"Her voice was so masculine and growly, I thought it was a man, I mean people must call her 'sir' on the phone all the time- ... Eheh, she's standing right behind me now, isn't she?"
- In 6teen, Jen starts badmouthing her boss right as the man appears behind her. She catches herself and changes her rant, but it's too little too late.
- The Amazing World of Gumball: In the episode "The Pact", after Principal Brown unknowingly rats out both him and Gumball through the PA to Penny and Miss Simian:Principal Brown: They're standing right behind me, aren't they?
Gumball: No. [Principal Brown sighs in relief] They're on your left. [pan out to show Penny and Miss Simian to the left of Principal Brown, with obviously angry expressions] - Used in an episode of American Dad! in which Klaus refers to seals as "poor, sweet, gentle creatures", then realizes a very large, angry, hungry one is right behind him. Klaus failed to consider that seals love to eat fish before leaping into the aquarium's seal pool.Klaus: There's one behind me, isn't there? And is it, like, exactly the opposite of how I described them?
- The season 1 finale has American Dragon: Jake Long mocking Rotwood by singing a song about him. However, Rotwood caught him from behind and that's how Jake got sent to the principal's office.
- In one episode of Angelo Rules, when it looks like making Manetti is going to fail a test that Angelo, Sherwood and Lola have been trying to help him pass, he ends up with a good score... because he copied from Butterfingers. He mocks Mr Foot for beeing too blind to notice him, but the professor is right behind him and hears everything, including the fact that Manetti cheated on the test.
- Subverted and lampshaded in Slappy Squirrel's very first short from Animaniacs: when talking about the cartoon's antagonist, Doug the Dog, she notices when Skippy goes into a frozen take. She whips a giant club out of her purse and clonks Doug without even looking back.
- At the beginning of the Aqua Teen Hunger Force episode "Revenge of the Trees", Steve is making fun of his boss, Dr. Weird ("Gentlemen! Fill me with barbecue sauce, 'cause I'm dumb as hell!"), and quite unable to understand a Mexican janitor's attempts to warn him that Dr. Weird's giant disembodied head is behind him, about to bite his head off.
- Used in the 2006 revival of Biker Mice from Mars in the episode "It's the Pits" when Lawrence Limburger gloats about his plan to overthrow the Pit Boss and calls him an idiot only to realize that the Pit Boss is standing right behind him.
- ChalkZone: The Oh Yeah! Cartoons short "Rudy's Date" has Snap say that Butch Biceps is as dumb as he is ugly, afterwards Penny points out to him that Butch has appeared behind him.
- Numbuh Four from Codename: Kids Next Door has made this mistake twice.
- In "Operation: H.U.G.S.", he angers Rainbow Monkey Kong by calling the creature "stupid" while it is in earshot.
- In "Operation: T.R.I.C.K.Y.", Numbuh Four berates Halloween on how it's only for babies who like to get candy by dressing up like girly butterflies. He turns around to see Numbuh Three, dressed like a butterfly for Halloween and rightly pissed off at him.
- Danny Phantom: In The Million Dollar Ghost, Danny complains to his friends about his Bumbling Dad.Danny: Did you see the way all those ghost hunters were laughing at him? How embarrassing! We're all gonna have to live with my dad's goof-ups for the rest of our lives. (Sam clears her throat) He's right behind me, isn't he?
Jack: (sadly) Yes, I'm afraid he is. If you need me, I'll be upstairs, doing something wrong... - In the Darkwing Duck episode "Merchant of Menace", Darkwing Duck refers to Agent Grizzlikoff as a buffoon, turning around to see Grizzlikoff glaring at him and turning red with anger.
- In the Detention episode "Too Good To Be Truant" Shareena brags about her and Shelley Kelly skipped school without getting caught by Miss Kisskillya...only for Kisskillya to have been behind her the whole time!
- The Doc McStuffins Christmas Episode "A Very McStuffins Christmas" has a quite benign example. The elf is talking about how happy he is that he didn't let down Santa Claus when he realizes that Santa is right behind him. Santa, however, is happy with his work and gives him a promotion to the top of the ranks.Tobias: ...Santa's standing right behind me, isn't he?
