History Main / TheTapeKnewYouWouldSayThat

* In Season 8 of ''WebAnimation/SonicForHire'', Eggman announces his conquest on live television, also uses the opportunity to mock Franchise/{{Sonic}} and Tails by detailing their actions and mimicking words, including that Sonic would shoot the TV.

* Invoked by Woody for the beginning of his part in [[spoiler:scaring Sid straight]], where he's controlling his voice box without use of the pull string.

'''Woody:''' Who are you callin' busted, buster?!

** Agnes Nutter leaves a box containing the second volume of her Nice and Accurate Prophecies in the care of several lawyers successively to be delivered to her descendant Anathema at the right time. The ones who are tempted to open the box to find out what's inside inevitably find an envelope with their name on it, containing a letter decrying them for not following her instructions and naming something horribly embarrassing or compromising about their life that will supposedly[[note]]it's not like she needed to plan for the outcome that they'd go against her wishes, she could just do a BarmanGambit knowing how people would react[[/note]] be revealed if they don't close the box right now.

** Agnes Nutter leaves a box containing the second volume of her Nice and Accurate Prophecies in the care of several lawyers successively to be delivered to her descendant Anathema at the right time. The ones who are tempted to open the box to find out what's inside inevitably find an envelope with their name on it, containing a letter decrying them for not following her instructions and naming something horribly embarrassing or compromising about their life that will be revealed if they don't close the box right now.

* In the ''WesternAnimation/TheNewAdventuresOfWinnieThePooh'' episode "Groundpiglet Day", after Rabbit accuses Piglet of lying about Groundhog Day when there's snow in the Hundred Acre Wood (long story), the distraught little animal leaves him a note saying he's off in search of a groundhog. A very surprised Rabbit replies, "He must be kidding", and then reads further to find Piglet also wrote, "P.S. I'm not kidding".

* ''ComicBook/{{Nemesis}}'' takes this to absolutely ludicrous degrees at the end of the comic, albeit in letter format instead of recorded videos, where [[spoiler: the main protagonist receives a letter from a mysterious individual congratulating him for defeating the titular supervillain, revealing that he is from a group of rich and bored indiviuals who get their kicks off by becoming murderous psychopaths.]] The kicker? The message was written 10 years ago and somehow managed to predict several other events that took place in the comic.

Related to TheTelevisionTalksBack. Sometimes overlaps with VideoWills. Occasionally mixed with an ApocalypticLog. Often Compare InnerMonologueConversation and RecordedSplicedConversation.

** Played with in "Dad's Dungeon"

(''and then moments later...'')\\

** Subverted in "Shh!", where Finn and Jake decide to spend a day not talking, just answering in pre-written dialogue cards. Jake's cards are well-thought-out and could pass for this. Finn's... aren't.

* The ''WesternAnimation/BatmanTheAnimatedSeries'' episode featuring the ClockKing used this trope. Fugate's tape perfectly predicted what Batman would do, down to the second. Of course, this is Fugate's gimmick:
-->'''ClockKing:''' (''on tape'') [[StockPhrases Sorry I couldn't be with you in person, Batman, but I've got a train to catch]]. This box contains a high-speed vacuum pump. I know you've got all kind of gas masks, so I'm putting you out of my misery by simply removing all the oxygen from the room. [[RaceAgainstTheClock The process will take fifteen minutes...]]\\
(''Batman takes a gadget from his belt and points it at the door'')\\
'''ClockKing:''' ...which is exactly seventeen minutes less than the time it would take you to burn through the door with that oxy-acetylene torch of yours.\\
(''Batman puts the gadget away and approaches the pump box'')\\
'''ClockKing:''' Oh, and I don't recommend trying to open the pump's housing. It's rigged with a vibration-sensitive explosive. [[YouHaveNoChanceToSurvive Of course, if you want to get blown to bits, that's fine with me. Either way, it's time to say]] ''[[GratuitousFrench adieu,]]'' Batman.

** The episode "Wingmen" has 'Mo''s video will which asks Robert Freeman to read a eulogy, even though their friendship had ended on bad terms decades ago due to one-upmanship. The request is followed by about a minute of sucking up and pleading in order to get Robert to actually do it. It also tells him to sit back down after he jumps out of his seat in anger.
*** A second tape was prepared for when Robert finally did do the eulogy. Mo also stares at him in a slightly pleading manner, waiting and timed right until he opens a case revealing his inheritance. [[spoiler: Mo then mocks Robert after he finds his inheritance is nothing but a jar full of peanuts, or "DEEZ/MY NUTS", and brags that now that he's pranked Robert from beyond the grave, Robert can never get him back]]. [[spoiler:Robert, who has learned from the episode, keeps the jar of nuts in his trophy room]].
** Also in "Stinkmeaner" where Ruckus calls Robert, and Robert lets the answering machine pick it up. "Don't you walk away from this answering machine!"

