History Main / DrivingADesk

Has almost zero overlap with the typical activities of the DeskJockey. The alternative term is a reference to the BlueScreen or ChromaKey (which may be involved in later occurrences of the trope) and not to the UsefulNotes/BlueScreenOfDeath.

Has almost zero overlap with the typical activities of the DeskJockey.

Rear projection essentially fell out of use with the advent of the ChromaKey, which nonetheless kept some of its problems. It was finally sealed up with the prevalence of computer graphics and special-built flatbed-like vehicles to carry and film cars (such as the one [[http://i132.photobucket.com/albums/q26/extremehead/crash91.jpg shown here]]). Used nowadays, rear projection or poorly done chroma key is mostly considered a SpecialEffectFailure, or a special shoutout to films of the past. The [[TropeNamer title is a reference]] to how they always end up looking like Creator/ConanOBrien who has a recurring [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7XMeUWMDyOg comedy bit where he "drives" his desk]] out of the television studio using rear projection effects.

* A noticeable difference in film quality between the live actors and the pre-filmed backdrop,

* In ''Film/{{Midnight Lace}}'' as the characters travel by taxi around London.[[/folder]]

** Even worse, the driver jerks the steering wheel left and right when it is implied they are driving on a straight road.

** Similarly, ''Film/TheNakedGun'' makes use of outrageous backdrops, such as showing the Colosseum in Rome when Drebin is allegedly driving in "Little Italy".

* ''Franchise/StarWars''

** Also averted in ''Film/TheFrenchConnection'', which was shot entirely on location and mostly in one take. There were even [[ThrowItIn a few unscripted collisions]] with other vehicles.

* Used for comedy in ''Series/SaturdayNightLive'', due to the necessity of churning out a new, live show every week. Notable offenders include the recurring "Toonces, the Cat Who Could Drive a Car" and "Butabi Brothers" sketches. [[http://ckjcwf.ytmnd.com/ Here's an example of sorts.]]
** Done literally with Melissa [=McCarthy=]'s portrayal of Sean Spicer. The crew build a motorized podium (using parts from an electric wheel chair) which she would drive around during sketches, including one situation where she actually drove it through the [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=di1-jK5x-HQ streets of New York]].

** Similarly, the video for Music/{{Yello}}'s "The Race" features one band member sitting in front of a rather abstract rear projection holding an unattached steering wheel. (Surreal, colorful rear projections were something of a SignatureStyle for the band.)

* In the ''Music/{{Madness}}'' JukeboxMusical, ''Our House''. Joe and his friends sit in his [[TheAlledgedCar alleged car]] while a moving road is projected into the background. The road changes to a rollercoaster track, then [[Film/ANewHope Death Star trenches]] while the gang swing lightsabers.

* The more-than usually surreal ''Series/ThePrisoner1967'' episode "The Girl Who Was Death" has a car chase sequence in which the super-assassin of the title tries to make Number Six crash his car by making the back-projection road behind him spin around.

* Done purposefully in ''Series/BuffyTheVampireSlayer'': This is seen in Xander's dream in "Restless" when his girlfriend Anya is driving their ice cream truck. "I think I've figured out how to steer by gesturing emphatically."

* Conan O'Brien does this, too, but... he's ''[[TropeNamers actually driving his own desk]]'', "turning" with [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lOgV-WEE1Ec a prop steering wheel]]. Subverted when he actually [[http://vimeo.com/9004717 drove a motorized desk around the Universal Studios lot and had a drag race with a guy in a forklift]].[[note]]Just...reread that sentence and drink up the CrazyAwesome, if you will.[[/note]]

* In ''Film/Midnight Lace'' as the characters travel by taxi around London.[[/folder]]

[[/folder]]
* In ''Film/Midnight Lace'' as the characters travel by taxi around London.

Rear projection essentially fell out of use with the advent of the ChromaKey, which nonetheless kept some of its problems. It was finally sealed up with the prevalence of computer graphics and special-built flatbed-like vehicles to carry and film cars (such as the one [[http://i132.photobucket.com/albums/q26/extremehead/crash91.jpg shown here]]). Used nowadays, rear projection or poorly done chroma key is mostly considered a SpecialEffectFailure, or a special shoutout to films of the past. The [[TropeNamer title is a reference]] to how they always end up looking like Creator/ConanOBrien who has a recurring [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lOgV-WEE1Ec comedy bit where he "drives" his desk]] out of the television studio using rear projection effects.

Rear projection essentially fell out of use with the advent of the ChromaKey, which nonetheless kept some of its problems. It was finally sealed up with the prevalence of computer graphics and special-built flatbed-like vehicles to carry and film cars (such as the one [[http://i132.photobucket.com/albums/q26/extremehead/crash91.jpg shown here]]). Used nowadays, rear projection or poorly done chroma key is mostly considered a SpecialEffectFailure, or a special shoutout to films of the past. The [[TropeNamer title is a reference]] to how they always end up looking like Creator/ConanOBrien who has a recurring comedy bit where he "drives" his desk out of the tv studio using rear projection effects.

* The more-than usually surreal ''Series/ThePrisoner'' episode "The Girl Who Was Death" has a car chase sequence in which the super-assassin of the title tries to make Number Six crash his car by making the back-projection road behind him spin around.

Rear projection essentially fell out of use with the advent of the ChromaKey, which nonetheless kept some of its problems. It was finally sealed up with the prevalence of computer graphics and special-built flatbed-like vehicles to carry and film cars (such as the one [[http://i132.photobucket.com/albums/q26/extremehead/crash91.jpg shown here]]). Used nowadays, rear projection or poorly done chroma key is mostly considered a SpecialEffectFailure, or a special shoutout to films of the past. The title is a reference to how they always end up looking like Creator/ConanOBrien driving his desk.

* The steering of the driver clearly not matching the movement of background

* A conspicuous lack of wind or movement on the part of the passengers

** ''Film/DrNo'' has a particularly {{egregious}} shot of a nervous Creator/SeanConnery being pursued by a car that appeared at least twice as large as his own.

* ''Series/MacGyver'': Unfortunately painfully obvious in "Three for the Road" where much of the plot involves Mac being in a car with the two guest stars.

** Done literally with Melissa McCarthy's portrayal of Sean Spicer. The crew build a motorized podium (using parts from an electric wheel chair) which she would drive around during sketches, including one situation where she actually drove it through the [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=di1-jK5x-HQ streets of New York]].