History Main / FictionBusinessSavvy

* Also subverted in an episode of ''WesternAnimation/DuckTales'', where Huey, Dewey and Louie try to run Scrooge [=McDuck=]'s business while he's under medical quarantine. While their first ideas succeed and earn the support of the board of directors, it isn't long before their off-the-wall decisions (including a car design similar to Homer's above) nearly run the company into the ground, and only a ResetButton [[HollywoodLaw provided by a dubious interpretation of child labor laws]] is able to set things straight.

* Also subverted in an episode of ''WesternAnimation/DuckTales'', where Huey, Dewey and Louie try to run Scrooge [=McDuck=]'s business while he's under medical quarantine. While their first ideas succeed and earn the support of the board of directors, it isn't long before their off-the-wall decisions nearly run the company into the ground, and only a ResetButton [[HollywoodLaw provided by a dubious interpretation of child labor laws]] is able to set things straight.

* In the second ''OhGod'' movie, a great slogan to get the world's population to have more faith is "Think God." And write it on a bunch of signs.

* In the third season of ''Series/HaltAndCatchFire'', Donna's plan to create an IPO for Mutiny, a small videogame company that's struggling to turn itself into an online trading hub, is presented as a brilliant business move. Subverted hard at the end of the season, when a TimeSkip reveals that the IPO was a disaster that ruined Donna's credibility as a software developer.

->''Oh yeah. It's the best part. It's crunchy, it's explosive, it's where the muffin breaks free of the pan and sort of (makes hand motions) does it's own thing. I'll tell you. That's a million dollar idea right there. Just sell the tops.''

* In one ''Series/GilmoreGirls'' episode Rory and her Chilton frenemies work on school project competition for the best business plan with prototype. The group that wins is a car alarm for lockers. Rory's group doesn't do much better - bedazzled first-aid kits.

* Repeatedly played straight and subverted in numerous ''Series/{{Seinfeld}}'' episodes which have characters coming up with "ingenious" business ideas that include a beach fragrance, muffin tops, a coffee table book about coffee tables, a brassier for men, a bladder system for oil tankers, restaurant relaunches, and more.

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* Subverted in a ''WesternAnimation/TheSimpsons'' episode when Homer designs a car for his brother's company. His brother trusts him as "the everyman." Homer designs it with a cornucopia of what he deems to be conveniences. When the car is unveiled to the public it resembles a freakish UFO on wheels. Needless to say, it was not a business success.
* Also subverted in an episode of ''WesternAnimation/DuckTales'', where Huey, Dewey and Louie try to run Scrooge [=McDuck=]'s business while he's under medical quarantine. While their first ideas succeed and earn the support of the board of directors, it isn't long before their off-the-wall decisions nearly run the company into the ground, and only a ResetButton [[HollywoodLaw provided by a dubious interpretation of child labor laws]] is able to set things straight.
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* Subverted in a ''WesternAnimation/TheSimpsons'' episode when Homer designs a car for his brother's company. His brother trusts him as "the everyman." Homer designs it with a cornucopia of what he deems to be conveniences. When the car is unveiled to the public it resembles a freakish UFO on wheels. Needless to say, it was not a business success.
* Also subverted in an episode of ''WesternAnimation/DuckTales'', where Huey, Dewey and Louie try to run Scrooge [=McDuck=]'s business while he's under medical quarantine. While their first ideas succeed and earn the support of the board of directors, it isn't long before their off-the-wall decisions nearly run the company into the ground, and only a ResetButton [[HollywoodLaw provided by a dubious interpretation of child labor laws]] is able to set things straight.

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* In ''Film/HowToLoseAGuyIn10Days'', one protagonist advertising professional thinks a great new slogan for the diamond industry group is "Go frost yourself." The boss in the meeting really likes it.
* In the second ''OhGod'' movie, a great slogan to get the world's population to have more faith is "Think God." And write it on a bunch of signs.

