Line #128 Recap/BirdsOfAFeatherCS5ItHappenedInHollywood


1	[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/ithappenedinhollywood.jpg]]
2
3	->'''Sharon''': Mum an' Dad weren' married, Trace.
4	->'''Tracey''': Oh, lovely. First we're a pair o' Bullocks, now we're a couple o' bastards!
5	->'''Sharon''': Yeah... and lucky ones at that! Trace, you're never gonna believe who our ol' man is.
6	->'''Tracey''': Who?
7	->'''Sharon''': It's... it's...
8	->'''Tracey''': Yeah?
9	->'''Sharon''': Creator/GeorgeHamilton!
10	-->-- '''Sharon Theodopolopodous''' and '''Tracey Stubbs''' discovering their true lineage.
11
12	* Date First Aired: 25/12/1993
13
14	At their Auntie Sylvie's funeral, an old male friend of hers gives Sharon and Tracey the key to a safety deposit box, which contains their real birth certificates. Their father's name is George Hamilton - who they believe to be Creator/GeorgeHamilton, the Hollywood actor. Thanks to Dorien, the girls fly out to Hollywood in a bid to track him down. Their plans to confront him do not go well as they are chased off a film set, whilst Dorien is mistakenly imprisoned for stalking the actor Creator/GeorgeWendt. Fate eventually intervenes and they get to spend an afternoon with Hamilton, who turns out not to be their father after all. Though they never learn it, the truth is far less glamorous.
15
16	----
17	!!Tropes in this Episode:
18	* AccentUponTheWrongSyllable: Chris offers Darryl some "or der-ver-ous".
19	* AccidentalMisnaming: Sharon calls Butch Cassidy "Butch Casserole".
20	* AffectionateNickname:
21	** Dorien calls Richard Branson "Dick".
22	** Sharon calls Sydnee "Syd".
23	* AllThereInTheScript: {{Inverted}}; While the tour guide isn't named verbally and is credited as "Tour Guide", his name tag calls him Gordon.
24	* AngryGuardDog: Dorien has her shorts ruined by one.
25	* AsHimself: That was the real Creator/GeorgeHamilton playing himself, the same goes for Creator/GeorgeWendt, Richard Branson, and Lionel Blair.
26	* BigFancyHouse: The girls go on a tour of celebrity mansions.
27	-->'''Sharon''': Look at ''that'', Trace. Makes your gaff look like a fleapit.
28	* BirthdayEpisode: Melanie Fishman's birthday party is important to Dorien's sub-plot, yet it is never shown on screen.
29	* CallBack:
30	** The [[Recap/BirdsOfAFeatherS2E15SomeoneElsesBaby previous reveal that Tracey and Sharon were adopted]] plays an important role in this episode when Auntie Sylvie reveals in a letter the names of their true parents.
31	** [[Recap/BirdsOfAFeatherS1E5Cheat Fat Stan's]] son helps Tracey and Sharon try to find their father by hacking the electrical register.
32	* CelebrityCrush: Dorien has been holding a torch for Creator/GeorgeHamilton ever since she was a young girl.
33	* CelebrityParadox: When Sharon brings up ''Series/{{Emmerdale}}'', she doesn't seem to realise that Vic Windsor has more than a striking resemblance to Darryl.
34	* CharacterDeath: Tracey and Sharon's Auntie Sylvie dies before this episode, which starts on her funeral.
35	* ChildHater: Dorien is annoyed by a disruptive child on the tour.
36	-->'''Dorien''': Belt up you little germ or I'll sew your lips together!
37	* ChristmasEpisode: The fifth in total, although the plot has little to do with Christmas.
38	* ClothingDamage: Dorien's shorts are ripped by an AngryGuardDog.
39	* ComicallyMissingThePoint: Darryl tries to stop Tracey from going to LA by saying Garth needs someone to look after him, so Tracey explains he's going on a skiing trip with his mates, but Darryl still doesn't like the idea. Tracey then reassures Darryl that he's done it before and he'll be fine, not realising he was talking about her going to LA.
40	* ContinuityNod:
41	** Sharon still believes that Auntie Sylvie could [[Recap/BirdsOfAFeatherS2E15SomeoneElsesBaby see the future]].
