History FunnyBackgroundEvent / LiveActionTv

* A staple on ''Series/{{Glee}}''. A lot of the group numbers have to be seen multiple times to catch everything. For example during [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JOezCgfV780 Forget You]] Kurt gets chased around the piano by the other guys.

** Kramer was good for this kind of thing in general, particularly since the other three characters [[WeirdnessCoupon were used to his]] [[{{Slapstick}} constant flailing]] and tended to completely overlook it. A good example is Jerry's conversation with a sidewalk umbrella salesman in "The Checks," while over his shoulder Kramer backs up to take a photograph of some businessmen on the sidewalk and falls off the curb.

** In "The Impossible Box", as Picard and Hugh race through the Artifact to find Soji, one of the ex-Borg they run past spots Picard and very confusedly asks, "...Locutus?"

** There is an episode where at the end of a "Scene to Rap" segments (I think the theme was The Exorcist), a woman from the staff comes behind Drew Carey and serves him a beverage, which was obviously not something that had to be done on camera. It provoked a lot of laughs from everybody present in the studio.

* In the ''Series/StarTrekDeepSpaceNine'' episode ''To The Death'' you can see [[TheFace Weyoun]] rolling his eyes in the background when [[ProudWarriorRaceGuy Omet'iklan]] starts his grim RousingSpeech.
* On ''Series/StarTrekTheNextGeneration'', there's an episode where a transporter accident creates a duplicate of Riker. In one scene, the two Rikers confront each other during a poker game. However, the scene is stolen by Worf, who has clearly just been dealt the worst hand in the history of poker.

** One example in Tinker Tenor Doctor Spy, at one point an Engineering scene is hijacked by the Doctor daydreaming about a warp-core breach. When the problem is initially detected, there's a dramatic shot of the warp-core smoking. It's faint, but if one listens closely one can hear someone saying "Forget the children, save yourselves!" - hilariously out-of-character for Starfleet officers.

** In "Guise Will Be Guise", Magnus Bryce attempts to use his daughter Virginia as a VirginSacrifice to a demon, but it doesn't work because she is not a virgin. Virginia reveals she had been sleeping around for quite a while, including with some of Magnus' minions. When she says this, one the the minions tries to sneak away.

** "Numfar! Do the dance of joy!" (Numfar was even [[CreatorCameo played]] by Creator/JossWhedon!).

* ''Series/ThirtyRock'' uses these pretty frequently. An early example is in the season one episode "Tracy Does Conan", in which Tracy is suffering some strange side effects from his new medication, leading Liz to have to call his doctor for help while behind her, we see a raving Tracy trying to put his shoes in the fish tank and then being rocked like a baby, with thumb in mouth, by Dot-Com in an attempt to sooth him.

* In ''Series/TheNanny'', Maxwell and C.C. are entertaining backers, while in the background Fran is chasing her sister and husband through the mansion. The three of them eventually realize what they are interrupting and start dancing to the music.

** [[Recap/DoctorWhoS32E1TheImpossibleAstronaut "The Impossible Astronaut"]]: Amy and Rory talk about finding evidence of the Doctor's various weird adventures without them. On the TV, the Doctor's [[CrowningMomentOfFunny dancing across the screen in a movie that's playing]].

* On the ''Series/{{Leverage}}'' episode "The Studio Job", Hardison and Parker are in a sound studio, distracted, while behind Plexiglas in a soundproof room [[LightningBruiser Eliot]] [[CrowningMomentOfFunny furiously tries to get their attention while multiple thugs try to kill him]].

** In another episode, while Jeremy is signing off on the homemade motor-home challenge , his motor-home is falling off the cliff behind him. [[CrowningMomentOfFunny It's amazing.]]

** While it's not always better than the scene in the foreground, watching the improvers who aren't in a game can be comedy gold. Just watch Greg in the [[CrowningMomentOfFunny legendary Richard Simmons episode]].

** [[Recap/DoctorWhoS37E4ArachnidsInTheUK "Arachnids in the UK"]]: As the Doctor talks with Dr. [=McIntyre=] about her experiments with spiders, Ryan makes shadow puppets with a projector behind them.

** In [[Recap/DoctorWhoS27E1Rose "Rose"]], Rose is briefly seen obliviously making tea while the Doctor is being strangled in the background. (Not that she gets much more concerned once she actually sees it...)
** In [[Recap/DoctorWhoS28E7TheIdiotsLantern "The Idiot's Lantern"]], when asked by a policeman to tell them everything he knows, the Doctor replies, "Well, for starters, I know you can't wrap your hand 'round your elbow and make your fingers meet." In the background you can see an officer trying it out.
** In [[Recap/DoctorWhoS31E1TheEleventhHour "The Eleventh Hour"]], the Doctor is able to take a low chain-link fence in stride as he stalks out onto the village green. Amy, following behind, has to hop over it and then stop to adjust her miniskirt.
** In [[Recap/DoctorWhoS32E1TheImpossibleAstronaut "The Impossible Astronaut"]], Amy and Rory talk about finding evidence of the Doctor's various weird adventures without them. On the TV, the Doctor's [[CrowningMomentOfFunny dancing across the screen in a movie that's playing.]]

