History Main / TriviallyObvious

* [[https://twitter.com/Jackapedia_/status/1631106301286547456 This]] parody edit by Creator/JackGrimes depicting the back of a {{cyberpunk}} novel includes a quote from someone named Gibson[[note]]presumably Creator/WilliamGibson, but it's covered up in such a way that it could also be "Liam Gibson"[[/note]] declaring:

* On ''Series/NightCourt'', the cast believe sleazy prosecutor Dan Fielding is dead, and Harry is called on to deliver the eulogy. The best he can come up with is "Dan was a mammal." In another episode, Harry tells a highly sophisticated AI to find reasons to save the life of its suicidal inventor (it makes as much sense in context as Night Court ever does), and it proposes "You are an efficient converter of oxygen to carbon dioxide."

Commonly used in the service of SelfDeprecation. Compare ShapedLikeItself and OverlyNarrowSuperlative. See IBelieveThatYouBelieveIt. When someone gives this answer in response to a serious question, it's a

* From Ken Begg's review of ''Film/TheSwarm''.

* In ''Literature/DirkGentlysHolisticDetectiveAgency'', the narration describes [=WayForward=] Technologies, which isn't the real life Creator/WayForwardTechnologies, as being the only British software company that can be mentioned in the same sentence as American companies like Microsoft or [[TechMarchesOn Lotus]]. It then goes on to note that the sentence would probably start something like "[=WayForward=] Technologies, unlike such major U.S. companies as Microsoft or Lotus..."

* In ''Franchise/ThePinkPanther'' series, Chief Inspector Dreyfus (Herbert Lom) is called on to make a speech praising Inspector Clouseau (Peter Sellers). With everything neutral (there was no one else like him) he says, he bursts out laughing, while others believe he has lost control of his emotions and is crying. Once at the funeral of the supposedly dead Clouseau, and once when programming the computer which will find the missing Clouseau.
* In ''Film/DinnerForSchmucks'', Paul Rudd's character comments on an artist's paintings with "Really tremendous work. They're so big, and [[ShrineToSelf you're in all of them]]."

* On ''That 80's Show'', Corey gets coerced into writing an eulogy for "Silverpants", a fellow clubgoer whom nobody actually knew beyond his very superficial party lifestyle. (He was mostly known for his pants.) What little he finds out isn't flattering (such as how the guy liked to feel up waitresses and then pass the blame on someone else), but his not-girlfriend Tuesday manages to spin it into something vaguely nice-sounding. ("He touched people.")

* In ''Literature/DirkGentlysHolisticDetectiveAgency'', the narration describes [=WayForward=] Technologies as being the only British software company that can be mentioned in the same sentence as American companies like Microsoft or [[TechMarchesOn Lotus]]. It then goes on to note that the sentence would probably start something like "[=WayForward=] Technologies, unlike such major U.S. companies as Microsoft or Lotus..."

* ''Series/WhoseLineIsItAnyway:'' The fictional albums in the "Greatest Hits" game are often advertised by Colin and Ryan with the line "Every song a hit, every hit a song!".
* Rimmer's emotional farewell speech in the ''Series/RedDwarf'' episode "[[Recap/RedDwarfSeasonVHoloship Holoship]]" ends: "I just want to say that over the years, I have come to regard you as people I... met."
* Played with in one episode of ''Series/{{MASH}}'':
-->'''Winchester:''' Hunnicutt, I've known many people in my life. You are not among them.

* [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MusyO7J2inM This sketch]] from ''Series/ThatMitchellAndWebbLook'' uses such statements for comic effect.
-->"Then on Sunday, live! The battle for the [[ArtisticLicenseGeography northwest, as Shrewsbury meet Macclesfield]] in a match already being described as 'on this Sunday'!"
* In the ''Series/{{Firefly}}'' episode "Jaynestown", Jayne starts giving a speech praising the mudders, but isn't sure where to go with it:
--> '''Jayne:''' The way I figure it, you mudders got the shortest end of the stick ever offered to man. But you took that stick and... well, you took it, and that's something.