42	** Dorien mentions Tracey and Sharon's fighting could be great material for her [[Recap/BirdsOfAFeatherS4E11TheFront next novel]].
43	** The dress Dorien wears when she goes out with Roger is her funeral dress from "[[Recap/BirdsOfAFeatherS5E6DeadLoss Dead Loss]]", minus the veil.
44	* CopycatMockery: Sharon picks up an accent when mocking Roger.
45	* DeadManWriting: Auntie Sylvie leaves a written message for the sisters to be read after her death, mainly containing the names of Tracey and Sharon's true parents and their true birth certificates.
46	-->'''Sharon''': There's a note an' all. "Dear girls, by the time you read this, I will have shuffled off this mortal coil. If on the other hand, I'm still alive, and you are a couple of tea leaves, then get your stinkin' hands off my property, you toerags".
47	-->'''Tracey''': She always 'ad a lovely way with words.
48	* DeadpanSnarker: Tracey isn't ready to listen to Sharon complaining at Auntie Sylvie's funeral.
49	-->'''Sharon''': I hate funerals. Well, it's so depressin'.
50	-->'''Tracey''': They're meant to be. You could 'ardly 'ave a DJ an' a puppet show, couldja?
51	* DrivesLikeCrazy: Tracey does so when trying to escape security after another failed attempt to meet Creator/GeorgeHamilton.
52	* ElectrifiedBathtub: Alfie Conroy apparently dropped a heater in his mum's bathtub.
53	* ExtraLongEpisode: The run-time of the episode clocks in at 60 minutes, twice the length of an average episode of the series.
54	* GetOut: Tracey tells Dorien to sling her hook so she and Sharon can discuss Auntie Sylvie's envelope.
55	* GoingCommando: When checking if a woman is Creator/SharonStone, Tracey, Sharon and Dorien all check to see if she's wearing underwear.
56	* GratuitousItalian: Dorien says "Ciao" to Tracey and Sharon before going to first class.
57	* HoistByTheirOwnPetard: Dorien refusing to invite Tracey and Sharon to her silver wedding anniversary party comes back to get her when they refuse to let her know about their real parents.
58	* {{Hypocrite}}: Tracey calls Dorien one for throwing a party for her silver wedding anniversary, despite the fact she'll cheat on Marcus with anyone she can find.
59	* {{Irony}}: Dorien has sex on a ''Virgin'' flight.
60	-->'''Tracey''': Dorien, you didn't.
61	-->'''Dorien''': I did. ({{Beat}}) Twice.
62	-->'''Tracey''': 'Ow could you? On ''Virgin'' of all airlines!
63	-->'''Dorien''': I know, isn't it ironic?
64	* ItsAllAboutMe: Dorien only pays for Tracey and Sharon's trip to LA not because she wants them to find their father, but rather because she wants to try and get Creator/GeorgeHamilton as a guest at her silver anniversary party.
65	* KilledOffForReal: Auntie Sylvie had been a recurring character earlier on in the series, only for this episode to reveal that she had died off-screen.
66	-->'''Sharon''': Poor old Auntie Sylvie. Whenever I smell cabbage boilin', I'll think of 'er.
67	* KilledOffscreen: Auntie Sylvie died offscreen when she was ran over by two buses.
68	* LotsOfLuggage: Dorien brings far too much luggage with her.
69	-->'''Dorien''': Only the ''poor'' travel light, Tracey.
70	* MileHighClub: Dorien has sex with a man twice in the airplane toilet, but Sharon doesn't count it because they're still on the runway.
71	-->'''Dorien''': I've always wanted to join the mile-high club. Hopefully, that should earn me honorary life membership.
72	-->'''Sharon''': I doubt it, you daft ''tart''. We ain't taken off yet. We're still on the flippin' runway!
73	-->'''Dorien''': ''Oops''.
74	* {{Malaproper}}: Dorien says "cackheads" when she means "crackheads".
75	* MissingMum: It's revealed that Mavis Bullock, the sisters' true mother, died 10 years prior to the events of the episode.
76	* OneShotCharacter: Richard Branson, Gordon, Creator/GeorgeHamilton, Creator/GeorgeWendt, Sydnee, Roger, Charles, Lionel Blair, Alfie Conroy and the other George Hamilton.
