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[[quoteright:299:[[WebVideo/TheNostalgiaCritic https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/blam_v3.jpg]]]]
[[caption-width-right:299:That third pic's out of left field [[{{Pun}} accordion]] to the trope.]]
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->''"This is named after the random musical number sung by a big-lipped alligator towards the end of the film ''[WesternAnimation/AllDogsGoToHeaven].'' A scene that comes right the fuck out of nowhere; has little to no bearing whatsoever on the plot; is WAY over the top in terms of ridiculousness, even within the context of the movie; and after it happens, no one ever speaks of it again."''
-->-- '''WebVideo/TheNostalgiaChick''', explaining the term after [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WJRBPlnBg24 using it to describe the singing goanna scene]] from ''WesternAnimation/FernGully''

A NonSequitur is a bit or line of dialogue that is intentionally out of place, usually designed to elicit a comedic reaction. They have no actual bearing on the plot, although they are staples of characters who are part of their own little world like the {{Cloudcuckoolander}} or TheDitz.

Springboarding from there, we find the Big-Lipped Alligator Moment, or BLAM ([[FunWithAcronyms an appropriate term in and of itself,]] as they tend to show up with all the subtlety of a shotgun blast). This is a very bizarre scene in an otherwise normal story that veers off into the surreal or strange. Upon exiting that scene, the plot continues on like it never happened.

There are three precise criteria for measuring a Big-Lipped Alligator Moment:
* [[AssPull Appears out of nowhere]] --
** The plot comes to a halt as the scene takes its spot in the running time. There can't be any {{Foreshadowing}}, and it's not the natural outcome of anything in the plot or setting. Falling into a trap while StormingTheCastle is expected; falling into a giant talking sandwich is not.
* [[MakesJustAsMuchSenseInContext Does not make sense in context]] --
** The fictional setting, characters, and narrative devices have to be at odds with the scene. In that regard, WorldBuilding moments, strange personalities, and a surreal story structure that can explain its origin are exempt from this trope. For instance, AllJustADream usually gives a good reason, as using the trope tends to go hand-in-hand with the surreal (although for some genres and franchises, using the scenario of All Just A Dream itself may qualify).
* [[{{Padding}} Has no impact on the story whatsoever]] --
** Most scenes have components that are relevant to future scenes and the overall plot, following TheLawOfConservationOfDetail. Not so for a [=BLAM=], which will be swept under the rug and forgotten as quickly as possible; removing it would not create any {{Plot Hole}}s. A scene that ''does'' impact the plot, despite fitting the other two criteria, would be a DeusExMachina, not this trope. Compare WackyWaysideTribe.

Simply being random, strange, or inconsequential to the story is not enough. All three criteria have to be met. If a scene is considered "borderline", it is likely not an example. [=BLAMs=] are often {{Level Breaker}}s as well. Usually, [[TheWalrusWasPaul this is done just because]]. Additionally, it has to be a ''moment'' -- if a work can have a BLAM within it, then the work itself isn't a BLAM. It's a BizarroEpisode if it's a weird installment within a body of work, and it's a QuirkyWork if the entire work is made up of weirdness.

The TropeNamer is ''WesternAnimation/AllDogsGoToHeaven'', and the TropeCodifier is WebVideo/TheNostalgiaChick and WebVideo/TheNostalgiaCritic from their review of ''WesternAnimation/FernGully'' while commenting on another example. In the trope naming scene (in a movie that mostly deals with talking dogs, the afterlife, and mafia undertones, somewhat strange itself), a big-lipped, Cajun-accented, bone-through-the-nose alligator takes a liking to the main character Charlie and forces him to sing a duet "Let's Make Music Together". While the alligator goes on to have a role in the plot later on, Charlie is noticeably very confused over the whole song.

Context and the nature of the situation matters immensely in comparison to the sliding scale of realism used by the story in question. This trope can be objectively observed but because of the dissonance between the audience and the characters (the audience doesn't live in the exact same world, so what is strange to the audience might be commonplace for the characters) this often ends up as a debatable topic. Even the trope namer [[ThisIndexIsNotAnExample doesn't count]].

Adding to the controversy is the fact that, in certain circumstances at least, belief in this trope could be considered an example of the PerfectSolutionFallacy; defined in this case as excessive pedantry about adherence to the {{Law Of Conservation Of Detail}}. Aside from anything else, there are works where irrelevant or obfuscating details are actually important; pare down the details too much in a murder mystery, for instance, and you risk making the plot obvious from the outset. Being excessively paranoid about avoiding this trope or conserving detail also potentially puts constraints on creativity in general terms, as well, as any given story might need to deviate to develop the characters, setting, background and other contextual elements that might not strictly move the narrative forward or be utilized as a ChekhovsGun.

