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I think it's honestly the same trope. Even your example has three items, just interrupted by Carol: 1.) Fell down the stairs 2.) Died 3.) Broke his glasses.
I hadn't thought of it that way. I was seeing "fell down the stairs and died" as one item, since the reason he died was because he fell down the stairs.
What if something actually is only two items, violating the Rule of Three? Trying to think of an example....
OK, the mock trial at school, on Family Matters, when Urkel was accused of blowing up the science lab. Laura had Carl on the stand and established that Urkel always took responsibility for his screw-ups. How does Carl explain the fact that Urkel denies blowing up the lab? Carl says, "Simple. He didn't do it." Prosecuting attorney objects. "Calls for a conclusion, and makes me look bad."
Arson, Murder, and Jaywalking is a list of three or more items, ending on the weakest note. What if it isn't three items but only two? What I have in mind is the joke featuring two old ladies discussing something tragic that happened to a neighbor.
Alice: "Did you hear about poor Bob? He fell down the stairs and died!"
Carol: "Died?!"
Alice: "Yes, died. Broke his glasses, too."
Edited by BradyLady