History Main / ColdTurkeysAreEverywhere

* Sir Galahad from ''Film/MontyPythonAndTheHolyGrail'' has committed himself to celibacy … but then he winds up at Castle Anthrax, which turns out to be full of [[AllWomenAreLustful sex-starved babes]]. He ends up giving in, but Sir Lancelot [[NailedToTheWagon nails him back to the wagon]] in a last-minute UnwantedRescue.

* Sir Galahad from ''Film/MontyPythonAndTheHolyGrail'' has committed himself to celibacy ... but then he winds up at Castle Anthrax, full of [[AllWomenAreLustful gorgeous girls bent on getting him into bed with them]]. He ends up giving in, but Sir Lancelot [[NailedToTheWagon nails him back to the wagon]] in a last-minute UnwantedRescue.

Basically, you don't know what you've got till it's gone.

-->-- '''Website/{{Cracked}}''', [[http://www.cracked.com/article_19104_why-humanity-cant-get-past-7-deadly-sins_p2.html "Why Humanity Can't Get Past The 7 Deadly Sins"]]

* Invoked in-universe during an episode of ''Series/FirstAndTen''. During training camp, hefty defensive lineman Bubba has to lose weight, or be cut from the team; he returns to his room and finds it filled with cakes, cookies, pastries, and other snacks -- courtesy of the rookies and second-stringers wanting to take his job. In the end, he manages to hold out long enough to cut the weight.

* In ''Webcomic/{{Sinfest}}'' Squigley had combined [[http://www.sinfest.net/view.php?date=2006-11-08 porn/pot/alcohol]] withdrawal. Going outside [[http://www.sinfest.net/view.php?date=2006-11-10 doesn't help]]. [[http://www.sinfest.net/view.php?date=2006-11-11 Though one might have a few doubt when he starts to say there's no escape.]]
** [[http://www.sinfest.net/view.php?date=2007-06-10 Satan tries surrounding Seymour with apple products to tempt him.]]
* In [[http://www.todaynothinghappened.com/index.php?c=380 this]] ''Webcomic/TodayNothingHappened'' strip, we see it happen in RealLife.

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* ''WesternAnimation/DextersLaboratory''. There's the episode where Dexter's Mom bakes some muffins and Dexter has to prevent his dad from eating them (apparently, he's a "muffomaniac" and Mom even says that he only married her [[GettingCrapPastTheRadar because of her muffins]]). Dad starts to hallucinate that's he's in a land of muffins and is crowned king. All in all, it was a very bizarre episode.

** Deliberately invoked by Daphne in "Hungry Heart." Jane Leeves, who played Daphne, became pregnant during the run, and the producers' attempts to [[HideYourPregnancy conceal her baby bump]] failed when the naturally-svelte Leeves gained a good deal of weight. To compensate, the writers added a subplot involving Daphne stress-eating to deal with the frustrations in her life. When she vows to give up the junk food and lose weight, she sets this trope on ''herself'' by secretly hiding various sweets and desserts all around Frasier's apartment, allowing her to sneak snacks whenever she likes. Given that the main characters were psychiatrists, though, the show took the trope more seriously than others, noticing that Daphne's inability to stop was serious and prompting a trip to a spa to help her deal with the root of her problem (which in turn allowed Leeves time off to have her baby).

* ''WesternAnimation/TheLoudHouse'' fanfiction ''Fanfic/DontSayDannit'' has Lynn Sr. hoping Lily won't say the phrase "dang it" ([[GoshDangItToHeck which is treated as profanity]]), only to say it himself, have Rita almost say it, and find it on the radio.

* In the first ''Film/DiaryOfAWimpyKid'' book, Greg has to pee but is not allowed because Rodrick is threatening him with death. At first he can put it out of his mind, but then he can't because a sprinkler is going off, a man is watering his lawn, and there is an aquarium anyway.

-->'''Gloria:''' Daddy, you're supposed to play fair! Michael is, and this is no picnic for him, you know!
-->'''Mike:''' Don't say "picnic", Gloria.
-->'''Gloria:''' I'm sorry, honey.
-->'''Mike:''' Don't say "honey", Gloria.

