| 1 | %% Image selected per Image Pickin' thread: https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/posts.php?discussion=1317986693061200100&page=83 |
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| 4 | %% |
| 5 | [[quoteright:250:[[Webcomic/{{Nedroid}} https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/meddling_kids.jpg]]]] |
| 6 | |
| 7 | ->''"I played the buffoon while he squandered a fortune on his vulgar appetites. That's why I framed Krusty! And I would have gotten away with it too if it weren't for these meddling kids."''[[note]]'''Bart:''' Take him away, boys.[[/note]] |
| 8 | -->-- '''Sideshow Bob''', ''WesternAnimation/TheSimpsons'', "[[Recap/TheSimpsonsS1E12KrustyGetsBusted Krusty Gets Busted]]" |
| 9 | |
| 10 | When the [[BigBad Big Bads]] are finally brought to justice, they claim that they would've gotten away with it if it weren't for those "meddling kids" (or whoever it was who foiled their plot). They may be evil, [[VillainRespect but these guys give credit where credit is due.]] The classic form is, "And I would have gotten away with it, too, if it weren't for you meddling kids!" The use of the phrase "meddling kids" is a classic ShoutOut to ''Franchise/ScoobyDoo'', especially if the EvilPlan involves a ScoobyDooHoax. |
| 11 | |
| 12 | It's not "you meddling kids [[AndYourLittleDogToo and that stupid dog"/"that dumb dog"/"your dog"]], although these turn up as a ShoutOut in other shows. |
| 13 | |
| 14 | {{Subtrope}} to SpoofyDoo. Not to be confused with [[ExecutiveMeddling those meddling executives]] or the SnoopingLittleKid. May not apply if TheMeddlingKidsAreUseless. |
| 15 | |
| 16 | ---- |
| 17 | !!Examples: |
| 18 | [[foldercontrol]] |
| 19 | |
| 20 | [[folder:Anime & Manga]] |
| 21 | * Ken borrows this line at the end of an episode of ''Anime/DigimonAdventure02'', despite being a hypocrite. |
| 22 | * Referenced directly in the GagDub of ''Anime/GhostStories'', where Hajime exclaims, "And you would've gotten away with it too, if not for us meddling kids. I've been waiting [[MediumAwareness five volumes]] to make that joke!" |
| 23 | * In ''Manga/OnePiece'', the Straw Hat Pirates would often be those kids in East Blue, when the crew only consisted of teenagers who were not famous pirates yet. Especially Kuro was annoyed by this trope several times. When Luffy got his first bounty, their surroundings started thinking of them as actual pirates and not just bunch of a teenagers, however. |
| 24 | * The Rubberrobo Gang tends to use the phrase verbatim in ''VideoGame/{{Medabots}}''. |
| 25 | * Professor Cobra actually says this line in its entirety in an episode of the Season 3 dub of ''Anime/YuGiOhGX''. Ditto for Bakura in the original's Season 5. |
| 26 | * ''Anime/PokemonTheSeries'': For April Fools 2018, Pokémon Twitter account was taken by Team Rocket and they failed to catch Pikachu. When the plan failed, James says “We would’ve gotten away with it too.” and Meowth adds “If it weren’t for all you meddling twerps.” |
| 27 | [[/folder]] |
| 28 | |
| 29 | [[folder:Comic Books]] |
| 30 | * There is an ''[[ComicBook/ArchieComics Archie]]'' issue where Archie and Jughead solve a crime and the crooks are being led away in restraints by the police. One crook complains about being stopped by a bunch of dumb kids and Jughead fires back "This 'dumb kid' is not the one wearing handcuffs!" |
| 31 | * In Franchise/TheDCU, [[Characters/NightwingDickGrayson Dick Grayson]] and [[Characters/RobinTimDrake Tim Drake]] investigate the sabotage of Grayson's circus. Eventually, they crack the case and catch the crooks. When one of the crooks says this quote, Grayson dismisses it saying that they were sloppy and the police would have figured it out on their own. However, since that would have created some really embarrassing press for the circus, it was better that two Robins took care of this. |
| 32 | * The ''WesternAnimation/PinkyAndTheBrain'' story in the second-to-last issue of the ''WesternAnimation/{{Animaniacs}}'' comic book gave a ShoutOut to this in the form of Pinky's response to that issue's AreYouPonderingWhatImPondering: |
| 33 | -->'''Pinky:''' I think so, Brain. But would the villains really ''have'' gotten away with it, if it weren't for those pesky kids and their dog? |
| 34 | * [[ComicBook/KlarionTheWitchBoy Klarion (bum bum BUM!) the Witch Boy]] inverted this in an issue of ''Comicbook/YoungJustice''. "I would've got away with it if it wasn't for you meddling grown-ups." Which is even cooler if you realize the grown-ups in question were [[FreakyFridayFlip kids in grown-up bodies]]. |
| 35 | * ''ComicBook/TheSimpsons'' comic book once parodied this trope when Lisa, Bart and Milhouse exposed one of [[CorruptCorporateExecutive Burns]]' plans: |
| 36 | -->'''Burns:''' Without you and your dog, I might have succeeded!\ |
| 37 | '''Lisa:''' But we don't have any dog!\ |
| 38 | '''Burns:''' Oh, it must be one of mine then. ''[cut to one of his guard hounds growling behind the kids]'' I would advise you to run... |
| 39 | * ''ComicBook/TheBoys'' gives us the Scotland version: "But I woulda got away wi' it, if it hadnae been for ye pesky interferin' wee cunts!" |
| 40 | * The ''ComicBook/AstroCity'' story "The Cat Who Walked Through Walls" ends with the villain Popinjay muttering "...if not for that ridiculous feline!" |
| 41 | [[/folder]] |
| 42 | |
| 43 | [[folder:Fan Works]] |
