Alleged consequence of any event in a Sit Com which in the real world would result in hospitalization, a lawsuit, or dismissal from one's job, at the very least, up to and including possible imprisonment. Thankfully for our fictional friends both the Rule Of Cool and the Rule Of Funny keeps them safe (the latter more prominatly). Traditionally seen in the capsule descriptions of episodes found in programming guides: "Jimbo accidentally glues his boss to a golf cart and hilarity ensues." Outside of these descriptions, though, the phrase is usually used sarcastically, indicating that the consequences are anything but hilarious. (The less charitable might say this is what it really means when used in these descriptions, as well. Or that hilarity is what happens for those hearing of it.)

Variants include "...with hilarious consequences" (more common in the UK), "wackiness ensues", and "hijinks ensue." In extreme cases "wacky hijinks ensue." The collective noun for a hijink is an "aplenty."

For instances of blatant lawbreaking, news website Fark.com uses "jailarity ensues".

Examples:

Dan Birlew's Resident Evil Plot Analysis frequently uses the phrases "hilarity ensues" when giving the preliminary outline to the plot of a game. Since the games involve zombies, mutants, Corrupt Corporate Executives, and vast amounts of death, it's safe to say this is slightly ironic...
Lampshaded in the end of this Strong Bad Email. "And his first guest... is hilarity!"
In The Simpsons, Moe gets on a soap opera, only to be led to think his character will be killed off. He decides to have Homer spoil the future plot events on live broadcast. All the plot summaries written seem to end with "...with sexy results"

He's Just Hiding

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