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This is when someone says " We'll edit that part out later" but then...doesn't. Instead, the whole preceding sequence is included anyway, often for comedic effect. This can be done to make someone look silly or dumb, for irony, or just for laughs. A common variant is when a person is on camera but isn't aware that they're being filmed live, so when they mess something up they'll stop awkwardly and ask for a redo. Or they'll say "you'll cut that out, right?" (The gag can be played up by the cameraman/editor assuring them that, yes, of course it'll be cut out...). Though mostly for comedic value, in rare cases it might be used in a serious manner specifically to make someone look bad or dishonest.
When used in a fictional setting, it almost always requires an In-Universe Camera. Happens often in Mockumentaries and Show Within a Show situations, but isn't strictly limited to those. Can also be used as a gag in Real Life productions, such as plays, broadcasts, or comedy shows.
Compare Fix It in Post, which is Real Life Script Speak uttered during production of a work; you usually won't know about the sequence because it's actually been edited out.
Contrast Throw It In, when a Real Life unscripted performance is included in a production. Left It In is an In-Universe example of someone requesting or mentioning that the very scene they're in should be cut (and then it's not). See also Hilarious Outtakes and Bloopers.
Examples:
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Film
- In National Lampoon's Vacation, before the family left for their trip to Europe from winning a game show, Clark videotapes Ellen while she's taking a shower, who then tells him to delete it after he's finished. When the family got their camera stolen by a thief while they were in France and they arrive in Rome, Ellen then discovers that Clark did not delete the video of her in the shower at all, when she sees a poster advertising a movie that starred her. Apparently, the thief discovered the video after he stole the camera and advertised it as a movie.
- Dr. Strangelove: This is how Stanley Kubrick managed to convince George C. Scott to be so over-the-top in his role as General Turgidson. Kubrick would encourage him to do "warmup" takes in preparation for the real thing. The over-the-top takes thus were used in the actual movie, and hilarity was held by all, except Scott. Scott then swore to never work with Kubrick again, even though he admired the sneaky genius of it.
Literature
- A Dubya-parodying character in one of the Ciaphas Cain novels ends an atrociously bad speech with something like "You'll edit that out anyway... what do you mean it was live?"
Live-Action TV
- This is a common bit on talk shows:
- On Dirty Jobs Mike or his host will occasionally screw up on camera, then Mike will use this line.
- No surprise, as it fits very much with the meta-theme of the show; oftentimes they'll include shots of the crew setting up the very shot you see next.
- In several cases, a job would go bad due to a production accident or the host being difficult. Instead of cutting the whole thing they'll broadcast it anyway.
- In The Comic Strip Presents: More Bad News, Vim/Alan breaks the fourth wall and threatens to sue the producers if they leave in a particularly embarrassing item about him. Unfortunately for him he later gets beaten up and left in a coma, so the item stays in.
- Often used on Have I Got News for You.
- Double Subverted on one occasion: a panelist asked if a line could be edited out. When told, "No", he sincerely apologised. Paul Merton instantly said "Now that bit, we'll edit out."
- In one segment of Chappelle's Show, A reporter is investigating a Jedi abuse scandal analogous to the Catholic priest pedophilia scandals. While interviewing a "Jarth Mader", an anonymous victim who wears a helmet and has a respiration problem, Mader puts his head in his hands in tears. The reporter says "Cut" to the cameraman, but mouths the words "keep rolling" since Mader's not looking.
- On the Mary Tyler Moore Show, Mary is interviewing a male author with the intention of cutting in a tape of Murray asking the questions later. At the end, the author asks Mary out. The final result that is broadcast shows Murray being asked out by the author.
- There's a typical "hold me back" scene in the final episode of Series 5 of Skins. Nick goes to hold back Rich, but misses his arm, and Rich's actor laughs and steps back anyways. It doesn't make sense within the story, since Rich really wants to punch the guy - the editors must have just left it in.
- In the Stargate Atlantis episode "Letters from Pegasus", McKay gives a videotaped message to Ford, who's editing a bunch of these messages together to send back to Earth. McKay recorded the message while severely sleep-deprived, so it's full of rambling, back-tracking, and McKay telling Ford to edit out the last thing he just said.
- On Third Watch this is averted when Doc paralyzes his patient while being filmed for a show about the city's greatest paramedic.
- Shows up frequently on Top Gear, most commonly invoked by James May.
Musicals
- In the Stephen Sondheim musical Merrily We Roll Along, the lead character is a songwriter. He's showing off a new song he's working on, and after the line "They're always popping their cork", he mutters, "I'll fix that line". He never gets a chance to, because they get a booking and the show with the song in it goes up too quickly.
Stand-up Comedy
Web Original
Western Animation
- On Family Guy, when Brian joins The Bachelorette, he makes some comments about Chevy Chase to the Confession Cam and then asks if they can cut that part out...and then goes on to say even more things about Chevy.
- On the South Park episode, "Volcano", while the mayor's speech is being recorded live...
Mayor: "God, please deliver these kids from... oh, waitwaitwait... okay... 3, 2, and 1... God, PLEASE, deliver these kids from..."
- The Simpsons episode "Radio Bar", where Bart pretends to (and the later, for real) fall down a well. Kent Brockman attempts to interview Homer on the air...
Homer: Uh, you can edit out that part, right?
Kent: Homer, we're live from coast to coast.
- Used in Barbie: A Fairy Secret. Raquelle tries to discuss the best part about the film she and Barbie costarred in, only for Barbie to show up. Unfortunately, they're at a live coverage of the premiere...
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