History Main / WastefulWishing

-->'''Colin Mochrie:''' "Two cokes and some chips."

-->'''Colin Mochrie:''' Two cokes and some chips.

--> --''{{Whose Line Is It Anyway}}?''

--->'''Homer''': Well ''that'' was a big bust. ''[to Apu]]'' [[CrowningMomentOfFunny Is he]] ''[[CrowningMomentOfFunny really]]'' [[CrowningMomentOfFunny the head of the Kwik-E-Mart?]]

--->'''Homer''': Well ''that'' was a big bust. ''[to Apu]]'' [[CrowningMomentOfFunny Is he]9 ''[[CrowningMomentOfFunny really]]'' [[CrowningMomentOfFunny the head of the Kwik-E-Mart?]]

** Also a variation on the episode where Homer and Apu visit the Kwik-E-Mart home office. The pair are given three questions to ask and Homer accidentally uses up all three to ask if the guy they're visiting is ''really'' the owner of Kwik-E-Mart.

* In an episode of ''SabrinaTheTeenageWitch'' Sabrina's diminutive StalkerWithACrush Roland gets [[WhyDoYouKeepChangingJobs a new job]] as a leprechaun. Sabrina then grabs him and asks if she gets a pot of gold. Instead, he gives her three "Wish Coupons". Sabrina immediately uses the first one to make Roland go away, Salem convinces her to use the second to allow him to become human again for a week and she ends up carelessly saying "I wish Roland was here to help" when things go badly.

* In ''TheXFiles'' episode "Je Souhaite", Mulder encounters a genie who was originally a medieval French peasant who encountered another genie and made her take his place after her third wish of "great power and a long life". Her first two wishes were a stout mule and a magic bag full of turnips. After noticing that Mulder clearly thinks this was an utter waste, the woman once again points out she was a ''medieval French peasant''.

A comedy trope where, quite simply, a character is given an opportunity to MakeAWish or [[ThreeWishes three]], and completely wastes them on something stupid and/or frivolous. [[{{Ptitlevob3pbu3}} Sandwiches seem to be a particular favorite.]]

A comedy trope where, quite simply, a character is given an opportunity to MakeAWish or [[ThreeWishes three]], and completely wastes them on something stupid and/or frivilous. [[{{Ptitlevob3pbu3}} Sandwiches seem to be a particular favorite.]]

* One of the ''TheSimpsons'' Treehouse of Terror episodes had Homer obtain a monkey's paw and use the last, potentially world-saving wish on a turkey sandwich, which he claims cannot [[BeCarefulWhatYouWishFor backfire on them or produce any weird surprises]]. The turkey was dry.

* In an episode of ''SabrinaTheTeenageWitch'' Sabrina's diminutive StalkerWithACrush Roland gets [[WhyDoYouKeepChangingJob a new job]] as a leprechaun. Sabrina then grabs him and asks if she gets a pot of gold. Instead, he gives her three "Wish Coupons". Sabrina immediately uses the first one to make Roland go away, Salem convinces her to use the second to allow him to become human again for a week and she ends up carelessly saying "I wish Roland was here to help" when things go badly.

* In an episode of ''SabrinaTheTeenageWish'' Sabrina's diminutive StalkerWithACrush Roland gets [[WhyDoYouKeepChangingJob a new job]] as a leprechaun. Sabrina then grabs him and asks if she gets a pot of gold. Instead, he gives her three "Wish Coupons". Sabrina immediately uses the first one to make Roland go away, Salem convinces her to use the second to allow him to become human again for a week and she ends up carelessly saying "I wish Roland was here to help" when things go badly.

* One of the ''TheSimpsons'' Treehouse of Terror episodes had Homer obtain a monkey's paw and use the last, potentially world-saving wish on a turkey sandwich, which he claims cannot [[BeCarefulWhatYouWishFor backfire on them or produce any weird surprises]].

* One of the ''TheSimpsons'' Treehouse of Terror episodes had Homer obtain a monkey's paw and use the last, potentially world-saving wish on a turkey sandwich.
** Also a variation on the episode where Homer and Apu visit the Kwik-E-Mart home office. The pair are given three questions to ask and Homer uses up all three to ask if the guy they're visiting is ''really'' the owner of Kwik-E-Mart.

[[AC:Film]]

* When various villains from DC were offered anything for their souls by the demon Neron, TheJoker wished for a cigar. It's up for debate as to whether this was wasted or not, as there is no doubt that Joker was going to hell anyway, and he makes it clear its a good cigar.

* When various villains from DC were offered anything for their souls by the demon Neron, TheJoker wished for a cigar. It's up for debate as to whether this was wasted or not, as there is no doubt that Joker is going to hell, and he makes it clear its a good cigar.

Examples:

* A ''FrumpyTheClown'' comic had the eponymous sarcastic clown and a kid encounter a wizard who claimed he could give them whatever would "make [their lives] complete." Frumpy immediately wishes for the first {{ABBA}} album on vinyl and a watermelon. While the kid complains that he could have wished bigger, [[GenreSavvy Frumpy quips that he doesn't trust midgets with wands.]]

** Also a variation on the episode where Homer and Apu visit the Kwik-E-Mart home office. The pair are given three questions to ask and Homer uses up all three to ask if the guy they're speaking to is ''really'' the owner of Kwik-E-Mart.

* In the animated ''{{Disney/Aladdin}}'' series, Eden actually ''refuses'' to grant her master's first wish for a sandwich (fortunately, lacking the words "I wish" in front of it) and instead talks her into wishing never to go hungry again.
** An accidental example occurs in ''Aladdin and the King of Thieves.'' The thieves try to steal a staff. Iago flies over to the staff and wonders aloud why they'd be looking for it. An oracle appears, revealing that the holder of the staff will get the answer to any one question they ask. Iago prepares to ask his question... only for the oracle to reveal that he already got his one when he asked why the thieves wanted the staff.
* In a sketch from ''RobotChicken'', Oprah promises to fulfill everyone's dream and asks a member of her audience, "What can Oprah do for you?" The man is surprised, and asks for a pastrami sandwich. She tells him to look under his chair, and lo and behold, he finds a sandwich. She then tells everyone else to check under their chairs, and they all pull out boxes containing keys to brand new cars. The man who got a sandwich is disappointed.
* In a ''SesameStreet'' Christmas special, Elmo gets a magic snowglobe from Santa Claus. He uses the first wish to get a drink of water.