Line #70 Main/RetroactiveWish


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2	%%Image selected per Image Pickin' thread: https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/posts.php?discussion=1641835075059053800
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5	[[quoteright:206:[[Webcomic/TheOrderOfTheStick https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/retroactive_wish.png]]]]
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7
8	->'''Jaime:''' I just wish I could meet a cute girl who'd be okay with all the weird.\
9	'''Traci 13:''' ''[teleporting into the room]'' Are you Jaime Reyes? The Blue Beetle?\
10	'''Paco:''' ''[jaw gaping]'' Say "I wish for a Porsche" before it wears off! ''Say "I wish for a Porsche" before it wears off!''
11	-->-- ''ComicBook/BlueBeetle''
12
13	A character mentions something extremely unlikely to happen, and is surprised when it actually occurs (usually for a plot-based reason). They (or another character) then mention something else in the hope that ''that'' will occur as well. The follow-up wish is often for money, or, if the speaker is male, [[AllMenArePerverts women]].
14
15	Compare CueTheFlyingPigs and BeCarefulWhatYouWishFor, where the unexpected thing is a DeusExMachina.
16
17	Cousin Trope of KitchenSinkIncluded.
18	----
19	!!Examples
20
21	[[foldercontrol]]
22
23	[[folder:Advertising]]
24	* There is a State Farm commercial that runs like this; one of the characters sitting around wishes they had reliable insurance, and a State Farm agent occurs. They then proceed to wish for a variety of increasing luxuries such as a sandwich, a pool table, and a hot tub, which all appear. They then wish for a woman (the girl from 4b). The original had the typical version inverted: a group of girls wish for a hot guy with consecutively more exotic qualities. One of the follow-ups has a fighting couple wish for new partners, when the man and woman transform into more attractive versions of themselves. Of course, the woman berates the guy for wishing her more attractive, [[HypocriticalHumor when she did it to him first.]]
25	* In Brazil there was a series of advertisements where people commented on their chances of having "um carro como aquele" ("a car like that") and said "Só no dia de São Nunca" ("Only in St. Never's Day"). Then a man in a saint outfit falls from the sky. One of those ads had them trying to get women as well but St. Never didn't fall from the sky that time. A narrator then explained St. Never only helped with cars.
26	[[/folder]]
27
28	[[folder:Comic Books]]
29	* Happens in the ''ComicBook/BlueBeetle'', as mentioned in the page quote.
30	[[/folder]]
31
32	[[folder:Comic Strips]]
33	* The author of ''ComicStrip/ThePerishers'' confesses to playing with this trope after noticing that he invariably came into possession of things resembling things he had recently introduced into the comic. This was his entire motivation in creating the character of Fiscal Yere, an incredibly rich child. It didn't work.
34	* From a ''ComicStrip/{{Zits}}'' strip:
35	-->'''Jeremy:''' WOULD IT BE SO TERRIBLE IF SOMETHING INTERESTING ACTUALLY HAPPENED DURING THIS STUPID VACATION?!\
36	'''Hot Girl:''' ''[appears out of nowhere]'' Hi!\
37	'''Jeremy:''' And as long as you're at it, would it be so terrible if I had a million bucks, too?
38	* ''ComicStrip/{{Garfield}}'':
39	** [[https://www.gocomics.com/garfield/1998/11/04 Garfield was sick of his hiccups]] and wished they'd just disappear. After they did, Garfield claimed to be sick of Odie.
40	** [[https://www.gocomics.com/garfield/2014/03/01 Garfield demanded respect.]] When Jon showed up saying he respected him, he smacked himself saying he could have demanded a pizza.
41	** Combined with ReversePsychology, [[https://www.gocomics.com/garfield/2015/07/10 Garfield says he hopes it doesn't rain]]. [[TemptingFate When it does]], Garfield says he hopes they don't have any fudge.
42	* In a ''ComicStrip/BloomCounty'' SundayStrip, Opus, lounging in the "backstage area" for the strip's AnimatedActors, is granted several of his wishes because "anything is possible in the funnies," including a colorful but useless 200-pound green and mauve duck on his head. His next wish for "Kathleen Sullivan... in spandex... in a hot tub... filled with warm Jell-O" comes a few panels too late to be fulfilled.
43	[[/folder]]
44
45	[[folder:Fan Works]]
46	%%* ''WebVideo/VisionOfEscaflowneAbridged'' has it... Then later a callback to Lampshade.
