History Main / InWithTheInCrowd

* Mark Studdock and the N.I.C.E. in C.S. Lewis's ''Literature/ThatHideousStrength''.
** Lewis also has this happen to The Patient in ''Literature/TheScrewtapeLetters''.

-->-- '''Dobie Gray'''

Enjoying his newfound elevation, he [[AcquiredSituationalNarcissism snubs or is pressured to snub his old friends]], who respond with anger or dismay at his apparent betrayal. However, after extended exposure to the members of his new social circle, he invariably finds them [[PopularIsEvil shallow and/or bigoted]], [[LoserFriendPuzzlesOutsiders particularly against some faction represented in his previous social circle]]. At the risk of ruining any future chance for [[AmbitionIsEvil social improvement]], he leaves his new clique and returns to the forgiving arms of his original band of friends.

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* {{Deconstructed}} in an episode of ''Series/ColdCase''. The VictimOfTheWeek's friend wanted to be a cheerleader so bad that she [[spoiler:allowed herself to be gang-raped as part of her "initiation" and helped cover up the murder of her friend who had found out]].

* This is the origin of Bally's ''Pinball/DrDude''. He was once a spineless {{Nerd}} until he invented the E'''X'''cellent Ray to transform himself into the Guru O' Groove.

* ''Series/GilmoreGirls'' had Rory joining the Powderpuffs (that's ''"Powder''puffs" -- not to be confused with a certain cartoon PowerTrio known as ''[[WesternAnimation/ThePowerpuffGirls "Power]]''[[WesternAnimation/ThePowerpuffGirls puffs"]]).

* Interestingly inverted in ''Franchise/HarryPotter'' fanfic ''Fanfic/IfThemsTheRules''. The [[FanNickname Golden Trio]] were the super exclusive group of popular kids, not that they ever realized that.

* ''WesternAnimation/{{Detention}}'', "Little Miss Perfect"
* ''WesternAnimation/TheWeekenders'', "The Lone Wolves Club". Slight subversion in that the members of said club [[spoiler:turn out to be a bunch of nerds.]]

* ''WesternAnimation/DannyPhantom.'' Butch Hartman has a [[WriterOnBoard tendency to apply this trope]] [[{{Anvilicious}} with a SLEDGEHAMMER...]]
** And, accordingly, he does so in ''WesternAnimation/TheFairlyOddParents'', to a predictable end.

See also IJustWantToHaveFriends, CelebrityIsOverrated, LonelyAtTheTop, PygmalionPlot, PygmalionSnapBack, SlobsVersusSnobs.

Enjoying his newfound elevation, he [[AcquiredSituationalNarcissism snubs or is pressured to snub his old friends]], who respond with anger or dismay at his apparent betrayal. However, after extended exposure to the members of his new social circle, he invariably finds them shallow and/or bigoted, [[LoserFriendPuzzlesOutsiders particularly against some faction represented in his previous social circle]]. At the risk of ruining any future chance for [[AmbitionIsEvil social improvement]], he leaves his new clique and returns to the forgiving arms of his original band of friends.

* In ''Series/RedDwarf'', the android Kryten is turned into an organic human. When talking to his sentient spare heads, he gets high-and-mighty with them. After that, he realizes that he's turning into a jerk.

** Laura gets her own episode where she actually considered joining the most prestigious sorority on campus. However, she changes her tune when she stumbles upon the sorority’s annual “Geek Party”, to which Urkel was invited by sorority sister Allison. In fact, all the sisters brought geeks as dates to a Beauty and the Beast party, where they watch the nerdy boys party and make fools of themselves, completely unaware that their dates are making fun of them behind their backs, before the “worst one” is crowned “King of Geeks”. Laura is replused by the cruelty of the sorority girls. Unlike Eddie, when forced to choose between the Greek house and Urkel, she sides with Steve without a moment’s hesitation and quits the sorority.

* Occasionally used in ''WesternAnimation/KimPossible'' where the sidekick [[ThisLoserIsYou Ron Stoppable]] becomes [[IJustWantToBeSpecial special]] for the token episode. Most notable is the episode where he got 99 million dollars, deeply annoyed his few friends, got friends with some yes sayers (and the AlphaBitch), and lost it all due to being robbed while having all his money in his pocket. 990,000 hundred-dollar bills would be nearly ten cubic meters of paper! That's one deep pocket!

** Eddie is offered the chance to join the coolest fraternity on campus if he dumps Urkel as a friend.
** Laura gets her own episode where she actually joined the most prestigious sorority on campus by inviting Urkel to a Beauty and the Beast party. Being so in love with Laura and wanting to see her happy, he plays along. When Laura sees that the other "beasts" are being treated cruelly by her new sorority sisters, she quits the sorority.

