History Main / ImprobablyPredictable

* ''GunnerkriggCourt''. [[http://www.gunnerkrigg.com/archive_page.php?comicID=951 Here]], Andrew Smith demonstrates that he's the only person who can predict when Parley is going to arrive via teleportation. ([[WordOfGod Word of Tom]] is that Smitty is just guessing, but because of his order-causing powers, his guesses just happen to be right.)

--> '''Timmy, Cosmo and Wanda:''' They've become so powerful that they are now impervious to magic.

* In a ''{{Zits}}'' strip, Jeremy comes down for breakfast with a stack of cards, and answers each of his mother's questions ("Orange juice? Eggs?") with the next card. Finally she insists, "I am not that predictable!" and he reveals the card which reads, "Wanna bet?"

* In ''HarryPotterAndTheGobletOfFire'', Harry predicts how Ron and Hermione will react to his dream about Voldemort, and they both react more-or-less exactly as he thought they would.

* Turned UpToEleven on ''ThirtyRock'': Jack makes a joke, and Liz hands him an envelope predicting that joke. Then Jack hands ''her'' an envelope, predicting ''her'' prediction of ''his'' joke. By later seasons, this is simply an accepted character trait, that Jack knows absolutely everything about Lemon. For example, he uses this to describe ''precisely'' how Liz's holiday went (down to the tree ornaments), and not only the movie that she's going to, but when/where/how/why. [[spoiler:Then it's revealed she has a boyfriend. Who he knew ''nothing'' about, and [[SubvertedTrope never saw coming.]]]]

* In ''SoRandom'', in a school news sketch, one of the anchors keeps handing the other letters responding to his response to the previous letter. At one point, the other anchor asks "when did you find the time to write all these letters and how did you know what I was going to say?", which is replied to with a letter saying "[[LampshadeHanging Because you're very predictable]]".

* Turned UpToEleven on ''ThirtyRock'': Jack makes a joke, and Liz hands him an envelope predicting that joke. Then Jack hands ''her'' an envelope, predicting ''her'' prediction of ''his'' joke.

A friend or someone else who knows a character well will tell another person how the first character will react to some piece of news. Often, he will quote the character's reaction directly. Later on, when the first character receives the news, he or she will react exactly, down to the letter, how the friend said he would. Similarly, this trope can often involve one character preemptively pantomiming a character's response as they stand behind them, showing off exactly how predictable their friend is (or how well they know him or her). This trope could also involve a predictable character's friend finishing his sentences for him. Finally, this trope is illustrated when a person counts down "three...two...one..." to the other character having a reaction about something. Basically, any time that a character knows, with perfect accuracy, how another is going to act, that's this trope.

* On ''ThirtyRock'', Jack makes a joke, and Liz hands him an envelope predicting that joke. Then Jack hands ''her'' an envelope, predicting ''her'' prediction of ''his'' joke. UpToEleven.

--> '''Phineas:''' Somebody should make an all terrain vehicle that ''really'' goes over ''all'' terrains.

* This is a stock joke on ''[[QuiteInteresting QI]]''. A host will predict a stupid answer and dock the contestant 10 points for being boring.

* This is a stock joke on ''[[QuiteInteresting QI]]''. A host will predict a stupid answer and dock the contestant 20 points for being boring.

* ''TheSimpsons''

* On ''[[ThirtyRock 30 Rock]]'', Jack makes a joke, and Liz hands him an envelope predicting that joke. Then Jack hands ''her'' an enveleope, predicting ''her'' prediction of ''his'' joke. UpToEleven.

Compare TheTapeKnewYouWouldSayThat. Also compare StrangeMindsThinkAlike. This trope is often utilized for a BatmanGambit.

* In one strip of ''EverydayHeroes'', we get [[http://www.webcomicsnation.com/eddurd/everydayheroes/series.php?view=single&ID=115765 simultaneous]] SpitTake prediction

* In one episode of ''{{Bones}}'', Booth reveals that he knows Brennan's computer password, because he knows how she thinks. He also knows what she changes the password to - twice.

-->Brennan: How did you know?
-->Booth: It's your second favorite flower. I know you, Bones. Try a planet!
-->Brennan: ''(entering password) ''
-->Booth: Jupiter!