| 44 | * In the ''Fanfic/AlternateTailSeries'', Hartley, Hartley, an antagonist during a flashback chapter, says he could have gotten away with ruining the reputation of Foxgloves's mayor Hameline through animal attacks on tourists and travelers "if it weren't for those meddling kids and that dumb cat!" |
| 45 | * In ''WebVideo/ArkhamPatientSessions'', Batman's past-his-prime StarterVillain Dr. Death indulges in a Scooby-Doo reference as he reminisces about the first crime he ever committed: |
| 46 | -->'''Dr. Death:''' Do you remember, Herr Doktor? Do you remember mein brilliant crimes? Ah, ze good old days. [[PoisonAndCureGambit Zat time I released a deadly mist upon ze entire city; infected everyone. Only vay zey could get ze antidote vas if ze city gave me $10 million]]! [''chuckles''] I would've gotten avay vith it, too, if only it vasn't for ze Fledermaus. |
| 47 | * In ''[[https://www.fanfiction.net/s/10622306/15/The-Day-The-Dursleys-Came-To-Hogwarts The Day the Dursleys Came to Hogwarts]]'' Ludo Bagman attempts to steal eggs from the Triwizard Tournament dragons so he can pay his gambling debts to the goblins, only to be foiled by Harry and his friends. |
| 48 | -->'''Alastor Moody:''' I think that [the goblins] were just trying to remind Bagman that he owes them money.\ |
| 49 | '''Ludo Bagman:''' And I could have paid them back with the dragon eggs if it wasn't for you meddling kids! |
| 50 | * In ''[[http://jeconais.fanficauthors.net/This_Means_War/10c__Werewolves_Goblins_and_Dragons_Oh_My_Part_3_of_3 This Means War,]]'' the warden of Azkaban is accused of taking bribes in exchange for releasing certain Death Eaters. |
| 51 | -->'''Claudia Striven:''' I followed all the ridiculous rules and no one suspected a thing, until your last inspection. I would have gotten away with it too, if it hadn’t been for you pesky kids. |
| 52 | * Invoked by a very amused [[Franchise/DragonAge Varric]] in the first installment of ''Fanfic/SkyholdAcademyYearbook'', when Evvy uncovers some secretive wrongdoing. "And they would have gotten away with it, too, if it hadn't been for that meddling art teacher." |
| 53 | * In ''WebVideo/YuGiOhTheAbridgedSeries'': |
| 54 | -->'''Pegasus:''' I can't believe I failed. All I wanted to do was steal an ancient Egyptian artifact, seize control of a billion dollar company, and resurrect my dead wife. And I would have gotten away with it too, if it weren't for those meddling--\ |
| 55 | '''Bakura:''' Don't you even ''think'' of making a ''Scooby-Doo'' reference! |
| 56 | * In ''Fanfic/LikeARedHeadedStepchild'' a ''Daily Prophet'' article claims Sirius said this right before escaping from Hogwarts. |
| 57 | [[/folder]] |
| 58 | |
| 59 | [[folder:Films -- Animation]] |
| 60 | * ''WesternAnimation/HeyArnoldTheMovie'' ends like this when [[CorruptCorporateExecutive Scheck]] gets arrested for attempting to commit illegal demolition ([[spoiler:after being {{caught|on tape}} [[HoistByHisOwnPetard by his own surveillance cameras]] [[FieryCoverUp burning]] [[DestroyTheEvidence the document]] that proves he can't demolish the neighborhood [[EngineeredPublicConfession in front of Arnold and Gerald]]]]) and says "And I would have gotten away with it, if it weren't for that meddling football head, that kid the weird stack of hair, and that brat with the one eyebrow." |
| 61 | * In ''WesternAnimation/ToyStory3'', Mr. Potato Head delivers this line in the background while he's busted for distracting the security team in Sunnyside. Except they are "meddling toys". |
| 62 | -->'''Mr. Potato Head''': Yeah, and I would've got away with it, too, if it weren't for you meddling toys! |
| 63 | * ''WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyEquestriaGirlsMagicalMovieNight'': The special "Movie Magic" is plot-wise very close to a ''Franchise/ScoobyDoo'' episode. The actual line, however, isn't spoken till the next episode, "Mirror Magic", where the girls meet again with the culprit. |
| 64 | -->'''Juniper Montage''': Ooh! This should be ''my'' night! I would have found a way to be in the film if ''you'' all had stayed out of it! I would have been JustForFun/DaringDo! Everyone would've loved me! |
| 65 | [[/folder]] |
| 66 | |
| 67 | [[folder:Films -- Live-Action]] |
| 68 | * In several episodes of ''Film/TheLittleRascals'', the children successfully battled evil grown-ups, making this trope OlderThanTelevision. It is arguably the UrExample. |
| 69 | * The first ''Film/WaynesWorld'' movie had MultipleEndings including a nonsensical Franchise/ScoobyDoo one which used the phrase, "you snooping kids!" |
| 70 | * ''Film/ScoobyDoo2002'': |
| 71 | ** In the 2002 feature film, you have this variation: |
| 72 | --->'''Velma:''' These balloons fill with a highly potent helium synthesis, giving the Luna Ghost his weightless appearance.\ |
| 73 | '''Smithers:''' I would've gotten away with it, too, if it weren't for you meddling kids and your dumb dog! I'll get you for this! |
| 74 | ** Then at the end as [[spoiler:Scrappy-Doo]] is arrested... |
| 75 | --->'''[[spoiler:Scrappy-Doo]]''': I would've gotten away with it too, if it weren't for you meddling sons of–– ''[[[CurseCutShort chopper door slams shut]]]'' |
| 76 | ** In the 2004 sequel ''Film/ScoobyDooMonstersUnleashed'', the real identity of the Evil Masked Figure [[spoiler:Dr. Jonathan Jacobo]] says it. |
| 77 | --->'''[[spoiler:Dr. Jonathan Jacobo]]:''' I would've gotten away with it too, if it weren't for those meddling punks and their dumb dog! |
| 78 | * A non-villainous example occurs in ''Film/MessageInACellPhone''. The guy who previously pretended to be Felix Reiser [[GoodAllAlong turns out to be good]], and he gives credit to the three main kids for bringing the BigBad to justice. |