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* Repeatedly played straight and subverted in numerous ''Series/{{Seinfeld}}'' episodes which have characters coming up with "ingenious" business ideas that include a beach fragrance, muffin tops, a coffee table book about coffee tables, a brassier for men, a bladder system for oil tankers, restaurant relaunches, and more.
* In one ''Series/GilmoreGirls'' episode Rory and her Chilton frenemies work on school project competition for the best business plan with prototype. The group that wins is a car alarm for lockers. Rory's group doesn't do much better - bedazzled first-aid kits.

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-->-- '''Elaine''', ''{{Seinfeld}}'', "Muffin Tops"

* Also subverted in an episode of ''WesternAnimation/DuckTales'', where Huey, Dewey and Louie try to run Scrooge McDuck's business while he's under medical quarantine. While their first ideas succeed and earn the support of the board of directors, it isn't long before their off-the-wall decisions nearly run the company into the ground, and only a ResetButton [[HollywoodLaw provided by a dubious interpretation of child labor laws]] is able to set things straight.

* Subverted in a ''WesternAnimation/TheSimpsons'' episode when Homer designs a car for his brother's company. His brother trusts him as "the everyman." Homer designs it with a cornucopia of what he deems to be conveniences. When the car is unveiled to the public it resembles a freakish UFO on wheels. Needless to say, it was not a business success.
* Similarly, in an episode of ''WesternAnimation/DuckTales'', Huey, Dewey and Louie try to run Scrooge McDuck's business while he is quarantined. While some of their decisions were applauded, their car design flopped miserably.

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* In ''HowToLoseAGuyIn10Days'', one protagonist advertising professional thinks a great new slogan for the diamond industry group is "Go frost yourself." The boss in the meeting really likes it.

* At the end of ''OtherPeoplesMoney'' the corporate raider played by Danny Devito does a mild HeelFaceTurn, by setting up a deal so that the almost defunct family corporation can use its obsolete copper cable factory to instead manufacture airbags thus saving the employees. Not sure there were any real-life analogous successful conversions in that industry during the 1980's/1990's.

* ''DontTellMomTheBabysittersDead'' has Christina Applegate's character help shape a fashion design company's new line of apparel. Even during the 1990's, the resulting outfits look ridiculous even when compared to real-life wacked-out fashion.
* Subverted in ''OfficeSpace.'' Smykowski's million-dollar idea is the "Jump-to-Conclusions Mat". [[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin A mat.. with different conclusions... you can jump to]]! He's immediately told it's the worst idea anyone's ever heard of. He eventually makes it anyway, though we never find out if it takes off.

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* Repeatedly played straight and subverted in numerous ''{{Seinfeld}}'' episodes which have characters coming up with "ingenious" business ideas that include a beach fragrance, muffin tops, a coffee table book about coffee tables, a brassier for men, a bladder system for oil tankers, restaurant relaunches, and more.
* In one ''{{GilmoreGirls}}'' episode Rory and her Chilton frenemies work on school project competition for the best business plan with prototype. The group that wins is a car alarm for lockers. Rory's group doesn't do much better - bedazzled first-aid kits.

[[AC:StandUpComedy]]

[[AC:VideoGames]]

[[AC:{{Webcomics}}]]

[[AC:{{Web Original}}]]

* Subverted in a ''{{TheSimpsons}}'' episode when Homer designs a car for his brother's company. His brother trusts him as "the everyman." Homer designs it with a cornucopia of what he deems to be conveniences. When the car is unveiled to the public it resembles a freakish UFO on wheels. Needless to say, it was not a business success.
* Similarly, in an episode of ''DuckTales'', Huey, Dewey and Louie try to run Scrooge McDuck's business while he is quarantined. While some of their decisions were applauded, their car design flopped miserably.

* Subverted in a ''{{TheSimpsons}}'' episode when Homer designs a car for his brother's company. His brother trusts him as "the everyman." Homer designs it with a cornucopia of what he deems to be conveniences. When the car is unveiled to the public it resembles a freakish UFO on wheels. Needless to say, it was not a business success.