47	* ''[[Fanfic/HardResetEakin Changing Lives]]'' has this bit when Cloud Kicker introduces [[spoiler: her [[ShapeshifterModeLock Changeling]] double]] to Lyra:
48	-->''I would give anything for something to interrupt this awkward moment.''\
49	'''Fluttershy:''' No, Mister Parrot! Come back!\
50	'''Mr. Parrot:''' Bwawk! Twilight Sparkle is a lesbian! Bwawk!\
51	''...I would give anything for a million bits to fall from the sky into my lap. ...No? That was a one time thing? Whatever, I'll take it.''
52	* ''Fanfic/ThisBites'': In the enormous whale Laboon's stomach, which is painted and lighted enough to resemble the outside:
53	-->'''Cross:''' Well, at any rate... maybe we actually ''are'' in the belly of a whale? The walls could be painted or something.\
54	'''Zoro:''' You ''can't'' be serious.\
55	'''Cross:''' ''[taking an oath-taking pose]'' May a Sea King strike me down should I lie!\
56	''[cue giant squid coming out of the water]''\
57	'''Usopp:''' AAAAGH! SEA KING!\
58	'''Cross:''' ''[panicking]'' May the Sea King be struck down should I lie!\
59	''[cue three giant harpoons promptly killing the squid]''\
60	'''Cross:''' ''[stares blankly, and then looks up]'' May a billion berries fall from the sky should I lie!\
61	''[{{beat}}]''\
62	'''Cross:''' Seriously? What omnipotent divine being worth their divine salt doesn't [[RuleOfThree do things in threes?]]\
63	'''Soundbite: RIPOFF!'''
64	** As it turns out in the later Christmas Special, that wish ''[[BrickJoke was]]'' granted. [[spoiler: [[LiteralGenie Except the billion berries landed on Johnny and Yosaku's heads]].]]
65	* ''[[https://archiveofourown.org/works/6931618/chapters/15812779#workskin Luna Lovegood and the Wizard of the Island]]'':
66	-->'''Luna:''' So -- are you ready to talk about it?\
67	'''Blaise:''' When Neville and Hermione get here.\
68	'''Hermione/Neville:''' We're here.\
69	'''Blaise:''' When someone carrying Voldemort's severed head into the room... Bugger.
70	* ''WebVideo/UltraFastPony'': "Rocks, Clocks, and Two Stupid Ponies".
71	-->'''Rainbow Dash:''' Aw dammit! I really wish my wings weren't broken right now. ''[her wings magically heal]'' Like, omigosh! My wish came true! [[ButtMonkey I really wish someone out there loved me!]] ''[{{chirping crickets}}]'' Eh. [[TwoOutOfThreeAintBad One out of two ain't bad.]]
72	* ''WebVideo/MyLittlePonyTotallyLegitRecap'': Done by Gallus in "School Raze" while on a school trip to Cloudsdale.
73	-->'''Gallus:''' Come on, Yona, it's not like you're gonna fall or anything...\
74	''[Yona falls through the clouds]''\
75	'''Gallus:''' Yeah, and it's not like Professor Dash is gonna suck me off right now or anything...\
76	''[beat as Rainbow Dash looks puzzled]''\
77	'''Gallus:''' Don't be mad, I had to try it.
78	* ''Webcomic/SVTFOEMetaverse'': A Jarco kid sullenly looks at the Blood Moon powering the Starco kids' base and wishes it would disappear. Seconds later, she watches it get stolen by the BigBad, and immediately wishes that she had a boyfriend.
79	* ''Fanfic/TheElementsOfHarmonyAndTheSaviorOfWorlds'': In the sequel ''The Conversion Bureau: United We Stand'', Danny makes two in quick succession. When Rainbow Dash mentions needing Princess Celestia and the Elements of Harmony, only for Celestia to appear across dimensions with said Elements, Danny quickly asks for Susanna Hoffs from Music/TheBangles to appear and declare her love for him. Then later, when it is mentioned that they need to get in touch with the higher-ups, a military escort arrives to get everyone up to speed, and Danny quickly asks for 5 million dollars in his bank account. Neither wish amounts to much.
80	* ''FanFic/RobbReturns'': During a conversation with Jon Arryn, Oberyn Martell expresses his desire to meet with one of the Green Men, which he has tried (and failed) to do before. When a Green Man makes his way to King's Landing to plant a weirwood...
81	-->'''Oberyn:''' I wish that I had a million dragons in coins! ''({{Beat}}, shrugs)'' Well, it was worth a try.