* Sir Galahad from ''Film/MontyPythonAndTheHolyGrail'' has committed himself to celibacy ... but then he winds up at Castle Anthrax, full of [[AllWomenAreLustful gorgeous girls bent on getting him into bed with them]]. He ends up giving in, [[NailedToTheWagon but Sir Lancelot barges in at the last minute and drags him away]].

* Sir Galahad from ''Film/MontyPythonAndTheHolyGrail'' has committed himself to lifelong celibacy...but then he winds up at Castle Anthrax, full of gorgeous girls bent on getting him into bed with them. He ends up giving in, [[NailedToTheWagon but Sir Lancelot barges in at the last minute and drags him away]].

A character has agreed to give up a certain thing, like drugs, smoking, [[DietEpisode certain foods]] (or ''a'' certain food), a particular hobby, [[ADateWithRosiePalms masturbation/pornography viewing]], [[NatureAdoresAVirgin or sex]]. Unfortunately, everywhere they look, they're reminded of the item they've given up, sometimes via MeatOVision. As the episode goes on, their resolve is severely tested as their {{Jerkass}}[[note]]or clueless[[/note]] friends and (clueless) bystanders will do their best to tempt them. You can expect [[StatusQuoIsGod karma]] to be a bitch and offer dozens of free "once in a lifetime, sent from heaven" opportunities to indulge in the vice.

A character has agreed to give up a certain thing, like drugs, smoking, [[DietEpisode certain foods]] (or ''a'' certain food), a particular hobby, [[ADateWithRosiePalms masturbation/pornography viewing]], [[NatureAdoresAVirgin or sex]]. Unfortunately, everywhere s/he looks, s/he's reminded of the item s/he's given up, sometimes via MeatOVision. As the episode goes on, his/her resolve is severely tested as his/her {{Jerkass}} [[note]] or clueless [[/note]] friends and (clueless) bystanders will do their best to tempt him/her. You can expect [[StatusQuoIsGod karma]] to be a bitch and offer dozens of free "once in a lifetime, sent from heaven" opportunities to indulge in the vice.

If s/he sticks to his/her guns but later gives in, the opportunity is gone for good and s/he's made a laughing stock. If s/he ''pretends'' to abstain, s/he will get busted, big time, by everybody. If s/he's particularly strong-willed and goes through the whole episode without giving in, s/he might even get a particularly awesome reward for his/her good behavior, which can be something obvious (a promised reward like concert tickets) or something s/he'll never even notice s/he got. Like, say, the chocolate s/he refused to eat was laced with [[BitterAlmonds cyanide]] (or {{laxative|Prank}}s). If it's a SadistShow, expect this abstinent behavior to leave him/her [[KafkaKomedy worse off than before.]] Only rarely will the abstinence be its own reward.

Sometimes s/he isn't abstaining from a certain thing but is trying not to think of something unpleasant or something s/he knows s/he can't get. Or maybe they are trying to give something up, but only temporarily, such as on a bet. If it's bathroom-related, it's a PottyEmergency. If it's an entirely new vice to the character, it's a CompressedVice. If they seemed to be coping perfectly well before they tried to quit, they're a FunctionalAddict.

If s/he sticks to his/her guns but later gives in, the opportunity is gone for good and s/he's made a laughing stock. If s/he ''pretends'' to abstain, s/he will get busted, big time, by everybody. If s/he's particularly strong-willed and goes through the whole episode without giving in, s/he might even get a particularly awesome reward for his/her good behavior, which can be something obvious (a promised reward like concert tickets) or something s/he'll never even notice s/he got. Like, say, the chocolate s/he refused to eat was laced with {{cyanide|Pill}} (or {{laxative|Prank}}s). If it's a SadistShow, expect this abstinent behavior to leave him/her [[KafkaKomedy worse off than before.]] Only rarely will the abstinence be its own reward.

