History Main / ObsessedAreTheListMakers

Some people take their listmaking [[SeriousBusiness just a little too seriously]]. They may [[ClockKing plan every tiny part of the day on a list]], right down to the things most people won't even bother with because they're just that obvious, such as "go to sleep". Or they may start to see completing the list as a goal in itself, have already completed all of the tasks except one, and spend extenuating effort trying to complete that last one. This tendency is obviously TruthInTelevision for many.

The lists they make, likely involve at least one trope of the IndexOfLists.

* In ''WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagic'', one of Twilight Sparkle's habits is obsessive making of lists. Depending on the episode, this can be played as anything from her being {{Adorkable}} to having SuperOCD.

* Bowler Hat Guy in ''Disney/MeetTheRobinsons'' loves checklists and is often seen ticking off items in his, such as "Steal time machine", "Ruin science fair", and "Get that [[[SymbolSwearing comic book swearing symbols]]] boy". [[spoiler:This leads to a rather tragic moment after his EvilPlan leads the world to be [[BadFuture taken over by evil bowler hats]] in one alternate future. After fixing it, Lewis find his checklist and he has crossed out all of the EvilPlan items and added a new one: "?" It shows that he literally ''had no life'' apart from his petty desire for revenge on Cornelius Robinson for a minor childhood event.]]

* Amanda in ''WesternAnimation/MiloMurphysLaw'' is like this, until one episode where she decides to loosen up for a change. The change was most likely due her learning to live with Milo's [[{{CoincidenceMagnet}} unusually]] [[{{DoomMagnet}} bad luck]].

* The obsessive Monica from ''Series/{{Friends}}''. For example, when her husband Chandler asks her to help him find a new career, she fills in a huge binder with many, many options and possibilities. They're ordered alphabetically, and he loves the first one (advertising) so much that he doesn't want to see the rest. When Monica is appointed Pheobe's wedding planner, she acquires a radio headset and starts treating the wedding plan like a ''battle'' plan, complete with codenames and military time. She also has Chandler "scheduled for nudity at 2300 hours".

* ''FanFic/CodeWings30'' has Cassidy make ''119'' to escape The School with her friends. The problem is that she finds different flaws with each one.

So you've got things you want to do. Whether it's the laundry, the dishes, or your latest EvilPlan to [[TakeOverTheWorld dominate the universe]], you have to keep track of them all. A checklist is a nice, handy, quick way... most of the time.

* When the obsessive Monica is appointed Pheobe's wedding planner in ''Series/{{Friends}}'' she acquires a radio headset and starts treating the wedding plan like a ''battle'' plan, complete with codenames and military time. She also has Chandler "scheduled for nudity at 2300 hours".

[[quoteright:350: [[Series/GilmoreGirls https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/Paris_Gilmore_Girls_Obssessed_are_the_Listmakers_smaller_4194.jpg]]]]

-->--Twilight Sparkle ''WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagic'', "[[Recap/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagicS2E20ItsAboutTime It's About Time]]"

* A sketch on ''KidsInTheHall'' has a man so obsessed with completing the items on his list that it doesn't faze him when he is taken hostage by bank robbers. He just adds it to the list.

** In "It's About Time", Twilight starts panicking when she realizes that she scheduled her next month so thoroughly she left no room to schedule the month after that. By the end of the episode, she learns not to worry so much about the future and just deal with them when it comes.

--->'''Lewis:''' "Watch the rest of [[XenaWarriorPrincess Xena]] season three"? Why's that on there?

->The problem is I just finished planning my schedule for the month, but I forgot to leave time to plan for next month! Don't you see? There's no time in my schedule to put together another schedule!

->'''Twilight:''' The problem is I just finished planning my schedule for the month, but I forgot to leave time to plan for next month! Don't you see? There's no time in my schedule to put together another schedule!
-->--''WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagic'', "[[Recap/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagicS2E20ItsAboutTime It's About Time]]"

* ''WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagic'':

** In "It's About Time", Twilight starts panicking when she realises that she scheduled her next month so thoroughly she left no room to schedule the month after that. By the end of the episode, she learns not to worry so much about the future and just deal with them when it comes.