* {{Lampshade|Hanging}}d on ''Series/ParksAndRecreation'' when Leslie's mother Marlene won an award and Ron had to make a speech.
-->''(ConfessionCam shot)''\\
'''Ron''': I refuse to lather Marlene up, kiss her ring like everybody else. Instead, I'll be delivering a speech of facts.\\
''(cut to Ron behind the podium)''\\
'''Ron''': Marlene is a woman. She has worked in the government for three decades. Thirty years. Properly applied, that's how long a good varnish should last. So Marlene... it is true that you have won this award.
* In ''Series/GoodLuckCharlie'', Bob says that the grandpa has great qualities. When he is asked to name one, he just says that he expels Carbon Dioxide, plants need it.
* In an episode of ''Series/CompleteSavages'', Nick reassures his sons: he has always wanted his five kids, smart, cute, cool, athletic and, er... and Kyle!

* ''Series/TheITCrowd'': The reviews for ''Gay!: A Gay Musical'':
--> "The audience applauded. More than tolerable. Not as long as some musicals."
* A slightly darker usage in ''Series/BuffyTheVampireSlayer'' in which the gang are investigating a girl who's been turned invisible by the Hellmouth after being ''treated'' as invisible. They read her yearbook which is filled with the phrase: "have a good summer", the thing you write when you have absolutely nothing to write. Buffy points out that even Willow contributed.
-->'''Willow:''' Have a ''great'' summer. See, I cared.
** While Xander gets hit with a traditional style version in an episode centering entirely on his own irrelevance.
--->'''Cordelia:''' Boy, of all the humiliations you've had I've witnessed, that was the latest.
* In ''Series/MysteryScienceTheater3000'''s presentation of ''Film/HorrorsOfSpiderIsland'', one host segment reveals Crow as to having a newspaper column that reports on such things as "Shoelaces are handy, even necessary, for many of today's shoe styles" and "television shows aired last night".
* On ''Series/{{Cheers}}'', Sam's friend, sportscaster Dave Richards, stops by the bar, and Norm excitedly asks him to repeat his closing remark from his report the night before. Dave says, "Oh, I said, uh, 'Good night, and remember: the world is full of winners and losers. Here's hoping you're one of them.'" Norm, a little deflated, says, "Well, I guess I did hear it right."
* On ''That 80's Show'', Corey gets coerced into writing an eulogy for "Silverpants", a fellow clubgoer whom nobody actually knew beyond his very superficial party lifestyle. (He was mostly known for his pants.) What little he finds out isn't flattering (such as how the guy liked to feel up waitresses and then pass the blame on someone else), but his not-girlfriend Tuesday manages to spin it into something vaguely nice-sounding. ("He touched people.")
* On ''Series/NightCourt'', the cast believe sleazy prosecutor Dan Fielding is dead, and Harry is called on to deliver the eulogy. The best he can come up with is "Dan was a mammal." In another episode, Harry tells a highly sophisticated AI to find reasons to save the life of its suicidal inventor (it makes as much sense in context as Night Court ever does), and it proposes "You are an efficient converter of oxygen to carbon dioxide."
* On one episode of ''[[Series/RobotWars Robot Wars: Extreme Warriors]],'' host Wrestling/MickFoley took a gentle dig at the Dragbot team after they were beaten by Brawler: "Guys, I've seen a lot of matches here at Robot Wars but yours was the most recent."
* For a time, ''Series/AttackOfTheShow'' ran promos of this sort, with generic blurbs from industry publications. "TV Guide raves: 'It's a [...] show.' See the show that Entertainment Weekly called 'on at 7 (6 central)'!"
* ''Series/JaneTheVirgin'': During Petra's baby shower, Jane can't find anything nice to say when she's called for a toast (since Petra hates insincere speeches), so she instead just says "She's...having two babies!"
* ''Series/MrShow'': The commercial for ''Coupon: The Movie'' includes a [[VoxPops vox pop]] review, "It was a movie!"
* ''Series/KimsConvenience'': Janet and Gerald have just moved to their new place. As part of their house-warming gifts, Mr. Kim gives his daughter a photo of him and Mrs. Kim... and gives Gerald ([[PapaWolf whom he's slightly suspicious of, as he is a boy and will be Janet's only housemate]]) a photo of just him [[DeathGlare glaring at the camera]]. Gerald attempts to compliment it and says, "Cool. This is something I have now."
* ''Series/TheGoodPlace'': In Season 3 where [[spoiler:the humans have rebooted again, only this time on Earth so they can properly earn their way to the Good Place]], Trevor (who's infiltrated the group and plans to wreak havoc) suggests having him, Eleanor, Tahani and Jason live together as housemates. Eleanor, who's clearly uncomfortable with both Trevor and the idea, says, "That is ''technically'' an idea."
* In ''Series/{{Seinfeld}},'' after Elaine's boss J. Peterman of the J. Peterman Company returns from a long absence and resumes the role he had temporarily given to Elaine, he congratulates Elaine "on a job ''done."''
* In ''Series/SchittsCreek'', BrainlessBeauty Alexis says she recorded a song for her "critically reviewed" reality show.

