To-do list:
- Move examples of negative depictions of Pom-Pom Girl from The Cheerleader to Cruel Cheerleader. Move non-negative examples to Pom-Pom Girl if they fit that trope, and remove them if they don't.
Original post
Launching this thread for ~Berrenta who gave permission for others to launch this thread as long as the OP was credited.
(Berrenta's OP)
(Berrenta's OP)
The Cheerleader is intended for negative depictions of Pom-Pom Girl, whether the cheerleader is mean-spirited or simply an Alpha Bitch. However, the trope name does not mention the negative aspect; as a result, we have entries that have either no context or simply say that cheerleaders exist. A wick check was performed, and the results are as follows from 53 wicks:
- Correct: 6 1/8, or 11.6%
- PSOC: 23 1/2, or 44.3%
- Sinkhole/ZCE: 21 1/4, or 40%
- Other: 2 1/8, or 4%
Some instances on the same page went into different categories, hence the fractions.
The current redirect, Evil Cheerleader, is a possible replacement name, while callmeamuffin in the Wick Check Project thread
suggested Cruel Cheerleader. I can go with either. Which one fits better, or does anyone else have another idea?
Edited by GastonRabbit on Jun 21st 2022 at 7:19:11 AM
callmeamuffin
❀ Mint, Nuts, and Waffle ❀
from the kitchen
(Trinitroper)
Relationship Status: Thinkin' about you, muffin
❀ Mint, Nuts, and Waffle ❀
#27: Jun 22nd 2022 at 1:48:30 PM
Should I also add Lovable Jock to the disambig? It does mention that it can also be used for lovable cheerleaders.
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(she/her)
#28: Jun 22nd 2022 at 1:53:48 PM
Doesn't Pom-Pom Girl cover lovable cheerleaders?
Macron's notes
#29: Jun 22nd 2022 at 2:01:09 PM
While Cruel Cheerleader might adequately cover outright evil cheerleaders in fiction I'd say media stereotypes cheerleaders as ditzy at least as often as bitchy. Where do they go now?
(she/her)
#30: Jun 22nd 2022 at 2:10:17 PM
I think they would just go under The Ditz unless someone decides Ditzy Cheerleader is worth splitting off.
Macron's notes
WarJay77
Big Catch, Sparkle Edition
(Troper Knight)
Big Catch, Sparkle Edition
#31: Jun 22nd 2022 at 2:10:50 PM
The Ditz, or maybe Brainless Beauty or Popular Is Dumb.
Edited by WarJay77 on Jun 22nd 2022 at 5:11:14 AM
Currently Working On: Incorruptible Pure Pureness
callmeamuffin
❀ Mint, Nuts, and Waffle ❀
from the kitchen
(Trinitroper)
Relationship Status: Thinkin' about you, muffin
❀ Mint, Nuts, and Waffle ❀
#32: Jun 22nd 2022 at 2:12:59 PM
Pom-Pom Girl and the cheerleading female section of Lovable Jock seem to be similar to each other, but this can be dealt with in another TRS thread, because it would be off-topic to discuss it here.
In the meantime, I'll rewrite Cruel Cheerleader's description.
Edited by callmeamuffin on Jun 22nd 2022 at 8:29:55 PM
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wootzits
Since: Apr, 2010
#33: Jun 22nd 2022 at 4:08:01 PM
11 wicks left, mostly sandboxes.
(she/her)
#34: Jun 22nd 2022 at 4:10:15 PM
Alright, locking as resolved.
Wick Check Archive
The Cheerleader is supposed to be about negative depictions of cheerleaders, though there are some uses that are just "cheerleaders exist". The name does not help matters.50 wicks will be checked. Progress: Completed
Correct use
- High-School Dance: The video to Taylor Swift's "You Belong With Me" has nerdy, sneaker-wearing blonde Taylor get an upgrade from Unlucky Childhood Friend status at the High School Dance when her love interest realises what a Jerkass his cheating, cheer captain brunette Taylor is. And just in case he had any last minute doubts they're even dress-coded for his convenience.
- (5/8) Pom-Pom Girl:
- (Description) In most highschool settings, she'll usually be the star quarterback's girlfriend, or actively crushing on him. And she's just as likely to be at odds with The Cheerleader (her antagonistic counterpart) because of it.
