Line #121 Main/SwivelChairAntics


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4	[[quoteright:350:[[Webcomic/{{xkcd}} https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/rsz_mu_2423.jpg]]]]
5	[[caption-width-right:350:[-[[AltText As the CoKF approaches 0, productivity goes negative as you pull OTHER people into chair-spinning contests.]]-] ]]
6
7	->''"Look, all I wanted was a frickin' rotating chair!"''
8	-->-- '''Dr. Evil''', ''Film/AustinPowersTheSpyWhoShaggedMe''
9
10	A SubTrope of CoolChair, [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swivel_chair swivel chairs]] are amusing pieces of furniture because they have wheels and [[SpectacularSpinning can spin]].[[note]]Fun Fact: The swivel chair (without wheels) was invented by UsefulNotes/ThomasJefferson.[[/note]] Boredom and these can lead to endless possibilities.
11
12	Could include either someone spinning in a chair out of boredom or restlessness, rolling around in it in favor of just getting up, [[Film/DieHard rigging them with explosives to fight bad guys with]], or riding them like makeshift chariots.
13
14	This is often an integral part of OfficeSports; also compare WheelchairAntics.
15	----
16	!!Examples:
17
18	[[foldercontrol]]
19
20	[[folder:Anime and Manga]]
21	* ''Manga/SoulEater'': Stein enjoys riding around on his. Early on there was a RunningGag where he would "trip" over door frames (in fact he did so twice when he was introduced, failing to make a dramatic entrance). He also deflected several of Black Star's attacks [[ExcuseMeWhileIMultitask while spinning around on the chair.]]
22	* ''Literature/{{Durarara}}'': Izaya has one in his office. In one memorable scene, he spun around repeatedly while laughing about how interesting humans are.
23	* ''Anime/RebuildOfEvangelion'': Misato is seen spinning on her chair while complaining how bored she is during a pilot sync test.
24	* ''Manga/KOn'': [[GenkiGirl Ritsu]] briefly spins around in Yui's chair while the rest of the club are helping Yui cram for her make-up exam as part of her boredom montage.
25	-->"Buru-buru-buru-buru!"
26	* There's an adorable scene in episode 3 of ''Anime/MagicalGirlLyricalNanohaStrikers'' where Reinforce Zwei spins around at her new desk. It's made all the more adorable by the fact that she (and the desk) are less than a foot tall.
27	* In one ''Anime/{{Aggretsuko}}'' short, Retsuko is spinning around the office in a swivel chair while thinking about how her life isn't fun because she has no time to do anything but go home and sleep after working all day. Ton catches her and asks if she is having fun.
28	[[/folder]]
29
30	[[folder:Audio Play]]
31	* ''AudioPlay/BigFinishDoctorWho'' "[[Recap/BigFinishDoctorWho037TheSandman The Sandman]]" has the Sixth Doctor engaging in some while intimidating the Galyari. Yes, in audio.
32	-->"Wheeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!"
33	[[/folder]]
34
35	[[folder:Comic Strips]]
36	* ''ComicStrip/{{Dilbert}}'':
37	** Someone stands on a swivel chair to hang up a "Ten days without an accident!" poster. The chair slips, and he falls and injures himself. Dilbert comments on the {{irony}}, and the guy who fell replies, "No, it was ironic when this happened 11 days ago."
38	** In the followup comic, the company makes Swivel Chair Safety Training mandatory. At the training, the demonstrator spins wildly ''while doing a headstand'' on his chair. The pointy-haired boss can't tell if that's a "do" or a "don't".
39	** In another strip, a manager (Not the PointyHairedBoss) decides to pick someone for a task by spinning around in his chair like a roulette, and asks to be spun. Alice sends him down a flight of stairs, killing him, and causing the forces of darkness to possess his body.
40	* In one ''ComicStrip/{{Garfield}}'' comic at Irma's diner, Irma asks Jon why he and Garfield always sit at the bar rather than in one of the booths. Turns out they both enjoy spinning around on the stools.
41	[[/folder]]
42
43	[[folder:Fan Works]]
44	* In one chapter of the MassiveMultiplayerCrossover chat fic ''[[https://archiveofourown.org/works/12006930/chapters/32265798 Welcome to the Party Line!]]'', Star, Ben, Sunset, and Penn have a swivel chair race through the halls of Star's castle. Unfortunately, they neglected to tell anyone beforehand, leading to Lee nearly getting run over.