* ''WesternAnimation/SpongebobSquarepants'' played with this, by substituting "spatula" for "friend".

See also IJustWantToHaveFriends, CelebrityIsOverrated, LonelyAtTheTop, PygmalionPlot, PygmalionSnapBack and SlobsVersusSnobs.

* In ''Literature/ThePoisonApples'' [[LovableAlphaBitch Reena]] states she has always found it easy to become popular by befriending the right people. Within days of starting at boarding school she becomes not only popular in her year but hangs out with the most popular people two years above her. She realises she's not so eager to be in anymore when popular guy Jamie Vanderheep pushes her out the window into a tree when she's scared to climb.

* In ''Series/RedDwarf'', the android Kryten is turned into an organic human. When talking to his sentient spare heads, he gets high-and-mighty with them. After that he realizes that he's turning into a jerk.
* This is the basis for multiple episodes of ''Series/{{Frasier}}''. Of course, with the two main characters being elitist snobs they find the "shallow/bigoted" part absolutely delightful and it's invitably some misfortune that rips them kicking and screaming from their new group.

* Very neatly averted with ''Series/{{Undeclared}}''. Steven is asked to join a campus fraternity, which his friends all object to, since they believe college fraternities to be a waste of time. Fortunately for Steven, the fraternity (in addition to its headmaster being [[SmallNameBigEgo a complete prick]]) isn't even all that cool or hip but actually kind of dorky and lame.

* Subverted in ''Series/NedsDeclassifiedSchoolSurvivalGuide'' when a "popularity list" is created and Moze is now part of the cool kids. She find them boring and doesn't understand their sense of humor. But when she outright says that she misses her friends, the cool kids just say that she should return to them, and there are no hard feelings about the whole thing.

* Suzanne Sugarbaker on ''Series/DesigningWomen'' is desperate to join the Beaumont Driving Club but they refuse. Rhey want Julia but she refuses because it's restricted. Later Anthony is invited to join but the women learn it's because they can't be a spot on the PGA Tour if they remain restricted. Anthony already knows and plans to use his position on the inside to further change the system.

* Does this count? Subverted: Less Than Jake released an album called "In With the Out Crowd". The album itself drifted more into a punk/indie feel rather than their traditional ska sound (playing songs that are more mainstream-esque). After pressure from their fans they decided to go back to their roots with their next (and WordOfGod says last) album GNV FLA.

** In "Scenes from the Class Struggle in Springfield", Marge once had a chance to become a member of a country club thanks to her thrift-store bought Chanel dress making a high school acquaintance mistake her for upper class. After it leads her to blowing up on the family she decides to not attend a party at the club, thinking they would never be accepted anyway - and ironically in the next scene we see it was a welcome party, the AlphaBitch of the episode hoping she didn't push her away.
** In "Homer the Great", Homer wants to join the "The Stonecutters", a ultra-secretive organization. When he finds out that he's automatically in because his father is a Stonecutter, everything goes well until he made a FeeFiFauxPas at the first meeting and is made to walk home naked dragging a boulder ("The Stone of Shame.") However, the club notices a birthmark on his posterior that marks him as TheChosenOne, but then he finds that being the club's leader [[ItSucksToBeTheChosenOne isn't all it's cracked up to be]].

* ''Series/OneTreeHill'': The {{Adorkable}} Mouth fits this the best. He himself doesn't do something specific to become part of the popular crowd, but his friendships with Lucas and Haley get him pulled in, and he becomes close friends with popular kids like Nathan and Brooke.

* This is the origin of Bally's ''Pinball/DrDude''. He was once a spineless bespeckled computer {{Nerd}} until he invented the E'''X'''cellent Ray to transform himself into the Guru O' Groove.

* ''Film/TeenSpirit'': Lisa Sommers, former prom queen dies and returns from limbo in order to turn Lisa into the most popular student.

* ''Film/{{Jawbreaker}}'', where the newly popular character is forced to abandon the in-crowd because she cannot bring herself to cover up a murder for them.

* Interestingly inverted in ''Franchise/HarryPotter'' fanfic ''Fanfic/IfThemsTheRules'' the [[FanNickname Golden Trio]] were the super exclusive group of popular kids, not that they ever realized that.

* ''WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagic':

* Suzanne Sugarbaker on ''Series/DesigningWomen'' is desperate to join the Beaumont Driving Club but they refuse. Rhey want Julia but she refuses because it's restricted. Later Anthony is invited to join but the women learn it's because they can't be a spot on the PGA Tour if they remain restricted. [[GenreSavvy Anthony already knows]] and plans to use his position on the inside to further change the system.

* Happened in ''I Was A Teenage {{Faust}}''. The main character becomes one of the cool kids but quickly realizes how boring they are.