** In [[Recap/DoctorWhoS32E12ClosingTime "Closing Time"]], when a lingerie department assistant calls security on Craig, having mistaken him for a pervert, a man in the background looks up alarmed.
** In [[Recap/DoctorWhoS33E11TheCrimsonHorror "The Crimson Horror"]], after Clara has been revived, the Doctor is shown in foreground having a conversation with Madame Vastra. In the background, slightly out of focus, her wife Jenny can be seen sizing up Clara, with Clara apparently returning the gaze. Funnier if one knows about the UK tabloid rumors that Clara was going to romance either Vastra or Jenny!

* ''Series/GameOfThrones'':
** In "A Golden Crown," Ser Barristan Selmy's silent reaction during Lord Renly Baratheon's TheReasonYouSuckSpeech to King Robert during their hunting trip shows that he ''completely'' agrees with the younger brother.
** In "Garden of Bones," Ser Loras Tyrell laughs merrily after King Renly Baratheon makes fun of Melisandre's prophecy ("Born amidst salt and smoke? Is he a ''ham''?"), but as soon as Lady Catelyn Stark starts talking, the Knight of Flowers becomes annoyed and sighs heavily.
** Loras appears to be flirting with a young nobleman in "Second Sons" while Queen Cersei recounts the story of the Rains of Castemere.
** After King Joffrey gets up from his seat to inspect his new Valyrian sword, Lord Mace Tyrell raises his eyebrow at Lord Tywin Lannister, and his wordless query is, "Are you ''sure'' it's wise to give that maniac a deadly weapon?"
** When the guests at the Sept of Baelor are clapping for King Joffrey and Queen Margaery, Prince Oberyn Martell turns his head slightly to the left so that he can catch a glimpse of Loras. Oberyn is bisexual, and Margaery is a gorgeous woman, yet he clearly thinks that her brother is more attractive. This doubles as a MythologyGag, as some of the characters in the novels consider the Adonis-like Loras to be prettier than his classically beautiful sister.
** In "Fire and Blood", Joffrey orders Sansa to accompany him; he wants to show her something. What's going on in the background (and mercifully out of focus)? A minstrel who insulted the late King Robert having his tongue ripped out.
** In "Valar Morghulis", it turns out that the Dothraki ''can'' lift the peacock statue from Daxos' palace after all.
** In "Two Swords", Janos Slynt's derisive laugh when Jon mentions that Mance's army includes giants peters out hilariously when all the experienced officers take the claim seriously.
** Varys expressing his opinion of various scenes, particularly council meetings with only FacialDialogue such as eye rolls become a RunningGag.
** Ser Barristan gets even more awkward moments in ''The Laws of Gods and Men'' when Hizdahr zo Loraq calls out Daenerys' hasty actions in crucifying the slavers, which Barristan explicitly counselled against. Barristan' body language essentially says, "I hate to say I told you so".
* ''Series/TheGreatBritishBakeOff'': At one point during the Showstopper round for caramel week in series 8, Julia covers the back of a ladle with caramel. A few shots later, Paul can be seen inspecting the caramel-covered ladle while Julia is busy cooking in the foreground of the shot.
* ''Series/HappyEndings'': In "Grinches be Crazy", we get two. First, after Santa!Max has rescued Penny from being mugged, the two talk about how he's actually doing good for a change. While this is happening, the mugger is stealing another woman's purse, while Max says it'll be easy for him to find more chances to do good. The mugger and victim eventually run right past them, but Max and Penny just yell at them for being loud.
** Later, while Dave and Penny are talking, Alex falls into a giant glass box for charity toys.
* ''Franchise/SuperSentai'':
** In Mission 21 of Series/TokumeiSentaiGobusters while Gorisaki Banana and Jin Masato are having a conversation about Ryuji at a park, Beet J Stag rides a zip-line on the playground then starts running around the playground with a bug net conversing with a large piece of equipment that has a grasshopper head. He continues this while waving the bug net in the air and eventually falling on his face.
** [[Series/ResshaSentaiTokkyuger Ressha Sentai ToQger]]: In episode 34, after Mio tells the group that she's dating Akira, Tokatti passes out, and while Mio, her "boyfriend" and the other guy she fancies are having a discussion, we can see the rest of the cast trying to wake Tokatti, before carrying him off.
* ''Series/ArrestedDevelopment'' does this frequently
** One example happens after the show ''Mad Money'' moves the Bluth company up to "Risky". In the foreground Michael walks into the office talking on his phone, in the background though you can see a half fallen sign saying "risky business," a collapsed ladder, a man next to the ladder rubbing his head and a man limping [[RiskyBusinessDance dressed in his underwear, white t-shirt and sunglasses]] saying "I couldn't see through the glasses and I slid into the ladder" and someone else changing the number of days since accident. This all takes place in 3 seconds and is probably missed on first viewing.