- Doug: At the end of "Doug Didn't Do It", Roger believes that he has successfully framed Doug for the theft of Mr. Bone's yodeling trophy and goes to Mr. Bone's office where Doug is preparing to have to polish all of Mr. Bone's trophies to gloat to Doug about his plan and engages in some mockery of Mr. Bone himself while he's at it. Unfortunately for Roger, he ends up resting his foot atop the PA system while doing so, meaning this is broadcasted to the entire school (including to Mr. Bone) and results in Roger turning to see an absolutely furious Mr. Bone standing in the door as he continues making fun of the man.Doug: (notices Mr. Bone) Uh, Roger-
Roger: What's the matter, Funnie? You look as goofy as Mr. Bonehead! Ahahaha!
(Roger turns to see Mr. Bone in the doorway to the office and goes white)
Roger: AAAAH!!! Oh, hey, M-Mr. Bone, I-I can explain! I can explain-
Mr. Bone: (throwing the polishing towels onto Roger) Don't even try! Save your strength, you're gonna need it all. You're gonna be polishing trophies for a looooong time, mister! - Ed, Edd n Eddy: In the episode "An Ed Is Born" while the Eds are filming a movie for Eddy's brother, Eddy insults Kevin on camera while not realizing that he's right next to him hearing everything he says. Cue Eddy's Oh, Crap! moment upon noticing Kevin.
- Happens in the Eek! The Cat episode "Paws", when the titular cat keeps talking about a cut on his finger as the still-gigantic goldfish rises from the water. He screams.
- In The Fairly OddParents!, Principal Waxaplax makes her first appearance cracking jokes at Crocker's expense with another teacher. When they notice Crocker, they look at him, then go back to laughing at him.
- Parodied in Family Guy when a corpse in a blue suit is dropped into the ocean. We then cut to a pair of fish having a conversation, one saying, "You know what I hate? A guy in a blue suit!" and then when his conversation partner makes a pained face as the body floats by, the fish adds "... there's one right behind me, isn't there?"
- In "Space Cadet", Peter and Lois talk about how embarrassed they are of Chris, but they soon find that Chris overhead everything while waiting to listen to them have sex, and he's extremely hurt by their words.
- This happens in Franklin in "Franklin and the Puppet Play". Beaver had been directing a puppet production of Little Red Riding Hood, but was so bossy she managed to completely get on Bear, Franklin and Goose's nerves. The group starts using the puppets to make fun of her while she's not around, but then she enters the room. Goose notices what happened and gets Bear's attention, but Franklin keeps going, unaware that Beaver is in the room, until he realizes that he's no longer getting a response from Goose and Bear. He then looks up, and Beaver sobs and runs away.
- Parodied on Futurama in "How Hermes Requisitioned His Groove Back":Bender: Yeah, well it's all Morgan's fault. That pencil-pushing scazwag! Why, if she were here, I— [spots his coworkers' expressions] ...uh-oh, is she behind me?
[camera angle changes]
Morgan: No. I'm in front of you.
Bender: [high-pitched scream] - Garfield and Friends: In the episode "Jumping Jon", Garfield hosted a segment called "Great Moments in Stupidity". One of Jon's moments was Jon flirting with a karate teacher's girlfriend while insulting said teacher. The teacher heard it and came behind him, readying himself to deliver a beating.
- The Hey Arnold! episode "Helga vs. Big Patty" had several scenes where Helga Pataki made insulting jokes about Big Patty only to find her standing right behind her and clearly incensed by her mockery. Somehow, the fact that the two people she was talking to were backing away near the beginning didn't tip her off.
- In the Hi Hi Puffy AmiYumi episode "Scowlitis", Kaz at one point makes fun of Yumi for the braces she has to wear to correct her scowlitis, then realizes to his surprise that Yumi is standing right behind him.
- In the Jimmy Two-Shoes episode "The Terrific Trio", Lucius keeps listing off multiple insults to Samy, who became a huge monster that keeps beating him up. In every instance, he's right behind him.