82	* ''[[https://www.fanfiction.net/s/10087674/2/The-Wrong-Choice-For-The-Right-Reasons The Wrong Choice For The Right Reasons]]'':
83	-->'''Harry:''' Kingsley, Dolohov has gotten away with too much...I want him.\
84	'''Kingsley:''' You will be going to search for him in anger and that is not how it is done, Harry.\
85	'''Harry:''' I don't care. I want Dolohov bound and gagged at my feet!\
86	[Dolohov appears at Harry's feet, bound and gagged, with his wand snapped]\
87	'''Ron:''' Blimey mate! Now say you want a pile of galleons to appear by my feet.
88	* ''FanFic/GreenTeaRescue''; while on patrol during her internship, Toga asks for something to happen to break up the boredom of always keeping an eye on [[RevengeBeforeReason Tenya]] just before a woman starts yelling about a pair of purse snatchers. Toga thanks the universe for this before asking for a horny, naked Izuku to show up, and is disappointed when that doesn't happen.
89	* ''Fanfic/VowOfTheKing'': When two intruders fall out of the sky after Yumichika says "a fight won't just fall out of the sky", Ikkaku says the same about a barrel of high quality sake. It doesn't happen.
90	* ''Webcomic/NaruHinaChronicles'': Mina sighs and wishes Kiba was with her so they could have lunch together. Her boyfriend then crash lands right next to her. Soon enough, she realizes what just happened and wishes for a sundae. However, Mina is disappointed when no sundae appears before deciding to heal Kiba's injuries.
91	* ''Fanfic/JusticeLeagueTheSpider'': While the Justice League is discussing recruiting more members, the Flash says that "it's not like a good choice for membership will fall out of the sky or something", only for [[ComicBook/SpiderMan Peter Parker]] to suddenly appear in midair and fall onto their meeting table. The Flash then makes a similar comment about swimsuit models and a million dollars falling out of the sky. Nothing happens.
92	-->'''The Flash:''' Oh well, I had to try it.
93	* ''Fanfic/InfinityTrainSeekerOfCrocus'': In the Palimpsest Car, Vale warns the denizens there that things are gonna get ugly, like trains flying in the sky. Cue the Third Rail zooming past the window. He then thinks that he has wishing powers and asks for a pair of gauntlets that summon dragons...and gets nothing.
94	[[/folder]]
95
96	[[folder:Films -- Animation]]
97	* From ''WesternAnimation/{{Robots}}'', after [[SourSupporter Crank]] shows no concern over the fact that Bigwell is missing, we get this:
98	-->'''Rodney:''' Crank, the idol of millions is gone, and [[ApatheticCitizens no one seems to care!]] There should be an angry mob out there!\
99	''[angry mob runs past the window]''\
100	'''Fender:''' Wow! That was great, psychic friend! Now say, "Money should be falling from the sky!" (''beat'') Say it! ''(sobbing)'' ''Say it!''
101	[[/folder]]
102
103	[[folder:Films -- Live-Action]]
104	* ''Film/{{Dogma}}'': Jay says "Guys like us don't just fall out of the fuckin' sky, you know!" When Rufus does in fact fall from the sky right in front of them, he adds, "Beautiful, naked, big-tittied women just don't fall out of the sky, you know!"
105	[[/folder]]
106
107	[[folder:Literature]]
108	* ''Literature/{{Discworld}}'':
109	** During the play near the end of ''Literature/WyrdSisters'', Hwel the playwright laments the poor special effects he's forced to use after the tin sheet used to make thunder gets bent, and shouts to the heavens that all he wanted was a decent {{dramatic thunder}}storm. As one starts up, he wonders to himself if he should have asked for a wind machine while he was at it.
110	** From ''Literature/{{Hogfather}}'' comes the closest thing to deconstructing this trope after the Hogfather's death results in a lot of unused belief coalescing into other entities:
111	--->'''Susan:''' You're calling things into being.\
112	'''The Dean:''' Things like the Give the Dean a Huge Bag of Money Goblin?
113	*** As Susan explains, the things being called are those that have been believed to exist for some time, e.g. a monster that eats socks so there's always a mismatched sock in the laundry when you're sure they were all matched going in, or a gnome that runs around showers giving people verrucas, or an oh god of hangovers (no, not god, as in "WhatDidIDoLastNight Oh God"). As the Dean has never had cause to believe huge bags of money were given to him by a goblin, it isn't going to happen.
