History Main / PassedOverPromotion

* ''RockosModernLife'' does this sadistically to Ed Bighead: His boss invites him alone in his office, and tells him ''personally'' that a higher position just opened, before adding that it's not for him. [[ButtMonkey Twice in the same episode.]]

* Happens many, many times in ''{{Dilbert}}''. In one example, the PointyHairedBoss was looking for someone to promote, but, since Dilbert and Alice were too valuable in their current positions, he gave it to a moron who (literally) didn't know what day of the week it was.

* ''[[SeventeenAgain 17 Again]]'' had this at the beginning of the movie.

* In an episode of ''{{Stargate SG-1}}'', a human CorruptCorporateExecutive on Hebridan has been passed over for promotion several times, causing him to turn it into a planet-wide conspiracy theory of the Serrakin oppressing humans. Turns out, the real reason is that his bosses found out that he was embezzling and were building a case.

* During his formative years in ''StartOfDarkness'', a young Xykon from ''OrderOfTheStick'' got passed over for a position as one of two CoDragons (and BastardUnderstudy) during his days of minioning for an EvilOverlord. The Overlord noted that the candidates who actually did get the job did so because they did not "show the strategic ability of a rabid wombat".

* The original ''{{CSI}}'' had this with the promotion-to-supervisor storyline. Catherine was the one eventually promoted, but Nick had some unhappiness that he didn't get it; money problems forced his promotion to be shelved.

* In the ''Series/StarTrekTheNextGeneration'' episode "Tapestry", Q shows Picard an alternate reality where he never got into an Academy-days fight with three surly Nausicans that [[spoiler:quickly gave him a knife through the heart, and a replacement mechanical one]]. In that alternate timeline, Picard made it only to Lieutenant Junior Grade, regularly passed over by his superiors because they felt he showed no evidence of drive and ambition, never took risks to do what he felt was right. And, in this world where he never faced death like that, and later on always played it safe... they were right.
* In the U.S. version of ''TheOffice'', this happens to Dwight when Jim gets promoted. Dwight spent the next dozen or so episodes plotting to get Jim fired.
* In an episode of ''{{Stargate SG-1}}'', a human CorruptCorporateExecutive on Hebridan has been passed over for promotion several times, causing him to turn it into a planet-wide conspiracy theory of the Serrakin oppressing humans. Turns out, the real reason is that his bosses found out that he was embezzling and were building a case.

* ''DoctorStrange'': Baron Mordo was passed over for "Sorcerer Supreme" by the Ancient One in favor of relative newcomer Strange.
** Depends on the version. In the original comics version Mordo was planning to betray The Ancient One all along and Strange arrived in time to prevent it, so he ended up in the position.

* The original ''{{CSI}}'' had this with the promotion-to-supervisor storyline-Catherine was the one eventually promoted, but Nick had some unhappiness that he didn't get it-money problems forced his promotion to be shelved.

* In the ''StarTrekTheNextGeneration'' episode "Tapestry", Q shows Picard an alternate reality where he never got into an Academy-days fight with three surly Nausicans that [[spoiler:quickly gave him a knife through the heart, and a replacement mechanical one]]. In that alternate timeline, Picard made it only to Lieutenant Junior Grade, regularly passed over by his superiors because they felt he showed no evidence of drive and ambition, never took risks to do what he felt was right. And, in this world where he never faced death like that, and later on always played it safe... they were right.

* In London's Burning Sub Officer Hallam applies for a promotion to station officer but is turned down; resulting in him coming under the command of the younger and less experienced Nick Georgiadis. On top of this his wife, believing his career to be at a dead end, begins to pressure him to find another career.
* A recurring story line in early {{MASH}} episodes had Father Mulcahy being passed over for promotion, multiple times. He finally did get promoted in a later season episode.

* OlderThanSteam: This is one of Iago's motivations (or excuses) in ''{{Othello}}''. Othello passes him (ten or so years' professional soldiering) over for a promotion to lieutenant, instead promoting the (younger, book- rather than field-experienced) Cassio over his head. Iago being Iago, he reacts by single-handedly engineering Cassio's removal, then driving Othello to murder followed by suicide.

** The trope does happen in ''WesternAnimation/TheSimpsons''. In one episode, Homer is describing his assistant to his wife. Later in the episode, she asks about the guy again and Homer says, "You mean my supervisor?" as the assistant was presumably promoted to Homer's equal, then to his supervisor.

* An episode of ''{{CSI}}'' had this as a murderer's motive; he thought his boss was sending his (younger, less experienced) colleague to various business seminars (the colleague was [[spoiler: really using fake seminars set up by a company that was providing alibis for his affair]]) which led to a confrontation with the boss (who had no idea what was going on) and the murder.

* ''GetSmart'' (the 2008 movie): Max's application to become a field agent is denied because he was too good at collecting intelligence.

* This is one of Iago's motivations (or excuses) in ''{{Othello}}'', making this one OlderThanSteam. Othello passes him (ten or so years' professional soldiering) over for a promotion to lieutenant, instead promoting the (younger, book- rather than field-experienced) Cassio over his head. Iago being Iago, he reacts by single-handedly engineering Cassio's removal, then driving Othello to murder followed by suicide.

