%%
%%
%% The examples have been alphabetized. Please put any new example in its proper place in the folder rather than at the end.
%%
%%
[[quoteright:250:[[VisualNovel/TokimekiMemorial https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/tm2_akane_log_250px_4368.png]]]]
[[caption-width-right:250:[[{{Pun}} He got logged out.]]]]

->'''Train Conductor:''' Board! Board!\\
''[Passenger looks at watch, sees that it's not nearly time to leave, scoffs; then passenger gets hit by man carrying wooden boards, twice]''\\
'''Train Conductor:''' Told ya. Warned ya twice.
-->-- ''Film/HotShotsPartDeux''

A subtrope of {{Slapstick}} and AmusingInjuries, this is an old gag where Alice is carrying long items such as planks, logs, poles, or ladders, turns around and accidentally hits Bob, who was standing behind or next to her.

This happens either because Bob called Alice from behind, and she instinctively turned around to greet him, or because she wasn't aware of his presence, or simply because Alice isn't careful of her surroundings.

One common variant is to have the carrying character unknowingly knock out an attacker that was furtively approaching from behind. Another is to have a sufficiently quick-witted character duck the first swing, only to be clocked in the head when Alice turns ''back'' around.

This gag find its origins in {{Vaudeville}} and Music Hall, leading to its use in the Silent Movie era. Virtually every silent movie, starting from Chaplin to Laurel and Hardy, used this gag at least once, even when talkies came along. The Plank Gag was also a favourite of the Three Stooges. It's still used on stage today in the UK with {{Pantomime}}.

In RealLife, [[NoOSHACompliance safety rules]] are set up specifically to avoid this situation.

Characters likely (but not necessary) to be involved in the gag are TheKlutz for the long item-wielder, and the ButtMonkey and TheChewToy for the person suffering the hit.

If you're thinking about a guy getting hit in the face by a board that he stepped on, that's actually a variation of the RakeTake. Also compare NauticalKnockout and DangerousBackswing. And watch out for the PricelessMingVase. A Plank Gag might be set up, but subverted by the CoincidentalDodge.

----
!!Examples:

[[foldercontrol]]