45	* Literature/{{Discworld}}-set fic ''Fanfic/ThePriceOfFlight'' has the Ankh-Morpork City Air Watch playing darts in their unique way. the dartboard itself is magically enchanted so that it moves on the wall in a random and unpredictable way. The Air Witches compound the difficulty by sitting in a moving swivel chair - so that the pilot is throwing her darts from a moving platform at a moving target. This is defended on the grounds that it improves aim and targetting and simulates actual air combat. Sam Vimes suspects it's because the Air Watch pilots are, to a woman, crazy. And the [[UsefulNotes/{{Finland}} Swommi]] pilot who devised this is craziest of all.
46	[[/folder]]
47
48	[[folder:Films -- Live-Action]]
49	* ''Film/BackToTheFuturePartII'':, Mr. Strickland is in a swivel chair; he turns toward the window and then pushes back, smashing Marty's hand against the desk.
50	* ''Film/BatmanForever'': Edward Nygma ties his boss to a rolling office chair and rolls [[DestinationDefenestration out a window]], then later [[NeverSuicide makes it look like a suicide]].
51	* ''Film/SupermanIII'': the programmers in a 80's mainframe centre move about by pushing themselves backwards on swivel chairs; despite a two-lane corridor, two of them collide.
52	* ''Film/AustinPowersTheSpyWhoShaggedMe'' has Dr. Evil goofing around with his evil chair... and promptly having it [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PoosDbx2TCs go psycho]] on him. The chair malfunctioning was unscripted, but the result was funny enough to [[ThrowItIn be kept in the film.]]
53	* In otherwise-serious ''Film/{{Witness}}'', an Amish farmer of all things rolls one across a room to fetch something.
54	* In the scene at Ah Jong's apartment from ''Film/TheKiller1989'', Ah Jong uses a swivel chair to good use when the bad guys attack, launching himself backward before blasting the hell out of the first guy to enter the room. It's later reenacted by Inspector Li Ying, who thoroughly spooks out his partner Chang while doing so.
55	* ''Film/StarTrekVITheUndiscoveredCountry'': [[BigBad General Chang]] and his chair [[LargeHam ham it up something fierce]]: "CRY HAVOC! And let slip the dogs of war!"
56	[[/folder]]
57
58	[[folder:Literature]]
59	* A muted example in ''Literature/{{Changes}}'' from ''Literature/TheDresdenFiles''. When arriving home [[OccultDetective Harry]] finds his erstwhile allies [[OldFlame Susan]] and [[TheNondescript Martin]] cocooned to the walls and ceiling, and his chair spins around as Harry's FairyGodmother Lea reveals herself to greet Harry with his cat in her lap, in the exact same manner as a Bond villain. While Harry thought this was an appropriate greeting (beside the awkwardness of having to explain everyone present were nominally friends), he privately thought this was an especially impressive greeting, since the chair had no mechanism for spinning, but details like that never stopped Lea from making a strong impression.
60	* ''Literature/{{Shtum}}'': After [[spoiler:Ben's only employee Valentine quits, seemingly destroying the business]], Ben spends about five minutes spinning around for lack of anything better to do.
61	* ''Literature/{{Zomboy}}'': While he and Evil-O are visiting Imre's home, Bob discovers that Imre has a swivel chair in his bedroom. The two then spend a good amount of time spinning it and launching themselves across Imre's room, before a finale wherein they both sit in the chair and launch themselves across the hallway.
62	[[/folder]]
63
64	[[folder:Live Action TV]]
65	* ''Radio/OurMissBrooks'': In "Cure That Habit", [[DumbJock Stretch Snodgrass]] swivels Principal Conklin around in his chair, [[InsaneTrollLogic in an attempt to cure his hiccups]]. HilarityEnsues.
66	* In one of the opening title sequences of the 1970s Creator/{{CBS}} SitCom ''Arnie'', the title character, having just been promoted from a blue-collar position, spins around on an office chair, tips over and pulls down a venetian blind in the process.
67	* There was a BritCom called ''Two In Clover'' where the heroes leave their boring job by tying their boss to a swivel chair and pushing him out the window. On the ground floor, it is hoped, although it may well be a fantasy sequence...