* ''ArrestedDevelopment'': In the pilot, Michael Bluth is convinced he's going to become the head of the Bluth Company - so convinced that he doesn't even think something might be wrong when his father says the new CEO is "the sexiest creature he's ever laid eyes on".

* In ''OrderOfTheStick'' "StartOfDarkness", Xykon got passed over for a position as one of two CoDragons (and BastardUnderstudy) during his days of minioning for an EvilOverlord. The Overlord noted that the candidates who actually did get the job did so because they did not "show the strategic ability of a rabid wombat".

* In London's Burning Sub Officer Hallam applies for a promotion to station officer but is turned down resulting in him coming under the command of the younger and less experienced Nick Georgiadis. On top of this his wife, believing his career to be at a dead end, begins to pressure him to find another career.

* ''PrepAndLanding'': Wayne is passed over for the job as Director of the Naughty List despite everyone's expectations.

* ''[SeventeenAgain 17 Again]]'' had this at the beginning of the movie.

* ''SpongebobSquarepants TheMovie'': The position of manager of the Krusty Krab 2 goes to Squidward, not Spongebob.
* This is one of Iago's motivations (or excuses) in ''{{Othello}}'', making this one OlderThanSteam. Othello passes him (ten or so years' professional soldiering) over for a promotion to lieutenant, instead promoting the (younger, book- rather than field-experienced) Cassio over his head. Iago being Iago, he reacts by single-handedly engineering Cassio's removal, then driving Othello to murder followed by suicide.
* ''[=~17 Again~=]'' had this at the beginning of the movie.
* ''DoctorStrange'': Baron Mordo was passed over for "Sorcerer Supreme" by the Ancient One in favor of relative newcomer Strange.
** Depends on the version. In the original comics version Mordo was planning to betray The Ancient One all along and Strange arrived in time to prevent it, so he ended up in the position.

* In the book and {{BBC}} TV series ''HouseOfCards'', Francis Urquhart turns to evil when he is passed over for promotion.
* In the ''{{Champions}}'' RPG, this was the breaking point for Dr. Photon, a member of the villain group V.O.I.C.E. She was passed over for promotion at her lab for a less qualified male colleague, assumed it was because of sexism, snapped and became a super villain. (In reality, it was because all her co-workers hated her and would have quit if she became the manager.)
* Happens many, many times in ''{{Dilbert}}''. In one example, the PointyHairedBoss was looking for someone to promote, but, since Dilbert and Alice were too valuable in their current positions, he gave it to a moron who (literally) didn't know what day of the week it was.
** This is Scott Adams' way of showing how ThePeterPrinciple works: the incompetent [[KickedUpstairs get promoted]] over the heads of the competent, because all in all, ''management'' is where they do the least damage.

* Not exactly a promotion, but involving much the same dynamic, is the episode of ''TheSimpsons'' where Homer becomes determined to do something remarkable after being passed over for Worker of the Week yet again; it begins with Homer certain he'll get the award this time, because literally everyone else in the company has had their turn -- and then the award is given to ''an inanimate object'' instead.
** The trope does happen in the Simpsons. In one episode, Homer is describing his assistant to his wife. Later in the episode, she asks about the guy again and Homer says, "You mean my supervisor?" as the assistant was presumably promoted to Homer's equal, then to his supervisor.
* ''RockosModernLife'' does this sadistically to Ed Bighead: His boss invites him alone in his office, and tells him ''personally'' that a higher position just opened, before adding that it's not for him. [[ButtMonkey Twice in the same episode.]]
* In SoBadItsGood film ''TheRoom'', Lisa starts cheating on Johnny after he fails to get promoted. Though in his defense, [[{{Narm}} the computer industry is very competitive]].

* This is one of [[XanatosSpeedChess Iago]]'s several possible reasons for wanting revenge on ''{{Othello}}'', who had instead seen fit to promote his friend Cassio to be his lieutenant. [[OlderThanSteam Which, of course, makes this...]]

For some reason, Bob does not get the promotion. It could be because the boss simply thought Bob wasn't ready or that someone was more qualified. It could simply be a case of office politics. Perhaps Bob was just too good in his current position to be moved out of it.

* ''SeventeenAgain'' had this at the beginning of the movie.

* This is one of Iago's motivations (or excuses) in ''{{Othello}}'', making this one OlderThanSteam. Othello passes him (ten or so years' professional soldiering) over for a promotion to lieutenant, instead promoting the (younger, book- rather than field-experienced) Cassio over his head. Iago being Iago, he reacts by single-handedly engineering Cassio's removal, then driving Othello to murder followed by suicide. SoYeah.

* ''ArrestedDevelopment'': in the pilot, Michael Bluth is convinced he's going to become the head of the Bluth Company - so convinced that he doesn't even think something might be wrong when his father says the new CEO is "the sexiest creature he's ever laid eyes on".