- Lucas: Maggie is portrayed as a nice person both before and after joining the cheerleading squad (in order to get closer to a football player she likes, and to have fun) and head cheerleader Alise, while a bit jealous and prissy, is never mean to Lucas. Several others on the squad do occasionally laugh at him until the end but cheerleading itself gets a neutral, somewhat positive portrayal.
- Zoom: Academy for Superheroes: Initially subverted, then zigzagged. Three of the four cheerleaders at Cool Loser and future superhero Summer's school pick on her with no provocation in her introductory scene. However, in the final scene, Summer has joined the cheerleading squad herself, cheers enthusiastically, and uses her powers to help make a more impressive pyramid.
- In Korman's The Twinkie Squad this is both played straight and subverted. Head cheerleader Beverly Busby is an incredibly condescending Alpha Bitch whose easily fooled by the Cool Loser's even while viciously insulting them (although she is also the student council president and a lead in the school play, so she isn't lazy or completely stupid). Her friend Carol comes across as a pom-pom girl, being a good deal nicer, finding the humor in things which Beverly finds insulting, and generally being the Only Sane Man to their group of Jerkasses and sycophants (not that Beverly listens to her logic much).
- Cold Case: Felicia Grant from "Almost Paradise" and Rainey Karlsen from "Stand Up and Holler" are both intelligent cheerleaders who view popularity as a curse rather than as something that entitles them to belittle others. Rainey's fellow cheerleaders fit the more negative stereotype of the sport, though.
- Characters.Thirteen: Downplayed. She is head cheerleader, and acts nice most of the time, but still cheers when Evan humiliates Patrice and rejects Archie for Brett even after the jerk disses her.
- Film.Heathers: While there are antagonistic cheerleaders, there is a subversion in Heather McNamara, the nicest of the Alpha Bitch Girl Posse and is the only cheerleader of the group.
- Heroes.Tropes A To E: (re: Disproportionate Retribution) Staging a kidnapping of Claire for Debbie to witness and report that makes her look like she's lost her mind because she was a bit of a bitchy head cheerleader. She gets sent away for a while.
- Literature.Nevermore 2010: Pre-character development Isobel is a rather mean, popular cheerleader, but by the time of the second book this trope is pretty much downplayed. Could use more context, but is correct otherwise
- (1/2) Podcast.Cool Kids Table: In Creepy Town, Stacy Quartermain is the head cheerleader. She's slightly nicer than Katie, but she'll happily throw insults at people she doesn't like.
Pom-Poms on Chairs
This is for examples that just state that someone is a cheerleader, with no moral issues stated.
- Accidental Athlete: Jessica Darling gets recruited to the track team after it turns out that she can run surprisingly fast in a fifty-pound seagull costume when there's a lovesick goose chasing her. For that matter, her being in that costume was a variation on this trope too - she was trying to become a cheerleader, but only succeeded in impressing the coach with her ability to look absolutely hilarious when falling on her face.
- Dumb Jock (both instances in description):
Much like his girlfriend, The Cheerleader of the Brainless Beauty variety, he's more concerned with his image than school work.
...
While The Cheerleader can easily be dumb, the word jock refers to a player of rather aggressive sports, primarily football. - Girl Posse: Averted in Kim Possible — there, neither the Alpha Bitch Bonnie nor head cheerleader Kim has any kind of girl posse. Though some fanfics tend to place the cheerleaders Hope◊ and Jessica◊ as Bonnie's posse.
- (1/2) Characters.ANT Farm (re: Paisley): Of the Brainless Beauty type, while her friend Lexi is the Alpha Bitch type.
- Characters.Big Brother 10: Renny used to be a cheerleader and was a dancer for the NFL Saints when she was younger.
- Characters.Cerberus High: A rare male example. Axel is the captain of the Cerberus Cheer Squad.
- Characters.Doc Mc Stuffins: During "You Foose, You Lose" and "Tour De McStuffins" Lambie was the cheerleader for both events, though she’s far from the stereotypical mean personality.
- Characters.Friday Night Lights: She's a cheerleader Dillon Panthers, being both extremely attractive and popular, and is even the girlfriend of the star quarterback. She eventually quits the cheerleading squad at the end of season 1 after being incessantly ridiculed by her peers at school after her affair with Tim is made public.
- Characters.Fuzzy Memories: She was the head cheerleader during her high school days.
- Characters.Grand Hotel: She's a professional cheerleader, something Helen looks down on when she first hears Jason is dating her... until she reveals it's just a hobby and she's actually studying to be a neuropsychologist.