* ''Series/TheMiddleman''
** In the very first scene of the pilot, Wendy is talking to her mother on the phone - as a terrifying mutant breaks out of containment behind her. She stays on the phone for quite a while before it breaks through the glass wall of its pen and attacks her. It tells you something about the show.
** In "The Flying Fish Zombification," the titular hero is on the phone with Ida, who is explaining to him the giant deadly flying fish is causing their current problem. And that in order to reverse the effects, the fish must be captured alive. In the background, while this discussion is going on, Wendy Watson is alternately fleeing from and fighting against said fish. She defeats it a second after the Middleman hears it must be captured alive, and looks pleased with herself for not needing his help.
** Wendy also works out her anger on an interrogation droid after Ben puts their video breakup online and it becomes an [[MemeticMutation internet sensation]]. We see the video of her going medieval on the droid's ass in the background while the Middleman is obliviously talking to Ida.
* Happens in the British comedy series ''Series/{{Teachers}}'', the plots of which are all about the titular teachers rather than the children they teach. The latter are, however, often seen doing funny and/or bizarre things in the background. There are also animals, such as sheep and donkeys and at one point a lion in the toilets that [[UnusuallyUninterestingSight passed without comment]].
* Occurs semi-frequently on ''Series/MyNameIsEarl''; I believe they call them "bee moments" or something, based on a time Randy was trying to swat a bee in the background of a scene.
* ''Series/InLivingColor'' had a whole series of skits based on this concept. A news report takes place in the foreground of a setting (crime scene, beach, etc.) and an unnamed bystander (Creator/JimCarrey), having noticed the camera, goofs around in the background in increasingly silly ways while the reporter and interviewee are unawares.
* ''Series/{{Friends}}'' had famously Ross getting attacked by a cat in [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iolxQiMRF7k "TOW The Blackout".]] The audience is laughing so hard we barely hear the others singing Music/{{Carpenters}}...
** Also from ''Friends'', in Season 7 Janice, Chandler's very annoying ex-girlfriend, invites herself over. As she's standing in the doorway we see Joey appear behind her. His eyes grow wide as saucers when he sees her before he silently legs it as fast as he can.
* An ''accidental'' and very easy to miss variant in one episode of ''Series/HannahMontana.'' When the school's resident AlphaBitch proves to be an impressive singer by belting it out in the school cafeteria, you can see an extra begin to cheer, but then stop and cover her mouth, embarrassed. That wasn't intentional, and the editors must have either missed it or thought that it didn't warrant another run-through of the scene.
* ''Series/MalcolmInTheMiddle'':
** In the episode "Traffic Jam", when Malcolm is belly-aching to Jessica about her being Canadian, Reese is shown in the background being chased by [[BrickJoke a vicious dog]] who eats the ice cream he drops.
** Another has the Krelboynes discussing what to do about Malcolm now that his new relationship is messing with their group dynamic. Behind them, Malcolm is seen tackling and beating the hell out of some poor kid who made the mistake of talking to his girlfriend, and even punching out a teacher who tried to break it up.

