History Main / GoldenMoment

* Happens frequently in ''WesternAnimation/TheSimpsons''. One episode [[LampshadeHanging Lampshaded]] it by having guest star [[TheJeffersons Isabel Sanford]], acting as a presenter for a television museum, break the FourthWall and describe this trope. She goes on to say that they normally put in an extra, jokey scene to dilute the syrupiness. The scene then cuts to a clip of ''TheBeverlyHillbillies''.

->'''Dad:''' I guess so.

Typically, the writers will then try to reduce the [[SickeninglySweet saccharine]] by adding a [[HilarityEnsues joke]], such as having Junior say, "Dad, how do I get the baked beans out of my pants?" to [[LaughTrack gales of laughter]] [[EverybodyLaughsEnding from both sides of the Fourth Wall]].

They hug and the [[StudioAudience audience]] goes, "AWWWWWWWWW." The lesson has been taught. [[SentimentalMusicCue Sentimental Music Cue]]s.

A staple of the American family-oriented SitCom, the GoldenMoment usually occurs in the last few minutes of the episode, when AnAesop is delivered. After 20+ minutes of hijinks and confusion, Dad sits down with Junior for the following exchange:

* Parodied in ''TheTick''. The titular superhero would often end the episode by declaring "I think we've all learned something today!" and then [[{{Cloudcuckoolander}} deliver an aesop that made no sense whatsoever]].

* Parodied on AquaTeenHungerForce when Meatwad watches the other characters in a "sitcom with a sci-fi/horror twist" on an apparently cursed television. It comes complete with sitcom-style "Awwwww" from the audience, followed by a lame joke with laugh track. Meatwad appears to be the ideal television watcher, though, declaring "I identify with that!"

* In ''ThaliasMusings'', [[{{CloudcuckoolandersMinder}} Apollo]] attempts to invoke this trope after Thalia has a narrow brush with [[{{GodSaveUsFromTheQueen}} Hera's]] wrath. Thalia can't take it seriously and doubts he does, either.

* Pick an episode, any episode of ''FullHouse''.
* ''LeaveItToBeaver'' tended to end like this.

* ''Series.TheFactsOfLife'' owned this trope, playing it so straight they frequently didn't even bother with the lighten-up gag. Or if they did, it came through brave tears.
* Lampshaded in ''Series/ArrestedDevelopment'': Michael and George Michael, his son, are making snacks and discussing their plot of that episode. George Michael remarks that he doesn't need his dad to stay out of his life, he's the biggest part of his life. Michael states, refering to the snack they are making, "That's a little cornball, son."
* Vengeful aversion: [[{{Seinfeld}} No hugging, no learning.]]
* ''FamilyMatters'' had this quite frequently, complete with FullHouseMusic.
* ''HappyDays'' has an episode in season one where, after going through gang initiation which involved pulling pranks on a policeman, stealing their principal's toupe, and going to a sockhop in dresses, Potsie and Richie realize that Mr. Cunningham was right--they didn't even like the guys they were trying to impress and should have just been themselves all along. Mr. C then comes in and has a little chat with Richie which ends on a corny joke.

* Averted in the very first episode of ''TheCosbyShow'', when Cliff is trying to get to the bottom of Theo's terrible grades and Theo makes a heartfelt plea for understanding, pointing out that while Cliff and Claire are, respectively, a doctor and a lawyer, Theo doesn't love them more or less because of that, and maybe his parents should accept the fact that Theo is just 'a regular person' and love him anyway. As the studio audience begins to 'awww...' Cliff reacts silently for a second, then yells, "That's the dumbest thing I ever heard!" and proceeds to tear Theo a new one for not even trying.

* In the first season of GarfieldAndFriends, several of the Orson's Farm segments had one of these, usually in song and dance form. The show got rid of them later.

* Occurs with [[OnceAnEpisode disturbing frequency]] on ''{{Scrubs}}''. Generally occurs in the form of a voice over of JD's [[InnerMonologue thoughts]] pertaining to the week's episode. Often comes with some [[FullHouseMusic cheesy music]] too.

* Parodied in nearly every episode of ''MoralOrel'', in which Orel learns a [[SpoofAesop twisted Aesop]] after a beating from his alcoholic father.
* Happens frequently in ''TheSimpsons''. One episode [[LampshadeHanging Lampshaded]] it by having guest star [[TheJeffersons Isabel Sanford]], acting as a presenter for a television museum, break the FourthWall and describe this trope. She goes on to say that they normally put in an extra, jokey scene to dilute the syrupiness. The scene then cuts to a clip of ''TheBeverlyHillbillies''.

* Seth [=MacFarlane=] in DVD commenteries has termed this the 'moment of shit', and as such has subverted it quite a few times in ''FamilyGuy'', usually having the father Peter fail to get the lesson at all and say something inappropriate.

* Parodied in the ''{{Futurama}}'' episode "I, Roommate", where Fry and Bender watch a Golden Moment happen on TV, and Leela encourages them to apply the same lesson to their own disagreement. They repeat the same dialogue as on the show word for word... with the roles reversed, so that Bender apologizes even though he was the one being treated unfairly. Regardless, it ends the fight, and Leela ultimately decides to leave well enough alone.

They hug and the [[StudioAudience audience]] goes, "AWWWWWWWWW." The lesson has been taught. Cue a SentimentalMusicCue.

They hug and the [[StudioAudience audience]] goes, "AWWWWWWWWW." The lesson has been taught. Cue FullHouseMusic.

* ''WebVideo/TheNostalgiaCritic'', of all people, invokes this in a bit where Critic sees Creator/NicolasCage [[MakesJustAsMuchSenseInContext wear a bear suit and punch out a woman]] in Film/TheWickerMan. He then sits on a couch and has a conversation with Malcolm about how there's so many jokes he could do, but can't pick just one. Malcolm's advice? Do ''all'' of them. The scene is just ''drenched'' in FullHouseMusic, but it leads to a CrowningMomentOfFunny for the Critic as it all leads to him rattling off ten Nicolas Cage bear jokes in a row.

* Surprisingly, ''TheOddCouple'' was often guilty of this. Many episodes, especially early ones, would end with Oscar and Felix each admitting that the problem was the result of their respective sloppiness and pickiness, and reaffirming the importance of their friendship.

[[folder: Film ]]

* There's one about three fourths of the way through ''{{Juno}}''. Juno asks her father if he thinks that love can last a lifetime, and YMMV on whether or whether not his response ("smart or dumb, handsome or what-have-you, the right person's still gonna think the sun shines out of your ass") is Narmy or not.

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Typically, the writers will then try to reduce the [[SickeninglySweet saccharine]] by adding a [[HilarityEnsues joke]], such as having Junior say, "Dad, how do I get the baked beans out of my pants?" to [[LaughTrack gales of undeserved laughter]] [[EverybodyLaughsEnding from both sides of the Fourth Wall]].

* A fresh twist on the Trope occurs every now and again in ''[[Manga/AhMyGoddess Oh My Goddess!]]'' (which has ''very'' apparent [[FantasticComedy Supernatural]] DomCom elements to it, despite being a {{Bishoujo Series}}. Every time [[MagicalGirlfriend wish-granting goddess Belldandy]] feels like less of a deity because she behaved jealous or stubborn over [[NiceGuy Keiichi]] ([[InnocentCohabitation her]] [[CannotSpitItOut sort]][[UnresolvedSexualTension -of]] [[WillTheyOrWontThey boyfriend]]), he's been there to try to cheer Belldandy up, explaining that it's part of a relationship.