- Johnny Bravo offered a much nicer version of this trope than usual: When Johnny fails to make enough money to buy a Mother's Day gift, Little Suzy advises him to just tell his Momma how he feels. Dejected, Johnny sits on the front step of his house and wonders what he could say. Of course, Momma comes out the front door at the start of Johnny's speech and, after hearing him talk about how much she means to him, sweeps Johnny up in a big hug and says that having a sweet son like him is the best present of all.
- Justice League Unlimited has this with a slight twist in the beginning
of "The Once and Future Thing: Weird Western Tales", as it doesn't involve insults... at least, not exactly.Green Lantern: Anyway, why are we always talking about my love life? What's going on between you and Diana?
Batman: Nothing. She's a respected colleague.
Green Lantern: Uh-huh.
Batman: I don't have time to pursue a relationship. My work is too important to allow any distractions. Diana is a remarkable woman, she's a valued friend. She's... standing right behind me, isn't she?
Wonder Woman: Don't let that stop you — keep digging. - Kaeloo: In Episode 91, Kaeloo, Stumpy and Quack Quack decide to re-dub some earlier episodes of the show because they thought they were badly written. They then start making the re-dubs insulting, and when they start arguing about what insulting way they can re-dub videos of Mr. Cat, they find out that he's standing right behind them looking more annoyed than usual.
- Subverted in Kim Possible: A Sitch in Time: Kim has defeated two main villains and taunts them about it.Duff Killigan: Oh, it's not just the two of us.
Kim: Oh, and I'm supposed to be surprised that Drakken's behind me?
Drakken: (appearing behind her) How does she do that!?!
Kim: A ninja, you're not.- Then promptly Double Subverted: Unfortunately, Kim was taken by surprise by Shego and lost the fight.
- The Life and Times of Juniper Lee had this happen to the title character:June: I mean, there is no question that Marcus is a ninth-degree babe with the great hair and the cute smile, but that doesn't change the fact that he's standing right behind me, right?
- Looney Tunes:
- In the short "Devil May Hare", Bugs Bunny is warning a fawn about Taz: "He's a mean, vicious, nasty, no good, baggy-eyed, marble-headed ignoramorous! He's a stupid... " only to realize that Taz is standing right behind him and in a twist isn't angered by the words since he regards them as sycophantic and actually responds, "Flattery'll getcha nowhere. And ya can't fool me again."
- In "Baseball Bugs", Bugs is mocking the Gashouse Gorillas team and says he can beat them all by himself. He closes his eyes as he continues his rant, and opens them to see the team surrounding him, causing him to utter a nervous "What's up, doc?"
- The Loud House has main character Lincoln getting utterly fed up with the way classmate Ronnie Anne has been treating him and goes into a rant that completely rips her apart... only to realize she was behind him, heard everything and now is running off in tears.
- The Marvelous Misadventures of Flapjack: Happens when K'nuckles along with Flapjack and Bubbie is mocking the little tyrannical Worthington in "Who's Moochin' Who?".
- Happens in the My Gym Partner's a Monkey episode "Robo Frog 3000", with one of the shortest intervals ever between uttering the comment and realizing that the individual in question (in this case, a robotic warthog) is right behind them.
- The Owl House: The episode "Clouds on the Horizon" uses this in a heartwarming manner where Amity is distraught over all horrible things that have been happening recently (first and foremost that she has no idea where Luz is or if she's safe). Her older siblings attempt to cheer her up by asking what she thinks Luz would say to her in this situation, and she gets so wrapped up in it that she fails to notice Luz coming in through the balcony or the twins vacating the room to give the girls some privacy until after she's finished.
- The Patrick Star Show: In "Which Witch is Which?", after the Stars find out that Agnes is visiting, Cecil proceeds to imitate Agnes in a mocking tone. The bat who delivered the scroll announcing Agnes' visit is Agnes, but Cecil doesn't realize she's already in the house until he hears her clear her throat.
