Plot Cliches
Story lines used in many sitcoms over the years. Even the best shows cannot avoid these common plot devices. I created categories for a few of these cliches where there is a common theme that unites them. If you think of your own favorite shows you will probably find at least a few of these cliches.
- The gang goes to Las Vegas (or New York, or Hollywood, or Europe)
- The gang goes on a camping trip
- Road trip 1: the car breaks down and nobody can fix it
- Road trip 2: they get lost
- The gang goes to a sporting event (will someone get hurt?)
- Bowling night!
- Character goes on a game show
- The cruise ship
- The gang teams up against rivals in a game of _____(fill in the blank)
- The gang teams up against each other in a game of _____(fill in the blank)
- Characters make a silly bet
- Characters try to "one-up" each other in some way
- Men and women switch roles (early sitcom favorite)
- Battle of the practical jokes
- Characters take opposite political sides
| Tonight, on a special episode of...
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- Kid is caught with drugs, cigarettes, or alcohol
- Should we or shouldn't we? (teen version)
- A minor character who is different (disabled, different ethnic background, etc.) proves to be "just like one of us"
- A character finds out he has a serious illness
- A friend or family member dies
- The gang helps a homeless person
- Those crazy in-laws! (special guest stars)
- In-laws fight, causing couple to fight, then in-laws make up
- "You can't go out with her, that's my sister!"
- A visiting mother is A) matchmaker B) overbearing C) overprotective (special guest star)
- Character is reunited with a long-lost relative
- Variation: character must make up with relative after they haven't spoken in years because of some long-forgotten fight
- The courtroom episode
- Burglars in the house
- The gang is fleeced by a con man
- Character (or the whole gang) goes to jail
- The gang deals with the Mafia
- Characters take a self-defense class
- The gang mistakenly think someone is dying
- The funny funeral
- The gang has to hide a corpse
- Character turns over a new leaf after a close call; this lasts about 10 minutes
- "You saved my life, so I will do favors for you until you are sick of me, then I'll save your life, so we're even."
- Halloween 1: character hits on the wrong person at a costume party
- Halloween 2: the gang checks out a haunted house
- Thanksgiving: family secrets revealed at the dinner table
- Christmas 1: nobody can find the right gift
- Christmas 2: character snoops and finds what he thinks is his gift, but it is meant for someone else
- Christmas 3: the gang learns the true meaning of Christmas
- The forgotten birthday or anniversary
- The gang mistakenly think someone is pregnant
- Is he or isn't he...gay?
- Character is mistakenly thought to be a hero; he doesn't deny it until the guilt builds up and he confesses at a public ceremony in his honor
- Character breaks something valuable and tries to hide it
- Variation: character tries to replace a missing pet with a look-alike
- The school newspaper
- Character is trapped in a room or basement
- Character runs into someone who was a loser in high school, but is now beautiful and successful
- Everybody gets sick
- Two dates in one night
- Should we or shouldn't we (adult version)
- Variation: characters wake up the next morning and regret it
- Dreams 1: character has a disturbing dream (usually a sex dream) and tries to analyze it
- Dreams 2: character is acting like a jerk until he has a dream that makes him feel guilty
- Dreams 3: character dreams himself and friends as the characters in a famous movie
- Let's start a business!
- A lie gets out of hand
- The gang tries to fit in at a high-society event
- Character buys a car
- The men dress is drag for some reason
- The gang meets a celebrity (special guest star)
- Character discovers something he thinks will make him rich
- Character mistakenly thinks spouse is cheating
- Character takes a sedative...right before the big presentation
- Variation: other characters try to help by slipping medication into his drink, not realizing all the other characters are doing the same thing
- Wedding episodes 1: the missing bride or groom
- Wedding episodes 2: the families disapprove of the marriage
- Wedding episodes 3: the mothers (or the bride and her mother) have different ideas on how to plan the wedding
- Character is given some authority and it goes to his head
- Flashbacks 1: how we met
- Flashbacks 2: he said/she said
- The doctor or dentist appointment
- Character meets his hero, who turns out to be a big disappointment
- She's having a baby...NOW!
- Mother Nature strikes
Let me know of any more and I'll add them.