| 79 | [[/folder]] |
| 80 | |
| 81 | [[folder:Literature]] |
| 82 | * A main theme of the ''Literature/{{Animorphs}}'' series, where the kids were constantly foiling plots by the Yeerks. Ironically though, the Yeerks were unaware of the fact they were foiled by kids, believing instead they were fighting Andalite warriors. |
| 83 | * This happens with most of ''Literature/TheFamousFive'' books, and played especially straight in ''Five Get Into Trouble'', when the villain Mr Perton lists all the fortunes he would made, until a pack of children spoilt everything. |
| 84 | * Literature/HarryPotter and his two closest friends Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger have thwarted numerous threats coming from adult wizards. |
| 85 | * One of the {{Troperiffic}} chapter headings in ''Literature/SoonIWillBeInvincible'' is "And Now For Those Meddling Children". |
| 86 | * A line similar to this is delivered at several points, in dialogue or narration, in ''Literature/GalaxyOfFear'', since the Arranda siblings and their uncle have an uncanny ability to stumble into trouble and foil plans. |
| 87 | * Most of the book series of the Creator/StratemeyerSyndicate involved meddling kids in numbers from one (Franchise/NancyDrew) to six. |
| 88 | * The basic plot of the ''Mysteries'' specials in ''Literature/TheBabySittersClub'' series. |
| 89 | * Creator/ThomasPynchon's ''Bleeding Edge'' mentions a (fictional) Franchise/ScoobyDoo movie in which the gang join up with some Colombian street urchins to fight a South American drug lord. Predictably, it ends with the villain proclaiming that he would have gotten away with it "if not for you [[{{Pun}} Medellín kids]]." |
| 90 | * One ''Literature/HeraldsOfValdemar'' short story features the line "I would have gotten away with it, if it weren't for you meddling Heralds!" |
| 91 | * ''Meddling Kids'' by Edgar Cantero is an homage to the whole concept and the trope namers (although they also have elements of Literature/TheFamousFive, including being called the [[Creator/EnidBlyton Blyton]] Summer Detective Club). The meddling kids are now in their mid twenties and return to the lakeside community where they unmasked their last monster as teenagers only to end up confronting real Lovecraftian horrors. |
| 92 | * In ''Literature/KeeperOfTheLostCities'' a spin is put on this trope: Mr. Forkle, the grumpy mentor/dad figure, has an iconic line in the form of "You kids." |
| 93 | * The Gorbals Die-Hards provide invaluable assistance to Dickson [=McCunn=] in Creator/JohnBuchan's ''Huntingtower''. |
| 94 | [[/folder]] |
| 95 | |
| 96 | [[folder:Live-Action TV]] |
| 97 | %%* Occasionally happens in ''Series/{{Monk}}''. |
| 98 | * In ''Series/StargateSG1'', Daniel says "And you would have gotten away with it too, if it weren't for us meddling kids" after a bounty hunter fails to capture SG-1. That line is made even funnier when you realize that Michael Shanks [[http://web.archive.org/web/20140927124006/http://www.tvguide.com:80/celebrity-blogs/Paris-Hilton-Shameless-19811.aspx ad libbed it because he hates when the characters explain to the villain what the audience already knows.]] |
| 99 | * ''Series/TheSarahJaneAdventures''' teenaged protagonists, with help from IntrepidReporter Sarah Jane, meddle often in the plans of would-be alien invaders. |
| 100 | * Seen at the end of an episode of ''Series/{{Numb3rs}}'' in which Don, his team and his brother Charlie investigate spooky activity at a supposedly abandoned airbase. That was more of an inversion, though, as it was very ambiguous whether the person that said it was a villain at all, and he had helped them solve the case. He was also [[CloudCuckoolander very wacky]], talked in an invisible cell phone and [[StealthHiBye appeared out of thin air]]. He also called three professors and an FBI agent meddling kids. |
| 101 | * Given a ShoutOut by Adam in an episode of ''Series/MythBusters'' where the Build Team gets him to walk across hot coals unprepared in order to see if it really is a case of mind over matter. After he supposedly hurts himself[[note]]He really ''had'' hurt himself, but he was playing up his injuries and had mostly healed by that point[[/note]] by running: |
| 102 | -->''"And I would have made it across too, if it hadn't been for you meddling kids!"'' |
| 103 | %%* Happens often on ''Series/TheMonkees''. |
| 104 | * Said almost verbatim by the obnoxious aristocrat Ashton in the ''[[Series/TheSuiteLifeOfZackAndCody Suite Life on Deck]]'' episode "Kidney of the Sea," when London's dog Ivana literally sniffs out the evidence that he had attempted to frame Zack for grand theft. |
| 105 | * Said verbatim by ''Series/{{Castle|2009}}'' (putting words in the [[MonsterOfTheWeek Killer of the Week's]] mouth) in "Wrapped Up In Death". It helps that the episode included multiple {{shout out}}s to Franchise/IndianaJones and Franchise/ScoobyDoo. |
| 106 | * Happened on the ''Series/ShakeItUp'' episode entitled "Whodunit Up" [[spoiler:when they catch the custodian who kinda gives himself away]], but the kids from the show are the first ones who realize who is the culprit. |
| 107 | * Hugh Dennis puts a spin on it for ''Series/MockTheWeek'' final round [[https://youtu.be/JXH3EhykK6o?t=2m9s Scenes We'd Like To See.]] |
| 108 | --> '''Hugh:''' And the janitor would've got away with it, too, if it hadn't been for ''the photographs'' he'd taken of those ''pesky kids''! |