114	** In ''Literature/TheScienceOfDiscworld II'', the wizards convince a caveman that the large snake population in his area is due to him making snake sculptures out of mud (ItMakesSenseInContext). He tests this theory by sculpting a fish, and the wizards obediently make it rain fish. His next sculpture, predictably, is a naked woman. The wizards decide not to help with this one.
115	* ''Literature/FamilySkeletonMysteries'': In the first book, Georgia asks her reporter boyfriend Fletcher about Dr. Jocasta Kirkland, and if he'd ever covered a murder. A while later, Dr. Kirkland's dead, and Fletcher's covering the story. Georgia notes the bizarre coincidence, and says that "I wish I'd asked you if you'd ever interviewed an English instructor who'd won a multimillion-dollar sweepstakes."
116	[[/folder]]
117
118	[[folder:Live-Action TV]]
119	* In the [[Creator/DisneyChannel Disney Channel]] crossover ''[[Series/WizardsOfWaverlyPlace Wizards]]'' ''[[Series/TheSuiteLifeOfZackAndCody On Deck With]]'' ''Series/HannahMontana'', Cody can't get Bailey tickets to the Hannah Montana concert in Hawaii. He desperately looks up and pleads to the heavens, "I [=WAN'T=] [=HANNAH=] [=MONTANA=] [=TICKETS=] [=TO=] [=HAWAII=]!" Suddenly, they hear an announcement to a scavenger hunt with the prize being the concert tickets. Woody then yells out, "I want a robot that makes pancakes!"
120	* ''Series/BuffyTheVampireSlayer'':
121	** The episode "Triangle":
122	--->'''Willow:''' I wish Buffy was here!\
123	'''Buffy:''' I'm here!\
124	'''Willow:''' I wish I had a million dollars!
125	** This is almost a RunningGag with Willow (It also happens in "Dead Man's Party" and "Beer Bad").
126	* In the Pilot of ''Series/{{Friends}}'', Ross says, "I just want to be married again" right before Rachel appears wearing a wedding dress. Chandler immediately jumps in, "And ''I'' just want a million dollars!"
127	* Played with in ''Series/{{House}}'', when House says that stating things doesn't make them true and, to demonstrate, shuts his eyes and declares, [[AllGuysWantCheerleaders "I am surrounded by naked cheerleaders!"]] Nothing happens, of course, and he opens his eyes again and says, "See?"
128	* In "Rising", the pilot episode of ''Series/StargateAtlantis'', Major Sheppard declares that he's been thinking how to find his kidnapped comrades on a Wraith-controlled planet. Immediately, the telepathic ship delivers him a life-signs detector. Then he says, "Now I'm thinking about a nice turkey sandwich." Nothing happens, and Lieutenant Ford remarks, "Worth a try." [[note]]Strangely enough, humans eventually receive replicator technology (the benign Franchise/StarTrek kind, not the planet-eating bugs) from a different alien race.[[/note]]
129	* From ''Series/NotGoingOut'':
130	-->'''Lee:''' Honestly, who do you know who could break a passport?\
131	''[[[TheDitz the cleaner]] walks in]''\
132	'''Lee:''' Honestly, who do you know that's a beautiful nymphomaniac rich widow?\
133	''[nothing happens]''\
134	'''Lee:''' Oh, so it's just the one wish then.
135	* Shortly after [[Series/TheDailyShow Jon Stewart]] appeared on ''Crossfire'', called the host a dick and said the show was hurting America, ''Crossfire'' got cancelled. When Jon heard the news:
136	-->'''Jon:''' I had no idea that if you wanted a show cancelled, all you had to do was say it out loud. So, uh... ''Series/AccordingToJim'' is hurting America?
137	* In the ''Series/{{Chuck}}'' episode "Chuck Versus the Gravitron":
138	-->'''Morgan:''' Chuck and Sarah are gonna walk through that door, they're gonna be as happy as could be and everything's gonna be fine.\
139	''[they do]''\
140	'''Morgan:''' I could have asked for anything! Swedish bikini team. Uh, [=DeLorean=], [[Franchise/BackToTheFuture flying DeLorean]]!
141	:: What's even better is that like two episodes later he ''gets'' a [=DeLorean=].
142	* ''Series/{{Scrubs}}'':
143	-->'''J.D.:''' ''[inner monologue]'' It was weird thinking I'd never work with Dr. Cox again...\
144	''[Dr. Cox walks in, starts working with him]''\
145	'''J.D.:''' Every time I think something, the opposite happens... I am ''so'' not getting laid this weekend.\
146	'''Hideous Patient:''' You're cute.