Compare these other tropes and consider whether an example would better fit there:
* AWildRapperAppears: A rap segment with no plot relevance begins without warning, with rappers often appearing out of the blue to sing.
* BizarroEpisode: An installment of a franchise is weird and out of place.
* BrickJoke: It comes out of nowhere, seems like it has little to no relevance at first, disappears for a while, then comes back like a boomerang later on at some random point and becomes relevant, even if only to a very minor plot element. If it does so more than once, it becomes a RunningGag.
* CutawayGag: A throwaway joke that has a {{framing device}} of a character reminiscing of an unrelated past story[=/=]flashback or an ImagineSpot or a WhatIf scenario.
* DisneyAcidSequence: A surreal visual and musical scene that may or may not have plot relevance; because of the occasional lack of relevance there tends to be overlap. Is usually just a chance for animators to [[AnimationBump show off]].
* GiantSpaceFleaFromNowhere: A sudden boss encounter, in video games, that has nothing to do with the plot.
** DiabolusExNihilo: The equivalent of this outside video games.
* GratuitousRape: A rape scene comes out of nowhere.
* GainaxEnding: A similarly bizarre MindScrew ends up being the resolution to the plot.
* HowUnscientific: A moment that breaks Genre Consistency, but may or may not break consistency of tone.
* NonSequitur: A line of dialogue that doesn't follow the regular or normal conversation.
* NonSequiturThud: A line of dialogue spoken by a character just before they go unconscious (or sometimes [[TalkingInYourSleep when waking up from a dream]]).
* SexStartsStoryStops: A random sex scene between two characters that comes out of nowhere and contributes nothing to the plot.
* SweepsWeekLesbianKiss: Two women kiss, it contributes nothing to the plot or conflict, and neither woman questions their sexuality or mention the kiss again afterwards.
* ThatRemindsMeOfASong: When a character suddenly starts singing a song that has no plot relevance.

Also compare WhatHappenedToTheMouse, AbortedArc, MakesJustAsMuchSenseInContext, and FlashMob (a RealLife BLAM). AuthorAppeal is one possible reason for the BLAM. If the BLAM is used to sell products, it may be a ProductPromotionParade. If it's inappropriate in nature, it might be a CensorDecoy that failed to do its job. If it's an ongoing plot and not just a one-off scene, it's TrappedByMountainLions. If an entire work runs on this, you have a RandomEventsPlot.

Often confused with an ArcadianInterlude. Also has nothing to with ''WesternAnimation/KaBlam'' or BoomHeadshot. For actual alligators, see NeverSmileAtACrocodile.

A certain amount of FridgeLogic suggests that, at least in a film aimed at young children, a BLAM can provide an opportunity for a washroom break without missing much of the main action. See the WebVideo/{{Honest Trailer|s}} for ''WesternAnimation/{{Aladdin}}'' as an example. "Time to pee, nothing to see..."

Remember, Administrivia/TropesAreNotBad, as many of these types of scenes can be well-remembered and enjoyed, if not fully explained.


[[noreallife]]
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!!Example subpages:
[[index]]
* BLAM/AnimeAndManga
* BLAM/ComicBooks
* BLAM/FanWorks
* BLAM/{{Film}}
* BLAM/InteractiveFiction
* BLAM/{{Literature}}
* BLAM/LiveActionTV
* BLAM/{{Music}}
* BLAM/ProfessionalWrestling
* BLAM/PuppetShows
* BLAM/TabletopGames
* BLAM/{{Theatre}}
* BLAM/ThemeParks
* BLAM/VideoGames
* BLAM/{{Webcomics}}
* BLAM/WebOriginal
** ''BLAM/{{Evaporate}}''
** BLAM/GoAnimate
* BLAM/WesternAnimation
** ''BLAM/{{Clarence}}''
[[/index]]

!![[SelfDemonstratingArticle SCCHHHHH SCHHHHHHHH. That is my impression of rooftop tiles.]]
[[foldercontrol]]

