History BavarianFireDrill / LiveActionTV

** This trope seems less convincing in the security-paranoid [=21st=] century, so the new series saw the introduction of an AppliedPhlebotinum known as psychic paper, which the reader sees as whatever form of credentials they think the Doctor needs... unless the viewer happens to be psychic enough to see through the illusion, [[Recap/DoctorWhoS28E12ArmyOfGhosts like]] everyone working for Torchwood, or intelligent enough, [[Recap/DoctorWhoS29E2TheShakespeareCode like]] Creator/WilliamShakespeare. Also, lies too big will break it, as seen in [[Recap/DoctorWho2010CSAChristmasCarol "A Christmas Carol"]], when it refuses to say he's "widely acknowledged as a [[BlatantLies mature and responsible adult]]". Furthermore, it appears it needs the target to have some semblance of imagination, as it [[Recap/DoctorWhoS34E9Flatline failed on the grumpy old work supervisor]]. You don't want to be DistractedByTheSexy, [[Recap/DoctorWhoS27E9TheEmptyChild either]].

* An episode of ''Series/TheCloser'' centered around finding a man who had interfered with a murder investigation by pretending to be the lead detective in charge of collecting evidence and interviewing suspects. Notably, he not only fooled the suspects, he initially fooled the other cops, including the assistant chief. It helped that [[{{Cloudcuckoolander}} he believed he was a cop]].

** But another time Kramer ended up with a "job" at [=Brant/Leland=], taking meetings and writing reports, even though he didn't get paid. Eventually they had to "fire" him for incompetence.

** Hilariously subverted in at least two episodes of ''Series/{{Seinfeld}}'' by Kramer. In one episode, he wanders into a law firm's building to use the bathroom and ends up getting swept into a meeting. Everyone assumes he works there, and he ends up doing just that for several days before being called into a meeting where he gets "fired" for his shoddy performance. Also happens when he gets a job as a seat filler at the Tony Awards, where he inadvertently ends up getting caught in the crowd heading to the stage to accept an award, resulting in him attending several showbiz parties while brandishing an unearned Tony award. In neither case was he trying to get his own way or manipulate people, he was the one just going with the flow, which is exactly the sort of behavior required by ''others'' for the trope to work.

** Moriarty managed to pass as a taxi driver to drive Sherlock to a location and Sherlock doesn't notice until he gets out of the cab and attempts to pay the fare. "No Charge".

* In one episode of ''Series/{{Scrubs}}'', J.D. dons a lab coat to look more "official". The Janitor decides to wear one as well, just to mess with him. When the Janitor sits with J.D. in the cafeteria, a woman comes up to ask a question. The Janitor explains that the janitors at Sacred Heart wear lab coats as well, leading to the woman complimenting both the Janitor and J.D. on the great job they do.

** In "Rumors of Death", a member of the Terran Administration is launching a coup. She rendezvous outside the perimeter of Servalan's palace with LaResistance who've [[MuggedForDisguise stolen the uniforms of a Security squad.]] They wait till Servalan grows impatient and demands her underling's presence, so no-one thinks it strange when she comes running in at the double, escorted by a squad of soldiers, until the shooting starts.

%%* ''Series/HogansHeroes'' ''ran'' on this trope.

** One CandidCameraPrank involved having a man dressed as a police officer stand with a flimsy white barrier gate. When somebody came up, he would inform them that [[RefugeInAudacity Delaware was closed today]], but that they could go to New Jersey if they wanted. ''It worked''. One dupe, upon being informed that Delaware was closed, replied, [[PlaceWorseThanHell "Good."]] This prank was repeated with the State of Texas being "closed", and in Great Britain with the "closing" of various counties.

** One CandidCameraPrank involved having a man dressed as a police officer stand with a flimsy white barrier gate. When somebody came up, he would inform them that [[RefugeInAudacity Delaware was closed today]], but that they could go to New Jersey if they wanted. ''It worked''. One dupe, upon being informed that Delaware was closed, replied, "Good." This prank was repeated with the State of Texas being "closed", and in Great Britain with the "closing" of various counties.