* ''DontTellMomTheBabysittersDead'' has Christina Applegate's character help shape a fashion design company's new line of apparel. Even during the 1990's, the resulting outfits look ridiculous even when compared to real-life wacked-out fashion.

* ''DontTellMomTheBabysittersDead'' has Christina Applegate's character help shape a fashion design company's new lines of apparel. Even during the 1990's, the resulting outfits look ridiculous even when compared to regular wacked out fashion designs.

* Subverted in a ''{{TheSimpsons}}'' episode when Homer designs a car for his brother's company. His brother trusts him as "the everyman." Homer designs it with a cornucopia of what he deems to be conveniences. When the car is unveiled to the public it resembles a freakish UFO on wheels. Needless to say, it was not a business success.

->''Oh yeah. It's the best part. It's crunchy, it's explosive, it's where the muffin breaks free of the pan and sort of (makes hand motions) does it's own thing. I'll tell you. That's a million dollor idea right there. Just sell the tops.''

* Repeatedly played straight and subverted in numerous ''{{Seinfeld}}'' episodes which have characters coming up with "ingenious" business ideas that include a beach fragrance, muffin tops, a coffee table book about coffee tables, restaurant relaunches, and more.

* In ''Big'' when Tom Hanks' character gets called up to the toy company's executive meeting, he impresses the boss by spearheading a new toy brainstorming session. He questions the appeal of a building transformer and instead suggests bug transformers. Another executive chimes in, "Transformers for girls!"

* At the end of ''OtherPeoplesMoney'' the corporate raider played by Danny Devito does a mild HeelFaceTurn, by setting up a deal so that the almost defunct family corporation can use its obsolete copper cable factory to instead manufacture airbags thus saving the employees. Not sure there were any real-life analogous successful conversions in that industry during the eighties.

* Repeatedly used and subverted in numerous ''{{Seinfeld}}'' episodes which have characters coming up with "ingenious" business ideas that include a beach fragrance, muffin tops, restaurant relaunches, and more.

->'''Elaine''': Oh yeah. It's the best part. It's crunchy, it's explosive, it's where the muffin breaks free of the pan and sort of (makes hand motions) does it's own thing. I'll tell you. That's a million dollor idea right there. Just sell the tops.\\
-->-- ''Seinfeld''

->'''Dick''': Watch as I become the most obnoxious, repulsive creep any woman has ever met.\\
'''Harry''': Wow, the transformation is astounding!\\
''[the aliens all applaud]''\\
'''Dick''': I haven't done it yet!
-->-- ''ThirdRockFromTheSun''

* At the end of ''OtherPeople'sMoney'' the corporate raider played by Danny Devito does a mild [[HeelFaceTurn]], by setting up a deal so that the almost defunct family corporation can use its obsolete copper cable factory to instead manufacture airbags thus saving the employees. Not sure there were any analogous successful conversions in that industry in the eighties in real life.

* Repeatedly used and subverted in numerous ''Seinfeld'' episodes which have characters coming up with "ingenious" business ideas that include a beach fragrance, muffin tops, restaurant relaunches, and more.
* Subverted in a ''TheSimpsons'' episode when Homer designs a car for his brother's company. His brother trusts him as "the everyman." Homer designs it with a cornucopia of what he deems to be conveniences. When the car is unveiled to the public it resembles a freakish UFO on wheels. Needless to say, it was not a business success.

* In the second ''OhGod'' movie, a great slogan to get the masses to have more faith is "Think God."

In a work of fiction, characters often come up with a great business idea that will make them rich or get that promotion. However by using a bit of [[FridgeLogic]] the audience may realize that this business idea is actually terrible. The idea may display a poor sense of fashion or design or may just ignore customer psychology or economic realities.

* In ''HowToLoseAGuyIn10Days'' one protagonist advertizing professional thinks a great new slogan for the diamond industry group is "Go frost yourself." The boss in the meeting really likes it.
* In the second ''OhGod'' movie a great slogan to get the masses to have more faith is "Think God."