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• Truth In Television

This is a Stock Phrase used either to imply that something being observed is an example of X, or just to make a pun about it, or anywhere in between.

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Examples

Film

• Independence Day. After knocking an alien unconscious with one blow:
  Steven Hiller: Now that's what I call a close encounter.
• Mulan. After burning Shan-Yu's hawk:
  Mushu: Now that's what I call Mongolian barbecue.
• Saved!!. Patrick is wearing a loincloth, portraying a crucified Jesus in a play.
  Cassandra: Now that's what I call being hung on a cross.
• The Man with the Golden Gun.
  'Scaramanga: [Destroys Bond's sea plane with a solar-powered weapon] Now that's what I call solar power.
• Back to School. After snorkeling in a hot tub with four bikini-clad co-eds:
  Thornton Melon: Now that's what I call marine biology!
• The Care Bears Movie
  Grumpy Bear: This little star got itself stuck in the gears.
  Share Bear: Now, that's what I call star-stuck, Grumpy Bear.

Literature

• Invoked in Going Postal. After defeating a banshee by throwing him in the sorting engine, Moist reflects that at this point a hero would say "That's what I call sorted!" Not being a hero, he just throws up.

Live-Action TV

• Bones episode "The Beaver in the Otter": After a stolen school mascot suit is abused by a rival school's team, a dead body falls out of it. While the body is being examined:
  Angela Montenegro:' He was shot by a blunderbuss, pelted by an angry mob, and then burned.
  Saroyan: Now that's what I call team spirit. [They look at her strangely] I'm a wisecracking pathologist with a dark sense of humor.
• M*A*S*H episode "Goodbye, Farewell, and Amen". The Korean War is about to end.
  Radio broadcaster: If you add it all up, it comes to more than two million people killed or wounded.
  Hawkeye: [Being ironic] Now that's what I call a grand total.
• The Incredible Hulk episode "Like a Brother"
  D.J.: [refering to the Hulk] Man, now that's what I call a colored man!
• The Adventures of Brisco County, Jr. episode "Deep in the Heart of Dixie". Lord Bowler is dressed up like a nun to hide from outlaws.
  Brisco County Jr.: Now that's what I call a real bad habit.
• F Troop episode "V Is for Vampire"
  Chief Wild Eagle: [Upon seeing Count Sforza for the first time] Now that's what I call a paleface!

Music

• The Now Thats What I Call Music albums are collections of popular songs often sold through mail order advertisements.

Video Games

• In Conkers Bad Fur Day, after The Great Mighty Poo gets flushed, Conker says:
  Now that's what I call a bowel movement!

Western Animation

• Captain Planet and the Planeteers
  • "Domes of Doom". Suchi jabs a wrench into Looten Plunder's machinery, stopping the smoke release.
    Captain Planet: Now that's what I call throwing a monkey wrench into his plans.
  • "Polluting by Computer". Linka uses Wind to bind Templeman in paper.
    Wheeler: Now that's what I call getting wrapped up in your work.
• The Kwicky Koala Show episode 14, Crazy Claws segment:
  Ranger Rangerfield: Don't you dare sledge down that hill — we're keeping it neat for the tourists! [slips] Oops! Oh my!
  Crazy Claws: Now that's what I call a tourist trap!
• South Park: In a fake Clip Show (where the ends of the source episodes have been changed, and all now involve ice cream), after the end of each Flash Back someone says, "Now that's what I call a sticky situation!" Everyone laughs until Cartman does, then nobody laughs.

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That Wasn't a Request

Stock Phrases

That's What I Would Do