| 109 | * At the end of the ''Series/{{Supernatural}}''/''Franchise/ScoobyDoo'' CrossOver "[[Recap/SupernaturalS13E16ScoobyNatural Scoobynatural]]", Jay says the line, much to Dean's glee. |
| 110 | * Referenced and parodied in a sketch on ''Series/HarryHillsTVBurp'' making fun of Derek Acorah's ''[[ParanormalInvestigation Ghost Towns]]'', in which the ghost turned out to be Harry with a sheet over his head. |
| 111 | -->'''"Daniella Westbrook":''' It's Harry Hill! |
| 112 | -->'''Harry:''' That's right, and I would've gotten away with it if it weren't for you meddling... ''(looks around to see the cast members are all old)'' ... idiots. |
| 113 | [[/folder]] |
| 114 | |
| 115 | [[folder:Radio]] |
| 116 | * ''Series/DeadRingers:'' Spoofed when it turns out Gareth Southgate, manager of the England football team in 2021, was replaced just before the final by a previous manager who wanted to sabotage them, and is exposed by Shaggy and Scooby. He declares he would've gotten away with it "if it weren't for you meddling cartoon characters!" |
| 117 | * Happens in an early radio episode of ''Radio/OurMissBrooks'', titled ''Student Government Day''. Taking over their duly elected roles as mayor and police chief for a day, Harriet Conklin and Walter Denton raid "The Jackpot Amusement Company," a gambling ring placing crooked slot machines in the backrooms of candy stores. This is only after they're allowed out of jail by the sleazy mayor, who needs them to run the gangsters out of town after [[CorruptPolitician they become more trouble than the cut he's getting from them.]] |
| 118 | [[/folder]] |
| 119 | |
| 120 | [[folder:Tabletop Games]] |
| 121 | * In ''TabletopGame/MagicTheGathering'', the Unhinged joke set has a card called [[http://gatherer.wizards.com/pages/Card/Details.aspx?multiverseid=74347 Meddling Kids,]] which is also a reference to the real card Meddling Mage. |
| 122 | * ''TabletopGame/MeddlingKids'' is the title of a RPG loosely based on ''Franchise/ScoobyDoo'' and its kin. |
| 123 | * ''TabletopGame/{{Hecatomb}}'' had a card named after this trope that would drain the mana of opponents. |
| 124 | -->'''Dr. Gilman:''' Little bastards. |
| 125 | [[/folder]] |
| 126 | |
| 127 | [[folder:Theater]] |
| 128 | * OlderThanSteam: In Creator/WilliamShakespeare's ''Theatre/MuchAdoAboutNothing'', after the inept police manage to catch Borachio, the henchman who framed Hero, the heroine, he says (to the noblemen he completely fooled): "What your wisdoms could not discover, these shallow fools have brought to light." |
| 129 | [[/folder]] |
| 130 | |
| 131 | [[folder:Video Games]] |
| 132 | * In ''VideoGame/GoldenSunTheLostAge'', one of the pirates delivers the line if you visit them in jail after turning them over to the local government. |
| 133 | * An optional line of dialogue in ''VideoGame/SonicChronicles''. If you know how this goes, you'll know what to say. |
| 134 | * Baron K. Roolenstein (actually, just K. Rool under a MadScientist guise), the main antagonist of ''VideoGame/DonkeyKongCountry3DixieKongsDoubleTrouble'', uses this line verbatim after his robot KAOS is defeated a second time. |
| 135 | * In ''VideoGame/PokemonRubyAndSapphire'', the Team Aqua/Magma goons accuse you of being a meddling kid after you stop them from stealing the Devon Goods ''again'' in Slateport. |
| 136 | * Used by the Prophet in ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyX2'' if he is fingered as the culprit in the Mi'ihen Highroad mystery sequence. Complete with him speaking in his only voiced appearance in the game in voice that sounds just like Shaggy from ''Scooby Doo''. |
| 137 | * In the web game ''VideoGame/{{Sonny}} 2'', one villain says this after being defeated and unmasked. This is clearly a lampshade, as the characters in question are not actually kids. |
| 138 | * The human-disguised Harmoire says this when the hero and Curry capture him to foil his plans for the Sleuthhound Inn involving making the furniture come alive in ''VideoGame/AdventureQuestWorlds''. |
| 139 | -->'''Curry''': I can't believe you dunit! How dare you do this to the Sleuthhound Inn!\ |
| 140 | '''Harmoire''': And I would have gotten away with it, if it weren't for you meddling kids! |
| 141 | * ''Franchise/TheLegendOfZelda'': |
| 142 | ** From ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaOcarinaOfTime'': |
| 143 | --->'''Ganondorf:''' The great Evil King Ganondorf, beaten by this kid?! |
| 144 | ** Link has pretty much made a career of being this trope. Granted, destiny usually plays a hand in it, but even when it doesn't, he's still prone to meddling in whatever plan some villain is brewing up. |
| 145 | * ''VideoGame/ChampionsOnline'': Parodied in the ending of the ''GRAB the Money and Run'' alert. |
| 146 | -->'''Cheshire Cat:''' We would've gotten away with it too, if not for those meddlesome...\ |
| 147 | '''Black Diamond:''' Oh, put a sock in it! |
| 148 | * ''VideoGame/BlazBlue'': |
| 149 | ** One of the things Hazama is known to chide Makoto over during ''[[VideoGame/BlazBlueContinuumShift Continuum Shift]]'' is how she "puts her nose where it doesn't belong". The big problem with this statement is that they're both NOL Intelligence officers (he's her CO, at that), meaning that he's lecturing her over doing ''the very thing she is being paid for''. Given how little Intelligence work he does (onscreen, anyway), he's in no position to tell her what she should or shouldn't be doing, so it's safe to say that if he ever brings this up, things are going to turn violent right now. |
