History Main / ViewersAreGoldFish

[[RuleOfThree By the way, this trope exists because executives think]] [[ViewersAreMorons viewers are stupid]]. [[RunningGag They also think you have the]] [[DidNotDoTheResearch memory of a goldfish which lasts about three seconds]].

* [=HeadOn=], apply directly to the forehead. [=HeadOn=], apply directly to the forehead. [=HeadOn=], apply directly to the forehead.

* Star control 2 averts this and demonstrates why it exists. Fortunately, most of the background exposition can be reviewed. Unfortunately, some very vital information can't be, including homeworld coordinates and the location of the final boss. You are advised to take notes.

** Also in the case where a storyline and/or character is quickly chucked out and it's expected that people will simply not remember it or will be nice enough to overlook it. [[FanDumb The IWC]] frequently does neither.

* Disaronno has a series of how-to commercials to show viewers how to mix drinks... except the drink's instructions are in its name (i.e. Disaronno on the rocks, Disaronno with cranberry juice). Good thing Disaronno taught us how to mix liquids.

[[quoteright:350:[[RedHerring http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/goldfish.gif]]]]
[[caption-width-right:350:[-Exec-o-vision view of the audience.-] ]]

*** You can turn the battle animations off to prevent the aforementioned annoyance. I had to do that eventually.

* The entirety of DoraTheExplorer. The show treats the viewers as if they have the memories of a goldfish and repeats a phrase so often that if you're older than a todder and are not allowed to change the channel for whatever reason, you'd be wishing that someone take out a gun and put you out of your misery after watching a few minutes into the show. Unless, of course, you're [[EverythingsBetterOnDrugs high on something]].

[[TheStinger This was an article about]] [[SelfDemonstratingArticle treating viewers like they have the]] [[DidNotDoTheResearch memory of a goldfish, which lasts about three seconds]].

[[caption-width-right:350:[[ThisLoserIsYou America, America, this is you.]]]]

* Parodied in a ''FamilyGuy'' flashback: after Peter rejects a free boat in favor of a MysteryBox, he responds to Lois' complaint by saying, "I've done crazier things than this. Remember that time I won a boat?" Cue flashback to Peter choosing the box over the boat.
-->[[AC:Lois:]] Peter, that '''just happened!'''

* In The Asylum's BMovie mockery ''MegaSharkVsGiantOctopus'', a title card detailing the location of the marine base where the characters are located pops up multiple times, [[WallBanger even when they haven't even left the base]]. The fact that the same shot of the soldiers is used repeatedly for these title cards does not help at all.

* It's easier to list political ads that ''don't'' rely on this trope to appeal to the masses.

* One video from TheIrateGamer set up a leaking gas pipe, and to make sure we see this he shows it again and again and again and again to make sure we know there's a leaking gas pipe.

[[caption-width-right:350:[[ThisLoserIsYou This is you.]]]]

* In The Asylum's SoBadItsHorrible BMovie mockery ''MegaSharkVsGiantOctopus'', a title card detailing the location of the marine base where the characters are located pops up multiple times, [[WallBanger even when they haven't even left the base]]. The fact that the same shot of the soldiers is used repeatedly for these title cards does not help at all.

* The new series ''Lights Out'' on FX tells you that the show is rated TV-MA (intended for mature audiences) after every commercial break before it goes back to the show. (That show is the only show on FX this troper has watched, so I don't know if any other shows there do that)