Line #43 Main/DinnerWithTheBoss


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5	[[quoteright:350:[[WesternAnimation/TheSimpsons https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/dinnerskinner_9.png]]]]
6	[[caption-width-right:350: "Ah, Superintendent Chalmers! Welcome! I hope you're prepared for an [[MemeticMutation unforgettable]] luncheon."]]
7
8	A standard {{sitcom}} plot in which the (AlwaysMale) boss of the main character comes to their home for dinner. Naturally, they'll panic when they learn of it and nervously prepare throughout the episode. Expect [[HilarityEnsues hilarity to ensue]] when the boss finally comes, if there is GeorgeJetsonJobSecurity and the boss is malicious enough to fire someone just because a dinner occasion went awry.
9
10	This is a very common trope in {{sitcom}}s, particularly animated ones. It's something of a DiscreditedTrope, though, perhaps due to the fact that it has become increasingly rare in RealLife. After all, having a meeting at a good restaurant is now often more practical.
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12	----
13	!!Examples:
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15	[[foldercontrol]]
16
17	[[folder:Anime & Manga]]
18	* Inverted in ''Anime/{{K}}: Countdown'', a manga that takes place between the movie and season 2, where Munakata invites Awashima and Fushimi to his family's home for dinner. It's ''very'' awkward, but in the end, the two of them come to understand him better and bridge that gap.
19	[[/folder]]
20
21	[[folder:Comic Books]]
22	* ''ComicBook/MonicasGang'': Maggy's Dad's boss once had dinner with her family and she was told to control herself. [[BigEater Easier said than done]]. [[spoiler:Maggy's Dad was afraid he'd be punished but instead his boss gave him a raise so he'd be able to support her]].
23	* The "Dead-End Kids" arc of ''ComicBook/{{Runaways}}'' opens with the team having dinner with ComicBook/TheKingpin, who's hired them to steal something on behalf of a third party.
24	[[/folder]]
25
26	[[folder:Comic Strips]]
27	* Occasionally happens in ''ComicStrip/Blondie1930''.
28	* In ''ComicStrip/{{Dilbert}}'', Dilbert was once randomly chosen to have lunch with one of his company's executives. Dilbert took the opportunity to [[BrutalHonesty criticize the executive]] after the executive asked him to be honest (though he was really just fishing for compliments). He angrily started a FoodFight by flinging au gratin potatoes at Dilbert. Dilbert countered with an ear of corn in his hand [[spoiler:unintentionally killing the guy when the corn knocked him out and he drowned in his soup.]]
29	[[/folder]]
30
31	[[folder:Fan Works]]
32	* ''Fanfic/CalvinAndHobbesTheSeries'' mentions one of these, but it's never actually shown.
33	* A friendlier variation in ''Fanfic/TheParselmouthOfGryffindor'', where Minister Fudge invites Hermione to the Fudges' Christmas dinner.
34	[[/folder]]
35
36	[[folder:Films -- Live-Action]]
37	* The film version of ''Film/ADogsPurpose'' has one of these be spoiled when Bailey (a dog) eats the prize coin of the dad's collection, a rare golden eagle, which he naturally boasts of to his boss and wishes to show off. Ethan gets Bailey to poop out the coin and returns just as they're about to open the case, so he distracts the adults by pretending to see a rat which Bailey tries to chase leading to a series of pratfalls and the boss and his wife storming out in disgust.
38	* ''Literature/LePetitNicolas'' turns the below-mentioned dinner party from the one chapter in the books into a major plot point.
39	[[/folder]]
40
41	[[folder:Literature]]
42	* The Creator/JudyBlume novel ''Literature/TalesOfAFourthGradeNothing'' has this, only rather than the boss, it's a client at an advertising agency. The defiant kid brother, Fudge, causes trouble when the client visits, and it's implied that the agency lost the account because of this. The connection is made more direct in the TV adaptation, ''Superfudge''.
43	* In ''Literature/HarryPotterAndTheChamberOfSecrets'', Mr. Dursley's potential client and his wife come over to discuss a promotion over dinner. When Harry retires to his bedroom, Dobby the house elf appears and begs Harry not to return to Hogwarts. When he refuses, Dobby levitates Aunt Petunia's pudding and drops it, then disappears, making it seem like Harry did it.
44	* ''Literature/JacobTwoTwoMeetsTheHoodedFang'': When Jacob asks why a little girl is in prison, he is told that her crime was that she broke out in measles on the day her father had invited the boss to dinner.