* ''WesternAnimation/DuckTales2017'': In "The Beagle Birthday Massacre" Lena does this with [[MessageInABottle messages in bottles]]:
-->'''Webby:''' ''[reading]'' "Webby. I've been kidnapped by the Beagle Boys." Wait, is this another prank? ''[she sees another message in a bottle and pulls it out to read]'' "This is not a prank. Lena."

** Peter's boss Mr. Weed leaves a VideoWill that alerts his employees that the factory is to be destroyed "right now," a second before a wrecking ball crashes through the building.

** The episode "A Clone of My Own" has Prof. Farnsworth leave a recording for after he is taken to the Near Death Star. He correctly anticipates Bender making a joke at his expense and reveals that he has taken preemptive revenge by taping over Bender's soaps to make the recording.
** In "Obsoletely Fabulous", Bender meets an outdated cartridge robot that carries a bag filled with individual cartridges for responses and conversations.

** Inverted on the episode "Marge Be Not Proud" with the Try-N-Save security chief Don Brodka (Lawrence Tierney) holding a conversation with what he -- but not the audience -- knew all along was a recording. Tierney didn't get it at all.
** In one episode Principal Skinner makes a PA announcement requesting a student volunteer, Lisa raises her hand. Skinner pauses and says, "Can I assume the only hand raised is Lisa Simpson's?" then pauses again, then says, "Thank you Lisa".
** In the episode "Gone Maggie Gone," Lisa has to [[MakesJustAsMuchSenseInContext decipher an ancient Catholic prophecy about a jewel that will bring world peace]]. She eventually realizes the final clue is an anagram that can be rearranged to say "Regally, the [[MessianicArchetype rock gem]] is Lisa," which obviously excites her. When the nuns show up, however, they act exasperated and rearrange the letters to spell out "It's really [[spoiler:Maggie]], Sherlock." Lisa {{Lampshades}} the fact that that message only works because she got it wrong the first time, but sure enough it's right.
** Subverted in "[[GratuitousSpanish El Viaje Misterioso de Nuestro Homer]]:" Homer meets his spirit guide, and later remembers his words.

* ''WesternAnimation/SpongebobSquarepants'':
** The beginning of "Bubble Buddy" features [=SpongeBob=] going to Squidward's to ask if he wanted to do something together and finding at his door a piece of paper with "NO" written on it. As [=SpongeBob=] asked if Squidward was sure, he removed the paper, only to find one with "YES" written on it.
** "Tunnel of Glove" had Patrick watching the news announcing that a ride which [=SpongeBob=] is on has broken down:

** From "Squidville"

* ''WesternAnimation/StevenUniverse'': When Steven finds Peridot's tape-recorded diary, he can't resist listening to it. But when he gets to the end, he hears a message from [[{{Seers}} Garnet]] telling him he's heard enough and to give the tape recorder back to Peridot now (recorded ''while Peridot was present'', so the last thing we hear before Steven stops the tape is a confused Peridot.)

*** In "Survivors of the Flux", the Doctor has left an "adaptive AI hologram" for Yasmin Khan [[ShipTease that she keeps playing over and over.]]

* In ''Film/{{Superman}}'', this exchange between Superman and a recording of his late father:

* In ''Literature/TheWayOfKings'', [[spoiler: Dalinar's visions turn out to be a subversion. He seems to hold a meaningful conversation with the Almighty during each. Then, after one conversation derails in a way similar to the Ubik example above, he realizes it was actually a set of pre-recorded messages and the Almighty can't see or hear him. What Dalinar mistook for an important policy advice turns out to be something entirely unrelated. Oops.]]

** In the episode "Gone Maggie Gone," Lisa has to [[MakesJustAsMuchSenseInContext decipher an ancient Catholic prophecy about a jewel that will bring world peace]]. She eventually realizes the final clue is an anagram that can be rearranged to say "Regally, the [[TheMessiah rock gem]] is Lisa," which obviously excites her. When the nuns show up, however, they act exasperated and rearrange the letters to spell out "It's really [[spoiler:Maggie]], Sherlock." Lisa {{Lampshades}} the fact that that message only works because she got it wrong the first time, but sure enough it's right.

* ''Series/{{Taskmaster}}'': Tasks are always given as pre-written letters from Alex Horne. The first part of a task in series 9, episode 4, was "Say a letter of the alphabet", and Ed Gamble responded by saying "A letter of the alphabet" out loud. Alex then pulled a ''second'' task out of his pocket, on which was written "Ha, ha, ha. You must now pick a letter of the alphabet and say that letter out loud." Ed's repsonse this time? "I bet you're really proud of yourself for that one, aren't you?"