* In an episode of ''WesternAnimation/APupNamedScoobyDoo'', Freddy accepts a bet from the other characters that he can't go one whole case without accusing RedHerring (that's the character's actual name) of anything. So the person who gives them the next case is Red Herring's aunt, and the characters constantly meet with Red Herring. [[spoiler:And it turns out Red Herring ''really did'' commit the crime that time.]]

A character has agreed to give up a certain thing, like drugs, smoking, certain foods, a particular hobby, [[ADateWithRosiePalms masturbation/pornography viewing]], [[NatureAdoresAVirgin or sex]]. Unfortunately, everywhere he looks, he's reminded of the item he's given up, sometimes via MeatOVision. As the episode goes on, his resolve is severely tested as his {{Jerkass}} [[note]] or clueless [[/note]] friends and (clueless) bystanders will do their best to tempt him. You can expect [[StatusQuoIsGod karma]] to be a bitch and offer dozens of free "once in a lifetime, sent from heaven" opportunities to indulge in the vice.

If he sticks to his guns but later gives in, the opportunity is gone for good and he's made a laughing stock. If he ''pretends'' to abstain, he will get busted, big time, by everybody. If he's particularly strong-willed and goes through the whole episode without giving in, he might even get a particularly awesome reward for his good behavior, which can be something obvious (a promised reward like concert tickets) or something he'll never even notice he got. Like, say, the chocolate he refused to eat was laced with {{cyanide|Pill}} (or {{laxative|Prank}}s). If it's a SadistShow, expect this abstinent behavior to leave him [[KafkaKomedy worse off than before.]] Only rarely will the abstinence be its own reward.

Sometimes he isn't abstaining from a certain thing but is trying not to think of something [[StupidSexyFlanders unpleasant]] or something he knows he can't get. If it's bathroom-related, it's a PottyEmergency. If it's an entirely new vice to the character, it's a CompressedVice. If they seemed to be coping perfectly well before they tried to quit, they're a FunctionalAddict.

See also WarmBloodbagsAreEverywhere for the {{horror}} version. See also FrequentlyBrokenUnbreakableVow for general promises rather than abstinence, and TheWorldMocksYourLoss when it's something the character loses rather than willingly gives up. Often seen with WeWantOurJerkBack. Compare GoingColdTurkey, when the addiction is broken by a single self-imposed withdrawal phase. Can lead to RadishCure where the character learns his lesson as a result of consuming too many "cold turkeys".

* Richard Braun from ''Manga/{{Monster}}'' has this trouble with drinking.

* In one WesternAnimation/DonaldDuck comic, Daisy bets Donald that he couldn't go a day without eating anything. Cue a guy handing him a fresh hot dog (he can't take it with him on the bus), Grandma Duck nominating him as a judge in the local bake-off, and a college roommate dragging him into a restaurant as a celebration of their reunion and ordering everything on the menu. In the end, Donald is undone when Daisy catches him eating a chocolate bar, but he cheats by re-adjusting his wristwatch to trick her into thinking that it's already past midnight. The next week, they go on a date at a luxurious mountain hotel known for its all-you-can-eat buffet, but Donald gets into an accident which injures his mouth, rendering him incapable of eating anything besides soup.

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* Done rather disturbingly in the Cocoa Puffs commercials. The cuckoo will try to give up chocolate, only to see it everywhere until he breaks down and exclaims "I'M CUCKOO FOR COCOA PUFFS!", going on a rampage until he gets his cocoa fix. If one didn't know better, [[DoesThisRemindYouOfAnything one might think]] that they're comparing a cereal to a [[ICantBelieveItsNotHeroin highly addictive drug...]]
* A Weight Watchers commercial has a woman on a diet seeing various pieces of work equipment (a computer keyboard, a telephone, a water cooler) appearing in the form of food. This also applies to furniture, as a booth seat and table at a restaurant appears in the form of pizza and a living room couch appears in the form of potato chips.
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* ''Film/BruceAlmighty'': After Grace leaves Bruce, she sees signs everywhere reminding her of how much Bruce loved her. However, with Bruce being God, the signs were created by him as a means of trying to win her back.
* In ''Film/BedtimeStories'', a man named Skeeter (the main character) finds out that the bedtime stories that he and two kids he's babysitting tell at night keep coming true. In one story, the six-year-old Patrick makes the main character of the story catch on fire. Skeeter worries that the incinerated character represents him (probably because his name, Skeeto, was similar to his own name) and becomes paranoid that he's going to catch fire. When listening to the car radio, all the songs have fire-related lyrics (Burn Baby Burn, I'm on Fire, etc).
* ''Film/BubbleBoy'' has Chloe, the LoveInterest, about to marry her high school boyfriend while still pining for Jimmy, the eponymous Bubble Boy. Trying to take her mind off of him, she starts watching TV, seeing ads for "Mr. Bubble", Bubblicious Bubble Gum, and Don Ho performance of "Tiny Bubbles".