| 150 | ** The end of ''Slight Hope'' has Hazama spouting this trope at the proper time, with intent to torture and/or kill her over it as well. |
| 151 | --->'''Hazama:''' [[spoiler:Honestly, though... I never expected YOU to turn out to be the proverbial squirrel in the ointment. Am I supposed to accept that this is another result of the continuum shift? I can't believe it's affecting the timeline like this... [...] Might as well ask for a pony, too, so long as you're wishing for unlikely things. Thanks to your flittering around doing as you please, [[SpannerInTheWorks my plans have gone fair-to-middling FUBAR!]] You're really starting to grate upon my nerves -- [[SincerityMode sorry, but it's true.]] Relius was going to take care of you, but ''shit''... I just don't think I can '''WAIT''' that long...]] |
| 152 | %%* Spouted by [[spoiler:the Phantom Blot]] when you beat him in ''VideoGame/RakenzarnTales''. |
| 153 | * Naturally, this is quoted at the end of the Franchise/ScoobyDoo level in ''VideoGame/LegoDimensions'', although with [[spoiler:Lord Vortech]] addressing Franchise/{{Batman}}, [[Film/TheLordOfTheRings Gandalf]], and [[WesternAnimation/TheLEGOMovie Wyldstyle]] instead of the members of Mystery Incorporated. |
| 154 | * In ''Spandex Force 2: Superhero U'' Agent Stalker says this after the player character and several other students beat his GiantRobot. |
| 155 | * In ''Matchington Mansion'' Rex dresses up as a BedsheetGhost to scare Tiffany into selling him the mansion, only to be unmasked by her dog. |
| 156 | -->'''Tiffany:''' Wait, Rex? What are you doing?\ |
| 157 | '''Rex:''' Trying to scare you out of this mansion! And I would have gotten away with it too, if it wasn't for you meddling kids and that dog! |
| 158 | * ''VideoGame/OctopathTraveler'': |
| 159 | ** Russell, the [[StarterVillain first boss]] of Cyrus's story, is caught making a [[DidIJustSayThatOutLoud verbal slip]] that gives away that he stole the tome ''The Church of the Sacred Flame: A Complete Historie''. |
| 160 | --->'''Russell:''' D-damn it! Damn it all to hell! It was the perfect plan! If not for your bloody meddling, I could have had it all! |
| 161 | ** The main antagonist of Ophilia's story, [[spoiler:Mattias]], has a VillainousBreakdown when [[spoiler:Ophilia reminds her adoptive Lianna of a time in their childhood when their (adoptive) father Josef taught them about remembering those who have died so that their legacies live on, giving Lianna the strength to stop the dark ritual she initiated in a desperate attempt to resurrect Josef]]. During his breakdown, [[spoiler:Mattias]] shouts this at Ophilia: |
| 162 | --->'''[[spoiler:Mattias]]:''' You would insist on meddling until the very last. It all would have succeeded if only Lianna had been the one to perform the Kindling. |
| 163 | * ''VideoGame/ScoobyDooMonstersUnleashed'': Said by the Evil Masked Figure in the PC version as well as the voice of Wickles Manor. |
| 164 | * One side quest in ''Puzzle Adventure'' involves catching a murderous skinwalker. |
| 165 | -->'''Vesemir:''' Got you now, chump!\ |
| 166 | '''Skinwalker:''' Grrrr! I'd get away with it if it weren't for the nosy kid! |
| 167 | * A ''Franchise/{{Barbie}}'' PC computer game ''Detective Barbie In the Mystery of the Carnival Caper!'' features Barbie solving a mystery at a carnival. One outcome involves the suspect trying to steal charity money who comments "which I would have gotten just fine no thanks to you meddling kids." |
| 168 | [[/folder]] |
| 169 | |
| 170 | [[folder:Visual Novels]] |
| 171 | * ''VisualNovel/AceAttorneyInvestigations'' has this at the end. |
| 172 | -->'''[[spoiler:Quercus Alba]]:''' And I would have gotten away with it too, if it weren't for you meddling prosecutors! |
| 173 | [[/folder]] |
| 174 | |
| 175 | [[folder:Web Animation]] |
| 176 | * A variation occurs in one [[AprilFoolsPlot April Fool's Day Episode]] of ''WebAnimation/TheAnnoyingOrange'': |
| 177 | -->'''Midget Apple''': And I would have gotten away with it too, if it weren't for that pesky Knife! |
| 178 | * Parodied in the [[AprilFoolsPlot April Fool's Episode]] of ''WebAnimation/RedVsBlue''. ItMakesSenseInContext: |
| 179 | -->'''Grif:''' What the hell?! You just killed Simmons' ghost!\ |
| 180 | '''Donut:''' Wrong! That wasn't Simmons! It was Old Man Caboose!\ |
| 181 | '''Caboose:''' That's right! It's me. Caboose!\ |
| 182 | '''Omega (through Caboose):''' And I would have gotten away with it too! If it wasn't for you meddling kids! |
| 183 | * ''WebAnimation/NekoSugarGirls'' uses a variant: |
| 184 | -->'''Kidnapper''': I would have had my way with him if not for those meddling [[GratuitousJapanese kodomos]]! |
| 185 | * A ''WebAnimation/HowItShouldHaveEnded'' spoof of ''Film/CaptainAmericaTheWinterSoldier'' has Captain America and his allies plan to foil HYDRA's scheme by tying up Alexander Pierce, then having Cap disguise as him and address the HYDRA moles. After they complete the first part offscreen, Pierce bellows the following: |
| 186 | -->'''Pierce:''' And I would've gotten away with it too, if it weren't for you sneaky kids and your disguise-o-mesh! |
| 187 | * As part of a Scooby-Doo parody during an episode of ''WebAnimation/RWBYChibi'', Team JNPR unmasked a Beowulf Grimm to be the old man shopkeeper, who mumbling could barely be made out to be the famous phrase. |
| 188 | [[/folder]] |
| 189 | |
| 190 | [[folder:Webcomics]] |
| 191 | * [[https://web.archive.org/web/20020220200529/http://www.adventurers-comic.com/d/0181.html Defeated Eternion says a variant of this line]] in ''Webcomic/{{Adventurers}}'' (He then follows it up with a double MyFriendsAndZoidberg) |