* In the [[Series/StarTrekDeepSpaceNine DS9]] episode ''To The Death'' you can see [[TheFace Weyoun]] rolling his eyes in the background when [[ProudWarriorRaceGuy Omet'iklan]] starts his grim RousingSpeech.
* ''Series/{{Angel}}'':
** "Numfar! Do the dance of joy!" (Numfar was even [[CreatorCameo played]] by Creator/JossWhedon!).
** Also arguably half the karaoke singers in Caritas.
** Cordelia is ranting about how insensitive Angel is to her friends' needs, while in the background Doyle is being throttled by a demon tentacle.
** Eve and Gunn are arguing in Gunn's office, and through the window we see a literally AxCrazy employee stalking towards them holding a fire axe. Just as he's about to swing it at the window, a guard tackles him to the ground. Eve and Gunn turn and see no one there, so go back to their conversation.
* Played with on ''Series/HowIMetYourMother'': The gang have gotten up to watch Robin's early morning talk show, and mute it seconds after it starts because Ted has just found out [[spoiler:Lily sabotaged several of his relationships.]] The fact that they're missing what appears to the most awesome episode of that show ''ever'' serves nicely as comic relief to the serious discussion in the foreground.
** In another episode, Robin has an altercation with a woman outside the restaurant where Barney and Nora are having a date, the whole thing seen outside the window while an oblivious Barney and Nora dine on without noticing it.
** In another episode, while Barney is in the office of the laser tag owner discussing his misconduct as a player, they talk about how Barney is one of the best laser tag players the owner has ever seen. If you look in the background you can see a dry erase board for the all time time records for the laser tag arena. Every single one of the records has Barney's name on it.
* In ''Series/TheNanny'', Maxwell and C.C. are entertaining backers, while in the background Fran is chasing her sister and husband through the mansion. The three of them eventually realize what they are interrupting and start dancing to the music.
* ''Series/NorthernExposure'': during the wedding in episode four, they are ''not'' playing the traditional wedding song, but rather it seems to be an organ version of "(I Did It) My Way" by Sinatra.
* In ''Series/TheATeam'' season one episode "The Beast from the Belly of a Boeing," there is a scene where an airplane crashes into the terminal and a fleeing woman throws her baby (an out-of-tone gag for the series coming from careless use of StockFootage from ''Film/{{Airplane}}'', which has at least one of these in every shot).
* ''Series/{{Scrubs}}'' has done on an irregular basis. Particularly in the earlier episodes.
** One episode had JD having a conversation with Elliot, as the Janitor is dressed up like a ghost and is "haunting" the pediatric ward to prevent the children from making messes.
* ''Series/StargateSG1'' had its fair share of background funny events, especially through Jack O'Neill, the ''leader'' of SG-1. In one episode, as Daniel Jackson explained something extremely plot-relevant and science-ey, O'Neill stood behind him, apparently oblivious, making faces while playing with a magnifying lens, the joke here is that Jackson is describing someone as having the mind of a child, and being very easily distracted, traits that O'Neill is so ably demonstrating. Jackson finally turned around when he realized everyone was looking behind him, but then just rolled his eyes and continued.
** Anytime Siler walks past in the background with his absurdly oversized wrench.
* ''Series/{{Reaper}}'' uses this a few times, although the level of subtlety varies; in one example, the main characters lock the door to the big box store they work at in the middle of the day, leaving a huge crowd to mill around like zombies on the other side of the glass, in another, while one character crashes a funeral, the other three can be seen chasing someone around in a slightly slapstick manner behind him.
* Happens on occasion in ''Series/TopGear''.
** The most notable example is during the "typical seventeen year-old's car" segment, where, while the PowerTrio discuss the difficulty in getting their cars insured, the Stig walks in and begins photocopying his head, helmet and all. For no apparent reason (then again, he ''is'' [[CloudCuckooLander the Stig]]).
** In the Sport Relief special in which the trio attempt gardening, at one point an unnamed man goes running across the lawn, on fire. Another unnamed man puts him out, but no one else pays them any attention. No explanation is ever given. Earlier Richard is using a backhoe in the background while Jeremy is talking about his [[TimTaylorTechnology water feature]], the backhoe falls into the hole he had just dug. [[HilarityEnsues This necessitates Richard bringing a much larger backhoe that tears up the grass which Jeremy promptly covers up with concrete.]]
** In another episode, while Jeremy is signing off on the homemade motor-home challenge , his motor-home is falling off the cliff behind him. [[CrowningMomentOfFunny It's amazing.]]
** Earlier, Richard Hammond's motor home ''catching fire'' was this until Jeremy finally notices the smell.
** Then on ''The One Show'' remote control cars (that stick to vertical surfaces) can be seen in one episode driving up the back window, being controlled by mischievous presenters down below as they played with them (''Top Gear'''s offices are directly below the studio where ''The One Show'' is broadcast).
** Then there is when Clarkson took a Peel P50 around the BBC Television Centre driving around the offices...and then into the background of the BBC News 24 live broadcast..
*** The car and man in question; [[http://homepage.ntlworld.com/andy.carter/images/jeremy_clarkson_p50.jpg So tiny it doesn't even have reverse]], it has a handle to pick it up and turn it around. And the video; at 7:18, watch the background behind the [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dJfSS0ZXYdo talking heads]].
** During the tractor challenge, as Clarkson and May explain the plan to grow their own petrol, Hammond and Top Gear Dog flail around in the background, trying to chase a flock of sheep off of their plot of land.
* An episode of ''Series/GossipGirl'' has Dan trying to cook a delicious meal for his movie star girlfriend Olivia. While Olivia is on the phone, Dan can be seen running around in slight panic in the background as smoke begins to rise from the kitchen.
* In ''Series/TheXFiles'' episode "Hollywood A.D.," Mulder and Scully's work is used as the inspiration for a movie starring Gary Shandling and Tea Leoni. At one point Leoni asks Scully to demonstrate how she runs in high heels. Later, while Mulder and Shandling are talking in the foreground, Scully can be seen running back and forth across the sound stage, while Leoni observes.
* One of ''Series/TheWestWing'''s CMOF is this: Charlie and Zoe are arguing outside Josh's office, Josh can be seen in the background. Charlie says: "I work in a building with the smartest people in the world." Cue Josh sitting down on a non-existent chair.
** DONNA!
** In the first episode of the fourth season, Toby, Josh and Donna end up being left behind after an event in Indiana and on their way to catch their flight they find out that they've already missed it because it went out of an airport in a different timezone. While [[OnlySaneMan Donna]] starts coming up with a new plan with the volunteer who's been helping them out, Josh and Toby storm off to do helpful stuff in the background like shout about the lack of civilisation and hit things with sticks.