The clock strikes midnight, the lights go out, and we hear several gunshots. When the lights come back on, we see Holmes holding a smoking gun, pointed at a dying Watson:

* * ''TheSimpsons''

* In one sketch on ''DaveAllenAtLarge'', Dave is playing SherlockHolmes. He is with [[TheWatson Watson]]

-->'''Watson:''' Now, Holmes, nobody respects your methods more than you, but that's a bit too much?\\

[[folder:Comics]]

* In a ''{{Zits}}'' strip Jeremy comes down for breakfast with a stack of cards, and answers each of his mother's questions ("Orange juice? Eggs?") with the next card. Finally she insists "I am not that predictable!" and he reveals the card which reads "Wanna bet?"

* In the HarryPotter novel GobletOfFire, Harry predicts how Ron and Hermione will react to his dream about Voldemort, and they both react more-or-less exactly as he thought they would.

[[folder:LiveActionTv]]

* On [[ThirtyRock 30 Rock]], Jack makes a joke, and Liz hands him an envelope predicting that joke. Then Jack hands ''her'' an enveleope, predicting ''her'' prediction of ''his'' joke. UpToEleven.

--> '''Sheldon''': Please. Even assuming you could answer any question the way I would, the algorithms used by matchmaking sites are complete hokum.
--> '''Howard''': And that's exactly the answer we gave to the question, "What is your attitude towards online dating?"
--> '''Raj''': Howard wanted to write mumbo jumbo, but I said no, our Sheldon would say hokum.

* In one episode of ''{{Bones}}'' Booth reveals that he knows Brennan's computer password, because he knows how she thinks. He also knows what she changes the password to - twice.
-->Booth: I know your password too. It's Daffodil.
-->Brennan: I never told you that!
-->Booth: What? I got eyes. I mean you guys aren't exactly CIA material.
-->Hodgins: Daffodil?
-->Brennan: What? They're pretty. And I'm changing my password.
-->Booth: Daisy.

* {{Community}}'s Abed is so good at predicting his friends' responses that he can mimic them while they're talking and his videos foretell the future.

--> '''Holmes''': At exactly midnight, the light will go out for three seconds and a man will be shot. He will say exactly five words, then die.
--> '''Watson''': Now Holmes, nobody respects your methods more than you, but that's a bit too much?

The clock strikes midnight, the lights go out, and we hear several gunshots. When the lights come back on we see Holmes holding a smoking gun, pointed at a dying Watson
--> '''Watson''': My God Holmes, you're incredible!

* This is a stock joke on [[QuiteInteresting QI]]. A host will predict a stupid answer and dock the contestant 20 points for being boring.

* In SoRandom, in a school news sketch, one of the anchors keeps handing the other letters responding to his response to the previous letter. At one point, the other anchor asks "when did you find the time to write all these letters and how did you know what I was going to say?", which is replied to with a letter saying "[[LampshadeHanging because you're very predictable]]".

--> '''Janitor''': You're very predictable.
--> '''J.D. and Janitor simultaneously''': No I'm not. Stop doing that! Peanut-butter-egg-dirt!

---> '''Janitor''': Listen, crash in my garage. I guarantee you there will not be another person in there.

---> '''J.D.''': You're gonna slather jam on my face and sic a family of raccoons on me, aren't you?
---> '''Janitor''': Damn it. I've become predictable.

* In this strip of ''EverydayHeroes'', we get [[http://www.webcomicsnation.com/eddurd/everydayheroes/series.php?view=single&ID=115765 simultaneous]] SpitTake prediction

[[folder:WesternAnimation]]

* In TheFairlyOddParents, this takes place when Timmy wishes his parents had superpowers, then when he finds they are too busy with fighting evil that they can't take care of him, and wishes that they weren't superheroes, but Cosmo and Wanda's wands don't work:

--> '''Timmy, Cosmo, and Wanda:''' They've become so powerful that they are now impervious to magic.

-->Ned: Can you believe it? It almost seems like those folks were ... were making fun of ol' steady Neddy!
-->Maude: Well, you may be a bit cautious. What's wrong with that? Some people like chunky peanut butter, some like smooth!
-->Ned: Mmm-hmm, and some people just steer clear of that whole hornet's nest! I'll stick with just plain white bread, thank you very much, maybe with a ...
-->Maude, Rod & Todd: "... glass of water on the side for dippin'!"
-->Ned: Gosh darn it! Am I that pre-diddly-ictable? ''sigh'' I've wasted my whole dang-diddly life.

Compare TheTapeKnewYouWouldSayThat. Also compare StrangeMindsThinkAlike. This trope is often utilized for a BatmanGambit.

* In the HarryPotter novel GobletOfFire, Harry predicts how Ron and Hermione will react to his dream about Voldemort, and they both react more-or-less exactly as he thought they would.