| 192 | -->'''Eternion:''' And I would have got away with it too if it wasn't for you pesky adventurers! |
| 193 | * Used word for word in [[https://web.archive.org/web/20100612083447/http://eecomics.net/?strip_id=1061 this]] strip of ''Webcomic/EmergencyExit'' by the villain's second in command. |
| 194 | * Also used in [[http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0196.html this]] installment of ''Webcomic/TheOrderOfTheStick''. |
| 195 | * In ''Webcomic/{{Weregeek}}'', [[spoiler:Doug would have gotten away with using a projector to scare people if it [[http://www.weregeek.com/2011/11/02/ weren't for those meddling NPCs]]]]. |
| 196 | * In ''Webcomic/BloodyUrban'', Shaun thinks those meddling kids are actually alright. [[http://bloodyurban.smackjeeves.com/comics/1501723/meddling-teens/ YEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE]] |
| 197 | * In ''Webcomic/ClockworkGame'', [[https://clockworkgame.com/2012/10/25/two-hundred-victories-in-a-row/ Two boys see a man climb out of The Turk, a famous chess-playing machine]], and run to the newspapers to reveal that it's a hoax. [[https://clockworkgame.com/2012/11/01/theyd-rather-believe-the-lie/ But they want money for their tale]], [[SubvertedTrope which discredits them]]. |
| 198 | * In ''Webcomic/ElGoonishShive'', this is referenced in the last panel of [[http://www.egscomics.com/?date=2012-11-21 this]] strip. Later, after Ellen and Nanase foil more {{Scooby Doo Hoax}}es they gain the nickname of the "Meddlers". |
| 199 | * In ''Webcomic/{{Freefall}}'' after Mr. Kornada is arrested he laments that he would have been the richest person on the planet if not for [[http://freefall.purrsia.com/ff2900/fc02832.htm "that meddling sqid and his dog."]] %%Note that "sqid" is the correct spelling here, not squid. |
| 200 | [[/folder]] |
| 201 | |
| 202 | [[folder:Web Original]] |
| 203 | * In an effort to avoid bad guys swearing revenge on you ''Blog/HowToHero'' suggests that when a bad guy claims he would've succeeded had it not been for "you meddling kids" you should sit him down and explain to him all the flaws in his plan that would've prevented him from succeeding, even if you and your meddling friends hadn't interfered. The guide is confident that upon seeing their mistake the bad guy will declare revenge on themselves. |
| 204 | * In Creator/TeamFourStar's ''VideoGame/{{Bloodborne}}'' series, Takahata remarks that their character Dumplestilskin looks like the kind of guy who would put on a costume to scare away a group of mystery-solving teenagers. |
| 205 | -->'''Lanipator (in Dumplestilskin voice):''' And I would have gotten away with it too, if it weren't for you damn kids! |
| 206 | * ''Literature/WhateleyUniverse''. In "Razzle Dazzle", once mighty supervillain Mephisto the Mentalist bemoans how far he'd sunken after his glory days with a flashback to when he pulled a haunted house scam, only to get caught by the requisite Scooby Gang-expy. |
| 207 | -->“BAH!” Mephisto snorted, “I would have gotten away, if not for that stupid DOG of yours!” |
| 208 | [[/folder]] |
| 209 | |
| 210 | [[folder:Western Animation]] |
| 211 | * The {{Trope Namer|s}}: While the exact wording varied, several episodes of the original ''Franchise/ScoobyDoo'' series ended in this vein, and it eventually took off and became series' catchphrase - to the point where it being either used or parodied at the end of every single plot [[StrictlyFormula was a core part of the franchise's formula.]] Like a lot of now iconic Scooby tropes, [[NewerThanTheyThink its constant use started mostly with]] ''WesternAnimation/APupNamedScoobyDoo,'' which also consistently added "...and that mangy mutt!" It gets to the point where the gang can quote it themselves, and outright expect it (''[[WesternAnimation/ScoobyDooAndTheCyberChase Cyber Chase]]'' even has them finishing it for the bad guy). |
| 212 | ** Later series liked to lampoon, twist or even upend the phrase, like having the speaker ''thank'' the kids for meddling, having them mince the words around ("Hey, are you meddling... kids?") or trip up the delivery ([[WesternAnimation/ScoobyDooFrankenCreepy "we would've gotten revenge on you meddling kids if not for you... er... meddling kids."]]), blame someone else or have it pointed out to them that they probably wouldn't have gotten away with at all, use different terminology in different situations (like children culprits calling them "meddling grown-ups" or a classmate calling them "meddling peers") and other such gags (such as "And I'll still get away with it, in spite of you meddling kids!"). |
| 213 | ** ''WesternAnimation/ScoobyDooMysteryInc'' holds one of the more remembered lampshades in its very first episode. |
| 214 | --->'''"Monster":''' That is until you...\ |
| 215 | '''Sheriff:''' ''Meddling''.\ |
| 216 | '''"Monster":''' Meddling, yes, meddling kids, and your blasted dog ruined everything! |
| 217 | ** In ''WesternAnimation/ScoobyDooAndTheLegendOfTheVampire'', the group investigates the bizarre circumstances surrounding a music festival by posing as a band. Naturally, they're known as "Those Meddling Kids". Similarly, it's the name of one of the songs by recurring characters the Hex Girls. |
| 218 | ** ''WesternAnimation/TheScoobyDooProject'' hangs a lampshade on this when the 'monster' calls them intrusive instead. |
| 219 | --->'''Shaggy:''' Like, he didn't say 'meddling'! Doesn't he know the drill? |