[[folder:Advertising]]
* An old Australian television ad for insurance has some average Joe walking along the street, narrowly avoiding accidents. One of the accidents he ducks (literally) is the Plank Gag. He drops the coin he is flipping and bends down to pick it up just as the workman with the plank turns around, the plank passing harmlessly over the top of him.
* A Swedish TV ad for Vicks Blue cough drops has a man trying to call attention to a running purse snatcher, however his voice fails him. He's offered a pill, his throat clears, and he shouts loudly across the street where the man's escaping -- "Stop the thief!!" Everyone turns towards him, including a man carrying a rafter, who accidentally knocks the purse snatcher out cold as he comes running.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Anime & Manga]]
* In ''Manga/OnePiece'', pirate captain Mikazuki gets hit in the backhead by a huge log carried by a shipwright when he threatens the Galley-La workers during his and their first appearance. In this case, it's not an accident, but an actual attack.
* In ''Anime/ZoidsNewCentury'', this plus a CoincidentalDodge enables Bit to unintentionally and ''unconsciously'' rescue Naomi Fluegel from two thugs by brutalizing them with a large pipe. He's confused as to why they are unconscious afterwards. As he's also an ace Zoid pilot, this causes MsFanservice to develop a bit of a crush on him.
-->'''Naomi:''' Is this guy totally zoned out or did he do [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3DVvYrOQMks all that]] on purpose?
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Comic Books]]
* Happens once in the ''ComicBook/{{Bone}}'' collection ''The Great Cow Race''. One page has Smiley holding a ladder from one end while the other is between Lucius and Phoney. In the back, Fone Bone is calling to Smiley, pointing to the left. In the next page, Smiley has completely turned around, while Lucius and Phoney are knocked over, clutching their heads in pain. Fone Bone has an "Oops!" look on his face.
* The ''ComicBook/GastonLagaffe'' books made use of this gag several times, with the eponymous klutzy character obviously being the one accidentally smashing the items into his unfortunate working colleagues' faces.
* In ''ComicBook/JonSableFreelance'' In #10, Sable goes looking for trouble and finds three thugs standing by a TrashcanBonfire with baseball bats. Jon challenges the biggest one to a fight and picks up one of the bats. He then says "Okay, let's get the rules straight". when another of the thugs responds "[[ThereAreNoRules There ain't no rules!]]", Sable invokes the Plank Gag by turning quickly with bat over his shoulder and whacking the big guy in the head. He then follows it up by using the bat to launch a GroinAttack on the second thug.
* Common in kid comics like ''[[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spiff_and_Hercules Spiff and Hercules]]''. In one strip at a mountain resort, Hercules happily swirls around with a pair of skis on his shoulder. Spiff ducks under them, but a passerby gets hit in the face. The man grumbles "Do you think you're in a [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mack_Sennett Mack Sennett]] movie?" and chases after them.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Comic Strips]]
* Peppermint Patty does this to Marcie in one ''ComicStrip/{{Peanuts}}'' strip; accidentally beaning Marcie with a loaf of French bread she brought back from her trip to Paris.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Fan Works]]
* In [[http://aradia-paradia.tumblr.com/post/64259775172/this-didnt-answer-your-question-but-it-sure this]] ''Webcomic/{{Homestuck}}'' fancomic, Aradia uses Tavros' horns to her advantage by invoking this trope.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Films -- Animation]]
* ''WesternAnimation/{{The Adventures of Tintin|2011}}'': On the lifeboat, Captain Haddock manages to obliviously knock out both Tintin and Snowy while setting up the oars. By the time Tintin comes back to consciousness, the drunken sailor had started a fire on the boat.
* ''WesternAnimation/TheLoudHouseMovie'': Leni accidentally subjects Morag to this with a bolt of fabric.
* ''WesternAnimation/{{Moana}}'': Maui nearly brains the title character with her own boat when he turns to face her. Fortunately, she sees it coming and ducks in time.
* ''WesternAnimation/OnceUponAStudio'': While WesternAnimation/{{Goofy}} carries the ladder from which he'll take the big group photo, he almost hits [[WesternAnimation/TheAdventuresOfIchabodAndMrToad Ichabod Crane]] with it. Ichy ducks just in time, briefly making it seem like [[BlackComedy he lost his head]].
* ''WesternAnimation/TheRescuers'': Bernard is rather clumsy with the comb-ladder he carries into the R.A.S. meeting and, nearly hitting the Chairman with it.
* ''WesternAnimation/ToyStory2'': A Zurg toy has been dislodged from its packaging and is threatening Buzz Lightyear and another Buzz Lightyear atop an elevator. Rex (a toy tyrannosaur) shouts "I can't look!" and does an about-face... knocking Zurg off the edge with his tail.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Films -- Live-Action]]