--> "I waltz through security with someone else's ID. Nobody gives me a second look. When the rightful owner shows up, there's no facility-wide badge check. I find access doors left unlocked or propped open, passwords written on post-it notes. Warehouse workers are using pen and paper instead of electronic inventory devices, which leaves you wide open to pilfering. You got duplicate routing numbers on cargo, surveillance-camera blind spots on the north and the east side of the floor, inventory documents that are going into the trash instead of being shredded, not to mention loading equipment being driven at unsafe speeds and crews disregarding safety protocols."

* ''Series/BetterCallSaul'': In his role as a security consultant for Madrigal Electromotive, Mike steals another worker's badge, walks right into the building, has multiple conversations with other employees, and takes advantage of every security weakness he can find. Once he's done, [[DeconstructedTrope he takes the supervisors to task over everything that he was able to get away with]]:

* ''Series/HowIMetYourMother'': On Marshall and Lily's wedding day Barney attempts to order a drink only to be told he can't be served until the reception. He claims the drink is "for [[{{Bridezilla}} the Bride]]" and the bartender immediately starts pouring. Over the course of the episode Barney realises he can get anyone to do anything he asks by claiming "it's for the Bride".

** In "[[Recap/LeverageS04E09TheCrossMyHeartJob The Cross My Heart Job]]", he needs to get a PIN in order to access an air traffic control tower, but the only ID he has on him is for a woman. So when he goes to get a new PIN from and gets some odd looks from security, he pretends to be a trans man and goes off on an offended rant to rattle the
guy at the desk thoroughly enough to get what he needs.

* ''Series/LeverageRedemption'': In "[[Recap/LeverageRedemptionS1E2ThePanamanianMonkeyJob]]", to gain access to the necessary office space in a building they're robbing, Harry, Parker, and Eliot march in and start burning documents while claiming that the authorities are on their way. The employees immediately evacuate, as they know they work for a corrupt firm and that this day would come eventually.

* ''Series/LeverageRedemption'': In "[[Recap/LeverageRedemptionS01E02ThePanamanianMonkeyJob]]", to gain access to the necessary office space in a building they're robbing, Harry, Parker, and Eliot march in and start burning documents while claiming that the authorities are on their way. The employees immediately evacuate, as they know they work for a corrupt firm and that this day would come eventually.

** In "[[Recap/LeverageS04E09TheCrossMyHeartJob The Cross My Heart Job]]", he needs to get a PIN in order to access an air traffic control tower, but the only ID he has on him is for a woman. So when he goes to get a new PIN from and gets some odd looks from security, he pretends to be a trans man and goes off on an offended rant to rattle the guy at the desk thoroughly enough to get what he needs.

* One episode of ''Series/{{CSI}}'' had the team brushing up against an FBI team investigating a possible human trafficking ring after one of their agents was murdered in the field. It eventually turns out that the "FBI agents" are actually ''mental patients'' united by a shared, Don Quixote-like delusion (but their actions ''do'' lead to breaking up a trafficking ring).

** In "The Search, Part II", a group of Jem'Hadar soldiers ambushes and tries to arrest Sisko and co. as they attempt to close the wormhole. Garak gets them out of it by pretending to be TheMole and then shooting the Jem'Hadar once they let their guard down.
** Garak seems to like this tactic. In "Tacking Into the Wind", he, Odo, Kira, and [[spoiler:Damar with some other Cardassian resistance members]] play the same trick on some other Jem'Hadar. Odo (impersonating the Female Changeling) asks to 'inspect' a plasma rifle and Garak proceeds to 'test' it. It helps when the people you fool revere you as a God.

* Used by Dominic Hargan in his intro scene in ''Series/PowerRangersJungleFury''. His cover is blown by the appearance of an old friend, who happens to run the place.