Rob, Laura, Buddy, and Sally arrive at a remote lodge to work on a new program, but right off the bat things go awry when their reservations fall through and they end up having to stay in a haunted cabin. Rob tries to put it off as nonsense, but gradually, spooky things begin to shave away at his skepticism.
This episode includes examples pf the following tropes:
- Blatant Lies: Buddy insists he was never really scared, despite both his conduct throughout the episode and how he's still clinging to Sally's hand.
- Candid Camera Prank: The spooky events of the night turn out to be pranks being played on the cast while they stayed at a cabin. The segment was called Sneaky Camera. Rob mentioned that the program had blatantly ripped off another show (implicitly Candid Camera itself).
- Delayed "Oh, Crap!": While heading into the living room, everyone else is panicking, but Rob tries to keep things calm and assert there's a logical explanation for everything. He takes a seat on the closed couch and then recalls it was open the last time he saw it.
- Dramatic Thunder: Begins occurring as things really start getting spooky in the cabin.
- Exact Words: The writers were summoned to the lodge to work on Alan's new TV project. It turns out they're the unknowing subjects in a test run for a prank TV show.
- Fright-Induced Bunkmate: After getting profoundly spooked, the Petries, Buddy, and Sally all end up sandwiched in the same couch with the lights on. When Rob tries to convince everyone they're being ridiculous and should go back to their separate rooms, Laura and Buddy don't go for it.
- Hand Gagging: When the behind-the-scene creators of the show "kidnap" Laura, someone puts a hand over her mouth to keep her from screaming and drawing Rob back into the room too early.
- It Won't Turn Off: The light by the pull-out sofa. Rob initially accuses Buddy of just turning it back on or of it not being all the way off. He quickly changes his tune.Buddy: [looking up] Look, if you don't want 'em off, we'll leave 'em on!
- Late to the Realization: "Hey, Mel! Mel, you don't know what's happened! Buddy, Sally, Laura—all gone! This place is haunted, Mel! You know that? The fire started! This thing started rockin' all by it—what are you doin' in a mirror?"
- Mood Whiplash: The characters being picked off one by one is genuinely creepy, complete with spooky music. Just as Rob implores the mustached man to stop all this, Mel suddenly appears in the mirror and reveals the whole thing was a prank. Rob then goes insane with rage.
- Rage Breaking Point: Upon realizing the whole thing was a prank and being filmed, Rob is in full Tranquil Fury mode. He "politely" tells Mel to step out from behind the locked door.Mel: Rob, are you angry?
Rob: Oh, I'm not angry, Mel. I'M INSANE! [tries to force open the door]
Mel: Oh, well, good, good, good. Keep talking. We're still filming.
Rob: GOOD! SAVE SOME FILM FOR THE MURDER! - Real After All: Subverted; After an entire episode of being scared by apparent supernatural events (which were being caused by people working behind the scenes on a show based on Candid Camera), the writers and Laura ask Mel how he caused the fire to light itself. Mel claims to be ignorant. However, after the terrified Buddy leaves the room, he implies he did cause it and just does not want Buddy to find out.
- Shout-Out: As everyone starts getting creeped out, Sally expects Vincent Price to show up.
- Rewatch Bonus: Initially, the viewer might ignore the oddity of Mel somehow forgetting to make reservations for the writers and Laura. Afterwards, it becomes clear it was part of the setup.
- Tempting Fate: Sally says all they're missing now lightning and Vincent Price. Cue the lightning, which is followed by a knock on the bedroom door and it opening on its own.Sally: Vincent?
- This Is Gonna Suck: As Rob is all alone in the cabin, the mustached man reappears in the mirror. Rob seems to sense it.Rob: Uh-oh. [reluctantly looks at the mirror] AHHH!
- Tranquil Fury: Rob manages to keep his anger contained for a few minutes, asking Mel to come out of the back filming room in a low, edged voice. He explodes after Mel asks if he's angry.
- Urban Legend: According to the clerk, no one has spent a night in the cabin for three years because one Amos Chantz went to bed there and disappeared without a trace. This turns out to just be fodder for Sneaky Camera.Clerk: Folks say he was murdered for his money, but they never found it or him.