* ''Film/{{Bill}}'': Shakespeare whacks Ian over the head with a stick he has over his shoulder as he wanders through the London market.
* ''Film/TheChroniclesOfNarnia'': In ''Film/TheVoyageOfTheDawnTreader'', Eustace is attempting to set an oar in a rowboat (backwards), nearly loses his balance, and swings it about, knocking out a pirate leader who was sneaking up behind him with a knife.
* Invoked intentionally in ''Film/DownPeriscope''. While everybody else is doing scut labor repainting the sub's deck, Stepanek sets up a lounge chair and goofs off. (He's trying to get himself thrown out of the military, and TheCaptain knows it, but isn't willing to oblige.) After getting Stepanek's hopes up with a promise of "relocation", the Captain barks at a passing sailor who is carrying an armload of planks. The sailor spins, swatting Stepanek off the deck, thus successfully relocating him into the sludge tray that was alongside.
* In ''Film/TheFifthElement'', Ruby Rhod accidentally knocks out a flight attendant behind him by swirling around his mic/pimp-cane.
* Occurs in ''Godzilla Millennium'' (''Film/Godzilla2000'' in the West) when Yuki visits Yuji and Io, and has to ask two dockworkers for directions to the Godzilla Prediction Network HQ.
* In ''Film/HarryPotterAndTheOrderOfThePhoenix'', a RunningGag is that Filch is seen climbing a ladder to display the many "Educational Decrees", as passed by Professor Umbridge. During one of these scenes, he turns round while carrying the ladder, causing students to duck out of the way.
* In ''Film/HolmesAndWatson'', Watson knocks out Queen Victoria when he turns around while carrying a box camera with a tripod.
* ''Film/HotShotsPartDeux'', as quoted above. There's also a scene involving some ex-presidents getting knocked out by the shovel-wielding president as they broke ground for a new hospital. Except for UsefulNotes/GeraldFord, who [[TheKlutz falls down anyway]].
* ''Creator/MontyPython Live at the Hollywood Bowl'' includes a "comedy tutorial" sketch featuring plank and other slapstick gags. The routine was originally written for the TV sketch show ''We Have Ways of Making You Laugh'' (1968). Notable for the sight of Creator/TerryGilliam in obvious and considerable pain with the effort of trying not to bust up laughing.
* In ''Film/ALoudHouseChristmas'', it happens a bunch of times during the scene where Lori calls the family, while saying that he wants to talk to her, Lincoln swings his wrapped sled over the family a bunch of times. He does this again when protesting against the family supporting Lori not being home for Christmas, but, Lynn Sr. (the dad), knowing what's gonna happen, warns the family to duck.
-->'''Lynn Sr:''' Incoming. ''[the family ducks to avoid being hit by Lincoln's sled]''
* During the fire drill in ''Film/MutinyOnTheBuses'', Arthur turns around while holding a ladder and swings it into Blakey.
* In ''Film/MyFairLady'', happens during the "With a Little Bit of Luck" song, since Alfie Doolittle is singing in what seems to be a construction area and there is inevitably someone who swings a plank around and someone else gets hit by it.
* Vintage British comedians Eric Sykes and Tommy Cooper actually made an entire 45-minute film devoted to exploring and using every possible permutation of this gag. It is simply called ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Plank_%281967_film%29 The Plank]]'' and is much better than it sounds [[note]]Also possibly the only film in existence with a [[GainaxEnding Gainax Beginning]][[/note]]. It also received a [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Plank_(1979_film) TV remake]] in 1979.
* ''Film/PokemonDetectivePikachu'': While discussing what happened to Harry, Pikachu paces in small circles, accidentally hitting Tim a couple of times with his tail. (He's standing on a bar counter at the time.)
* In the first ''Film/PoliceAcademy'', Fackler is carrying a mattress while he crosses Larvell Jones and Mahoney in a hallway. Introducing himself, he turns around some to shake Mahoney's hand, pushing Jones into a door and down service stairs with the mattress.
* In ''Film/SevenBridesForSevenBrothers'', one of the townsfolk "accidentally" does this to one of the brothers -- although he's openly a {{Jerkass}} about it and he never really expected anyone to believe it was an accident.
* ''Film/{{Spaceballs}}'': Lone Starr gets slapped in the face a couple times by Barf's tail while the Mawg is turning around in the cockpit of the Winnebago.
* In ''Franchise/StarWars: Film/ReturnOfTheJedi'', Bobba Fett, about to shoot at Luke, gets accidentally thwarted that way by Han, who hits his jet-pack and sends him flying off the skiff into Jabba's barge, and then in the Sarlacc's mouth.
%%* This gag is incredibly common in ''Film/TheThreeStooges''.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Literature]]
* ''Literature/{{Discworld}}'':