- (4/8) Characters.My Gym Partners A Monkey
- (re: The Pretties) They're on the CDMS Jungle Girls team.
- (re: Donna) She's the captain of the school cheerleading squad.
- (re: Kerry) She's part of the Chester Arthur Middle School "Peppy Pep Girls".
- (re: Jackie) Team captain of The Peppy Pep Girls.
- Characters.Please Dont Tell My Parents Im A Supervillain: She's on the cheer squad and fits most of the stereotypes, especially before her Character Development.
- Characters.Recess Other Students: Not at school, but the girls go to a cheerleading camp in the first movie.
- Characters.Rhythm Heaven: Obviously, though they definitely aren't the typical variety, given that their cheers are to motivate kids studying at the library.
- Characters.Warship Girls: Depicted as one since the USS Ranger didn't participate in the Pacific Ocean theatre, so Ranger mostly just cheered for the other ship girls.
- Fanfic.Disney High: Actually quite a lot of them. Aurora is the new head cheer leader while her team consists of Lottie, Aquata, Arista, The bimbettes, Giselle, Phillip, Charming and later Cinderella. Noted for having two male cheerleaders as well.
- Film.All Cheerleaders Die: Alexis, Martha and Tracy were all veteran cheerleaders at the start of the film, with Maddy becoming one after the prologue in order to enact her Revenge.
- Franchise.Disgaea: Cheerleaders, naturally, though usually lacking the poor attitude.
- LightNovel.Bodacious Space Pirates: (re: Cosplay) Specifically they have: an Angel, The Cheerleader, a Cowgirl, Cute Monster Girl/Kaiju, Cute Witch/Dark Magical Girl, Fair Cop, Fair Folk, a Horny Devil, Naughty Nun, Naughty Nurse Outfit, Playboy Bunny, Race Queen and a soldier in a formal uniform or possibly (especially in light of the next episode) Prince Charming.
- Manga.Attack On Titan Junior High: Chickification: Annie and Krista as cheerleaders? Krista is already The Chick in the main series so she's aversion but Annie plays this straight.
- Music.Uncle Bonsai: "Cheerleaders on Drugs" is, unsurprisingly, a humorous deconstruction of this archetype.
- Ninja Pirate Zombie Robot.Film: All Cheerleaders Die features a group of cheerleaders resurrected by Wiccan magic, which transforms them into Zombie Succubi.
- Recap.Pokemon S 1 E 1 Pokemon I Choose You: Gary Oak is followed by a group of cheerleaders as he leaves Pallet Town.
- Theatre.The Prom: In the original Atlanta production, Alyssa, Shelby and Kaylee (known then as "Ashley" and "Mandy") were explicitly shown to be part of the school's cheer squad, and even wear their uniforms for a portion of Act 1. On Broadway, we get a passing mention of Alyssa being a cheerleader, but it's not as overtly showcased here. The film shows all three in cheer uniforms but never in action.
- (1/2) WesternAnimation.Para Norman: Popular Is Dumb: Courtney is a cheerleader and Mitch is a jock, and both are popular kids.
Gimme a Z! Gimme a C! Gimme an E!
What's that spell? ZCE! This is for examples with no or insufficient context that won't fit the above folder. Sinkholes will count here.
- Foolish Sibling, Responsible Sibling: In "Chef Pee Pee's Family", Chef Pee Pee and his unnamed sister serve as the responsible siblings to their sister, Stacy's foolish sibling. In particular, Stacy spends most of her time cheering the same word: "Queef", much to their annoyance.
- (2/8) Pom-Pom Girl:
- DodgeBall: A True Underdog Story has a likable male cheerleader as one of the main cast and his cheerleader love interest is also depicted very positively. It also what is possibly the first male cheerleader in film to fit the other trope.
- In Princess Holy Aura, Cordy is a key member of the Whitney High cheerleader squad, though she later admits that she was worried that she might have turned into The Cheerleader. Seems a bit vague
- Characters.Americas Next Top Model Cycle Eight: In her second pictorial◊. Commented out ZCE
- (1/2) Characters.ANT Farm (re: Lexi): The blonde bitchy type of cheerleader.
- Characters.ARMS: The inspiration for her clothes.
- Characters.Carrie: She is on the cheerleading team and is fairly self-centered and aloof.
- Characters.Cookie Run S Rank Cookies: Obviously.