77	* OneSteveLimit:
78	** A OneShotCharacter is named Roger, which was the name of two of Dorien's off-screen lovers back in "[[Recap/BirdsOfAFeatherS4E9TimeAndTides Time and Tides]]" and "[[Recap/BirdsOfAFeatherS5E12AllGonePearShaped All Gone Pear Shaped]]".
79	** As it turns out, the sisters' real father shares the same name as actor Creator/GeorgeHamilton, although they themselves don't realize it, thinking that they're one and the same, until the very end of the episode.
80	* OpeningShoutOut: One of the pictures of the sisters seen in the British George Hamilton's room is a picture used during the show's title sequence.
81	* PlayingSick: Sharon fakes a turn so she, Tracey and Dorien can get off the tour bus.
82	* PlotTriggeringDeath: Auntie Sylvie's death and subsequent funeral leads Tracey and Sharon to find out the names of their birth parents, and think their father is Creator/GeorgeHamilton.
83	* PosthumousCharacter: Mavis Bullock, Tracey and Sharon's real mother.
84	* PottyEmergency: Before she can "recycle two pints of lager", Sharon has to wait for Dorien to have a shag in the airplane toilet.
85	* PrecisionFStrike: When Dorien claims she was improvising the dingo story, Sharon remarks she was bullshitting.
86	* PretentiousPronunciation: Dorien and Sharon pronounce their names "Dori-anne" and "Shar-own" when pretending to be from ''Hello!'' magazine.
87	* ReallyGetsAround: Tracey is disgusted that Dorien would throw a party for her silver wedding anniversary, knowing how many affairs she's had.
88	-->'''Tracey''': Well, if your ''guest list'' was to include ''half'' the blokes you've 'ad since we'd known ya, you'd 'ave to 'old the party at Wembley Stadium!
89	* RecognitionFailure:
90	** Sharon thinks Tracey doesn't know who Creator/GeorgeHamilton is, leading Tracey to remark she knows who ''the'' George Hamilton is, but the man on their birth certificate can't be the actor.
91	** Dorien doesn't realise she's talking to Richard Branson, while on a flight that his company owns.
92	--->'''Dorien''': Now, have you flown before, Dick?
93	** Tracey thinks Creator/JamesCaan owns a newsagent's shop in the high street.
94	* RichBitch: Dorien mocks Tracey and Sharon for not flying first class.
95	* RunningOverThePlot: The whole episode begins with the funeral of Auntie Sylvie, now dead from having been run over.
96	-->'''Tracey''': What a way to go. ({{Beat}}) Run over. ({{Beat}}) Twice. ({{Beat}}) By two consecutive buses.
97	-->'''Sharon''': Typical, innit? You hang about for ages, then two come at once.
98	* SeasonFinale: Of Series 5.
99	* {{Seers}}: Sharon still believes Auntie Sylvie had this gift.
100	* SelfDeprecation: Creator/GeorgeWendt claims he has no female admirers, including his immediate family.
101	* SeparatedByACommonLanguage: Sydnee doesn't understand British slang.
102	-->'''Sharon''': Uh, uh, 'scuse me, Syd. Could you tell me where the ''khazi'' is, please? ({{Beat}}) The toilet.
103	-->'''Sydnee''': The ''bathroom's'' over there.
104	-->'''Sharon''': I want a slash, not a shower.
105	* SequelEpisode: To "[[Recap/BirdsOfAFeatherS2E15SomeoneElsesBaby Someone Else's Baby]]" from Series 2.
106	* SeriesContinuityError: Sharon mentions that Chris taught her everything he knows about driving, yet "[[Recap/BirdsOfAFeatherS5E3NonStarter Non-Starter]]" established that Sharon can't drive.
107	* SeriousBusiness: Creator/GeorgeHamilton never kids when sunbathing is concerned.
108	* ShoutOut:
109	** The name of the episode is a reference to the movie ''It Happened In Hollywood''.
110	** Sharon compares Darryl and Chris to "Film/ButchCassidyAndTheSundanceKid".
111	** Tracey briefly mentions Mensa.
112	** Sharon sarcastically mentions that for Dorien and Marcus' silver wedding anniversary, UsefulNotes/ElizabethII is going to give him a Victoria Cross for bravery.