- In an episode of Phineas and Ferb, Dr. Doofensmirtz mistakes a deep-voiced woman for a man, and rambles to Perry the Platypus about how often that must happen to her... then slowly realizes she's stepped out of her car to give him a thrashing and is standing right behind him.
- In the Halloween special which spoofs Frankenstein, Phineas and Ferb's ancestors make a giant undead version of Perry from sundry parts. When their governess Constance storms in and wonders where the creature has gone, there's some ominous music as Frankenperry looms up...music which stops when Constance asks "He's right behind me, isn't he?"
- Pound Puppies (2010) used this gag in the episode "Squawk", where McLeish disparagingly refers to his brother-in-law the Mayor as "cranky", then realizes to his embarrassment that his brother-in-law was standing behind him.
- On one episode of The Proud Family, "Tiger Whisperer":(Oscar is trying to leave to see a basketball game before Trudy catches him)
Oscar: You know women can't stand to see men having fun without 'em. Of course, that's the only way a man can have fun. (laughs) She's right behind me, isn't she?
Felix: 'Fraid so, pumpkin-head. - Regular Show:
- An episode has Rigby insulting his boss and talking about how he doesn't care about getting his work done. He is immediately fired, but gets another chance, again. However, Benson gets the last laugh when he subjects Rigby to having his mentor be Muscle Man when the former begs for his job back in the same episode.
- Also happens when Benson is replaced as boss.
- Rick and Morty: In the episode "Rest and Ricklaxation", after Toxic Rick and Morty escape one of the tanks in Rick's garage, he gloats about how the real Rick will feel once he's in the tank. He then asks the question when Toxic Morty points behind him, only for Toxic Morty to point out that they are in front of them.Toxic Rick: It worked! Ha ha! Yes! That idiot believed EVERY WORD! Now, let's see how HE enjoys living in a shit tank! [Toxic Morty points behind him] He's right behind me, isn't he? [turns to look]
Toxic Morty: He's in front of you.
Toxic Rick: [turns to see them] Oh, my eyes are still adjusting. - The trope occurs in the Rotten Ralph animated series episode "Grandma's Visit", where Sarah's dad tries to get Ralph to practice saying hello to Sarah's visiting grandmother and lectures Ralph on how it isn't polite to point out the elderly's ages when Ralph insists on calling Grandma an old lady in his rehearsed greeting. Sarah's dad ends up saying less than flattering things about his mother, leading to his complete mortification when he sees that his mother was standing behind him and hearing everything he said the whole time.
- Rugrats: The babies have figured out Angelica is the one who broke Tommy's clown lamp, but instead of denying it, she just gloats.Angelica: Yeah, I did it. And I'd break it again if I had the chance. But you know what? There's nothing you babies can do about it 'cause you can't talk! Ha-ha! I did it! I did it! I DID IT!...
Didi: ANGELICA!!
Angelica: Oops. - Scooby-Doo: In Big Top Scooby-Doo!, Shaggy and Scooby have just emerged from their hiding place as Fred and the rest of the gang assures him that the werewolf isn't around. Then Shaggy notices that they're just staring at him worriedly.Shaggy: If it was right behind us, you'd say something, right?Scooby: I don't wanna look...(Shaggy and Scooby turn around and see the werewolf)Scooby: ...I looked.
- Humorously parodied on The Secret Saturdays where after Argost runs off, Doc notes that their mission is over, but then a monster appears behind Doc, as they are trying to get him to turn around, he says, "No, the mission is over, I don't care about the monster behind me."
- She-Ra and the Princesses of Power: In "Flowers For She-Ra", when Catra reveals that she's the new Force Captain to her teammates:Catra: Hordak knows a good thing when he sees it. [Shadow Weaver appears right behind her, and her teammates flinch] Now that I'm in charge, Shadow Weaver won't be the only—one... [turns around and sees Shadow Weaver]
- The Simpsons:
- "Like Father, Like Clown": In a flashback, a young Krusty entertains his yeshiva classmates by doing a mocking impression of his Rabbi father ("Blah, blah, blah, Moses!"). The kids all laugh until they suddenly stop and gasp. Krusty turns to the doorway and sees his father, who proceeds to strangle him in a Homer-esque fashion.