** "Robot" uses several of these to characterise the new Doctor:

** In the series 1 episode "Rose," Rose is briefly seen obliviously making tea while the Doctor is being strangled in the background. (Not that she gets much more concerned once she actually sees it...)
** In "The Idiot's Lantern", when asked by a policeman to tell them everything he knows, the Doctor replies, "Well, for starters, I know you can't wrap your hand 'round your elbow and make your fingers meet." In the background you can see an officer trying it out.
** In "The Eleventh Hour", the Doctor is able to take a low chainlink fence in stride as he stalks out onto the village green. Amy, following behind, has to hop over it and then stop to adjust her miniskirt.
** In "The Impossible Astronaut," Amy and Rory talk about finding evidence of the Doctor's various weird adventures without them. On the TV, the Doctor's [[CrowningMomentOfFunny dancing across the screen in a movie that's playing.]]
** In "Closing Time", when a lingerie department assistant calls security on Craig, having mistaken him for a pervert, a man in the background looks up alarmed.
** A foreground example in "The Doctor's Wife". When preparing to launch the ad hoc TARDIS console, the Doctor spouts some important plot dialogue, while in the foreground we see Idris!TARDIS examining her new face in a mirror and smooshing it about.
** In "The Crimson Horror", after Clara has been revived, the Doctor is shown in foreground having a conversation with Madame Vastra. In the background, slightly out of focus, her wife Jenny can be seen sizing up Clara, with Clara apparently returning the gaze. Funnier if one knows about the UK tabloid rumors that Clara was going to romance either Vastra or Jenny!
* ''Series/{{Community}}'' has Abed in a series of these during the 3rd episode of the 2nd season. It ends with Abed helping to deliver a baby in the parking lot. They do some LampshadeHanging on it when Shirley asks what Abed got up to. "Nothing much" is the reply.
** [[Recap/CommunityS2E08CooperativeCalligraphy "Cooperative Calligraphy"]] has another example. The entire episode focuses on the group attempting to find Annie's missing pen. An early scene (Specifically, during Troy's "[[ItMakesSenseInContext Aww, I wanna lick it]]!" line) shows [[spoiler:Annie's Boobs the monkey]] taking it, but it's very difficult to spot.
** There is a running background joke which involves 3 different characters saying the word "Beetlejuice" over each of the 3 seasons. Beetlejuice himself appears in the background as soon as the word is uttered for the third time (the episodes are [[Recap/CommunityS1E16CommunicationStudies Communication Studies]], [[Recap/CommunityS2E08CooperativeCalligraphy Cooperative Calligraphy]] and [[Recap/CommunityS3E05HorrorFictionInSevenSpookySteps Horror Fiction in Seven Spooky Steps]]).
** In one episode, Abed mentions having a role as an extra on his favorite show, ''Series/CougarTown'', and [[spoiler:shitting his pants out of nervousness]]. Lo and behold, on an episode of ''Cougar Town'', [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cWfJYJMrYa0 here's Danny Pudi, presumably as Abed, acting out that exact situation as a Funny Background Event.]]
* A staple on ''Series/{{Glee}}''. A lot of the group numbers have to be seen multiple times to catch everything. For example during [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JOezCgfV780 Forget You]] Kurt gets chased around the piano by the other guys.
* In one episode of ''Creator/MorecambeAndWise'' Ernie and a woman are singing ''Somewhere My Love'' as a homage/parody of ''Film/DoctorZhivago'' all the while Eric was controlling the carriage. Every once in a while he'd tell the horses to giddy-up and gently hit them with the reins, only to be pulled forward off and have to climb up from the back. He changes his position throughout the entire song.
* ''Series/ICarly'' occasionally does these. One example is in a crowd scene, Sam mentions something about [[ComedicSociopathy hurting Freddie]], and a couple of extras give each other a look of shock and horror in the background.
* There was a part of ''Series/StillStanding'' where the mother and father were going over their plan to snag some ''Music/TheWho'' tickets from their friends. While the mother is plotting, we see Tina walk into the kitchen, pick up a cutting knife, then leaves. Her older sister then runs in looking scared.
* While ''Series/{{Cheers}}'' normally puts its humor in the foreground, the episode where the gang makes a video for Woody's parents pulls this twice. The first moment occurs during a backyard barbecue at Carla's house. While she struggles through her lines, two of her kids chase Sam with a garden hose through the background. Later, we see Frasier give a speech in his office. As he sits with his back to the window, he talks about how the building has the best psychiatric help in all of Boston. Just as he says that, a body falls past the window.
* A staple of the show ''Series/CrankYankers''. Sometimes the gags going on in the background were actually funnier than the contents of the calls themselves.
* In the first full moon episode of ''Series/H2OJustAddWater'', Cleo tries to hold a speech for Emma's father because Emma was stuck in mermaid form and was acting like a CloudCuckooLander due to the influence of the full moon. While Cleo is trying to hold the speech, Zane and Miriam (whom Emma had earlier frozen together by the lips while they were making out) are seen in the background.
* ''Series/TheAdventuresOfPeteAndPete'' episode "Yellow Fever," in which Big Pete's class gets lost on the way to a field trip, has Bus Driver Stu pull over in to ask for directions, only to find upon further inspection that the farmer he wanted help from was actually a scarecrow. Meanwhile, the main subplot continues on the bus, but look through the bus's windows and you see Stu beating the crap out of the scarecrow.
* ''Series/PushingDaisies'': One episode had the gang investigating murders at a circus. They visit the scene of a car accident where a ClownCar crashed into the water. Throughout their whole conversation, coroners keep walking past with clown bodies. First it's funny. Then it's [[DudeNotFunny not]]. [[CrossesTheLineTwice Then it is. Again.]]
* ''Series/StarTrekVoyager'' had a few of these. Once with the engineers discussing the latest {{technobabble}} problem while Janeway hunts for coffee in the background (apparently an ad lib on the part of either Mulgrew or the director to liven up boring exposition). Later we have the doctor fuming in mute frustration at having his audio feed cut while the other ''Voyager'' crew members discuss their next action.
** One example in Tinker Tenor Doctor Spy, at one point an Engineering scene is hijacked by the Doctor daydreaming about a warp-core breach. When the problem is initially detected, there's a dramatic shot of the warp-core smoking. It's faint, but if one listens closely one can hear someone saying "Forget the children, save yourselves!" - hilariously out-of-character for Starfleet officers.
* ''Series/TheMonkees'':
** At the beginning of the episode “Monkees Marooned," during a close-up of Peter talking with the salesman, there is a random guy in the background [[WalkLikeAnEgyptian with his arms out like an Egyptian]], [[OutsideRide standing on the bumper of a moving car]]. The same thing happens again in the tag sequence, but only after the guy and his friends are confronted by the policeman (also in the background). Hilarious and completely unrelated to the episode! Blink and you’ll miss it.
** In the music video for “Randy Scouse Git”, while the camera is centered on Micky singing the song, Michael is seen in the background making several goofy expressions, and ''yawning'' while playing guitar during the song!