- Characters.Fairy Tail Tartaros: Reduced to this in his powerless mushroom form, rooting for Tartaros's remaining forces.
- Characters.Lovbird: Pom-Pom Girl: Though she briefly dips into The Cheerleader when he chews out Eve. Would've been correct if the example explained the cheerleading part.
- (4/8) Characters.My Gym Partners A Monkey
- (re: Adam) Involuntarily became one in "Cheer Pressure".
- (re: Lupe) As seen in "Cheer Pressure".
- (re: Ingrid) As seen in "Cheer Pressure" and the beginning of "Animal School Musical".
- (re: Dickie) Stupidly, yes.
- Characters.Pound Puppies1980s: Aversion of one since she's sweet.
- Characters.School Bites: Unlike the usual form of this trope, she's not mean.
- Characters.That70s Show: Tomboy and Girly Girl: The Tomboy (The Lad-ette, Fiery Redhead, and One of the Boys) to Jackie's Girly Girl (Proud Beauty, The Cheerleader, and Lovable Alpha Bitch).
- DidntThinkThisThrough.Western Animation: This happened to Bonnie Rockwaller at the end of the Kim Possible episode "Number One", where she replaces Kim as the school's cheerleading captain.[quote snipped as the rest did not count as applicable context]
- Film.Struck By Lightning: Alpha Bitch/The Cheerleader: "Contraception" Claire Matthews. As an added bonus, it's even slashed!
- Film.You Again: Joanna and Gail were this in high school. At the end, so were Bunny and Helen.
- Literature.ghostgirl: Petula, the Wendys, and, for a few chapters in ghostgirl, Scarlet. Commented-out ZCE
- OddFriendship.Live Action TV: One Tree Hill: The most notable example is the nerdy Mouth's friendship with the popular crowd, in particular his friendship with Brooke Davis.
- (1/2) Podcast.Cool Kids Table: Creepy Town (episodes 6-8): Using the "Dead Teenager" system. In the slasher movie Nowhere, Kansas, a group of shitty teens have been hired to work the annual Creepy Town haunted house. Three victims are created and controlled by each Shannon (Ethan, Katie, and Alli), Josh (Spencer, Die, and William), Jake (Stacey, Oliver, and Olivia), and Alan (Frank, Walter, and Veronica). As per the game's rules, the position of Director rotates between each player every scene.
- Recap.Victorious S 1 E 9: Beck's neighbor, for whom he's dogsitting. Turns out, she's nine years old, and very sweet.
- Series.Life With Boys: Allie. Commented out and subbulleted
- Series.Wizards Of Waverly Place: Subverted with Harper who is nice, smart and not at all slutty. Played somewhat straighter with Alex who can be a bitch and is Book Dumb but also subverted in that she doesn't want to be one but was tricked into it by Justin. No mention of being a cheerleader.
- VideoGame.Deep Space Waifu: One of the girls in the ACADEMY expansion is this.
- (1/2) WesternAnimation.Para Norman: Courtney is the 'bitchy' version (with shades of the 'stupid' version) but she turns out to be not so bad in the end.
Other
This is for other issues or any unclassifiable wicks.
- (1/8) Pom-Pom Girl: Optional Blade Kora from Xenoblade Chronicles 2 has a cheerleader theme, including trying to lead a cheer chant for her Driver, getting involved in a "Girl Power" competition, and a special attack outright called "Electric Pompoms". She's far too nice (and out-of-genre) to qualify for The Cheerleader, though. Last sentence is Word Cruft
- Characters.Rumble Roses: Averted as Becky actually went from being the mean Candy Cane to a nice cheerleader. Non-notable aversion
- Manga.Hot Gimmick: Although not technically a cheerleader, Akane, at least in the beginning, is pretty, stupid, slutty, and bitchy. In other words, not an example.
The tally
Out of 53 pages checked
Macron's notes
- Correct: 6 1/8 = 11.6%
- Chairs: 23 1/2 = 44.3%
- ZCE: 21 1/4 = 40%
- Other: 2 1/8 = 4%
Trope Repair Shop:
The Cheerleader
18th Jun '22 4:35:21 PM
Crown Description:
The Cheerleader is frequently misused due to the trope name making it sound broader than it actually is. Consensus was to rename it, so what should its new name be?
Total posts: 34
Whipped up the epitaph. I may have peppered in a reference to Heroes.
Anyways, if anyone wants to help with wicks, we have 693 right now
.
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