| 220 | ** ''WesternAnimation/ScoobyDooShaggysShowdown'': Rafe says this after being exposed and caught as the mastermind behind Dapper Jack's ghost. Zeke adds a "nosy horse" (actually Scooby-Doo but Zeke's too near-sighted to realize Scooby's not a dog). |
| 221 | ** Similar sentiments were often expressed in other Creator/HannaBarbera [[FollowTheLeader shows about crime-fighting teen with comic pet sidekicks]]: ''WesternAnimation/JosieAndThePussycats'', ''WesternAnimation/ButchCassidyAndTheSundanceKids'', ''WesternAnimation/TheFunkyPhantom'', ''WesternAnimation/SpeedBuggy'', ''WesternAnimation/ClueClub'', and ''WesternAnimation/{{Jabberjaw}}''. During the 2000s and early 2010s, Creator/{{Boomerang}} had a whole block devoted to such shows. [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jp85RXAjzng Guess the name...]] |
| 222 | * Episode 4 of ''WesternAnimation/TheAmazingChanAndTheChanClan'' has the crook calling the children "lousy kid detectives" after Anne and Flip foil his escape. |
| 223 | * Subverted in the 100th episode of ''WesternAnimation/AquaTeenHungerForce'', (in a ''Franchise/ScoobyDoo'' parody, no less) when the number 100's dubious plan is foiled. |
| 224 | -->'''Number 100:''' And I would have succeeded, too, if it weren't for the fact that I failed. |
| 225 | * Parodied (amongst other villain Stock Catchphrases) with [[MadScientist Dr Animo]] in ''WesternAnimation/Ben10Omniverse'': |
| 226 | -->'''Animo:''' CURSE YOU, Tennyson! Curse you and your meddling way!\ |
| 227 | '''Ben:''' ''[to Rook]'' I told you he talked like that! |
| 228 | * The Season 4 premier episode of ''WesternAnimation/CelebrityDeathmatch'' uses this, when Johnny Gomez discovers that John Tesh killed [[spoiler:Bob Costas]] in order to take his place as special guest spectator. |
| 229 | -->'''Tesh:''' And I would've gotten away with it too, if it hadn't been for your meddling sportscasters. |
| 230 | * ''WesternAnimation/ClassOf3000'': The episode "Prank Yankers" has Sunny revealing popular school girls Kaylie and Mackenzie to be international chalk thieves by the names of Inga and Gunther Gabinstad who wanted to steal his chalk. |
| 231 | -->'''Inga:''' Ja-und we would've, like, gotten away with it, too, if it wasn't for these meddling kids!\ |
| 232 | '''Gunther:''' Whatever! |
| 233 | * Scooby-Doo expy ''WesternAnimation/ClueClub''. More than a few villains expressed frustration that they would have gotten away with it if not for the "nosy" kids. Possibly adding insult to injury, at least a few of them only cited "three nosy kids", utterly discounting Dotty's contributions. Possibly justified. Larry and the others insisted on leaving Dotty at home to keep her safe. Revealing to desperate, potentially dangerous men that she cracked most of the clues might have put her in danger. |
| 234 | * In the ''WesternAnimation/CornAndPeg'' episode, "Galloping Ghost", it used a similar format used from the original series, in which Corn, Peg, and Ferris solve the mystery of the Galloping Ghost, and turns out to be Ferris's little brother Ferdy sleepwalking to get cookies, but didn't say the Meddling Kids phrase. |
| 235 | * {{Lampshade|Hanging}}d in ''WesternAnimation/DannyPhantom'' - 'I always wanted to be called a meddling kid!' |
| 236 | * A ShoutOut appears in the ''WesternAnimation/{{Daria}}'' episode "I Loathe a Parade" when an obnoxiously overenthusiastic mascot collapses at Daria's feet because he can't breathe through his lion costume and Daria charitably pulls the head off. |
| 237 | -->'''Mr O'Neill:''' Oh.. hello... where am I?\ |
| 238 | '''Daria:''' I can't believe it, it's Mr O'Neill!\ |
| 239 | '''Tom:''' And he would have gotten away with it, if it weren't for us meddling kids! |
| 240 | * Parodied in the ''WesternAnimation/DarkwingDuck'' episode, "Clash Reunion": |
| 241 | -->'''[[{{Cloudcuckoolander}} Megavolt]]:''' At last! I'll be rid of those meddling kids and their nosey dog! [[BreakingTheFourthWall Whoa! Wrong cartoon.]] |
| 242 | * In the ''WesternAnimation/FetchWithRuffRuffman'' episode "Ruffman Manor is Haunted!" The butler in the said manor is the culprit who haunts it because he likes "being the boss". |
| 243 | -->'''Gardener:''' That's why we gave you these clues...\ |
| 244 | '''Butler''': And I would've gotten away with it too if it weren't for you kids and that meddling game show host dog.\ |
| 245 | '''Ruff''': That's me! |
| 246 | * ''WesternAnimation/TheFunnyCompany'' had a villain who occasionally fumed "'''''I HATE KIDS!!!'''''" |
| 247 | * An episode of ''WesternAnimation/{{Futurama}}'' had a CorruptCorporateExecutive remark "And we would have gotten away with it too, if it weren't for those meddling adults!" |
| 248 | * In the second episode of ''WesternAnimation/GravityFalls'', the Pines twins find out that a giant lake monster was actually a robot controlled by [[spoiler:resident crazy person [=McGucket=]]]. The unmasking scene plays out in classic Scooby-Doo fashion, until they ask him ''why'' he did it, and he very flatly tells them it was for attention, which is no doubt the real motive of 90-100% of the villains on Scooby-Doo. |
| 249 | * ''WesternAnimation/TheGrimAdventuresOfBillyAndMandy'': In the segment ''Nigel Planter and The Chamber Pot of Secrets'', Dean Toadblatt says, "And I would've gotten away with it, too, if it weren't for you meddling kids and your stupid dog!" |
| 250 | * Lampshaded in ''WesternAnimation/HarveyBirdmanAttorneyAtLaw'': |
| 251 | -->'''Old Man Backoff:''' I would've gotten away with it, too, if it wasn't for--\ |
| 252 | '''Harvey''': "These meddling kids..."\ |