[[folder:Advertising]]
* You would think that it's impossible for anything as short as a TV ad to have a BLAM, but [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qhm-22Q0PuM this ad]] for Herman Cain (at the time a candidate for the [[UsefulNotes/AmericanPoliticalSystem 2012 Republican nomination for President]]) proves us all wrong. It features Cain's Chief of Staff Mark Block talking about what Cain hopes to achieve by running...and then, towards the very end, out of nowhere, [[RandomSmokingScene a shot of him randomly taking a drag off his cigarette]]. Combined with the closing shot of Cain slowly turning to the camera and slooooooowly smiling, the ad [[MemeticMutation quickly went viral]].
* Creator/{{Nintendo}} occasionally has these during their quirky Nintendo Directs:
** Their E3 2012 had a random shot of Creator/SatoruIwata staring contemplatively at a banana bunch he was holding before setting it down and introducing a reel of upcoming games.
** During their November 13, 2013 Nintendo Direct, the first shot of Reggie Fils-Aime's office is of his giant stuffed Mii head resting in a chair. The camera then pans over to the real Reggie off to the side as he begins his preview of upcoming games. The Mii head has no connection to the games being shown and is never seen again in the Nintendo Direct.
* Advertising/{{GEICO}} commercials seem to be using this as a running gag as of "Did you know that...?"
* A Advertising/{{Progressive}} commercial has Flo delivering her usual spiel -- which gets interrupted by a "halftime show", which is Smash Mouth performing a few seconds of "All Star". The people that Flo is talking to have no idea what the hell just happened.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Asian Animation]]
* ''Animation/SheepAndWolves'': During a montage at the end of the second act, where Grey is traveling through the mountains alone, he comes across giant, fifty-foot tall beasts roaming through the misty countryside. These creatures add absolutely nothing to the plot of this movie, and are never acknowledged again after this scene. Never mind the [[NonStandardCharacterDesign random non-anthropomorphic giraffe]] in the middle of the forest.
* In the ''Animation/SimpleSamosa'' episode "Mayor Gaayab", the Garam Garam News reporter announces that the job of Chatpata Nagar's mayor is open again before going into Royal Falooda's house to snatch the title for herself. The scene then cuts to a town citizen who is selling "real mayor chairs" before cutting back to the Mayor's house again, where a whole bunch of people are fighting over who should assume the role of political leader. The "real mayor chairs" scene only lasts for a few seconds, it only has a flimsy connection to the episode's plot without actually doing anything to advance it, and the chair store never appears again after that, nor is it mentioned or referenced in any capacity.
* ''Animation/StitchAndAi'' has two such moments, both involving new powers [[Franchise/LiloAndStitch Stitch]] has in this show [[spoiler:''separate from'' the metamorphosis program]]; he's never shown these abilities before (not even in the ''Anime/{{Stitch}}'' anime) and they never show up again after that they're used, making their sudden introductions completely pointless {{padding}}:
** In one scene in the episode "Tell the World", Ai "interviews" the [[AsianLionDogs shishi]] for her video. When she admonishes Stitch for standing on top of one of the lion statues by saying that there are only two lions not three, he suddenly sprouts quills (that look much like his back spines) on top of his head and below his chin pretending to be a scary lion. He then retracts the quills after Ai simply tells him that he's not scary.
** In "The Phoenix", while Stitch, Ai, and her cousin Bao are using a hang glider to reach the phoenix and the shrine after the alien hunters in the episode levitate the shrine's grounds, Stitch decides to climb on top of the glider and jump off like a BASE jumper, suddenly growing a membrane in freefall to allow him to glide through the air. There's no rhyme or reason for this ability either other than he simply wanted to have some fun, and it also begs the question as to why he never used this ability before in the original Western continuity when he fell from great heights back then.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Mythology & Religion]]
* In the Myth/NorseMythology tale of "The Death of Baldur", there is a part where the [=Æsir=] are gathered at the funeral pyre of the recently-killed Baldur, when a dwarf shows up. The dwarf, named Litr, casually strolls in when Thor notices him and [[BlackComedy punts him into the funeral pyre]]. The tale then resumes as normal and the dwarf is never mentioned again.
* In ''Literature/TheKalevala'', Väinämöinen and the others are burrowing into a mountain to find TheSampo, when they come across a bunch of snakes drinking beer. Väinämöinen is infuriated for some reason and curses all snakes so that they can never drink beer again. This is never mentioned again.
* From the Literature/BookOfExodus, there is "Zipporah at the Inn" - a three-sentence-long episode which happens right in the middle of the narrative just after God has commissioned Moses to free His people from Egypt. Suddenly, one night God tries to kill Moses. However, Moses' wife Zipporah quickly circumcises their son, declaring, "Truly you are a bridegroom of blood to me," and God leaves them alone. The narrative then picks up again as if nothing had happened, baffling scholars ever since. [[note]]Why does God try to kill Moses immediately after commissioning him for the task of going to Egypt? How did Zipporah know that circumcising their son would appease God? Was the fact their son was uncircumcised even the problem? (The text just says, "God sought to kill him," - it never specifically states why.) Why is a woman circumcising a boy, something normally only done by a man? Why would Moses delay circumcising his son in the first place? The ambiguous use of pronouns also makes it difficult to tell who exactly is doing what. For example, who is Zipporah speaking to when she says, "''You'' are a bridegroom of blood to me,"? Moses? Her son? God? And what does the phrase "a bridegroom of blood" even mean? Apart from supposing it to be a rather heavy-handed morality tale ("Don't delay circumcising your sons or God will kill you!"), scholars remain bewildered why it should be expressed in this way and in this part of the narrative, with many concluding it must be a fragment inserted from elsewhere. [[/note]]
[[/folder]]