--> '''Carlton''': Oh great! Now we'll never know how Will took the news!
* ''Series/ThirtyRock'' uses these pretty frequently. An early example is in the season one episode "Tracy Does Conan," in which Tracy is suffering some strange side effects from his new medication, leading Liz to have to call his doctor for help while behind her, we see a raving Tracy trying to put his shoes in the fish tank and then being rocked like a baby, with thumb in mouth, by Dot-Com in an attempt to sooth him.
* On the ''Series/{{Leverage}}'' episode "The Studio Job," Hardison and Parker are in a sound studio, distracted, while behind Plexiglas in a soundproof room [[LightningBruiser Eliot]] [[CrowningMomentOfFunny furiously tries to get their attention while multiple thugs try to kill him]].
** In "The Boys' Night Out Job", Eliot beats up a bunch of drug dealers as Hardison tries to scare them into giving themselves up.
* In the ''Series/JonathanCreek'' episode "No Trace Of Tracy," Maddie goes to interview a has-been rock star at a recording studio. It's soon discovered that he replaced his previous session musicians with a new crew while the old ones were out getting pizza. The rock star retreats to the mixing booth and leaves his manager to sort out the mess, and the interview is conducted while both Maddie and the rock star, thanks to the soundproof glass, are blissfully unaware that the two bands have started kicking the crap out of each other in the studio behind them.
* On an ''Creator/EllenDeGeneres'' episode of the fall 2009 season, there is a segment on Kid Inventors. The first invention is by a third grader named Simon who invented a high chair bib for his baby brother Alan with a pully system that can dump whatever food he drops back onto his tray. Two inventions later is an air pump powered by pojo stick invented by fifth grader Ben. While he is setting up his invention and explaining how it works, the camera switches back to Alan who is in the process of dumping his chocolate pudding over his tray.

* A sketch on ''Series/{{MadTV}}'' featured Debra Wilson appearing out of character on a talk show talking about the show. Outside, people are fighting a giant ant.
* ''Series/{{Seinfeld}}'' has Jerry and Elaine in a mundane discussion on a couch while Kramer is having a violent seizure from hearing Mary Hart's voice.

* Inverted on the eighth season of American ''Series/BigBrother'' with this [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nK5ljM2Ubjg funny foreground event]] happening as contestant Jameka cries and prays in the back.
* ''Series/AmericasFunniestHomeVideos'' will occasionally show groups of clips where the funny part is in the background.
* Happens all the time in ''Series/DegrassiTheNextGeneration''. That Sean is sitting with Ellie supporting Marco instead of with Jay and Alex is seen as proof of Sean/Ellie shipping, which is even more amazing when you consider that Marco sexually harassed Sean in the show's [[IncrediblyLamePun coming out party]]. The original ''Series/DegrassiJuniorHigh'' would often have you spotting your favorite extras.
* While it's not always better than than the scene in the foreground, watching the improvers who aren't in a game on ''Series/WhoseLineIsItAnyway'' can be comedy gold. Just watch Greg in the [[CrowningMomentOfFunny legendary Richard Simmons episode]].
** There is an episode where at the end of a "Scene to Rap" segments (I think the them was The Exorcist), a woman from the staff comes behind Drew Carey and serves him a beverage, which was obviously not something that had to be done on camera. It provoked a lot of laughs from everybody present in the studio.