| 253 | '''Old Man Backoff''': No, the damn cotton market! |
| 254 | * When WesternAnimation/DonaldDuck foils one of his plans to shut down the WesternAnimation/HouseOfMouse, Pete remarks that he "would've gotten away with it if it weren't that meddling duck!" |
| 255 | * ''WesternAnimation/JohnnyTest'': The episode "Johnny Dukey Doo" has several ''Scooby-Doo'' references, and when Johnny unmasks Mr. Outlet's disguise, Outlet says that he would've gotten away for it if it weren't for the Test siblings, Dukey, and Gil. |
| 256 | * The Joker does a ShoutOut to this in the ''WesternAnimation/JusticeLeague'' story "[[Recap/JusticeLeagueS2E21And22WildCards Wild Cards]]". Referring to some superpowered children the government was trying to mold into {{tyke bomb}}s, which he turns to his side, he states: |
| 257 | -->'''The Joker:''' And they would have gotten away with it too, if it weren't for me meddling with the kids! |
| 258 | * In episode "Tick, Tick, Tick" of ''WesternAnimation/KimPossible'', as Kim approaches the villain (her eventual archfoe Dr. Drakken)'s island lair in which she's told is haunted and includes a sign. "'Haunted island'? Keep out 'meddling kids'? ''Puh-leze''." |
| 259 | * ''WesternAnimation/LloydInSpace'', "The Ride Along", has this somewhat opposite version: "I almost got away with it too thanks to those meddling kids"... referring to Lloyd and his friend Eddie who turned out to have chased down an undercover cop (the real baddie was cornered by Eddie's dad). |
| 260 | * Subverted in the Creator/PBSKids series ''WesternAnimation/MarthaSpeaks,'' in which the villain, being taken to jail, says "[The plan] would have worked, too, if it wasn't for... [[BuffySpeak it not working]]." |
| 261 | * WesternAnimation/{{Rupert}}'s been called "You meddling little bear!", "That meddling bear!", "That pesky little bear," "That sneaky little bear"... You get the idea. |
| 262 | * ''WesternAnimation/TheSimpsons'': In "[[Recap/TheSimpsonsS1E12KrustyGetsBusted Krusty Gets Busted]]", Sideshow Bob takes this to its logical conclusion, adding "Treat kids as equals! They're smarter than you think!" Considering that he had spent most of his time that episode running quality children's programming, it's an especially good point. |
| 263 | * ''WesternAnimation/SouthPark'' : |
| 264 | ** In "Child Abduction Is Not Funny": |
| 265 | --->''"I would have gotten away with it too, if it weren't for those meddling policemen."'' |
| 266 | ** In "Weight Gain 4000", Stan and Wendy (somehow) foil Mr. Garrison (really Mr. Hat's) plan to kill Kathie Lee Gifford, to which Mr. Hat replies "Yeah, and I would've gotten away with it too if it weren't for those meddling kids." |
| 267 | ** Oddly enough, no variant of the line is used whatsoever in "Korn's Groovy Pirate Mystery", despite the entire episode being an AffectionateParody of ''Franchise/ScoobyDoo''. |
| 268 | * In the 1973-74 ''WesternAnimation/{{Superfriends}}'' episode "The Balloon People", after Noah Tall is captured by Superman, he says "I could have gotten away with it if it weren't for you, Superman." |
| 269 | * Played straight in ''Series/TheSuperMarioBrosSuperShow'' episode "20,000 Leaks Under the Sea", when Mario, Luigi, Toad, and Princess Toadstool[[note]]Now known today by her Japanese name Princess Peach.[[/note]] discover that "King Koopa" (AKA: King Bowser) was using a submarine shaped like a sea monster to trick the residents of a seaside town into making him their king. |
| 270 | -->'''King Koopa / Bowser''': And it would've worked if you buttinskis hadn't messed things up! |
| 271 | * The ''WesternAnimation/TeamoSupremo'' Halloween episode (which itself completely parodied Franchise/ScoobyDoo) used this trope. |
| 272 | * ''WesternAnimation/TeenTitansGo'': The episode “The Cruel Giggling Ghoul” had many references to Scooby-Doo and UsefulNotes/LeBronJames says that Batman and Commissioner Gordon would’ve gotten away with there plan too if it weren’t for the Titans as meddling kids. |
| 273 | * ''WesternAnimation/TotalDramaRama'': In the episode “Carving Duncan”, when Duncan is unmasked, he says “And I would’ve gotten away with it too if it wasn’t for you meddling classmates.” |
| 274 | * In the ''WesternAnimation/VeggieTales'' video "Esther, The Girl Who Became Queen," the French Peas exclaim they would have successfully crushed King Xerxes with a piano "...if it wasn't for that meddling queen!" |
| 275 | * ''WesternAnimation/WowWowWubbzy'': The episode "New Kid on the Block" has Wubbzy feeling upset after his Captain Wonderpants Blinky-Beepy Boomerang gets stuck in a tree and he can't reach it. Realizing that he now doesn't have anything to show for show-and-tell, Wubbzy claims he would have [[NeverMyFault "if it weren't for that new kid"]]. |
| 276 | * ''WesternAnimation/{{Young Justice|2010}}'': |
| 277 | ** In the first episode when the Cadmus board of directors dismiss Robin, Aqualad, and Kid Flash as threats, Dr. Desmond warns that they are more than the typical meddling kids. |
| 278 | ** In "First Impression", which contains numerous references to ''Franchise/ScoobyDoo'', wraps it up and puts a bow on it by having the culprit, Whisper A'Daire, curse that she and her men would've gotten away with their scheme if it weren't for those meddling heroes -- the Outsiders. |
| 279 | [[/folder]] |
| 280 | ---- |
| 281 | ->''"[[Film/ScoobyDoo2002 I would've gotten away with it, too, if not for you meddling]] [[CurseCutShort sons of]]--"'' |
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