** ''Literature/MakingMoney'' features a [[MartialArtsAndCrafts martial art based on slapstick routines]], including carrying a ladder over one shoulder and hitting assailants with it when one turns around. The clown doing it manages to tie up ''five'' watchmen between the rungs and is praised highly by Dr. Whiteface.
** As seen in ''Literature/TheFifthElephant'', this is also why the Fools' Guild's fire department has never managed to stop any fires -- you hand a group of clowns a ladder and a bucket, and the instinct to pull this gag immediately takes over.
* The key element in Koloman Kocúr's goofy satiric comedy ''Man Long'' (Muž Dlhým) is a recurring random construction worker carrying a single girder to enter the scene and unwittingly hit just the right person with said girder whenever turning around.
* In ''Literature/ThePendragonAdventure'', when Bobby completes his TrainingFromHell with Loor and [[KnightInShiningArmor Alder]] and is awarded a real [[MartialArtsStaff fighting staff]], he launches into a long series of these. He'd nearly whack one of them with the staff end as he turns to the other to apologize for nearly whacking ''them'', and then spins around to apologize for ''that''...
* Played with in ''Literature/MrMen'', where Mr. Bump carries a very long ladder, so he can mend his chimney.
--> Mr. Bump turned the corner. CRASH went the living room window. "Oh dear," he said, and turned to see what had happened. CRASH went the kitchen window. "Oh dear," he said, and he rested the ladder against the side of the house, so that he could climb up. CRASH went the bedroom window!
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Live-Action TV]]
* In an episode of ''Series/ThirdRockFromTheSun'', Dick is trying to figure out the Earth concept of humor. Coincidentally, Sally is trying to organize her closet. In [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GTQYfwtrURE&t=3m43s this scene]] she inadvertently employs the plank gag no less than five times by carrying a ladder and not noticing anyone around her. [[ComicallyMissingThePoint This display of slapstick does not help Dick learn anything]].
* ''Series/AllThat'' has a character Lester Oaks, Construction Worker who sometimes carries around a big plank to make use of this gag, one example being an "Okrah" sketch where he knocks show host Okrah over this way a few times.
* A non-violent gag in one of the rare episodes of ''Series/AreYouBeingServed'' occurring outside of the Grace Bros. sales floor. Captain Peacock quickly enters a scene carrying a stack of planks on his head. Informed that the planks are needed elsewhere, he turns about face, departing just as effortlessly.
* The first episode of ''Series/BananasInPajamas'' features this. With B1 narrowly missing B2 as they clean up the beach.
* Used with frequency on ''Series/TheBennyHillShow''. [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yv1FBqFOTLQ For example,]] Benny carrying a plank is easily distracted by pretty ladies, with predictable results.
* Prone to happen anytime El Chavo grabs a broomstick or similar in ''Series/ElChavoDelOcho''.
* ''Series/{{Chucklevision}}'' has one of these practically OncePerEpisode, accompanying the brothers' catchphrase.
* In the ''Series/DoctorWho'' story "[[Recap/DoctorWhoS24E4Dragonfire Dragonfire]]", the bait-and-switch version of this gag is played. Where it looks like the Doctor is going to accidentally clobber Glitz (with the Doctor's umbrella in place of the plank), but Glitz is DistractedByTheShiny and ducks at the last minute unwittingly letting the umbrella swing harmlessly over his head.
* Happens with some regularity on ''Series/HomeImprovement'', usually with Al on the receiving end. And once with Bob Vila.
* ''Series/HorribleHistories'': In a sketch about Edward III's wedding in the unfinished Yorkminster, his bride -- Philippa of Hainault -- gets clonked on the head when a workman carrying a beam turns around.
* ''Series/MysteryScienceTheater3000'':
** A skit has Tom Servo with a long canoe on his head, explaining the concept of "portage". As he turns his head this way and that, he repeatedly knocks out Crow and Mike.
** Another skit has Mike [[DontExplaintheJoke explaining the gag]] to Crow and Tom using an actual plank. While Mike is close to tears about the gag, the bots are... less than amused.
* ''Series/SmartGuy'': In a gag inspired by the Three Stooges, Marcus and Mo accidentally clobber TJ with a couple of 2-by-4s. TJ spends the rest of the episode acting [[ConcussionsGetYouHigh loopy]].
* In a Christmas episode of ''Series/SomeMothersDoAveEm'', Frank knocks his boss into a hole twice with a plank of wood.
* The ''Series/StarTrekVoyager'' episode "Survival Instinct" has Chakotay trying to lug a huge piece of alien sports equipment across the bridge and nearly whacking a visiting alien with it.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Pro Wrestling]]
* A stock spot in ProfessionalWrestling ladder matches, or other hardcore matches with a ton of weapons. More commonly, the ladder is used to assault other wrestlers, but this spot is common as well, especially in team matches.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Puppet Shows]]
* Magellan from ''Series/EureekasCastle'' has a RunningGag variant on this. His tail is the long object, so for instance he'll build something out of blocks and knock it down with his tail when he turns around. Typically, he then scolds his tail as if it were sentient.
* ''Series/TheMuppetShow'':
