History Main / TheStateroomSketch

A character has just moved into a small room the size of a closet. For added hilarity, it may even ''be'' an actual closet. This person barely has room to stand up in, so what's the first thing that happens? He gets visitors. Lots and lots of visitors.

Originally done by the MarxBrothers in ''ANightAtTheOpera'': Groucho boards a ship and finds he has been booked into a stateroom so tiny that it barely holds him and his luggage. Inside his luggage, however, he finds stowaways Harpo, Chico and the movie's romantic hero. [[HilarityEnsues Then in come the maid, the electrician, some waiters with food]], a girl looking for her aunt... It often climaxes with one last person (preferably the comic foil, as per Margaret Dumont) opening the door and everyone tumbles out.

All other versions of this gag are most likely an homage to the original, which was developed by Creator/BusterKeaton who reworked a similar sequence from his film, ''Film/TheCameraman''.

* ''ANightAtTheOpera'', of course.

* Done in ''BrainDonors'' with Volare's dressing room. Appropriate, given that the movie is a remake of ''ANightAtTheOpera''.

* Done in ''Animaniacs,'' in "Hercule Yakko". Dot name-drops "Night At the Opera".

* Set up and subverted early on in ''{{Futurama}}''. Fry initially stays in Bender's tiny, closet-like apartment (since robots don't need a lot of personal space)... until he finds out that the apartment's "closet" is actually a full-sized apartment.

* Set up and subverted early on in ''{{Futurama}}''. Fry initially stays in Bender's tiny, closet-like apartment (since robots don't need a lot of personal space)... until he finds out that his "closet" is actually a full-sized apartment.

All other versions of this gag are most likely an homage to the original, which was developed by Creator/BusterKeaton who reworked a similar sequence from his film, ''TheCameraman''.

* Done with a train compartment in ''GirlGenius,'' [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20140326 starting here]], and continuing over the next two months of comics.

All other versions of this gag are most likely an homage to the original, which was developed by BusterKeaton who reworked a similar sequence from his film, ''TheCameraman''.

* ''{{Series/MASH}}'' did this in one episode when everyone had to cram into a two-man tent to conserve heat. Alan Alda's Groucho Marx impression shows up, of course, to quote the original's line "Hello, room service? Send up a larger room!"

* In ''CurseOfTheWolfgirl'' fashion designer Thrix is preparing for a date and is visited by almost [[LoadsAndLoadsOfCharacters every non-villain character]].

* ''Series/MASH'' did this in one episode when everyone had to cram into a two-man tent to conserve heat. Alan Alda's Groucho Marx impression shows up, of course, to quote the original's line "Hello, room service? Send up a larger room!"

* In an episode of ''FlightOfTheConchords'', Jemaine moves into a new apartment, which is really just an empty cleaning supply closet. The first thing he does is invite over everyone he knows for a housewarming party, which naturally spills out into the hallway.

Originally done by the MarxBrothers in ''ANightAtTheOpera'': Groucho boards a ship and finds he has been booked into a stateroom so tiny that it barely holds him and his luggage. Inside his luggage, however, he finds stowaways Harpo, Chico and the movie's leading man. [[HilarityEnsues Then in come the maid, the electrician, some waiters with food]], a girl looking for her aunt... It often climaxes with one last person (preferably the comic foil, as per Margaret Dumont) opening the door and everyone tumbles out.

[[quoteright:350:[[BrainDonors http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/Crowded-dressing-room_6058.png]]]]
[[caption-width-right:350:Just your typical dressing room.]]

Originally done by the MarxBrothers in ''ANightAtTheOpera'': Groucho boards a ship and finds he has been booked into a stateroom so tiny that it barely holds him and his luggage. Inside his luggage, however, he finds stowaways Harpo, Chico and the movie's leading man. [[HilarityEnsues Then in come the maid, the electrician, some waiters with food]], a girl looking for her aunt... It often climaxes with one last person opening the door and everyone tumbles out.

* ''StarTrekDeepSpaceNine'': a confirmed homage in "The Circle", though it's in Kira's quarters rather than a closet and it's pretty much friends barging in intending to wish farewell privately. All done in one take, though the final cut has reaction shots cut in.

[[caption-width-right:350:"Premiere in five minutes!"]]

Originally done by the MarxBrothers in ''ANightAtTheOpera'': Groucho boards a ship and finds he has been booked into a stateroom so tiny that it barely holds him and his luggage. Inside his luggage, however, he finds stowaways Harpo, Chico and the movie's leading man. [[HilarityEnsues Then in come the maid, the electrician, some waiters with food]], [[BeyondTheImpossible a girl looking for her aunt...]] It often climaxes with one last person opening the door and everyone tumbles out.

* ''ANightAtTheOpera'', of course
* ''TheSuiteLifeOfZackAndCody'' - Actual Closet variant, completes the homage by having their mother open the door so that everyone tumbles out.
* ''{{Seinfeld}}'' - Elaine [[ItMakesSenseInContext moves into a janitor's closet so she can order food]], and Jerry and the gang drop by.
* Done in ''YesMinister'' with a really small rail carriage and an endless series of visitors, one of whom is very fat.
* In ''CurseOfTheWolfgirl'' fashion designer Thrix is preparing for a date and is visited by almost [[LoadsAndLoadsOfCharacters every non-villain character]].

* ''StarTrekDeepSpaceNine'': a confirmed homage in "The Circle", though it's in Kira's quarters rather than a closet and it's pretty much friends barging in intending to wish farewell privately. All done in one take, though the final cut has reaction shots cut in.

Originally done by the MarxBrothers in ''ANightAtTheOpera'': Groucho boards a ship and finds he has been booked into a stateroom so tiny that it barely holds him and his luggage. Inside his luggage, however, he finds stowaways Harpo, Chico and the movie's leading man. [[HilarityEnsues Then in come the maid, the electrician, some waiters with food]], [[BeyondTheImpossible a girl looking for her aunt...]]

All other versions of this gag are most likely an homage to the original, which was developed by BusterKeaton who was working as a staff writer.

All other versions of this gag are most likely an homage to the original.

A character has just moved into a small room the size of a closet. For added hilarity, it may even *be* an actual closet. This person barely has room to stand up in, so what's the first thing that happens? He gets visitors. Lots and lots of visitors.

A character has just moved into a small room the size of a closet. For added hilarity, it may even *be* an actual closet. This person barely has room to stand up in, so what's the first thing that happens? They get visitors. Lots and lots of visitors.

Originally done by the MarxBrothers in ANightAtTheOpera: Groucho boards a ship and finds he has been booked into a stateroom so tiny that it barely holds him and his luggage. Inside his luggage, however, he finds stow-aways Harpo, Chico, and the movie's leading man. [[HilarityEnsues Then in come the maid, the electrician, some waiters with food,]] [[BeyondTheImpossible a girl looking for her aunt...]]