- "Hello Gutter, Hello Fadder": Homer arrives more than 24 hours late for work and commented how good it was Mr. Burns didn't catch him. He then heard Mr. Burns' ahem sound. Rather than turning around to see his boss, Homer tried to use his sense of touch to settle doubts. Once he was sure Mr. Burns was behind him, he stated he won't get in trouble if he doesn't turn around and see Mr. Burns. Smithers was accepting this until Mr. Burns turned Homer's chair.
- "'Tis the Fifteenth Season": After being called out for his selfishness by some coworkers, Homer describes Mr. Burns as being more selfish and mentions other bad aspects about him. Fortunately, Mr. Burns assumes that he was talking about a woman who works at the plant... then woman appears behind him.
- Sofia the First: One episode has Carol of the Arrow give a speech to her team about how much she despises the royal family for not helping her brother in his time of need. Unbeknownst to her, Sofia, her biggest fan, was listening in on the whole thing, and the poor princess runs off crying.
- Spongebob Squarepants: "SpongeBob's Place" has Squidward find the Krusty Krab empty due to Mr. Krabs and SpongeBob serving krabby patties at SpongeBob's house. He proceeds to perform a musical number about how much he hates people, Mr. Krabs and SpongeBob in particular, only to find himself glared at by Mr. Krabs when he and SpongeBob return to the Krusty Krab because it's against regulations to serve fast food in a pineapple.
- Star Trek: Lower Decks: In "An Embarrassment of Dooplers", Freeman complains to the Admiral about the Doopler being a hassle, not realizing that he just exited the turbolift and is standing a short way behind her, setting off a wave of embarrassment-induced duplication.
- Star Wars: The Clone Wars: In "Lair of Grievous", A4-D is watching Grievous fight Nahdar Vebb from the lair's control room and cheering for him to "kill the Jedi" when he realizes he doesn't know where the other Jedi is. As soon as he questions it he realizes Kit Fisto is behind him just in time for Kit to cut the droid cheering for his old padawan's death in half.
- Star Wars Rebels plays it for a note of horror. In the episode "Visions and Voices'', Ezra finds himself plagued by illusions of Darth Maul. When he and Kanan ask the Bendu for advice, the Bendu asks "What do you want to do?" When Ezra says he wants to not see Maul again, the Bendu says "Then don't turn 'round". They do and sure enough, Maul is standing on a ledge several feet behind them.
- Star Wars Resistance:
- "The High Tower": Tam is telling Kaz all the reasons she doesn't like cocky Ace pilot Hype Fazon when, naturally, he walks up behind her as Kaz frantically tries to signal her to shut up.
- "The Core Problem": Kaz has built a transmitter to try and contact the Resistance. When he activates it, he sends a message to Poe Dameron and, to Yeager's surprise, gets a response... because Poe has snuck onto the Colossus and is standing behind him. Yeager has to hint several times before Kaz finally turns around.
- Steven Universe:
- In "Sadie's Song", Sadie blows up at Steven for pushing her to be a singing star despite her obvious discomfort, shouting "You're just as bad as my mom!". It's then revealed Barb overheard it all, and is hurt to learn that her daughter actually resents her. However, Sadie is still mad, and proceeds to tear into her for not figuring it out sooner.
- In the Musical Episode "Mr. Greg", Pearl sings a tearjerking number about how she lost her (currently dead) female lover to a human man, and said stolen lover's half-human son. Both of them were both right behind her, listening to her song the whole time.Pearl: [turns around and turns blue] Greg! You were... awake?
Greg: [solemnly puts on a bathrobe and walks away] Nothing's gonna fix this, is it? - "A Single Pale Rose": At the end, Steven quietly laments that "Mom was Pink Diamond"... unaware that Amethyst and Garnet were standing right behind him the whole time. He doesn't even look when Amethyst shouts out her below surprise, suggesting he's too shocked to pay attention.Amethyst: WWWWHHHAAAAAAAAAAAATTTTTT?!?!