[[folder:Podcasts]]
* The introduction of the first episode of the ''Podcast/CoolKidsTable'' ''Franchise/HarryPotter''-themed game ''Hogwarts: The New Class'' gets waylaid by the players trying to pick characters to play in ''VideoGame/GoldenEye1997'', and which cheat codes are active, all thanks to a stray comment from Jake describing a four-way split-screen as reminiscent of the game.
** An in-universe one occurs in ''Podcast/TheFallenGods'' thanks to the Wild Magic Table. No one really expected to Tuatha to try and cast fireball and instead [[spoiler: summon a full-sized unicorn]].
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Vanity Plates]]
* Yes, even something as short as a VanityPlate can have a BLAM in it, as showcased by [[https://youtu.be/JbmVHXEui28 the logo]] for Behaviour Communications, the short lived film division of future ''VideoGame/DeadByDaylight'' and ''VideoGame/FalloutShelter'' devs Behaviour Interactive. While the erecting of a lowercase "b" statue near a rollercoaster seems to be the main focus, the logo starts with what appears to be black and white stock footage from an old monster flick of a women screaming bloody murder at the sight of the rollercoaster. With nothing about said rollercoaster looking particularly ominous, the addition of the ScreamingWoman was a rather odd choice. [[/folder]]

[[folder:Web Animation]]
* ''WebAnimation/BattleForDreamIsland'' has plenty.
** Yellow Face's commercials and [[FunWithAcronyms Blocky's Funny Doings International]] are both out of nowhere, with the (partial) exception of the [[spoiler:[[ChekhovsGag Box of Paper Slips]]]]. [[note]]Pen used the Box of Paper Slips to cheat in the Taco contest, and later to bribe viewers into voting him. Leafy also uses them [[spoiler:to steal Dream Island]].[[/note]]
* ''WebAnimation/FreedomToons'': In "Debunkers vs. G*n Control Nonsense" the video they're analyzing ends with a message bashing the electoral college. The Debunkers are dumbfounded as to what the point of that statement was, as the video they were analyzing was about gun control, and the electoral college was never mentioned beforehand, so it had no relevance to the rest of the video.
* The [=YouTube=] channel ''{{WebAnimation/Pamtri}}'' has Santiago appear at the end of most videos and kill everyone.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Web Video]]
* ''WebVideo/DreamSMP'':
** After a couple of streams in the SMP heavy with roleplay and drama, almost everyone abandons the plot for a day to hunt for a $10,000 Taco Bell gift card hidden by [=MrBeast=].
** Similarly, [[ParanormalEpisode the Dreamon hunt]], which takes place after some of the most drama-heavy parts of the L'Manburg Civil War.
** In the middle of Tommy's exile and the Butcher Army's unfolding plot to assassinate Dream, multiple people from different factions of the SMP (do note that many of these people want each other ''dead'') unite peacefully ''[[ItMakesSenseInContext so that they can attend a Sex-Ed Class]]'', hosted by none other than KSI.
** KSI's second visit to the SMP also counts as this, as it involves Dream breaking out of prison by teleporting, and then giving him creative mode and messing around with him, which one of Philza's donations lampshades.
--->'''rnelody:''' They really just ran in, fucked up your lawn, yelled a bunch of swear words, [[BreadEggsMilkSquick broke out a convicted felon]], then left.
* In ''WebVideo/TheHeroOfTime'', there's Link's journey out of the Lost Woods. He gets briefly lost and takes a nap, only for a random guard to steal his sword while Link sleeps. Link wakes up before this can happen and ties the guard up, implying in their conversation that the guard is one of a few who swore to protect the forest and forces the guard to tell him how to get out of the woods. This scene, including the fact that Link left someone tied up in a dangerous forest, is completely forgotten after Link leaves. What makes it even odder is besides being a reference to the Lost Woods of ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaOcarinaOfTime'', none of it is a reference to any ''Zelda'' canon, so it isn't even there for the sake of a ShoutOut.
[[/folder]]
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[[Theatre/ThePiratesOfPenzance I am the very model of a modern major general]], [[MajorGeneralSong I've information vegetable, animal and mineral]]. [[SelfDemonstratingArticle I know the kings of England and I quote the fights historical from Marathon to Waterloo in order categorical. I'm very well acquainted too with matters mathematical, I understand equations both the simple and quadratical. About binomial theorem, I'm teeming with a lot of news with many cheerful facts about the square of the hypotenuse. I'm very good at integral and differential calculus. I know the scientific names of beings animalculous. In short in matters vegetable, animal and mineral, I am the very model of a modern major general]].

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