** In the Roy Clark episode, Kermit narrowly avoids being hit in the head with a plank by Fozzie as he attempts to fix a hole in the stage. He then falls down the hole.
** In Creator/JeanStapleton's episode, Miss Piggy gets talked into doing a sketch where she's ChainedToARailway. When her co-stars get distracted Miss Piggy breaks off the section of tracks, [[BringTheAnchorAlong marches backstage with it still tied to her back]] and swings the prop around this way to show Kermit what she thinks of the sketch.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Radio]]
* ''Radio/OurMissBrooks'': In "Going Skiing", Miss Brooks knocks off a pair of Mr. Conklin's glasses with one of her skis.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Theatre]]
* In ''Theatre/PeterPanGoesWrong'', Robert (as Starkey) repeatedly knocks down Dennis (Smee) and Annie (Tiger Lily) by turning around too quickly while wearing the rowboat prop.
* This was demonstrated as part of the "Comedy Masterclass" skits in ''The Secret Policeman's Ball''.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Video Games]]
* This is one of [[Manga/{{Gintama}} Gintoki's]] attacks in ''[[VideoGame/JumpSuperStars Jump Ultimate Stars]]''. The attack might be based on chapter 9 of ''Gintama'', but the actual gag doesn't happen there.
* In ''VideoGame/SuperGemFighter'', one of Akuma's special attacks is to perform one of these on his opponent while wearing a construction worker's outfit.
* In one of Tanimura's Revelation for ''VideoGame/Yakuza4''. One event that unlocks "Essence of Skull-crushing" has this gag be one of the final parts of an almost Rube Goldberg-esque sequence of accidents. With a construction worker carrying a large long piece of lumber, getting surprised with a large trash can landing on his head, ends up spinning around wildly (for some reason) and while he does miss a guy (who was asking for LaserGuidedKarma) it ends up hitting a lamp post instead that dislodges a a sign which subsequently lands on the back of the man's head knocking him out.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Visual Novels]]
* In ''VisualNovel/TokimekiMemorial 2 Substories: Leaping School Festival'', this happens in an Event of Akane's storyline, when the protagonist, surprised and worried to see her carrying such heavy-looking logs (which are no problem for her, [[ItRunsInTheFamily being from a family of martial artists]]), calls her from behind.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Web Animation]]
* In the ''WebAnimation/HappyTreeFriends'' episode "The Wrong Side of the Tracks", Lumpy does this when he hears Mime's balloon pop, except the plank has exposed nails that stab Mime in the back of the head.
* A variation happens in Episode 63 of ''WebAnimation/TheMostPopularGirlsInSchool'': when dancing together, Deandra spins around with her ''robotic'' arm outstretched and hits Rachel right in the face, knocking her right onto the floor.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Western Animation]]
* In the ''WesternAnimation/CampLazlo'' episode "Snow Beans", this happens to Chip and Skip, using a pair of skis rather than a plank.
* In the ''WesternAnimation/DangerMouse'' episode "Quark Games", Penfold knocks Jeopardy Mouse into a PitTrap with a mop he has over his shoulder when he has a bucket stuck on his head.
* Gunther does this to Kick on ''WesternAnimation/KickButtowskiSuburbanDaredevil'' a few times in the appropriately named episode ''Knocked Out''.
* In several episodes of ''WesternAnimation/TheKoalaBrothers'', one character will unintentionally hit another with a plank, a railway track etc. The most frequent victim of this trope is [[ButtMonkey Buster]].
* On ''WesternAnimation/ThePenguinsOfMadagascar'', King Julien challenges Fred the squirrel to a duel with staffs. Fred beats him without even trying, just by moving around with the staff on his shoulder.
* In the ''WesternAnimation/PinkyAndTheBrain'' episode "Pinky and the Brain... [[RememberTheNewGuy and Larry]]", Larry does this to the Brain.
* In the ''WesternAnimation/SpongeBobSquarePants'' episode "Rock Bottom", every time [=SpongeBob=] turns around to look for his wallet, he hits the bus driver with his big, glove-shaped balloon. Eventually, he gets so fed up with getting hit that he tells [=SpongeBob=] to get to his seat without paying.
* Axl does it to Bull Gator in an episode of ''WesternAnimation/TazMania''. Bull [[LampshadeHanging hangs a lampshade]] on the gag, saying "I really should have seen that coming".
* ''WesternAnimation/TotalDrama'':
** "[[Recap/TotalDramaNotSoHappyCampersPartOne Not So Happy Campers - Part 1]]": Bridgette twice nearly hits Duncan, Harold, and Trent with her surfboard when first Geoff asks her attention and next Beth.
** "[[Recap/TotalDramaNotSoHappyCampersPartTwo Not So Happy Campers - Part 2]]": Bridgette twice hits Harold with a plank: once when she picks it up and another time when she turns around with it on her shoulder.
** "[[Recap/TotalDramaEvilDread Evil Dread]]": Scott knocks out Manitoba with his shovel when a trap triggers behind him, prompting him to turn around.
** "[[Recap/TotalDramaPaddleFieldEarth Paddle Field Earth]]": Priya smacks Millie with a broom when she turns to greet Julia, then smacks Millie again when she turns back around to apologize.
[[/folder]]
----