History Main / ShowStopper

* During the 2016 Grammys ''Theatre/{{Hamilton}}'' performance, they deliberately added in several extra lines of silence after Lin-Manuel Miranda first sings the line "Alexander Hamilton" to account for the applause, but the applause was so strong that the next line ("My name is Alexander Hamilton") was still drowned out anyway. Compare this to [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WNFf7nMIGnE the first performance]] of the song, back in 2009 at the White House, where the same line also created a strong response from the audience -- but of confused laughter. How things have changed!

* In Creator/TheMarxBrothers' films ''Film/ANightAtTheOpera'' and ''Film/ADayAtTheRaces'' there are points after punchlines where everyone just kind of stops for a few seconds. That's because those scenes had been honed exhaustively in front of live audiences before filming, so they'd know '''exactly''' how long to pause for big laughs before continuing.
* According to [[spoiler: Charlie Cox]], when filming his scene for SpiderManNoWayHome, he was directed to take a longer than normal beat during his dialogue, due to a (correct) prediction of a wild audience reaction at the reveal of [[spoiler: Matt Murdock]].

* Fonzie in later episodes of ''Series/HappyDays'' was greeted like this, and had to stand in the doorway of Arnold's or the Cunninghams' house, waiting for it to stop.

* ''Series/HappyDays'': The Fonz, once his character became the focus of the show. At one point, it becomes clear to the viewer that the directors had to start allotting time for the audience reaction once Henry Winkler came on stage, as other actors in the scene would have to waiting for the cheers to quiet down before continuing the scene.

* Steve Urkel from ''Series/FamilyMatters'' would often evoke this response upon entering the scene.

* ''Series/FamilyMatters'': Steve Urkel started to evoke this reaction as the character became more popular. It's obvious that TPTB actually had to start allotting time for the audience reaction, as the actors in the scene would clearly freeze in place, waiting for the cheers to quiet down before beginning the scene.

[[folder:Films -- Animation]]
* Parodied in ''WesternAnimation/{{Aladdin}}'', where the Genie's performance of "Friend Like Me" ends with him [[BreakingTheFourthWall displaying a small "Applause" sign]] (and Abu and the Carpet enthusiastically obeying). WordOfGod is that this was done because those filmmakers wanted the audience to applaud as well.
[[/folder]]

* ''Theatre/InTheHeights''. At the realization that Benny and Nina have consummated their relationship (she comes out to join him on his fire escape wearing [[SexyShirtSwitch his shirt]], the audience claps and cheers--in one instance, the actors had to start their dialogue over, as they'd been drowned out.

* Parodied in Disney/{{Aladdin}}, where the Genie's performance of "Friend Like Me" ends with him [[BreakingTheFourthWall displaying a small "Applause" sign]] (and Abu and the Carpet enthusiastically obeying). WordOfGod is that this was done because those filmmakers wanted the audience to applaud as well.

* One time on ''Wrestling/WWESmackDown'', when HulkHogan returned to Wrestling/{{WWE}}, his applause lasted a TV segment (approximately 15 minutes). When they came back from commercial, the crowd was still applauding -- but since it wasn't broadcast live, it could have been only a short time after they "went to break" that they stopped. (Or conversely, it could have gone on for even longer.)

[[folder:Films -- Live-Action]]
* Parodied in Disney/{{Aladdin}}, where the Genie's performance of "Friend Like Me" ends with him [[BreakingTheFourthWall displaying a small "Applause" sign]] (and Abu and the Carpet enthusiastically obeying).

For obvious reasons, this is primarily a theater and live performance trope, as static audiences can't exactly rise up and give a standing ovation in a movie theater. It can still be parodied in that context, though, as pretty much everyone knows the basic idea behind a show stopper. Indeed, such meta-awareness dates to early 20th century film, if not earlier - it's an essential part of the live performance genre. Sometimes the script might actually call for the actors to nod toward the fourth wall in thanks.

!Examples:
* ''Series/WhoseLineIsItAnyway'', being performed in front of live audiences, often relies on at least one sketch being this in each performance. There's also a special game called "Show Stopping Number", which parodies this trope.
** Although the most epic one was probably Creator/SidCaesar's guest appearance.
** Or Richard Simmons'.
** One game of "Superheroes" had Wayne Brady as "Show-Stopping Number Boy."
* ''WesternAnimation/TheWeekenders'' made fun of this trope:
--> '''Carver''': "Why can't we help you? I mean, sure, Tino is pretty clueless, but I stopped the show with my act last year."\\
'''Lor''': "You knocked over a light and set the stage on fire."\\
'''Carver''': "Which stopped the show."

* One time on ''Wrestling/WWESmackDown'', when HulkHogan returned to Wrestling/{{WWE}}, his applause lasted a TV segment (approximately 15 minutes). When they came back from commercial, the crowd was still applauding -- but since it wasn't broadcast live, it could have been only a short time after they "went to break" that they stopped. (Or conversely, it could have gone on for even longer.)

* Lampshaded in ''Forever Amber'' when the actors pause to acknowledge the entrance of King Charles II.
* "The Parson's Bride" segment of 1936's ''Show Boat'', in which all the actors acknowledge the audience at their entrances ''and'' exits.

-->'''Rimmer:''' ''(eventually)'' [[DeadpanSnarker Well I can't say I'm]] ''[[DeadpanSnarker totally]]'' [[DeadpanSnarker shocked.]]

