History Main / LightswitchSurprise

* ''{{SpongeBob SquarePants}}'' had an amusing example: Patrick came home from a party to a waiting [=SpongeBob=].

* ''WhiteCollar'' does it with [[spoiler:TheReveal]].
* ''{{Psych}}'' also had an episode with this.
* ''MadMen'', naturally. Always played for drama.

* In ''{{Seinfeld}}'', in the episode "The Bizarro Jerry", Kramer returns home to Jerry's apartment after a day at "work", when he turns on the light and finds Jerry sitting in the dark. Jerry is sitting at the table and they argue about Kramer being late.

This is followed by an [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JMHTCQ-FUBgfeature=related absolutely hilarious conversation during the credits]] as Kid's father monologues punctuated by cracks of the belt and Kid's cries of pain.

* In ''HouseParty'', Kid has returned from the eponymous party, sneaking into the house through the window. He's just taken off his pants and is crawling into bed. Cue the voice of his father in the doorway.

* ''ThePowerpuffGirls'' has Harold walking in with his wife there waiting, unknowingly to him, with wonderful news, and another with Sedusa (one where she's on the giving end on the girls, and one where the roles are eversed).

* ''KingOfTheHill''
* ''FamilyGuy''
* ''TheBoondocks'', with Granddad and another one of his insane girlfriends.

* ''TheSimpsons'' [[TheSimpsonsDidIt has done it]].
* In ''TheSimpsons'' episode "Brother from the Same Planet", Bart comes home from spending time with his "bigger brother" Tom. He opens the door to find Homer sitting on the stairs in the shadows. Homer confronts him about where he was.

* ''ThePowerpuffGirls'' has Harold walking in with his wife there waiting, unknowingly to him, with wonderful news, and another with Sedusa.

* Played for absolute drama in ''Peeps''. She uses the darkness to test his reflexes, proving her suspiscions he's a Peep.

* On the show "Titus", Christopher Titus describes a surprise party they threw for his uncle. When he walks in the door and the lights go on and people start yelling, he draws a revolver and starts shooting, injuring at least one guest. He then realizes what's happening and says "You guys."

After a long night with the guys, Bob comes home at 3 a.m., and walks into the room. He reaches for the light switch, until he hears a familiar voice saying nearby, "Hello Bob." It is his wife, Alice. Bob gets a good reprimand.

This is followed by an [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hrARXmbnIZY&feature=related absolutely hilarious conversation during the credits]] as Kid's father monologues punctuated by cracks of the belt and Kid's cries of pain.

After a long night with the guys, Bob comes home at 3 a.m., and walks into the room. He reaches for the light switch, until he hears a familiar voice saying nearby, "Hello Bob." It is his wife, Alice. Bob gets a good reprimand.

See also MatchlightDangerRevelation.

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[[AC:{{Literature}}]]

[[AC:{{Live-Action TV}}]]

[[AC:{{Music}}]]

* Happens in the music video for "Love of My Life" by Erykah Badu: she comes home late (and presumably drunk, given the way the music is "screwed" and the scene is blurry) with her date (actually Li'l Flip), to find her mother waiting on the couch and asking where she's been.

[[AC:{{Newspaper Comics}}]]

[[AC:{{Web Original}}]]

[[AC:{{Western Animation}}]]

* A recurring sketch on BlackComedy ''MonkeyDust'': A sad looking man arrived home late at night to find his wife waiting up for him. He explains his lateness with an elaborate, detailed and dubious story. Skeptical wife asks him what he's really been doing. Man confesses to something disturbingly degrading. Funnier than it sounds.

[[AC: Real Life]]

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* ''TheSimpsons'' has done it.

* The short ''Switch'' is built around this trope. A young man is dropped into a small darkened room and all he can find with the switch for a unseen overhead light. Whenever he turns on the light, the room [[BoringButPractical might be empty]]... or there might be a huge monster growling at him. Or there might be a mass of tentacles there. Or [[MsFanservice a pretty girl in a bikini]]. Or...''[[MindScrew eyes.]]''. [[spoiler: The empty room is boring and the pretty girl keeps turning the light off, if you're wondering why he doesn't stay on one of those two.]]

* A recurring sketch on DeadBabyComedy ''MonkeyDust'': A sad looking man arrived home late at night to find his wife waiting up for him. He explains his lateness with an elaborate, detailed and dubious story. Skeptical wife asks him what he's really been doing. Man confesses to something disturbingly degrading. Funnier than it sounds.

* ''TheIncredibles''

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* The Fredric Brown short story "Nightmare in Yellow": The main character is coming home from work on his birthday and decides to start a new life, starting with killing his wife. He does so on the front porch when she comes out to greet him, then steps inside propping up her body, turns on the light and... [[spoiler:all the birthday guests shout, "SURPRISE!"]]

* The ''FredricBrown'' short story "Nightmare in Yellow": The main character is coming home from work on his birthday and decides to start a new life, starting with killing his wife. He does so on the front porch when she comes out to greet him, then steps inside propping up her body, turns on the light and... [[spoiler:all the birthday guests shout, "SURPRISE!"]]

* ''ThePowerpuffGirls'' has Harold walking in with his wife there waiting, unknowingly to him, with wonderful news, and another with Sedusa.
* ''TheIncredibles''
* ''KingOfTheHill''
* ''FamilyGuy''
* ''TheBoondocks'', with Granddad and another one of his insane girlfriends.
* ''{{SpongeBob SquarePants}}'' had an amusing example: Patrick came home from a party to a waiting [=SpongeBob=].
* ''TheSimpsons'' has done it.

* ''WhiteCollar'' does it with [[spoiler:TheReveal]].
* The ''FredricBrown'' short story "Nightmare in Yellow" (or White ?): The main character is coming home from work on his birthday and decides to start a new life, starting with killing his wife. He does so on the front porch when she comes out to greet him, then steps inside propping up her body, turns on the light and... [[spoiler:all the birthday guests shout, "SURPRISE!"]]
* ''{{Psych}}'' also had an episode with this.
* A recurring sketch on DeadbabyComedy ''MonkeyDust'': A sad looking man arrived home late at night to find his wife waiting up for him. He explains his lateness with an elaborate, detailed and dubious story. Skeptical wife asks him what he's really been doing. Man confesses to something disturbingly degrading. Funnier than it sounds.
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