* In ''LightNovel/TheFamiliarOfZero'', the principal of the magic academy lays down some praise for [[{{Tsundere}} Louise]], Kirche, and Tabitha after they capture Fouquet. He praises [[KillItWithFire Kirche]] and [[AnIcePerson Tabitha]] on their magic abilities. [[IneptMage Louise]] receives praise for coming from a noble family that has created very capable mages. Combine that with the fact that every mage at the academy comes from a noble family of mages, it's kind of obvious that she does.

* It's a popular meme on sites like Website/{{Tumblr}} to do this, for example: one of the animals of all time/one of the most animals of all time. This meme has much more widespread with [[Memes/Morbius2022 "Morbius is one of the movies of all time."]]

[[folder: Audio Drama]]

** During the pitch for ''Film/MortalKombatAnnihilation'' (an ImmediateSequel to ''Film/MortalKombattheMovie''), the Producer tells the Screenwriter that they had a "great response" to the first movie.

* ''Series/TheITCrowd'': The reviews for ''Gay! : A Gay Musical'':

Of all the ComedyTropes out there, this... is one of them.

* It's a popular meme on sites like Website/{{Tumblr}} to do this, for example: one of the animals of all time/one of the most animals of all time.

* ''WesternAnimation/TheSimpsons'': In "Kiss Kiss, Bang Bangalore", when Comic Book Guy interviews Creator/RichardDeanAnderson, he says that, out of the four "Star" franchises (''[[Franchise/StarWars Wars]]'', ''[[Franchise/StarTrek Trek]]'', ''[[Franchise/StargateVerse -gate]]'', and ''Search''), ''Stargate'' is his ''third'' favorite, which leads Anderson to say "I get that a lot.".

* In ''Webcomic/{{Homestuck}}'', [[http://www.mspaintadventures.com/?s=6&p=004956 Jade is chatting online with Tavros]], who claims that if he believes in something hard enough that makes it partially more true. Jade replies:

* In a ''WebVideo/{{Jimquisition}}'' episode lampooning the concept of "objective reviews", Jim Sterling proceeds to review ''VideoGameFinalFantasyXIII'' in this manner.

-->Part I was an artistic achievement like few others, Part II proved that sometimes sequels can surpass the original and there is a Part III.

-->Facebook is a wonderful and useful thing. OK, well, maybe it's just a wonderful thing. Well, it's certainly a ''thing''; you have to give us that.

%%* In the third Franchise/RatchetAndClank game, Ratchet does this in his eulogy to [[spoiler:Captain Qwark]].

[[folder:Web Comics]]

** During the pitch for ''Film/MortalKombatAnnihilation'' (an ImmediateSequel to ''Film/MortalKombat''), the Producer tells the Screenwriter that they had a "great response" to the first movie.