- "Legs From Here to Homeworld": When the Diamonds and Steven restore Nephrite's body, emotions, and mind, her first real words are an apology to the Diamonds before her that she didn't heed orders and evacuate, but she's overjoyed that since Blue and Yellow are here, that must mean everything turned out alright, that they must have defeated Rose Quartz and avenged Pink Diamond, completely unaware that Steven/"Rose"/"Pink" is standing right behind her. Yellow and Blue, realizing the gravity of the situation, flinch away from Centipeetle, and without their touch, she reverts back into monster form quickly.
- "Rose Buds" has one of the video examples where Holly Blue Agate laments how the old order is gone, and she wishes she'd get an order from the Diamonds:
Holly Blue: But all they talk about is 'Steven Steven Steven' (sees him) Steven!Steven: Hi Holly!Holly: (Walks away doing an awkward Diamond salute)Steven: Bye Holly! - Happens to Reef when he is trying to persuade Fin to let him into Ty's room during the Stōked! episode "Board and Confused".
- In The Super Hero Squad Show, the episode "A Brat Walks Among Us" has M.O.D.O.K. mock Doctor Doom, only to be in trouble when he turns around and realizes that Doom had been listening to his insults all along.
- A variation in the second episode of Superman: The Animated Series:Perry: Good timing, Lois. I want you to be the first to know I'm hiring a new guy on the city desk.
Lois: Is he cute?
Perry: Umm... you tell me.
Lois: Oh. Hi.
Clark: Hello. - Teen Titans (2003): In a fourth season episode, Robin goes off to train with "the True Master" and the other Titans decide to wear his costume while he's gone. He comes back while they're still doing this.Raven: You know what? The mask makes me feel cool.
Robin: The mask makes me feel cool, too. - Subverted in an episode of Three Delivery; Sid does an unflattering impersonation of the strict and grumpy Mr. Wu, but despite Tobey and Sue's expressions, doesn't realize Mr. Wu is behind him until he interrupts Sid... by congratulating him, mistaking the impression for actually telling the other two off.
- In Tiny Toon Adventures, the moment Shirley the Loon leaves the practice room, the four snooty swan dancers make mocking comments about her personality and accent. Cut to a devastated Shirley opening the door a while later, saying she forgot her shoes. This might have been intentional though.
- In the Toonsylvania episode "Baby Human", Igor creates a baby... human... thing... that has a ferocious appetite and runs wild throughout the castle. While searching for it in the basement...Dr. Vic: What? Why are you looking at me like th— Oh dear. The baby's on my head, isn't it?
- Transformers: Animated: The three-part season three premiere "TransWarped" at one point has Henry Masterson insult the Autobots, then become shocked when he turns around to see Optimus Prime standing behind him.
- In the Ultimate Spider-Man (2012) episode "Spidah-Man!", as the mayor of Boston is showing Spidey around his new headquarters and all the vehicles they've created for him, Spidey jumps into the driver's seat of one and jokingly asks if they got him a sidekick too. Cue the mayor's awkward face.Spidey: He's right behind me, isn't he?
Ollie (who's sitting shotgun): Nah, then I'd be called a behind-kick. - In the end of the Yogi Bear cartoon "A Bear Pair," Yogi and Boo-Boo are expelled from France and sent back to Jellystone National Park when Yogi inadvertently provokes an international crisis at a restaurant by asking for ketchup on his filet mignon, much to the disgust of the chef. Once they return, Boo-Boo expresses concern to Yogi that Ranger Smith would find out about the latter's antics. Yogi dismisses Boo-Boo's concerns by replying "What the ranger don't know ain't gonna hurt him." Cut to an angry Ranger Smith, hiding in a bush behind Yogi the whole time, with a baseball bat.Ranger Smith: What the ranger does know is going to hurt you, Yogi.
- Young Justice (2010): Played with in a season 4 episode where Joker is ranting in the UN before he presses a detonator, intending to kill everyone in there. Nothing happens, then the lights go out.
- Lampshaded in the third act of "Shark Tale".