* A "wanting something you know you can't have" example is in ''Literature/CharlieAndTheChocolateFactory'': Charlie Bucket loves chocolate more than anything, but his family is so poor that he only gets one chocolate bar a year, on his birthday. This makes it painful for him to constantly walk by shop windows full of chocolate bars, and see other kids enjoying chocolate bars...and worst of all, to live near the world's largest chocolate factory.

* In ''Literature/NightOfTheAssholes'', Barbara has suffered from a HairTriggerTemper that has caused much grief in her life and uses various calming methods - smoking, pills, a life-sized dammit-doll and her favorite smoothie - to keep her from acting out her aggression on other people. Barbara surviving an apocalypse where people are literally trying to provoke her and being low on cigarettes, pills and witnessing your little brother being painfully transformed into one of them makes it harder and harder to keep her from becoming an asshole too.
* In ''Literature/ShadowOfTheConqueror,'' [[CelibateHero Daylen]] is endlessly frustrated by the attentions of the girls he saves from [[SexSlave slavery]], especially [[PromiscuityAfterRape Sharra]], as a bunch of vulnerable teenaged girls throwing themselves at him is [[{{Ephebophile}} practically his ultimate temptation]].
* In ''Literature/MARiiMO'', Tammy tries to take a week-long break from her work in robotics. She gives up after two days, partly because everything she sees reminds her of robotics.

* ''Series/TheFreshPrinceOfBelAir'':
** In the episode "Be My Baby Tonight", Ashley asks Will about sex. Will tries not to think about it, but then he suddenly hears double entendres everywhere. When Ashley's boyfriend comes in for their date, he asks if she's ready ("NO MAN SHE'S ONLY 13!"). Then, on the TV, the game announcer asks "Where is the most unusual place you've made whoopee?" Then, when Will turns on the radio, all that comes on is the song "I Wanna Sex You Up" (which is a real song). Carlton comes in and says he's late for his date with his girlfriend who can "tie a knot with her tongue". Then Hilary walks in asking where all the whipped cream went. Will finally yells "What is it with your preoccupation with sex!"
** In "Home is Where the Heart Attack Is", Uncle Phil has to go on a diet and does not particularly like the idea of giving up his favorite foods cold turkey. He even uses that exact phrasing... only to start thinking about actual turkey ("with pillowy mounds of mashed potatoes... Butter-drenched dressing... Tiny onions swimming in a sea of cream sauce...") He eventually can't stay away from unhealthy foods and has a heart attack.

* On ''Series/SesameStreet'' when Cookie Monster had to stop himself from eating Big Bird's birthday cake, he ate literally everything but the cake.

