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A character, usually a School Teacher, makes a comment or asks a question, prompting others to raise their hands. Someone (usually the original speaker) changes the question ("… but without using your computer?") or adds a comment ("No, the answer isn't "cheese"), which causes the hands to go down, implying that the hand-raisers' next statements were very predictable. Usually Played for Laughs.
Examples
Comic Books
- Happens to Bruce Banner at the beginning of Ultimate Avengers: "Any questions not about the Hulk?"
- During the time that Commissioner Gordon left the force to become a teacher, he frequently had to tell his students that he would not answer questions about Batman.
Film
- From Jurassic Park 3, when Dr. Grant is giving a lecture:
Grant: Does anyone have a question?
(all hands in the room go up)
Grant: Does anyone have a question that does not relate to Jurassic Park?
(most of the hands go down)
Grant: Or the incident in San Diego, which I did not witness?
(several more hands go down)
- In Night at the Museum Battle of the Smithsonian, Kah Mun Rah after being asked about his tunic (thinking it's a dress) by Al Capone and Ivan the Terrible.
Kah Mun Rah: Are there any other questions?
(Napoleon's hand goes up)
Kah Mun Rah: Any questions not about the dress... tunic.
(Napoleon's hand goes down)
Live-Action TV
- From an early 1990s Saturday Night Live sketch, a classroom full of not-so-bright students:
Teacher: How many people here have seen Raiders of the Lost Ark? (virtually all students raise their hands) Teacher: Now in the movie, whom was Indiana Jones fighting? (one hand goes up) Teacher: Besides the snakes. (hand goes back down)
- From Friends, when Ross has begun teaching his class in an English accent, then admitted he's not English:
Ross: Are there any questions?
(hands go up)
Ross: About paleontology?
(hands go down)
- The kids in the Step by Step episode where Frank and Carol remarried after finding out they're not legally married.
Preacher: If anyone rejects to this union, speak now or forever hold their peace.
(The kids raise their hands up)
Frank: (not even looking behind him) Hands down.
- In the American version of The Office, the other students in Michael's improv class are happy to take part in a scene... until Michael is chosen to be in it.
- Miles tries to invoke this trope on Murphy Brown when taking about civility:
Miles: Who in here has been part of an actual fistfight?
(Murphy raises hand)
Miles: I meant as grown adults.
(Murphy keeps her hand up)
Miles: This week.
(Murphy sighs and keeps it up)
- The Big Bang Theory. In "The Plimpton Stimulation", Hot Scientist Dr. Plimpton wants to have a foursome with Raj, Leonard, and Howard.
Leonard: Show of hands, who actually wants to do this?
(Howard raises his hand.)
Leonard: We'd all be naked. In front of each other.
(Howard lowers his hand.)
Machinima
Theatre
- Part of the intro for the stage show The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged)
Daniel: "How many of you have seen or read a Shakespeare play?"
(whole audience raises their hands)
Daniel: "Oh, all right. How many of you have seen King John?"
(everyone lowers their hands except for Adam, who is planted in the audience)
Daniel: "Oh, yeah right."
Webcomics
Western Animation
- From the "Band Geeks" episode of Sponge Bob Square Pants:
Patrick: Is mayonnaise an instrument?
Squidward: No, Patrick. Mayonnaise is not an instrument.
(Patrick raises his hand)
Squidward: Horseradish is not an instrument either.
(Patrick puts his hand down)
- The Simpsons used this a lot.
- One example from a parenting seminar Homer and Marge are forced to attend:
Instructor: Now, who here can think of a way to resolve the Skinners' problem?
(Everyone raises their hands)
Instructor: Without resorting to violence?
(All hands go down except Kearney's)
Instructor: Or childish name-calling?
(Kearney lowers his hand)
Scientist: Ladies and gentlemen and members of the press. I'd like to present the new generation of NASA astronauts: the average American. *Homer and Barney appear*
Reporter: Jim Wallace, Associated Press. Is this a joke?
Scientist: Far from it, Jim. One of these men will prove space travel is within the reach of the common man.
Reporter #2: Toby Hunter, Minneapolis Star. No really, is this a joke?
Scientist: No, Toby, and no more questions about whether this is a joke. *Everyone disappointedly lowers theirs hands*
- The Penguins of Madagascar, "Launchtime": Skipper wants to go on vacation and Private suggests going to a zoo (which is shot down because they already live in one). Later...
Skipper: Gentlemen, we are going to the moon!
(Private raises his hand)
Skipper: And no, there's no zoo on the moon.
(Private's hand goes down)
- When Brian and Stewie are searching for Mort at a Jewish wedding:
Stewie: Uh, excuse me. We're looking for a Mr. Goldman.
(Every man raises their hand)
Brian: Mr. Mort Goldman.
(Half the men lower their hands)
Stewie: He's a small business owner. Tends to whine a lot. Kind of a hypochondriac.
(The half that lowered their hands raise them again)
Stewie: No, no! You can't put your hand back up after you've put it down...You know what, never mind.
- This Robot Chicken sketch
 involving Saved by the Bell and Saw: the cast can escape if they press a button that will torture Screech. They refuse to do so, until they are told they will receive free corvettes. When Belding explains that it was just a trust exercise, the cast beats up Screech and end up in detention.
Slater: So we really don't get Corvettes?
Belding: No. Are there any other questions?
(hands go up)
Belding: Are there any other questions not pertaining to Corvettes?
(hands go down)
- Turtles Forever had this exchange:
2003 Leonardo:...other than going out for a slice?
- Class of 3000:
Sunny: Who knows what we need to beat Easley in the band competition?
(hands go up)
Sunny: And do not say 'musical ability'.
(all hands go down except Tamika and Madison)
Sunny: Or wedgies.
(Tamika's hand goes down)
Sunny: Or dolphins.
(Madison's hand goes down)
- My Gym Partner's a Monkey:
Mr. Hornbill: (explaining an assignment involving eggs) Any questions?
[a girl Badger happily raises her hand.]
Mr. Hornbill: No, Lacey, you may not eat the eggs.
[Her hand goes down after turning her smile into a frown.]
- Scooby-Doo! Mystery Incorporated:
"Can anybody tell me what photosynthesis is? ... And PLEASE don't say plant farts."
- Not the standard, but there's still an amusing one from Phineas and Ferb The Movie: Across the 2nd Dimension
Phineas: Has anyone else here been leading a bizarre double-life? ( Beat, without looking) Put your hand down, Ferb.
- In Recess before a vocabulary test.
Ms. Grotke: Does anyone have any questions?
almost all students raise their hand
Student: Does spelling count?
Ms. Grotke: Yes.
all other hands go down
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