45	* Happens in a chapter of ''Literature/LePetitNicolas''. Nicholas's dad is constantly trying to impress his boss, and the boss and his wife coming over for dinner is probably the best opportunity to do that even though it's also extremely risky. Mom and Dad bring out all the fancy China, make sure the house is spotless, prepare a really fancy dinner and even hire a maid for the night (they're trying to make it look like they've always had the maid). They also try to convince Nicholas to have his dinner early and go to bed before the guests arrive so he wouldn't mess things up. Let's just say things would have gone a lot more smoothly if they had stood their ground on that last part.
46	* The Creator/PaulJennings short story "Licked" (which became the basis for part of the ''Series/RoundTheTwist'' episode "Little Black Balls") has this as its plotline. This time around, our narrator is the son, who is going out of his way to disgust everybody.
47	* Trudy Baker and Rachel Jones' ''The Coffee, Tea or Me Girls Lay It on the Line''[[note]]Actually a fictional work by Donald Bain.[[/note]] mentions a woman who decided to spice up her marriage by greeting her husband at the door while naked - only to discover that he'd brought his boss home for dinner without telling her. When she awkwardly claimed that she and her husband were practicing nudists, the boss stated that he was as well, started stripping and encouraged her husband to do the same.
48	[[/folder]]
49
50	[[folder:Live-Action TV]]
51	* ''Radio/OurMissBrooks'': Miss Brooks' principal, Mr. Conklin, ends up coming to dinner from time-to-time. A notable incident was the "Thanksgiving Show", where Mrs. Davis, Miss Brooks, Walter Denton, Osgood Conklin, Martha Conklin and Harriet Conklin dine on a tiny squab for their thanksgiving dinner (and a lot of side dishes, including an enormous amount of canned salmon).
52	* ''Series/HeilHoneyImHome'', the infamous sitcom which had UsefulNotes/AdolfHitler and Eve Braun as the main characters (seriously) used a similar set up in its opening episode. The person coming to dinner was Neville Chamberlain rather than a boss, but it's treated exactly the same way.
53	* Happens twice in ''Series/HappyEndings'', both with Jane's boss, the Car Czar. The first time, she invites him and her other male coworkers over to try and win them over, the second time, Brad foolishly invites the Car Czar over to dinner even though Jane has planned a double date for them with Penny and a new guy. The first time, it goes fairly well, the second time...not so much.
54	* Often happens in ''Series/ThreesCompany''.
55	* Happens a few times on ''Series/{{Bewitched}}''. Usually involved both Larry Tate (with or without Louise) ''and'' an important client (with a severe expression) and his flighty wife. Samantha's go-to was fancy coq au vin. Cue magical wackiness.
56	* Happens on ''Series/FamilyMatters'' when Harriet's boss Nick is invited to play poker with Carl and his friends.
57	** Actually happens several other times throughout the series. Most straightforwardly, when Carl throws a dinner party for his boss, which is thwarted when Urkel's exploding pepper is accidentally used on the roast chicken.
58	* Inverted on ''Series/{{Friends}}'' - Chandler's boss has him and Monica over to ''his'' home for dinner.
59	* ''Series/MyFamily'' imported Susan's clueless American boss - who stayed the night and then [[spoiler:died in the Harper couple's bed]].
60	* Done of course on ''Series/{{Dinosaurs}}'':
61	** In 'Power Erupts', WESAYSO exec, Earl's boss Mr. Richfield invites the Sinclaire family to dinner at a fancy restaurant in order to convince Robbie to sell his volcano-powered generator designs...after WESAYSO has discredited the idea with some mass-media mudslinging.
62	** When Earl was made employee of the month, Mr. Richfield said he'd invite Earl and his family to dinner at his place but, since he was doing some alterations in the bathroom (or so he said), he invited himself to diner at Earl's place. With an overinflated ego, Earl had his family ready for this and even invited his [[ObnoxiousInLaws mother-in-law]] to rub it in her face. Richfield didn't show up.
63	* Happened on ''Series/HiHoneyImHome'', Nick-at-Nite's short-lived sitcom that parodied classic shows and tropes. The boss turns out to be Mr. Mooney from ''Series/TheLucyShow'', played by Gale Gordon.
64	* ''Series/GetSmart'' had some fun with this, as it aired during the height of the Women's Lib movement and all:
65	-->'''99:''' Max, did you say The Chief? You invited your boss for dinner tonight?!\
66	'''Max:''' What do you mean, ''my'' boss? He's ''your'' boss, too.
67	* ''Series/WandaVision'' plays this trope straight in its [[Recap/WandaVisionEpisode1FilmedBeforeALiveStudioAudience first episode]] (which emulates the look and feel of [[TheFifties 1950s]] sitcoms), with a OneDialogueTwoConversations set-up. Naturally, given the series, the dinner includes both wacky hijinx and SurrealHorror, but in the end, Vision's boss is impressed enough to talk promotion... for [[ObliquelyObfuscatedOccupation whatever it is that Vision does]] at Computational Services.