* In a segment of Series/TheChasersWarOnEverything, Chas "tests" whether botox/fake-tans/dyed-hair will increase his attractiveness (or rather, make him hot like Daniel Craig). He does this to only one half of his body and face, leaving the other half untouched. The utter ridiculousness of his appearance leads to continued laughter from the studio audience even when Andrew attempts to move on to the next segment of the show, eventually causing Andrew to start laughing as well and have to restart the segments introduction. See [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rDkdkQpsvSA here]]
* [[WebAnimation/HomestarRunner ONION BUBS! ONIOOON BUUUUUBS!!]]
* The three-part Franchise/{{DCLAU}} {{crossover}} "[[Series/ThatsSoRaven That's So]] [[Series/TheSuiteLifeOfZackAndCody Suite Life of]] Series/HannahMontana" had applause play whenever a character entered another's show.
* [[Radio/ImSorryIHaventAClue "It's now time to play the game called Mornington Crescent."]]
* Johnny Carson's appearance on ''Series/TheLateShow with Creator/DavidLetterman''.
* In stage musicals, a powerful enough song can generally be considered a showstopper - "Defying Gravity" from ''Theatre/{{Wicked}}'' is one such example, and "One Day More" from ''Theatre/LesMiserables" is another.
* In opera, in addition to songs, single notes can be showstoppers. One prime example is the second act of ''Theatre/{{Tosca}}'', which has one showstopping aria (Vissi d'arte) quickly followed by Cavaradossi's famous outcry of [[IncrediblyLongNote "Vittoria! Vittoria!".]] If done well, the audience will cry "Bravo!" at this point and interrupt the show.
* Parodied in a commercial for ''The Radio/OpieAndAnthony Show'', with Jim Norton making the big entrance.
* Two in ''Theatre/SeventeenSeventySix'':
** "The Lees of Old Virginia" is deliberately written to be as '''big''' and [[LargeHam hammy]] as possible to carry the audience through the next half-hour, which is devoid of songs.
** "Molasses to Rum" is a much darker version that has Edward Rutledge damning the North by acting out a slave auction, to which slaves have been brought by New England ships. He only stops when a Northern man begs for mercy, and the whole Congress is left stunned and silent.
* ''Theatre/TheLionKing'' musical has the songs "Circle Of Life" and "He Lives In You".
* In "The Talent Show" on the PBS version of ''Literature/TheBerenstainBears'', Brother Bear is assigned as the talent scout for the school talent show. He finds a number of good acts, but is desperate to find his "showstopper," the big act that will bring down the house. His showstopper turns out to be the local "gang" leader / bully bear Too Tall, who has a surprisingly tender and compelling singing voice.

* During the 2016 Grammys ''Theatre/{{Hamilton}}'' performance, they deliberately added in several extra lines of silence after Lin-Manuel Miranda first sings the line "Alexander Hamilton" to account for the applause, but the applause was so strong that the next line ("My name is Alexander Hamilton") was still drowned out anyway. Compare this to [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WNFf7nMIGnE the first performance]] of the song, back in 2009 at the White House, where the same line also created a strong response from the audience - but of confused laughter. How things have changed!
* Parodied in two early episodes of ''WesternAnimation/FamilyGuy'':
** In "A Hero Sits Next Door," Brian makes a joke about "Bill Clinton's integrity." Peter goes to respond...and an unseen studio audience laughs and applauds uproariously. Peter and Brian deliberately look uncomfortable as they wait, as if they were actors on a live show.
** In "Running Mates," Peter emerges from the house to ask if Lois knows where his pants are. The [[RefugeInAudacity studio audience that just moved in across the street]] thinks that's hilarious. Later, when they give an "Ooooooooooh" upon hearing that Chris got into trouble at school, Peter decides to call the cops on them.
* The ''Film/{{Descendants}}'' song "Evil Like Me" by Creator/KristinChenoweth has Kristin unleashing all of the [[LargeHam hamminess]] that she has in her body in a song that features tap-dancing, staff twirling and flying.
** Of course, ''everything'' that Kristin Chenoweth is in is probably a show stopper.
* Parodied in ''Webcomic/ElGoonishShive'', in which the first appearance of Ashley since the end of "So a Date at the Mall" is in a panel with a lens-flaring spotlight behind her and a sound effect reading "APPLAUSE". The applause [[SorryILeftTheBGMOn turns out to be some guy's ringtone]], the spotlight goes unexplained.
* ''Series/FamilyMatters'''s Steve Urkel started to evoke this reaction as the character became more popular. It's obvious that TPTB actually had to start alloting time for the audience reaction, as the actors in the scene would clearly freeze in place, waiting for the cheers to quiet down before beginning the scene.

* Halfway through the song "Kelvinside Man" by Victor and Barry (Creator/AlanCumming and Forbes Masson) is the line "We're known as local thespians./Some of our best friends are less [[SubvertedRhymeEveryOccasion well known than us]]". In a performance recorded as part of an Edinburgh Fringe documentary, the audience completely collapse at this point. The performers (who were clearly expecting this, although their characters weren't) stop dead and after several minutes Victor glares at the audience and demands "You finished?"

* ''Evil Like Me'' by Creator/KristinChenoweth has Kristin '''unleashing all of the hamminess that she has in her body''' in a song that features '''tap-dancing, staff twirling and flying'''.