*** An episode in season 7 has the drones and Malory hear Archer calling them for help, but Malory refuses to send anyone out as she anticipates another voicemail hoax, despite the gunfire heard. They are all shocked when they finally discover that the call was real and was still going on.

-->'''Cross''': ''(over the SBS)'' I mean, the advertisement had a lot of flowers on the map, and I'm not seeing a single one of those, let alone any sign of civilization. Which is weird, considering how jungles usually'' have ''flowers in them. Believe me, I've had enough experience to know. Still, it sounds like drumbeats are coming from deeper in the island, so here we are wandering through untamed foliage. Not the most exciting thing in the world, even for us.
-->'''Diamante''': ''(dryly)'' You don't say.\\

--> '''Sing-wan''': [written in text] Hey, I told you not to eat on our bed!\\

-->"GET YOUR HANDS OFF OF THIS, YOU THIEVING DEVILS! YES, WE KNOW IT'S YOU! PUT THEM BACK THIS INSTANT!"

-->'''Mickey:''' ''(reading)'' "My dear, vast, impatient public, dry your eyes and keep your shirts on. I'll be with you any minute now. Signed, D. Duck."
-->'''Minnie:''' Ooh! But Mickey, how could he?
-->'''John:''' Don't worry, Minnie. I guarantee that Donald Duck will positively not appear on this broadcast.
-->'''Mickey:''' ''(still reading)'' "P.S.: That's what you think!"

--> '''Cosmo''': Well, Pettibone, we can take care of them, can't we?
--> '''Pettibone''': We can?
--> '''Cosmo''': Of course we can!

--> "Right... I'm glad I'm a recording and didn't hear that."

--> "So this project Twilight Sparkle..."
--> "'''Stardust.'''"
--> "You're saying it can destroy planets?"
--> "I'm a hologram recording, but yes."

--> '''Price''': Yes, indeed; but I have made a deal with the nefarious forces of the netherworld to be able to see the future with a one-hundred-percent accuracy. You see, I knew you would question my rhyming in this review, so I recorded this message and I set it to come off at precisely this hour.
--> '''The Critic''': You mean you know exactly what I'm going to say ?
--> '''Price''': Pretty much.
--> '''The Critic''': This is crazy ! (…) And why, exactly, did you record this message ?
--> '''Price''': To satisfy your curiosity by telling you why I rhymed in that cinematographic adventure that was ''The Thief and the Cobbler''.
--> '''The Critic''': …okay, '''WHY''' ?
--> '''Price''': …I forgot ! Oh, my, I have it on the tip of the tongue… it had something to do with a brand-new veeblefetzer and a couple of banana-splits…"

--> '''Price''': Don't worry, it is programmed to come off in exactly thirty seconds. ''(the Critic tries to escape)'' Thirty, twenty-nine, twenty-eight, twenty-seven, twenty-six, skip-a-few-five-four-three-two-one-
--> '''The critic's house explodes.'''
--> '''Price''': [[CatchPhrase Ooooh, I love when I'm nasty]].

-->'''DM:''' (''reading'') "Into the caverns and down the stairs\\

-->'''DM:''' (''reading'') "Just one more crack from little fatty,\\

-->'''Little Cato:''' I'm going as far away as I can, and please...don't come after me.
-->'''Gary:''' We're going after him.
-->''(Second transmission pops up.)''
-->'''Little Cato:''' I knew you'd say that, so I recorded a ''second'' message to say: ''for REAL, do not come after me!''
-->'''Gary:''' ...We're going after him.

-->'''Wilma:''' Fred, shouldn't we be checking in? We'll miss the plane.
-->'''Fred:''' Oh, don't worry, Wilma. I know this airline. They ''never'' leave on time.
-->'''PA:''' Last call for Texarock, Flight #7, leaving on time... ''smart-aleck!''

-->'''Recording:''' Welcome to Trambience, the world's slowest treetop tram ride. Enjoy the sights at 0.1 miles per hour.
-->'''Dipper:''' Ugh, can't this thing go any faster?
-->'''Recording:''' No it can't. This is Trambience.

-->'''Speedy:''' It's that loco duck!
-->'''Daffy:''' ''(over the radio)'' You're right, rodent!

---> '''Hitch [on recording]:''' Be careful not to cross out any items on the Sparky schedule. It's important he does everything in order. Don't let him eat before sleeping, don't let him sleep before eating! Don't let him do all this unsupervised.\\

-->'''PA:''' Attention. Attention. Whiskery old man in runaway plane is about to crash. [Sounds of crash] That is all.
-->'''Popeye:''' Aw, that can't be my pappy.
-->'''PA:''' Oh yes it can!

-->'''Spirit Guide in Homer's head:''' Find your soulmate, Homer.
-->'''Homer:''' But where? Where?
-->'''Spirit Guide in Homer's head:''' I'm just your memory. I can't give you any new information.