68	* ''Series/TerryAndJune'': In "It's A Knockout", Terry is having his boss over for dinner in a bid to get a job at his firm's new Brussels Department. However, his nephew is having Japanese businessmen over to purchase some bunny costumes that he had bought, which is problematic due to Terry's boss not liking the Japanese very much (in fact, the whole reason for the Brussels Department were to usurp them from their dominance in fire extinguisher sales). HilarityEnsues when the two plots combine and Terry ends up stuck in a bunny costume and having to hide it from his boss.
69	[[/folder]]
70
71	[[folder:Podcasts]]
72	* The ''Podcast/TheThrillingAdventureHour'' episode "Quick! Change!" has Jib Janeen stressing over dinner with his boss in a parody of ''Series/FullHouse'' with Jib Janeen, his three kiddos, cool uncle Johnny, and charismatic pal Jeffy. The twist is that Jib Janeen is from Jupiter, and Jovians are natural shapeshifters and spies. In order to be considered for a plum spying account the Janeens are instructed to have the kids impersonate the parents and parents the kids while shapeshifted with red and white stripes.
73	[[/folder]]
74
75	[[folder:Theatre]]
76	* The plot of Alan Ayckburn's ''Theatre/HowTheOtherHalfLoves'' centers on two dinner visits by the same employee to his boss and his co-worker on subsequent evenings -- acted out simultaneously on stage.
77	* Not technically "the boss" as much as "coworkers", but the premise is generally the same: the song "The Room Where It Happens" in ''Theatre/{{Hamilton}}'' focuses around a dinner meeting between Hamilton, Jefferson, and Madison, where Hamilton traded the location of the US capitol (Washington, DC over New York) for more financial power. One line even has Jefferson claim "I arranged the venue, the menu, the seating" (although it's unlikely that in real life, Jefferson himself would have done this).
78	[[/folder]]
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80	[[folder:Web Original]]
81	* The decidedly non-creepy LostEpisode {{Creepypasta}} [[http://geosheas-lost-episodes.wikia.com/wiki/Grim%27s_Boss "Grim's Boss"]] centers around an unaired episode of ''WesternAnimation/TheGrimAdventuresOfBillyAndMandy'' wherein Grim's boss, {{Satan}} (though he prefers to go by [[LouCypher Lou]]), shows up for dinner and informs Grim that he's looking for an apprentice. At the end, he picks [[EnfanteTerrible Mandy]] as his apprentice as he has seen no soul more evil...but Mandy has other plans and the episode ends with Mandy enslaving both Satan and Grim and basically becoming the queen of Hell.
82	* Part of the [[WesternAnimation/TheSimpsons “Steamed Hams”]] [[MemeticMutation meme]] (See page image and on the {{Western Animation}} folder down below) is that there are countless times that people re-made the original scene, but added some sort of twist to make the video unique. Examples include, but are not limited to, [[https://youtu.be/a8R3qHKS-dk “Steamed Hams but There’s a Different Animator every 13 Seconds,”]] [[https://youtu.be/aRsOBFhNjVM “Steamed Hams ]] [[Music/{{Gorillaz}} Inc,”]] [[https://youtu.be/rKReixb2eok “Steamed Hams but it’s edited by]][[Creator/FourKidsEntertainment 4Kids”,]] [[https://youtu.be/xw-jSymE76o “Steamed Hams but it’s]] [[VideoGame/Left4Dead Coach and Nick,”]] [[https://youtu.be/ICuuB5iqhRs “Steamed]] [[VideoGame/HotelMario Hotels.”]] [[https://youtu.be/bL7YBy_WukQ “Steamed Hams but it’s]] [[Film/PulpFiction Pulp Fiction,”]], and [[https://youtu.be/WKHahGY_5Qk many,]] [[https://youtu.be/1BgQcxeE-EY many,]] [[https://youtu.be/ZDkqJuUYBaw many]] more.
83	[[/folder]]
84
85	[[folder:Western Animation]]
86	* ''WesternAnimation/TheSimpsons'':
87	** Mr. Burns does this in "[[Recap/TheSimpsonsS2E4TwoCarsInEveryGarageAndThreeEyesOnEveryFish Two Cars in Every Garage and Three Eyes on Every Fish]]" as part of his political campaign.
88	** Also [[ParodiedTrope parodied]] in "[[Recap/TheSimpsonsS8E24TheSimpsonsSpinoffShowcase The Simpsons Spinoff Showcase]]", where the family consists of beavers and the boss is a skunk (played by Tim Conway).