68	* Early in ''Series/{{Angel}}'', the title character [[DestinationDefenestration defenestrates a corporate executive on swivel chair through a glass wall]]. Only the chair hits the ground, the executive having combusted on exposure to direct sunlight.
69	* ''Series/{{Battlestar Galactica\|2003}}'': Baltar is seen swiveling his chair aimlessly, in a homage to his namesake's swiveling CoolChair in the original series.
70	* The Jimmy Jab Games episode of ''Series/BrooklynNineNine'' features a swivel-chair race, majestically won by Amy, although it was supposed to be a ''prize'' at first (it being the best-quality chair in the bullpen, with all wheels intact).
71	* The Countess Dowager (Dame Creator/MaggieSmith) on ''Series/DowntonAbbey'' is caught off guard to be sitting in one when she visits Matthew Crawley's office:
72	-->'''Countess:''' ''[almost falling off]'' Good heavens! what am I sitting on?\
73	'''Matthew:''' A swivel chair.\
74	'''Countess:''' Another modern brainwave?\
75	'''Matthew:''' Not very modern, they were invented by Thomas Jefferson.\
76	'''Countess:''' Why does every day involve a fight with an American?\
77	'''Matthew:''' I'll fetch a different one.\
78	'''Countess:''' No, no, no, I'm a good sailor!
79	* In one episode of ''Series/TheOfficeUS'', Jim switches his squeaky chair with Karen's, and then proceeds to ride his chair throughout the office to avoid having to get up out of it and giving Karen an opportunity to switch it back.
80	** Another episode reveals that Michael regularly had Erin spin him around in his chair.
81	* ''Series/StarTrekTheNextGeneration'': Geordi has a swivel chair that he flings around the engineering console when sitting in it so he doesn't need another person to operate it. It looks like fun.
82	* ''Series/BuffyTheVampireSlayer'': in Season 7 Buffy gets a job as school councilor; in one episode she's killing time in her cubicle by swiveling on her chair while balancing a container of pencils on her forehead.
83	* ''Series/HowIMetYourMother'' has Lily showing up [[AlcoholInducedIdiocy smashed on wine]] and [[ItMakesSenseInContext wearing nothing but a nightie in Marshall's office]], rocketing by a meeting room where Marshall is leading a meeting on a swivel chair, using a fire extinguisher for propulsion. Marshall quickly excuses himself to chase after her.
84	-->'''Businessman on the TV:''' Did anyone else see the drunk chick?
85	* ''Series/MurdochMysteries'': Early in "The Murdoch Identity", Detective Slorach is joining Station 4 to help find the missing Murdoch when he's distractedly playing with Murdoch's desk chair while the others are trying to bring him up to speed on the case.
86	* ''Series/{{Veep}}'' has a scene where Vice President Meyer is alone in her office and idly spinning in her chair, showing her frustration at having nothing to do in spite of her high position. The image was used in commercials for the first season.
87	* One clip often used in the opening sequence of ''Series/MythBusters'' features Jamie Hyneman having two dogs pull him forward on a rolling chair. The version of the clip used in the actual episode ("Dog Myths") shows him getting ''pulled off'' the chair when the wheel catches on the transition to the next room.
88	* An episode of ''Series/{{Matlock}}'' has an apparently out-of-nowhere scene where Ben pushes Julie in a chair while she times him. While they are enjoying themselves, this turns out later to be part of solving the mystery.
89	* ''Series/StargateSG1'' occasionally features Jack goofing around with his chair when he should be paying attention to either Sam or Daniel. Serves a purpose in "[[Recap/StargateSG1S10E6200 200]]". During a "flashback" in which [[NoodleIncident Jack is rendered invisible]], the unoccupied chair in Carter's lab appears to spin on its own, signaling where Jack is. As opposed to a chair that ''isn't'' moving, which Carter evidently constantly fails to realize is a sign that Jack has ditched her.
90	* One trailer for ''Series/PeopleOfEarth'' shows Don and Kurt interrupt Jeff addressing the puny earthlings with [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XEKqLYIC2Bo a swivel chair race.]]
91	* ''Series/WKRPInCincinnati'': Once Mr. Carlson was in his office and did a few spins in his desk chair. Soon after he picked up the double-pen holder on his desk and imitated a tailgunner ("Rahtatatata!") until Jennifer came in and he tried to look dignified again.