* In ''Series/{{Castle}}'' Season 2 Episode 18, while Beckett is having a rather serious phone call, in the background, Castle picks up a huge hunk of scrambled egg with his fingers, put the entire thing in his mouth, and then chokes on it because it's so hot.
* In Episode 5 of ''Series/KamenRiderFourze'', while two of the teachers are talking about something, there is a teacher in the back who gets punked by a student. The teacher responds with a Necklock.
** The opening credits has a quick montage of Fourze using various Astro Switches, which go by so fast it can be hard to pick out individual ones, but sharp-eyed individuals can see Shield!Fourze flashing a peace sign, and Flash!Fourze blinding himself.
*** The newest version of the opening adds in more Switches and more gags. Hand!Fourze can be seen playing RockPaperScissors with the mechanical hand (and LOSING), while Stealth!Fourze, does a ''Manga/{{Naruto}}''-style hand seal as he disappears, then starts tip-toeing.
* More subtly: in many ''Series/{{Frasier}}'' episodes, there are groups scenes where something plot-relevant is happening in the foreground, while Niles can be seen gazing at or sighing over Daphne in the background. The actor (or director's) commitment to detail is ''impressive''.
* An extended one was improvised by Patton Oswalt in the opening to the ''Series/TheKingOfQueens'' episode "Emotional Rollercoaster": There's a party scene where the whole cast is present but he has no lines or anything else to do, so rather than do any sort of ArtificialAtmosphericActions, he opted to stand perfectly still with a blank expression on his face for the entire three minute scene. It gets particularly funny when the action moves into the kitchen, and you can see through a window to the living room that he's ''still'' doing it.
* In Episode 4 of ''Series/TheThickOfIt'', Olly is brought to Number 10 so that Malcolm and Jamie can coerce him into exploiting his new relationship for information on the Opposition. At one point, a staffer behind Olly makes kissy faces at him while he tries awkwardly to arrange a date with the girl. Jamie then rushes over, grabs the guy by the head, and gives him a near-silent bollocking. There are also a couple of instances where Olly is trying to talk on the phone to different people while Malcolm or Jamie loudly berates one of their employees in the background.
** Malcolm's Atomic ClusterFBomb bollocking of Hugh, only slightly muffled by the transparent office, while Terri fusses over Angela Heaney's tea in the foreground.
** And then there's the time Jamie decided to amuse himself and Malcolm by fellating a pen behind Julius Nicholson's back.
* Australian sketch comedy show ''Full Frontal'' had what ended up being the crew's favorite from the second season. A weather report begins with a time lapse from a building rooftop. As the weatherman begins his spiel we see various things happening, including a repairman falling off the roof trying to repair an antenna... five times.

** For instance, in "Bull in a China Shop," Kari comments that she wants to test the foam mockup shelves she's made to ensure that the bulls won't get hurt if they crash into them. Cue Tory taking a flying leap onto one of the shelves right behind her, crunching it into the crash mat, right as she finishes her sentence. She pauses mid-word, but doesn't even look behind her. Tory just lays on the mat and seems to be trying very hard not to burst out laughing.
** In "Escape Slide Parachute," Jamie is talking about the airplane slide raft's potential as an improvised parachute. In the background, Adam and Grant are trying to piece Buster back together. Again. For the second time that day.
** In "{{Film/Titanic|1997}} Survival," Jamie and Creator/JamesCameron are discussing the atmospheric conditions and temperature of the night of the sinking to allow the Mythbusters to accurately recreate conditions. In the background, a trash can fire burns out of control until Adam appears on the scene and puts it out noisily with a fire extinguisher, much to the bemusement of both James and Jamie.
** In "Rocket Surfer," Kari expounds on the difficulties of attaching a rocket to a surfboard after a control test, while Tory and Grant are in the background attempting to 'revive' Buster. Tory's [[LargeHam hamtastic]] performance [[{{Corpsing}} causes Kari to crack up just after she finishes her explanation]].
* In the second episode of ''{{Series/Elementary}}'', the foreground shows Watson talking on the phone while in the background, very much out of focus, Holmes sets his {{iconic|Item}} violin on fire.
* ''Series/Tosh0'' had a segment called "What's In The Background?"
-->'''Why did this family bring a swimming pool to the beach?'''

* On ''Series/StarTrekTheNextGeneration'', there's an episode where a transporter accident creates a duplicate of Riker. In one scene, the two Rikers confront each other during a poker game. However, the scene is stolen by Worf, who has clearly just been dealt the worst hand in the history of poker.

* ''[[Series/TheOfficeUS The Office]]'' episode "Beach Games" features Dwight trying [[SoUnfunnyItsFunny and failing]] to successfully tell "TheAristocrats." Though the event gets a few shots devoted to it, the primary focus is on Pam's efforts to do the coal walk, meaning only the attentive or returning viewer is likely to absorb the joke.
* ''Series/MrSelfridge'' has an unintentional one. In the third episode, the drunken Reg Towler gets on a trolley just as it lurches to a start. The trolley's sudden movement is so violent that one of the extras, a woman in a white dress, is slammed against the side of her seat. She rubs her arm and mutters to herself until the scene changes.
* In the 2nd episode of the ''Series/WhoseLineIsItAnyway'' reboot, during the game "Song Styles", Colin is in the background doing a dance that looks like a mix between a gospel-type dance and jazzhands.
** The game "News Flash" is made of this trope, with the field reporter (usually Colin) trying to use clues from the other players to guess what the background event is. The best one is when clips of Colin himself are used.
* ''Series/MontyPythonsFlyingCircus'' was known for this. One memorable sketch was the "Dirty Vicar" sketch. The sketch is about a lecherous vicar. In one part, he is groping a female parishioner, and suddenly Michael Palin dressed as a mountain climber (complete with lederhosen) and two butlers run into the room, look around like they suddenly realize that they are not supposed to be there, and run off.
* In the episode [[Recap/SupernaturalS02E18HollywoodBabylon "Hollywood Babylon"]] of ''Series/{{Supernatural}}'', when Sam and Dean are walking to Stage 9, two cowboys and a horse and three Roman Centurions walk behind them. In addition, the head of a golden idol is being pulled behind a truck, and an astronaut's suit is being pushed on a dolly.