89	** In "[[Recap/TheSimpsonsS7E2122ShortFilmsAboutSpringfield 22 Short Films About Springfield]]", there's a segment about Principal Skinner having Superintendent Chalmers over for dinner. Except Skinner's roast catches fire and [[FawltyTowersPlot he comes up with one]] {{Blatant Lie\|s}} after another -- from claiming the smoke is "steam from the steamed clams we're having" to passing off Krusty Burgers as "steamed hams"[[note]]"It's a regional dialect!"[[/note]] to saying that the fire in his kitchen is the aurora borealis[[note]]"At this time of year, at this time of day, in this part of the country, ''localized entirely within your kitchen?!''"[[/note]] -- to avoid disappointing Chalmers.
90	** In "[[Recap/TheSimpsonsS11E22BehindTheLaughter Behind the Laughter]]", this was the plot of the pilot Homer shot. Bart played the boss.
91	** "[[Recap/TheSimpsonsS6E20TwoDozenAndOneGreyhounds Two Dozen and One Greyhounds]]" has variant where Marge and Homer have a important dinner party with Reverend Lovejoy, Homer's old Army drill sergeant and the regional director of the IRS.
92	* Mr. Spacely does this in the pilot episode of ''WesternAnimation/TheJetsons''.
93	* ''WesternAnimation/FamilyGuy'':
94	** Peter invites Mr. Weed, the owner of the toy company he works at, over for dinner. Weed chokes on a dinner roll (catapulted from Brian's mouth after Brian chokes & Peter gives him the Heimlich maneuver) and dies.
95	** In "PTV," an [[ShowWithinAShow in-universe sitcom created by Brian and Stewie]] has Brian confront Stewie after the latter eats a roast pheasant the former was cooking.
96	--->'''Brian:''' You ate it? But I told you my boss was coming here for dinner!\
97	'''Stewie:''' Well, unless he likes pork rinds, he's going home hungry. [''canned laughter'']
98	* ''WesternAnimation/AmericanDad'': Deputy Director Bullock goes to dinner at Stan's house or stays over on several occasions. President Bush even goes over for dinner one time due to Stan winning an essay after the agent that won plagarizing some of his essay.
99	* ''WesternAnimation/RockosModernLife'': Done in the episode "Dirty Dog", but not with any of the main characters. Instead, it played out with the parasites living on Spunky, whose lives spoofed old sitcoms.
100	* Mr. Slate does this a few times on ''WesternAnimation/TheFlintstones''.
101	* Done in the ''WesternAnimation/{{Rugrats}}'' episode "Dummi Bear Dinner Disaster," where Randy Carmicheal's boss comes over for dinner. The kids try to sabotage things when Susie becomes convinced that her dad will get a promotion and they'll have to move again if the dinner goes too well.
102	%%* Pops up in ''WesternAnimation/MayaAndMiguel''.
103	* ''WesternAnimation/KimPossible'': In "[[Recap/KimPossibleS2E25SickDayTheTruthHurts The Truth Hurts]]", Kim's father has the board of directors of his lab over for dinner in one episode... right after Kim is hit by a [[TruthSerum Truth Ray]] that causes her to blurt out all the unflattering things her dad says about them (one has [[DodgyToupee a bad hairpiece]], one is a [[TheBore crashing bore]], and one is [[InsufferableGenius an annoying know-it-all]]). Kim's dad is clearly in hot water with his bosses, until the board ''chairwoman'' arrives and turns out to be the KidnappedScientist Kim had rescued at the beginning of the episode. The three suck-up when the chairwoman praises the Possible family.
104	* ''The Beary Family'': The final cartoon in the series featured Charlie Beary inviting his boss over for dinner. It ends with the boss firing Charlie after numerous mishaps.
105	* ''WesternAnimation/OKKOLetsBeHeroes'': "We're Captured!" features a variant, in that Lord Boxman has captured K.O., Enid, and Rad, but is distracted from threatening his captives because he's having one of his clients, Professor Venomous, over for dinner.
106	* Done in ''WesternAnimation/HeyArnold'' when Mr. Hyunh's new boss comes over for dinner after mistakenly believing Mr. Hyunh has his own family. Arnold and the rest of the boarders decide to pretend their Mr. Hyunh's family to impress his boss enough to give Mr. Hyunh a promotion at work.
107	* The ''WesternAnimation/CodenameKidsNextDoor'' episode "Operation: C.L.U.E.S." involves Numbuh Two's mom hosting a dinner party to impress Numbuh Three's mother, whom she works for. The plot quickly turns into a murder-mystery involving a Rainbow Monkey plush toy.
108	[[/folder]]
109	----
110	''[[BrickJoke "Well Seymour, you are an odd fellow. But I must say, you steam a good ham!"]][[note]]"Help! Help!"[[/note]]''

Context Main / DinnerWithTheBoss