* Invoked in-universe during an episode of ''Series/FirstAndTen''. During training camp, hefty defensive lineman Bubba has to lose weight, or be cut from the team; he returns to his room and finds it filled with cakes, cookies, pastries, and other snacks -- courtesy of the rookies and second-stringers wanting to take his job. In the end, he manages to hold out long enough to cut the weight.
* One episode of ''Series/TheNanny'' sees BigEater Sylvia go on a diet. As she sits in the kitchen with Fran, Val, and Yetta, the other women start gushing about the various sweets they're eating, like "double-chocolate brownies with cheesecake centers" and cannoli. Poor Sylvia does manage to hold out and even offers to put away a cake that none of the others are eating...only to fake-close the fridge door and rush upstairs with the dessert.
** In "Shopaholic," Fran discovers that her ex-fiancee Danny is getting married before her, and goes on an uncontrollable buying spree to deal with her feelings. After realizing she has a problem and going to "Shoppers' Anonymous," Maxwell tells everyone that they must avoid anything that might remind her of purchases and sales. Niles then enters with his dinner, and Max promptly tells him it's too much--"take half off." Later, just when it seems things will be OK, Val shows up to host a Tupperware party at the mansion.
** Niles, as a master {{Troll}}, once invoked this when C.C. tried to quit smoking. He bakes her a cake, ostensibly to congratulate her, but C.C. tells him that she's trying to be careful about overeating, as gaining weight happens frequently when people give up cigarettes. Niles (who is clearly aware of this) promptly produces even more sweets, like fresh eclairs and ice cream, just to get on her nerves.
* In "I'm Hungry," a DietEpisode of ''Series/{{Roseanne}}'', Roseanne tries to get her mind off eating by joining the family for some TV. Unfortunately, every single channel she watches is advertising some kind of delicious food, like an overstuffed candy bar or flame-broiled cheeseburger restaurant.

* ''VideoGame/EnterTheGungeon'' takes this to ridiculous levels with Spice (yes, like in ''Literature/{{Dune}}''). It's a single-use active item that, once used, also dramatically increases the chances of more of them spawning instead of other items. Which is bad because the benefits have diminishing returns ''and'' come with increasingly serious downsides. After just two hits, there is ''no'' good reason to use any more, but you also can hardly round a corner without tripping over one.

** In "D.I.Y.", Nina is at a hardware store and at one point is going through a bathroom display."

* ''WesternAnimation/SittingDucks'' takes place in a universe where ducks and alligators live in segregated districts, where there's constant tension between the hungry alligators of Swampwood and duck denizens of Ducktown. The show focuses on a duck named Bill and his relationship with Aldo, an alligator who swears off eating ducks. This often proves hard to resist for poor Aldo, who constantly must fight ostracization from his species and his own predatory instincts, especially in the episode where he hallucinates Bill and his friends as skinned floating ducks.

* In the 2011 ''WesternAnimation/{{Winnie the Pooh|2011}}'' film, Pooh runs out of honey and every attempt to get more gets pulled away from him in coincidentally different ways all through the day. In the middle of the film, he gets so hungry that his friends (and the Narrator) [[{{Smurfing}} start substituting every word with "honey"]], and he starts seeing things around him transformed into honey pots until it climaxes into a DisneyAcidSequence musical number.

* ''WesternAnimation/ThePenguinsOfMadagascar'': In "Herring Impaired", the penguins eat aged brined herring that results in them contracting a rare brain disease that turns them all into fish-obsessed psychopaths. Rico, being the only one who didn't actually eat any herring, has to keep them from eating anymore fish for a whole day to keep the effects from becoming permanent. Unfortunately for Rico, there seems to be fish almost everywhere they go. Fortunately, he's able to trick the infected penguins into eating a large wooden sign shaped like a fish until they return to normal.

--->'''Woman:''' Just do it! ''(Homer runs away)'' Examine your scalp for ringworm.

** ''WesternAnimation/ThePenguinsOfMadagascar'': In "Herring Impaired", the penguins eat aged brined herring that results in them contracting a rare brain disease that turns them all into fish-obsessed psychopaths. Rico, being the only one who didn't actually eat any herring, has to keep them from eating anymore fish for a whole day to keep the effects from becoming permanent. Unfortunately for Rico, there seems to be fish almost everywhere they go. Fortunately, he's able to trick the infected penguins into eating a large wooden sign shaped like a fish until they return to normal.

* In an episode of ''Series/ParksAndRecreation'', Jerry, the office ButtMonkey, is mugged. When Jerry comes back to work, Leslie decides, to the annoyance of everyone else, that it's TooSoon to make fun of Jerry like normal. Cue Jerry doing a million snark-worthy things.