'''Superman:''' You couldn't have... You couldn't have imagined...\\

* Taken to an extreme in ''VideoGame/AssassinsCreedII'': [[spoiler:While Ezio is talking to Minerva, she suddenly breaks off, stares right at the camera, and addresses Desmond by name. Not only did The Hologram Know You Would Say That, but The Hologram Knew Your Descendant Would Be Following You Via GeneticMemory. [[PrecisionFStrike Desmond's reaction]] is about the same as the player's.]] The third game apparently justifies it by indicating that [[spoiler:Those Who Came Before may be able to see into the future on some level.]]

* ''VideoGame/DiscworldII'' uses a similar idea with a twist. Mrs. Cake, a seer, answers Rincewind's questions before he asks them. If the player replies to an answer with a wrong question, she says something like "make up your mind, young man" and the conversation has to be started over. A gag carried over from the books, where Mrs. Cake got terrible migraines if the other person deviated from the premonition.

* ''Fanfic/TheRonlessFactor'' features a written example of this after Ron becomes a ghost, in which state he is able to interact with physical objects but cannot talk to Kim directly. After Kim is persuaded that he's real, Ron spends all night writing a few key documents with messages for Kim on her laptop, and is able to bring up a couple with immediate responses to her own comments because he knows her so well he can predict how she’ll respond to his longer statements.

--->'''Tape:''' I thought Hurst played well, sir.\\

* ''Series/PersonOfInterest'': A non-verbal version is PlayedForDrama at the end of "Risk". The protagonists have just thwarted a massive financial scam, and Detective Carter is told that the corrupt SEC investigator involved has committed suicide. Puzzled because she saw him being arrested, Carter checks CCTV footage of the arrest. It shows a police officer putting the SEC man into his squad car, turning to [[IKnowYoureWatchingMe look directly at the camera]], then leaving a mobile phone in a garbage can for her to find. When they dial the only number in the phone's memory, they're connected with a BigBad from earlier in the season.

* ''Series/ThePrisoner1967'': In the spoof episode "The Girl who was Death". this happens as part of a ''Series/MissionImpossible'' parody, where Number Six as a secret agent is being given his instructions from an LP in a record store.

'''Number Six:''' (''sarcastic'') Thank you very much.\\

* ''Series/RedDwarf'': "Fathers and Suns" has Dave make messages (then getting very drunk so he can forget he made them) in order to have a [[ContinuityNod father and son]] chat [[MyOwnGrandpa with himself]]. Each message ends with him leaving instructions for himself to do before moving onto the next one. And each one begins with him shouting at himself for not following instructions.

** Subverted in "Thor's Chariot", when it turns out the assumed message from the alien Thor is actually a real-time holographic communication.
* ''Series/StarTrekTheNextGeneration'': In "Inheritance", Data meets his "mother", Julianna, who had assisted in his construction. In a tunnel cave-in, it's discovered Julianna is really an android herself (the real Julianna died years ago and her husband uploaded her memories into an android body without her knowing it). Data discovers a chip inside Julianna that has a holographic recording of Noonien Soong, left behind to explain this. When Data identifies himself, Soong reveals he'd also secretly hoped it would be Data finding this and "created a special response program" just for him.

** "Hammer of the Gods". The Trickster leaves a DVD with the Winchesters. When they play it, it turns out to be a porn tape starring himself.

'''Trickster:''' (''{{aside glance}}'') Sam, Dean; you're probably wondering what the hell's going on.
** In "The Monster at the End of This Book" Sam and Dean find their lives are written down in a horror book series called ''Supernatural''. The author hands them an uncompleted manuscript, which Dean reads while sitting in a laundromat... about a scene involving Sam and Dean in a laundromat.

'''Dean:''' (''reading'') "Stop it!" Sam said. Guess what you do next? (''Sam turns his back on Dean'') \\

'''Sam:''' *sighs*\\
'''Dean:''' (''reading'') You just thought I was a dick.\\

'''Jiminy Cricket:''' Yeah, yeah, I know. A papa bear, a mama bear, and an itsy-bitsy baby bear.\\
'''Dinah Shore:''' ''(Chuckles)'' But it's not the one you know!

* ''Series/StarTrekTheNextGeneration'': In "Inheritance", Data meets his "mother", Julianna, who had assisted in his construction. In a tunnel cave-in, it's discovered Julianna is really an android herself (the real Julianna died years ago and her husband uploaded her memories into an android body without her knowing it.) Data discovers a chip inside Julianna that has a holographic recording of Noonien Soong, left behind to explain this. When Data identifies himself, Soong reveals he'd also secretly hoped it would be Data finding this and "created a special response program" just for him.