147	* ''Series/LostGirl'' #1x08, when Bo is at Trick's for information on the type of Fae that tried to kill her:
148	-->'''Bo:''' Sorry to keep bugging you with all these questions. It's just, there's so many different types of Fae. I wish there was some kind of book or something to keep track.\
149	''[Trick takes out a big book]''\
150	'''Bo:''' I also want a pony.
151	* Ethan from ''Series/PowerRangersDinoThunder''. In the opening two-parter, while he and the other soon-to-be Rangers are looking for Kira, he mentions that it's "not like she's just gonna fall out of the sky and land right in front of us." Kira promptly drops out of the villain's PortalNetwork and lands on the hood of their car. Ethan then waits until the ''[[BookEnds end]]'' of the season before [[BrickJoke completing the trope]] -- and it ''works''. He always was pretty GenreSavvy.
152	-->'''Ethan:''' ''[forced]'' It's not like they're gonna fall out of the sky and land right in front of us.\
153	'''Kira:''' Were you knocked on the head or something?\
154	'''Ethan:''' What? Last time I did that, it worked. ''[the missing characters appear]'' See?
155	* An episode of ''Series/EverybodyLovesRaymond'' had Debra request that Ray refer to his mother-in-law as "Mom". Once he's alone in the kitchen, Ray contemplates the suggestion by speaking the word aloud a few times, and just then [[InadvertentEntranceCue Marie walks in the back door]]. Immediately Ray declares "Series/XenaWarriorPrincess! Xena Warrior Princess!"
156	* ''Series/HannahMontana'': Robbie Ray Stewart once prayer for God that the dog next door would stop barking. As the dog stopped, Robbie Ray thanked God for that and then apologized for something he said while driving.
157	* ''Series/JimmyKimmelLive'': In the episode from January 19, 2024, Creator/JohnOliver was telling a story about how he asked a crowd of people if they knew where he could buy a Franchise/{{Pokemon}} card for his 5-year-old son, and someone in the crowd gave him their only Pokemon card. After Kimmel then had a gift basket full of Pokemon cards brought out, John Oliver decided to let everyone know that [[EncouragedRegifting his 5-year old son also wanted an Omega watch]], in the hope of receiving one (or a gift basket full of them).
158	[[/folder]]
159
160	[[folder:Puppet Shows]]
161	* ''Series/{{Dinosaurs}}'': Baby Sinclair's pacifier was taken by animals, to which he whines and screams "Want suck toy!" At that moment, his pacifier is dropped down the chimney and falls out of the fireplace. Seeing this, Earl shouts that he wants a big-screen TV and cable. As nothing happens, he says he wants a bigger fireplace.
162	[[/folder]]
163
164	[[folder:Radio]]
165	* After Mo Rocca expressed his dislike of homemade sweaters on ''Radio/WaitWaitDontTellMe'', he was sent loads of them by irate knitters. When he related this story to the panel on a later show, one of them announced "You know what I can't stand? ''Bricks of gold!''"
166	[[/folder]]
167
168	[[folder:Web Animation]]
169	* From ''WebAnimation/TheDementedCartoonMovie'':
170	-->'''Guy 1:''' You know what? It would suck if an airplane randomly fell out of the sky and crashed into us.\
171	''[it happens, killing him]''\
172	'''Guy 2:''' You know what? It would suck if a large generic wad of cash were to appear right in front of me that I could do whatever I wanted with. Huh? Huh??\
173	''[a shoe kicks his head off]''
174	[[/folder]]
175
176	[[folder:Web Comics]]
177	* [[http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0069.html This happens]] in ''Webcomic/TheOrderOfTheStick''.
178	-->'''Roy:''' I really wish we had someone who could fly us out of here.\
179	''[a turned-to-stone sylph falls from the ceiling]''\
180	'''Roy:''' GAAAH!\
181	''[{{beat panel}}]''\
182	'''Haley: I really wish I had a bajillion gold pieces!!'''
183	* In [[http://www.unshelved.com/archive.aspx?strip=20020705 this comic]] from ''Webcomic/{{Unshelved}}'', Dewey is irritated by the library mascot Buddy the Book Beaver:
184	-->'''Dewey:''' I wish he would just go away!\
185	'''Tamara:''' Buddy's been kidnapped!\
186	'''Dewey:''' Mira Sorvino! I wish for a date with Mira Sorvino!
187	* This is lampshaded in ''Webcomic/{{Goblins}}'' with the following exchange.