92	* One episode of ''Series/FullHouse'' has Jesse, shocked and annoyed to have lost a series of competitions to Joey, engaging in spinning around repeatedly in a swivel chair in order to beat him at something (which the latter ''refused'' to do, [[EvenNerdsHaveStandards calling it childish and pathetic.)]] The former ended up "winning", [[PyrrhicVictory but immediately fell down the second he tried to stand.]]
93	* In the season 3 premiere of ''Series/TheMandalorian'', Grogu uses the Force to spin himself around in Greef's chair.
94	* ''Series/StarTrekPicard'': In the episode "No Win Scenario", Vadic spins around in her chair. Doubles as a CastingGag: Vadic is played by Creator/AmandaPlummer, whose [[Creator/ChristopherPlummer father]] [[Film/StarTrekVITheUndiscoveredCountry once did the same thing]].
95	[[/folder]]
96
97	[[folder:Manhua]]
98	* ''Manhua/OldMasterQ'' tries fooling around with a swivel-chair in [[https://www.oldmasterq.com/comics/129/ this strip]], only to comically run himself into a wall.
99	[[/folder]]
100
101	[[folder:Theatre]]
102	* In ''Theatre/CloserThanEver'', the NaughtyByNight song "Miss Byrd" is supposed to be performed, "including any 'dancing'" (the stage directions specify), entirely on a typist's swivel chair at an ordinary real-estate office desk.
103	[[/folder]]
104
105	[[folder:Video Games]]
106	* ''VideoGame/{{Fortnite}}'' has a traversal emote called "Office Chariot" that consists of your character spinning around in a wheeled swivel chair.
107	* ''VideoGame/HarryTheHandsomeExecutive'', a game based entirely on scooting around an office on your swivel chair by kicking off walls.
108	* Everybody knows that the second Death Star is meant to look incomplete as a disguise, but ''VideoGame/LEGOStarWars II'' gives a different explanation: when Darth Vader arrives, he finds a bunch of technicians ''slacking off'', one of whom is having fun in a swivel chair!
109	* Joker of ''Franchise/MassEffect'' fame is entirely too fond of his swiveling pilot's chair on the ''Normandy'', especially its second incarnation. (Real leather!) However, [[SpaceshipGirl EDI]] takes control of it when [[VitriolicBestBuds he's antagonizing her]], spinning him around until he gives up.
110	* ''VideoGame/PlantsVsZombies2ItsAboutTime'': The [=ZCorp=] Chair Racer zombie rides a swivel chair backwards into the battlefield at ''very'' fast speeds. When he hits a plant, he deals massive damage to it (often a OneHitKill) and gets launched further into your defences.
111	* ''VideoGame/RhythmHeaven Fever'' has a minigame, "Board Meeting", about anthropomorphic pig businessmen spinning around on swivel chairs. The reading material unlocked by scoring a Perfect on this game reveals that their doing this is part of a company motivational seminar (it has to do with their pulling off their spins in unison).
112	[[/folder]]
113
114	[[folder:Webcomics]]
115	* ''Webcomic/{{xkcd}}'' has the famous "[[http://xkcd.com/303/ my code is compiling]]" comic.
116	** [[http://xkcd.com/815/ Mu]]
117	* A very similar battle ensues in ''Webcomic/QuestionableContent'' involving broomsticks. Dora is not pleased.
118	* ''Webcomic/{{SSDD}}'': Central accuses the IT nerds who are supposed to be watching his firewall of wasting time racing swivel chairs [[spoiler: while trapped in his own mainframe by the Oracle.]]
119	[[/folder]]
120
121	[[folder:Web Original]]
122	* [[https://www.youtube.com/user/JPizzle1122 ideoProductions]] made [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IrVxn-3AtHg a video]] of Jory Caron rolling through the hallways of Emerson College in an office chair.
123	* [[VideoGame/HalfLife GMan]] [[http://gmanwonderful.ytmnd.com/ is]] [[Website/{{YTMND}} Having a Wonderful Time]]
124	* In one episode of WebVideo/DoomsdayArcade, [[EmbarrassingNickname The Michaels]] fight their way out of a building using swivel chairs and guns.
125	* WebVideo/EpicRapBattlesOfHistory had [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O-ZblMfZpuw Thomas Jefferson]] boast "I'm so down with Revolutions I invented the swivel chair!". While swivelling around in one, naturally, although it has wheels as well, which Jefferson's didn't.