* When Andrew Zimmern went to Chile for ''{{Bizarre Foods with Andrew Zimmern}}'', he did his usual introductory bit with a crowd of Chilean city-dwellers walking behind him. A few people turn to look toward the camera to see what's going on, including a little girl in pigtails who becomes so fixated at the camera and excited about the possibility of being on TV that she energetically waves hello... before almost running into a young man in a wheelchair. Oops.
* In ''Series/HouseOfAnubis'', while Jason is describing the acting exercise of using subtext to make the words "I love you" have different meanings, and Jerome and Mara are talking, Fabian and Mick can be seen in the background quickly backing away, and then later awkwardly doing the exercise.
** In another episode, while Patricia and Eddie are having a small argument, Sibuna's shocked faces in the scene make it hilarious. The fact that they all react in perfect unison sells it.
* ''Series/{{JAG}}'': Harm gets quick-and-harsh training in "Force Recon" so he can go undercover as a Marine gunnery sergeant. This training takes place in his salty trainer's yard, and in the background throughout you can see the neighbors looking over the fence and reacting incredulously.

* In the last scene of ''Series/{{Alice 2009}}'', Alice and Hatter are reunited and make out. In the background, Alice's mother stares at them and is clearly thinking, "What the Hell is going on?"

* ''Series/Daredevil2015'': When Matt and Foggy are checking out the future home of their law firm. Matt effortlessly charms the realtor, while in the background, Foggy does a disgusted look of 'damn it, he's doing it again!' It's funnier once you've re-watched the series, and have heard all of Foggy's comments and wisecracks about Matt's prowess with the ladies.
* ''Series/TheDefenders2017'': During the signature HallwayFight in Midland Circle, there's a point where Matt slams one guy into a wall, and then he and Danny then simultaneously punch the unfortunate schmuck in the face. Then in perfect tandem, Luke and Jessica punch another pair of men across the corridor, and then Danny bounces off the wall to deliver a right hook to the third one, while Matt continues to beat up the unfortunate guy in the background.

* ''Series/TheMrPotatoHeadShow'': Often, when Mr. Potato Head met with the [[CardCarryingVillain TV]] [[ExecutiveMeddling executives]], they were eating french fries.
* In "Lazy Scouts" on ''Series/LazyTown'', during a good portion of the "Lazy Scouts" song, Stephanie is standing in the background, [[FacePalm doing a double facepalm]], rolling her eyes, putting her hands on her hips, shaking her head, or otherwise expressing disgust.
* On the children's math edutainment show ''Series/OddSquad'', when kid agents are running or sneaking around their headquarters' hallways, they regularly pass by some ''very'' strange-looking doors, decorated with things like gold coins, giant chess pieces, bookshelves or shoes.
* There is an episode of ''Series/{{House}}'' in which House is doing his usual walking down the hall while talking to Foreman, Chase and Cameron when he suddenly has to go to the bathroom. He insists that Cameron come into the men's room with the rest of them so he can continue the conversation and keeps talking to her while he uses the urinal. He doesn't look directly at her but she glances down and deliberately looks in the area of his crotch.
* In the punch episode of ''Series/GoodEats'', Alton is at a dry wedding at some church hall, where the "punch" consists of ginger ale and sherbet. While he's explaining the history of punch, and how he feels it hasn't been given the respect it deserves, [[CoolOldLady a little old lady]] sneaks in and pours in [[GargleBlaster a whole bottle]] of some kind of liquor into the punch bowl, then starts handing it out to the other guests.
* ''Series/{{Hyperdrive}}''. After their FirstContact with the Queppu goes disastrously wrong TheCaptain gives a PatrickStewartSpeech, not noticing that the crew is secretly nuking the planet behind his back.
* ''Series/HowIMetYourMother'': When Robin's morning talk show was about to start, Ted mutes the TV and confronts Lily for her actions on sabotaging his past relationships. Because the group are too busy arguing about the issue, they forgot to watch the antics of Robin's show where the chef gets his sleeves on fire, the weatherman collapses on the floor while reporting and Robin helps her pregnant guest deliver her baby in front of the camera.

** In "A Golden Crown," Ser Barristan Selmy's silent reaction during Lord Renly Baratheon's TheReasonYouSuckSpeech to King Robert shows that he ''completely'' agrees with the younger brother.