113	** Tracey tells Dorien that she's spent more time staring at ceilings than Creator/MichelangeloBuonarroti.
114	** As she tries (and fails) to track down her real father, Tracey moans that "[[Music/{{Queen}} Another one bites the dust]]".
115	** Melanie Fishman plans to get half the [[UsefulNotes/BritishFootyTeams Arsenal]] team to appear at her birthday.
116	** When Sharon tells Dorien that she and Tracey are celebrity children, Dorien remarks that she didn't know Franchise/KingKong was allowed to mate.
117	** Dorien brings up that Creator/GeorgeHamilton would date Mavis Bullock, considering the beautiful women he also dated like Creator/JoanCollins or Creator/ElizabethTaylor.
118	** Darryl tries to warn Tracey about going to LA by telling her about what happened to Rodney King.
119	** Darryl complains he'll be in prison so long that by the time he gets out, Creator/MacaulayCulkin will be the American President.
120	** When the girls drive past Grauman's Chinese Theatre, there are banners advertising Creator/HarrisonFord in ''Film/TheFugitive'' and Creator/MelGibson (presumably in ''Film/TheManWithoutAFace'').
121	** Sharon calls the crappy motel the "[[Music/{{Eagles}} Hotel California]]".
122	** Sharon thinks WesternAnimation/MickeyMouse would fall in love with Dorien at first sight if he saw how she was dressed.
123	** Creator/GeorgeWendt guards a beer cooler, referencing how he played the beer-loving Norm Peterson on ''Series/{{Cheers}}''.
124	** Dorien fangirls over Creator/JamesCaan.
125	** Tracey mentions that Music/{{Madonna}} and Music/BarbraStreisand are included in the tours of stars' homes, while on said tour, the bus passes the home of Creator/BruceWillis and Creator/DemiMoore.
126	** Tracey and Sharon watch ''Hollywood Tonight!'', where they learn that Creator/GeorgeHamilton is making a new TV mini-series for Creator/{{Universal}}.
127	** "Oh, Pretty Woman" by Music/RoyOrbison plays when the girls' shopping trip begins, referencing ''Film/PrettyWoman''.
128	** Tracey, Sharon and Dorien pass the clock tower from ''Franchise/BackToTheFuture'' when trying to escape security.
129	** Dorien briefly mistakes a woman at the restaurant for Creator/SharonStone, but realises she isn't because she's wearing underwear, unlike in her famous scene from ''Film/BasicInstinct''.
130	** When Sharon realises Dorien only brought her and Tracey to LA for selfish reasons, Dorien remarks they should've expected it as after all she isn't Cilla Black.
131	* SpeakInUnison: When Tracey lies that the girls are from ''Hello!'' magazine, Sharon and Dorien give a cheery "Hello" to Sydnee.
132	* SpecialGuest: Creator/GeorgeHamilton and Creator/GeorgeWendt [[AsHimself as themselves]].
133	* StalkerWithoutACrush: Through the girls' attempts to meet Creator/GeorgeHamilton, they have several run-ins with Creator/GeorgeWendt which results in Dorien being mistaken for a stalker and arrested.
134	* StartsWithTheirFuneral: The opening scene of this episode is Auntie Sylvie's funeral.
135	* TakeThat:
136	** When Sharon starts yelling, Tracey warns her that they are at a funeral, not Petticoat Lane Market.
137	** Dorien tells Sharon that if she wanted to embarrass herself, then she'd be a contestant on ''Stars in Their Eyes''.
138	** Dorien tells a tired Tracey and Sharon that they look like they should be selling copies of ''The Big Issue''.
139	** Sharon remarks that even ''Series/{{Emmerdale}}'' is exciting compared to being married to Chris.
140	** Dorien doesn't like to be associated with tourists:
141	--->'''Dorien''': Tourists come from Basildon, wear ''cheap'' knitwear an' watch GMTV!
142	* WardrobeMalfunction: Dorien's rear is exposed when a guard dog rips her shorts.
143	* YiddishAsASecondLanguage: Auntie Sylvie's letter mentions she had to "keep shtum".

Context Recap / BirdsOfAFeatherCS5ItHappenedInHollywood