188	-->'''Yodette:''' Will you two cut it out? We're supposed to be hunting goblins, and standing here arguing is not going to make them just fall out of the sky!\
189	''[cue long pause while her two companions wait for something to fall out of the sky]''\
190	'''Yodette:''' What are you guys looking for?\
191	'''Baka:''' Well after a comment like that I half-expected a goblin to fall out of the sky due to unrelated circumstances.\
192	'''Short Archer:''' Yeah, me too.\
193	'''Yodette:''' That's the stupidest thing I've ever heard.\
194	''[Dies-Horribly (a goblin) then falls off of the overhanging cliff and into the river; cue smug looks from the other two]''
195	* ''Webcomic/DinosaurComics'' does it [[http://www.qwantz.com/index.php?comic=1495 here]].
196	* In [[http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1543 a strip]] of ''Webcomic/QuestionableContent'':
197	-->'''Marten:''' Dear universe: If this is really how you work, may I please have a 1952 Telecaster?
198	* Used in a ''LittleDee'' [[http://littledee.net/archive/20100125.html strip]]:
199	-->'''Vachel:''' We're gonna land before Henry-Henry crashes us!\
200	''[Henry-Henry crashes them]''\
201	'''Vachel:''' I meant to say, "We're gonna land before Henry-Henry gives us ice cream and leads us gently into landing!"\
202	'''Ted:''' I don't suspect that's gonna work.\
203	'''Vachel:''' Hey, it was worth a try!
204	* Perfectly set up in [[http://www.drowtales.com/mainarchive.php?order=chapters&id=684&overview=1&chibi=1&cover=1&page=1&check=1 this]] ''Webcomic/{{Drowtales}}'' strip... but with no extra person to make the second wish.
205	* ''Webcomic/PennyArcade'' did this [[http://penny-arcade.com/comic/2001/02/16 right here]]. They never did get those doughnuts, though.
206	* ''Webcomic/{{Anthronauts}}'':
207	-->'''Parvani:''' Broken spaceships don't just fall out of the sky, you know!
208	* In ''Webcomic/{{Housepets}}'', during the "Let's Imaginate Theatre/{{Macbeth}}!" arc, Maxwell, playing Macbeth, does this.
209	-->'''Maxwell:''' In order to be king, I'd first need to be the Thane of Cawdor, and it's not like ''that's'' going to happen.\
210	'''Sabrina:''' Hey Mister Mac-B, the Thane of Cawdor has been sentenced to death, so the king declared you the thane in his place.\
211	'''Maxwell:''' I WOULD ALSO NEED A MILLION SILVER SCEATS, AND IT'S NOT LIKE THAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN!\
212	''[{{beat}}]''\
213	'''Maxwell:''' Rats.
214	* In one strip of ''Webcomic/{{Narbonic}}'', Artie and Dave are running for their lives through an imminently exploding moonbase while Artie is stuck in a facsimile of Dave's body:
215	-->'''Artie:''' I'm not accustomed to this body! If only I weren't some huge, flabby, imperfectly bipedal ape, I could-- ''[Artie transforms back into a gerbil]''\
216	'''Artie:''' ''[thinking]'' Oh, sure, but when I say, "If only Congress would unilaterally withdraw forces from the Mideast," the ironic wish fulfillment '''never''' kicks in.
217	* ''Webcomic/ARedtailsDream'' had [[http://www.minnasundberg.fi/comic/page162.php a funny moment]] when Hannu wished it would stop snowing... and it did.
218	-->'''Ville:''' I really wish for some steaks to eat!\
219	'''Hannu:''' I really wish to be home right now!\
220	''[{{beat}}]''\
221	'''Hannu:''' [[SarcasmMode Great.]] I bet we had one wish, and [[WastefulWishing I blew it]] on ''better weather''.
222	* ''Webcomic/SkinHorse'', when the Mothership [[https://skin-horse.com/comic/the-new-hire-2/ shows up]] just as Renard is trying to remember Tony's weird space theories:
223	-->'''Renard''': Is that ... is that a UFO?\
224	'''Turtle #12''': just when you were talking about space!\
225	'''Mothership''': GREETINGS.\
226	'''Renard''': Um ... hello?\
227	'''Turtle #12''': wish for a dinosaur next!
228	[[/folder]]
229
230	[[folder:Web Original]]
231	* [[https://notalwaysright.com/boating-with-dr-dolittle/31848/ This]] ''Not Always Right'' entry somewhat subverts this. A person visiting a national park expresses a desire to see a deer, and then an eagle. Both times, they get their wish, but both cause problems (the deer nearly causes a car crash, and the eagle poops on the boat deck). The man accompanying this person looks down at the deep, cold water their boat is currently sailing across and warns them ''not'' to say they want to see a whale.
