History Main / JustSmileAndNod

* On Series/Friends, there's a montage dedicated to moments where Joey does this, due to not understanding the other five's conversation.

* ''WizardsOfWaverlyPlace''. Alex can't understand the locals, but uses a spell to create a literal caption floating in the air that translates for her. The locals talk about how she's a strange girl and maybe if they just smile and nod she'll go away.

* Played very sadly in ''[[Creator/CharlieChaplin Chaplin]]'': Charlie has just gotten news that [[spoiler:Hetty Kelly, the first girl he ever loved,]] died several years previously, and reels from the news, trying not to break down in tears. Moments later, his train pulls into the station and a huge crowd of fans is waiting on the platform. A friend asks "What do we do, Charlie?" and he replies simply "Smile," referring to the famous song to which he wrote the music. He then gets off the train and greets them all as if nothing's wrong.

* ''ThePenguinsOfMadagascar'': One of Skipper's catchphrases. "Just smile and wave, boys," along with, "Cute and cuddly, boys, cute and cuddly." Also used in the first movie.

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You've run into someone who's [[CloudCuckooLander insane]],''[[AxCrazy really]]'' insane, or just far more intelligent than you. If nothing else, you're not going to listen because you can't or [[SelectiveObliviousness won't]] understand what's happening. But you can't stop them, either for reasons of etiquette and decorum, or simply because you [[MotorMouth can't get a word in edgewise]].

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* Referenced in "Have You Ever?" by Music/RhettAndLink:
-->Have you ever not heard what someone said\\
So you asked them to repeat it again\\
But then the second time, you understood it even less\\
So you just smiled and nodded your head?

* Used as a joke in the ''MysteryScienceTheater3000'' episode ''HorrorOfPartyBeach'', in reference to an OnlySaneMan black maid:

* In one episode of {{Sharpe}} the titular hero ends up at dinner with Mad King George (the third, to be precise), who starts telling the tale of one of Sharpe's earlier adventures to his guests. One of the other gentlemen present kindly explains the situation:

* Penny on the BigBangTheory does this when the science jargon goes over head (which is all the time).

You've run into someone who's [[CloudCuckooLander insane]]. Or ''[[AxCrazy really]]'' insane. Or perhaps just far more intelligent than you. If nothing else, you're not going to listen because you can't or [[SelectiveObliviousness won't]] understand what's happening. But you can't stop them, either for reasons of etiquette and decorum, or simply because you [[MotorMouth can't get a word in edgewise]].

* Also brought up in ''TheFreshPrinceOfBelAir'', when Will and Carlton are about to have a meeting with some record company executives:

* In {{Numb3rs}}, The FBI gang do this when Charlie explain some very complicated math theories.

* This is a general reaction to Hannelore from ''QuestionableContent'' as shown [[http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=596 here.]]

* ''Literature/{{Discworld}}'': This is the Arch-chancellor's stock reaction when Ponder Stibbons tries to explain anything to him. At least, when he's not [[SidetrackedByTheAnalogy confused by the metaphors]].

* ''Literature/{{Discworld}}'': This is the Arch-chancellor's stock reaction when Ponder Stibbons tries to explain anything to him. At least, when he's not confused by the metaphors.

* ''[[YugiohGX Yu-Gi-Oh GX]]''. Dimitri, a [[MonsterOfTheWeek Duelist of the Week]] whose shtick is copying the decks and strategies of other players, is apparently convinced he's Yugi Muto when he steals Yugi's original deck and challenges Jaden with it.

StockPhrase. Compare StepfordSmiler.

* Played very sadly in ''[[CharlieChaplin Chaplin]]'': Charlie has just gotten news that [[spoiler:Hetty Kelly, the first girl he ever loved,]] died several years previously, and reels from the news, trying not to break down in tears. Moments later, his train pulls into the station and a huge crowd of fans is waiting on the platform. A friend asks "What do we do, Charlie?" and he replies simply "Smile," referring to the famous song to which he wrote the music. He then gets off the train and greets them all as if nothing's wrong.

StockPhrase. Related to PoliteLie, compare StepfordSmiler.

* ''{{Discworld}}'': This is the Arch-chancellor's stock reaction when Ponder Stibbons tries to explain anything to him. At least, when he's not confused by the metaphors.

* In {{Numb3rs}}, The FBI gang do this when Charlie explain some very complicated math theories.

StockPhrase. Related to [[http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/discussion.php?id=dhmxxj5sbr9c2od9hv2nx1h1 polite lie]], compare StepfordSmiler.

* In the first ''Sonny'' game, when Sonny and Veradux meet up with the paladin who's trying to take down Baron Brixius, the paladin mistakes them for two members of the three-soldier team meant to back him up (Sonny and Veradux killed them on the way to the paladin's location).
-->'''Veradux''': Just shut up and nod, Sonny.

* ''[[YugiohGX Yu-Gi-Oh GX]]''. Dimitri is convinced he's Yugi Muto.

-->'''Syrus Truesdale:''' Battle City? This guy's gone batty!
-->'''Chumley Huffington:''' Just smile and nod Sy, smile and nod.

-->'''Mike (as Eulabelle):''' Just smile at the stupid white people...

* Brought up in ''DoctorWho'' on how to respond to the Doctor explaining something that makes no sense to...[[LastOfHisKind anyone else]]. Specifically in "Blink", Martha notes you should just nod when he takes a breath.

* ''ThePenguinsOfMadagascar'': "Just smile and wave, boys."