircle: For a lot of the show's run it is just The Gang. While friendly with various other students, it's implied they just don't want other friends outside the group. This is why they go to such extremes when it looks like Brandon Brim might join their group in Season 4.
** Ellen mostly just hangs out with Will and Cathy.
* LocalHangout: The Shake Shop.
* MakeUporBreakUp:
** Joel and Cathy: Once. After dating for nearly a year, they break-up in Season 5 after Joel finds out about Cathy's cheating. They get back together briefly after the prom episode but end things forever in the series finale.
* MidSeasonWhamEpisode: Season 4. Episode 8 ends with [[spoiler:Stacy discovering she's pregnant a few days before heading off to college.]]
** Season 5. The middle of the season saw [[spoiler:Chris Hughes being kicked out of school and moving back to England.]]
* MistakenforGay: Constantly happening to Will. Doesn't help that takes Brock to the Prom and [[spoiler:accidentally made out with Tom Lawrence.]]
* MistakenforTerrorist: Happens to Will and Chris when they say the word "bomb" while waiting in an airport.
* MistakenNationality: Joseph Saïd is Iraqi but others have mistaken him for either a Hindu or an Irani.
* TheMovie: Almost happened. The writers considered ending the show with Season 3 so they could make a feature length movie. This idea was dropped in favor of doing two more seasons.
* NaziGrandpa: [[spoiler:It's highly suggested that Reicther's great grandfather was this.]]
* NoEnding: A lot of early episodes have this.
* NoSocialSkills:
** Both parts of "Time Stands Still" show Reicther literally has no idea how to interact with women he has feelings for. He decides not to talk at all to avoid further embarrassement.
* NoodleIncident: Brian beating up Frankie Marks.
* OffScreenBreakup: Will/Meadow Le Cerva,[[spoiler:Joel/Cathy]].
* OldShame: Will's ''Garfield'' book collection.
** Joel's love of the musician Prince.
-->'''Joel:'''"Never lie to me again about having a Prince album!"
* OnlySaneMan: Brock and Mr. Parker are frequently this.
* OverprotectiveDad: Reverend Mark Johnson frequently causes trouble for Kay and Casey.
* {{Paper-ThinDisguise}}: Joel's occasional British altar ego, "Nigel Pennyworth."
* ParodyEpisode:
** "Master Debaters" parodies ''TheWestWing''.
** "Everybody Hurts": Brock ending things with Sarah features fantasies that parody ''{{Friends}}'', ''Series/TheSopranos'', ''Film/{{Casablanca}}'', and ''Film/AnnieHall''.
** "See How They Run" spoofs the HBO prison series ''Series/{{Oz}}''.
** "The Lost Weekend" parodies ''{{Seinfeld}}''.
** "Comfortably Numb" parodies BacktoFront stories such as ''Film/{{Memento}}''.
* RealSongThemeTune: Marvin Gaye's version of "Ain't That Peculiar".
* ReferenceOverdosed
* RousingSpeech: Reicther gives one to The Gang in "Life's Too Short."
* RunningGag: Several:
** Joel's overeagerness to fight.
** Brian's misuse of the word "liberal".
** Reicther's bizarre drawings.
** Casey inadvertently causing havoc in Rev. Johnson's life.
* SeinfeldianConversation: Many:
** The debate about Natalie Portman's chest size in "The Show Must Go On"
** Will and Ellen's discussing the true meaning of the Muppet song "The Rainbow Connection."
** "Time Stands Still" opens with The Gang talking about how zombies could be scarier.
-->'''Casey:'''"Zombies plus wings equals: we're fucked."
** Characters frequently argue about fictional characters fighting and who would win such as Wolverine vs. Spider-Man and Mario vs. Link
** The ''{{Star Wars}}'' conversations. Way too many to list.
** Likewise, ''{{Aquaman}}'' is brought up constantly. Will even wrote a screenplay about him.
* SequelEpisode: "Guess Who's Coming Out at Dinner?" is a sequel to "By All Means" which itself was a sequel to "A Tale of Two Brides".
* SharedUniverse: ''The Lunchroom'' exists in the same universe as ''WebSeries/{{Better Days}}'' and ''{{Reporting Live}}'', due to Ron Farmer being in all three.
* ShoutOut:
** Brock would much prefer to watch ''{{Futurama}}'' reruns then go on a blind date in "Quest for the Nintendo Wii".
** ''{{Guitar Hero}}''. Brian and Joel play the game drunk in one episode, while Reicther explains why he plays it nude in another.
** Brian mentions that ''{{Superbad}}'' has given him a complex about girls wearing skirts in "The Trials of Chris Hughes".
** Will after drinking his first beer: "It's like [[TheWizardofOz The Tin Man]] shot his load in my mouth!"
** After Brock accidentally takes Uppers, Reicther convinces him has a "bomb in the nose" much like in in the third ''Film/MissionImpossible'' film.
*** During the same incident, Brock becomes paranoid that Xerxes and the Persian army (''Film/ThreeHundred'') are coming for him.
** "By the power of grey skull!", the famous quote from ''WesternAnimation/{{He-man and the Masters of the Universe}}'', is frequently uttered.
* SitcomArchNemesis: Principal Stevens, for Mr. Parker and later Chris Hughes.
** Mr. E, for Mr. Parker.
** Arthur Winchester, for Will.
** The Gang, for Brandon Brim.
** Reicther, for Richard.
** Rev. Johnson, for Casey.
** May, for Brock.
** Jordan, for The Gang.
** Nadine, for Ellen.
* SixStudentClique:
** The Head: Will
** The Muscle: Brian
** The Quirk: Casey
** The Pretty One: Joel
** The Smart One: Brock
** The Wild One: Reicther
** Chris doesn't fit into a slot as he started off as he's more BritishStuffiness and ForeignExchangeStudent.
* SomebodyDoesntLoveRaymond: In "Join the Army", Casey becomes obsessed with proving he's not an asshole to his ex-girlfriend Lacie.