232	* In ''WebAnimation/SpriggsAHalo3Machinima'', after seeing Spriggs drive by on a mongoose, Triple M wishes he had one himself. One promptly falls out of the sky. Seeing this, he loudly wishes for a nymphomaniac catgirl with a ''[[{{Hentai}} La Blue Girl]]'' fetish, only for Willy, who had been driving the mongoose that fell, to fall next.
233	-->'''Triple M''': Aw, you suck!
234	[[/folder]]
235
236	[[folder:Web Videos]]
237	* On WebVideo/TheNostalgiaCritic review of ''Creator/{{SNICK}}'', he declares that [[HypocriticalHumor anyone who shouts all the time]] should be shot, (he is shot in the forehead) unshot, (the bullet hole disappears) and given a big bag of money (unusually, he immediately receives a bag of money). He then asks for and receives some lounge music too.
238	* This finally occurs to the [[Franchise/TheMuppets Muppet]] [[KentBrockmanNews Newsman]], who has a history of the things he reports on [[DeadlineNews falling on him]], in a Creator/{{Disney}} on-line video. It works the first couple of times, but when he wishes for a "brown-eyed blonde" he gets hit with a cow.
239	* In the ''Series/KaizokuSentaiGokaiger'' review from ''WebVideo/AtopTheFourthWall'', Linkara complains that the heroes should just shoot the monster after he says there are no rules in a fight. They do, in fact, shoot him, at which point Linkara expresses his surprise and asks them to undo ''ComicBook/OneMoreDay'' as well -- of course, it doesn't happen.
240	[[/folder]]
241
242	[[folder:Western Animation]]
243	* ''WesternAnimation/AladdinTheSeries'': In "Do the Rat Thing", a stolen magic mirror and an ill-timed remark from Iago ("If you're a street rat, [[AndImTheQueenOfSheba then I'm a frilled lizard!]]") lead to [[ForcedTransformation Jasmine getting turned into a rat and Iago getting turned into a lizard]]. He's later seen verbally kicking himself for his poor choice of words.
244	-->'''Iago:''' I ''could've'' said "If you're a street rat, then I'm the world's richest parrot!" But what do I say?! (''in a mocking tone'') "I'm a frilled lizard!"
245	* Happens in the ''WesternAnimation/BackAtTheBarnyard'' episode "The Farmer Takes a Woman".
246	-->'''Peck:''' Now-now, Otis, you can't expect a miracle to just zoom up out of nowhere.\
247	''[woman drives up to the farm]''\
248	'''Freddy:''' You can't expect a plate of boneless chicken to just drop out of nowhere. ''[nothing happens]'' I'M WAITING!
249	** And in the final scene of the episode he's ''still'' waiting.
250	* ''WesternAnimation/CloneHigh'': After a [[TemptingFate "It can't get any worse"]]:
251	-->'''Gandhi:''' Hey! At least it can't get any ''better''!\
252	'''Abe:''' That's not how it works, Gandhi.\
253	''[Abe leaves, and a butterfly appears carrying a dollar bill for Gandhi]''
254	* First episode of ''WesternAnimation/DrawnTogether'':
255	-->'''Captain Hero:''' I wish we had one of those hot black chicks.\
256	'''Foxxy Love:''' Bling-bling, Foxxy's in the house!\
257	'''Captain Hero:''' I wish we had [[BlackComedy a 12-year-old girl and a donkey!]] ''[nothing happens]'' Damn!
258	:: The wish actually does come true in a later episode.
259	* From the ''WesternAnimation/{{Duckman}}'' episode "Joking the Chicken".
260	-->'''Duckman:''' If only there was something to bring a few laughs into my life.\
261	'''Fluffy/Uranus:''' ''[over intercom]'' Mr. Duckman, four comedians here to see you.\
262	''[{{beat}}]''\
263	'''Duckman:''' If only there was something to bring a few busty, leather-clad, thrill-seeking ex-nuns into my life.\
264	''[{{beat}}]''\
265	'''Cornfed:''' It was worth a shot.
266	* ''WesternAnimation/TheFairlyOddParents'':
267	-->'''Wanda:''' I sure hope the boys get home soon. I miss Poof!\
268	''[Poof comes flying through the window]''\
269	'''Cosmo:''' Cool. Let me try. I miss rump roasts! Come on, rump roasts!