126	[[/folder]]
127
128	[[folder:Western Animation]]
129	* Sparks from ''WesternAnimation/{{Sealab 2021}}'' is always seated in a rolling chair, because the footage from ''WesternAnimation/{{Sealab 2020}}'' always had Sparks seated. Despite trying to claim disability in one episode, he really can stand, he's just lazy. [[NegativeContinuity Maybe]]. The show flip-flops on this.
130	* ''WesternAnimation/TheSimpsons'':
131	** In "[[Recap/TheSimpsonsS18E7IceCreamOfMargieWithTheLightBlueHair Ice Cream Of Margie With The Light Blue Hair]]", we find Homer, Lenny, and Carl playing office chair hockey at the plant; Mr. Burns comes in and chastises them for goofing off...but then we see him complaining that they're not practicing their chair hockey moves hard enough.
132	** In "[[Recap/TheSimpsonsS7E20BartOnTheRoad Bart On The Road]]", Lisa, who's spending the day at the nuclear plant with Homer, decides to liven things up by spinning in swivel chairs wearing hazmat suits. Homer replies that, "This is a lot more fun with a second person."
133	** In "[[Recap/TheSimpsonsS8E23HomersEnemy Homer's Enemy]]", Bart combines a swivel chair and a fire extinguisher for some real fun.
134	*** The beginning of the same episode has Homer spinning in his chair saying, "Chair goes round... Chair goes round..."
135	** In "[[Recap/TheSimpsonsS10E6DohInTheWind D'oh-in' in the Wind]]", Homer accidentally harvests the "special" garden (the one with the camouflage netting) at a local "organic" juice farm. So that morning's shipment is nothing but carrots and peyote. Cue, [[MushroomSamba among other things]], [[https://youtu.be/nQPFKbLiGeo?t=115 Officer Lou trying to turn his office chair into a helicopter.]]
136	-->"The electric yellow has got me by the brain banana!"
137	* ''WesternAnimation/CampLazlo'': [[SchoolNurse Nurse Leslie]] uses such a chair to move around. In fact, when the chair is broken, he can't even use his legs to stand.
138	* ''WesternAnimation/MegaMind'' in his very own film has a number of swivel chair scenes, and of course spoofs the "villain in turning chair" thing.
139	* Principal Prickly on ''WesternAnimation/{{Recess}}'' has one as his desk chair. When TJ becomes "Principal-for-a-Day", this is one of the first things he does:
140	-->'''TJ:''' Wow, this is one big chair.
141	-->'''Prickly:''' Yes it is. And it takes a big man to fill it.
142	-->'''TJ:''' (immediately takes it for a spin) [[ComicallyMissingThePoint WOOHOOOOOO!]]
143	* On ''WesternAnimation/TheLooneyTunesShow'' Bugs gets a job at Porky's office and convinces him to have more fun at work. During a montage of various fun activities they spin around ad roll on swivel chairs.
144	* [[KidHero Ezra]] from ''WesternAnimation/StarWarsRebels'' loves playing with the copilot's swivel chair in the ''[[CoolStarship Ghost's]]'' cockpit.
145	* In the ''WesternAnimation/StarVsTheForcesOfEvil'' episode "Brittney's Party", Marco is on a bus and is carsick. He tries to sit down, but finds himself in a swivel chair that goes out of control due to the bus' motions. He complains about who would be dumb enough to put such a chair on a bus.
146	* A [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gCowMcWipwk compilation]] of AnimatedOuttakes for ''WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyEquestriaGirlsFriendshipGames'' sees Principal Cinch getting carried away with her ChairReveal and spinning wildly, which [[NotSoStoic she seems to find amusing]].
147	* ''WesternAnimation/WeBareBears'': When Grizzly gets shanghaied into working at an office in "Fashion Bears", one of the things he does to pass the time is spin around wildly in an office chair.
148	* In ''WesternAnimation/ThreeTwoOnePenguins'', Zidgel tends to spin around in his captain's swivel-chair. He even tries to spin around in it as many times as he can in one minute in ''Between an Asteroid and a Hard Place''.
149	* ''WesternAnimation/MollyOfDenali'': In "[[Recap/MollyOfDenaliS1E31SpringCarnivalTooeysHoleidaySweater Spring Carnival]]," after learning what the word "swivel" means, Molly spins around in her swivel chair.
150	[[/folder]]
151

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