* SpicyLatina: Nadine Santos.
* TakeThat: "She's just talking about ''{{Grey's Anatomy}}'' or ''{{Desperate Housewives}}'' or whatever crappy show you girls are watching now a days."
* TeacherStudentRomance: Subverted in "Forgetting Ellen Conner". Reicther and Ms. Ballard end up kssing in her class but it's only because: 1)He does it against her will 2)He does soley to win a bet with The Gang.
* TeenPregnancy:[[spoiler:Stacy (raising her child) and Cathy (miscarriage).]]
* TerribleIntervieweesMontage: Casey's audition tape for the school news.
* TheReasonYouSuckSpeech: After he torments him all night, Brandon Brim lets The Gang have it.
* TheirFirstTime: Occurs frequently, usually PlayedForLaughs.
** Stacy's first time with Dave is painfully awkward, borderline CringeHumor.
** Joel and Cathy's first time happens in his family's jeep. Things turn ugly when Joel's mom and stepdad (unaware of them in the back), head off to an important awards dinner.
* TheresNoBInMovie: One episode has The Gang obsessing over ''Morning Zombie'' about a zombie who only eats humans in the morning.
* TimeSkip: After Season 2, each season covers one school year resulting in 3-4 month time skips between seasons.
* TitledAfterTheSong: Several episodes are titled after songs:
** "Bad Day": Named after a R.E.M. song.
** "Fast Car": Named after a Tracy Chapman song.
** "Fooling Myself": Named after a Billie Holiday song.
** "Trouble in Mind": Named after a Jimmy Witherspoon song.
** "Instant Karma": Named after a John Lennon song.
** "Slow Fuse": Named after a Johnny Otis song.
** "Heart's Place": Named after a Stan Getz song.
** "Everybody Hurts" Named after a R.E.M. song.
** "The Last Time": Named after a Rolling Stones song.
** "Ain't Too Proud to Beg": Named after a Temptations song.
** "Comfortably Numb": Named after a Pink Floyd song.
** "A Change Is Gonna Come": Named after a Sam Cooke song.
** "The Show Must Go On": Named after a Pink Floyd song.
** "Rehearsals for Departure": Named after a Damien Jurado song
** "Time Stands Still": Named after a Rush song.
* TheTalk: "Bisexuals are just liberal wishy washies who can't choose a side."
* TookaLevelinJerkass: Principal Stevens and Arthur Winchester in Season Five.
* Training Montage: When Ellen trains Will in movie trivia.
* TwoTeacherSchool: During the first two seasons, Mr. Zimmer and Mrs. O'Malley were the only teachers that appeared.
* VacationEpisode: The episode "Fast Car". Stacy finally gets her driver's license and The Gang decide to go on a road trip through Indiana.
* WackyGuy: Reicther.
** Mr. Parker in earlier seasons.
* WackyMarriageProposal: Casey proposes to Kay even as her father is breaking down her door, threatening to murder him.
* WhamEpisode
** The season three finale, "The Last Time" ends with [[spoiler:Brian attempting suicide.]]
** The last scene of Season 4's "Rehearsals for Depature" where it's revealed [[spoiler:Kate Davidson has killed herself.]]
** The conclusion of the Blackout two-parter has [[spoiler:Superintendent Brooks dying of a heart attack and Principal Stevens taking his place. If that weren't enough, he quickly makes Ms. Ballard the school's new principal in the same scene.]]
* WhamLine: From "Comfortably Numb":
-->'''Dr. Millsaps:''' [[spoiler:"Congratulations Stacy. You're pregnant."]]
* WhatCouldHaveBeen:
** The writers wanted to do a {{Homage}} episode to ''{{The Breakfast Club}}'' in Season 5. Sadly, it was never finished.
** An early Season 2 idea was to do ''{{The Lord of the Rings}}'' but featuring the show's characters (with Will, Joel, Brian, and Brock as the Hobbits, Casey as Aragon, Kirk as Gimili, Chris as Legolas, Reicther as Gollum, Mr. Parker as Gandalf, and Stacy as Arwen).
* WhatHappenedtotheMouse?: Will's love interests Rene David and Meadow Le Cerva both disappear without explanation at the end of Season 2.
* WhereItAllBegan: [[spoiler:The last time Chris and Kate see each other in person is at the middle school playground where they had their first date.]]
* WholeEpisodeFlashback: "The Trials of Chris Hughes" shows how Chris came into so much trouble with Principal Stevens.
* WildTeenParty: Loreali's party in "The Trials of Chris Hughes".
** [[spoiler:Chris']] farewell party in "It Happened One Night".
** Suberted in "Kirk's Party". Will thinks this is what Kirk's big celebration will be, so he avoids it but it ends up being the complete opposite.
* WillTheyOrWontThey: Will and Ellen during the last two seasons.
** In the end [[spoiler:Will and Ellen finally get together after a near death experience.]]
* WorkingTitle: Before it was ''The Lunchroom'', the show had a series of working titles including ''Glory Days'', ''Better Days'', ''With Friends Like These...'', and ''My Adventures in High School''.
* WorstNewsJudgmentEver: When reporting on the War in Iraq, the local paper reports with the headline, "The Shit Hits the Fan for Iraq!"
* WriteWhatYouKnow: Based on interviews, The Lunchroom is based on Bruce Snyder's own high school days, and Will Cooper is based on his younger self.