270	* ''WesternAnimation/FamilyGuy'': A man tells his wife to imagine "a happy healthy baby boy at play. Now put him in a magic bubble and release him into the universe." When Stewie, in a bubble, rolls by, the man tells his wife to imagine Lindsay Lohan naked and doing a backwards crab walk. Later on, Lohan appears at Peter's door doing just that.
271	* ''WesternAnimation/JackieChanAdventures''
272	-->"I wish one of them talismans would come to us for a change..."\
273	''[talisman detector glows]''\
274	"I wish I had a million bucks!"
275	* ''WesternAnimation/PhineasAndFerb'':
276	** In the episode "Rollercoaster: [[MusicalEpisode The Musical]]!" the [[RecurringExtra recurring farmer couple]] do this.
277	--->'''Wife:''' I can't believe you walked all the way to the service station for jumper cables, but you didn't bring the battery cart! What did you think, a battery cart was just gonna fall out of the sky?\
278	''[a battery cart falls out of the sky]''\
279	'''Wife:''' Okay... what did you think, a million dollars was just going to fall out of the sky?\
280	'''Farmer:''' It doesn't work that way.\
281	'''Wife:''' Well, how ''does'' it work, then?!
282	** In ''WesternAnimation/PhineasAndFerbTheMovieAcrossThe2ndDimension'', after Candace vanishes into the other dimension, Stacy tries to invoke the "mysterious force" that protects Phineas and Ferb from being busted in order to get Candace back. When Candace walks in, Stacy tries asking the mysterious force for a car.
283	* ''WesternAnimation/TheSimpsons'':
284	** Homer tries this in one episode:
285	--->'''Homer:''' I'm sure glad the lightning round's over.\
286	''[lightning strikes him]''\
287	'''Homer:''' Hmmm... I sure hope there isn't an ice-cream round!\
288	''[lightning strikes him again]''
289	** The Mayor of Springfield tried it in another episode. He had just had sex with his lover and commented on how he'd like some cigarettes when a bag of them is thrown in his room. He then offered one to her but she rejected and explained she was pregnant. Mayor Quimby then prayed for God because he had another favor to ask.
290	* In a ''[[WesternAnimation/TimonAndPumbaa Laughing Hyenas]]'' cartoon, a starving Banzai commented he was so hungry he could eat a circus monkey. Immediately a crate containing a monkey that had fallen from a passing plane fell on top of them. After they failed to make a meal of it, Banzai remarked that he could now eat a blue whale. Cue acres of whale falling from nowhere onto their heads.
291	* ''WesternAnimation/TheReplacements'': In one episode, Todd had the school librarian replaced with someone who'd turn the library into a place where he'd like to be. Riley got ran over by a hippopotamus right after she asked if they were what'd come next. She asked about a ''unicorn'' stampede but nothing happened. She complained because it worked with the hippopotamus, [[TemptingFate causing another one to run her over]].
292	* One season of ''WesternAnimation/RobotChicken'' ended with the creators killing everyone (to have a more impressive In Memorium segment) and getting canceled. The beginning of the next season had them trying to find new jobs, eventually asking Creator/SethMacFarlane for work on ''WesternAnimation/FamilyGuy''. He sets up a CutawayGag: "Robot Chicken? I haven't heard that name since it was renewed," which of course cuts to someone renewing ''Robot Chicken''. Creator/SethGreen says "Quick, offhandedly mention that one time we all solved world hunger!" prompting nothing more than a confused response.
293	[[/folder]]
294
295	[[folder:Real Life]]
296	* The standard way of saying "Speak of the Devil!" in Egyptian Arabic is to say (translated) "Would that I had said 'a million pounds'!" (or some other large sum of money). This is occasionally turned into "Would that I had said 'a quarter-pound piece'!" (either as an insult or jokingly with friends). (For those not in the know, a quarter of an Egyptian pound is worth slightly more than four cents.)
297	* On an interview in ''Late Night With Creator/ConanOBrien'', Creator/PattonOswalt commented on a new KFC commercial for the Famous Bowl featuring a woman who insisted on eating it with a knife and fork, claiming it was almost certainly made in response to his infamous routine where he mocked the Bowl and the fact that you're supposed to eat it with a spoon as utterly pathetic. He then immediately started jokingly "calling out" Porsche on not giving away their cars to "[[SelfDeprecation washed up comedians]]".
298	[[/folder]]

Context Main / RetroactiveWish