History Main / LaughWithMe

** A non-villainous example happens in the episode "Pranks A Lot": When [=SpongeBob=] and Patrick are caught visible by Mr. Krabs throwing water at them, Mr. Krabs tells them that he pulled his share of pranks when he was their age and points out they have a good laugh. He then convinces them to laugh with him, causing [=SpongeBob=] and Patrick to laugh along.
--> '''Mr. Krabs:''' Any particular reason you boys are naked?

** Much, ''much'' earlier - before Creator/ToeiAnimation got the rights to the series, in fact - Studio I.G.'s one-off {{OVA}} featured a BigBad named Ganzack who played this trope much straighter.
* Naga in ''LightNovel/{{Slayers}}'' teaches a couple of villain of the week in the OVA to laugh an evil and noble laugh like her. By the end of the episode, the three laugh together in a twilight.

** ''[[Videogame/MetalGearSolid4GunsOfThePatriots Guns of the Patriots]]'': This is [[LaughingMad Laughing Octopus]]' CatchPhrase and is absolutely NOT PlayedForLaughs.

** ''[[Videogame/MetalGearSolid3SnakeEater Snake Eater]]'' however has Ocelot mocking Snake when he first meets him and then indicates to the rest of the Ocelot unit to start laughing with him.
* In ''[[Videogame/CityOfHeroes City of Villains]]'', up-and-coming MadScientist Vernon von Grun frequently invites the player character to do this.

* The {{Trope Namer|s}} comes from ''WesternAnimation/{{Freakazoid}}''. The eponymous hero's eventual EvilCounterpart, Guitierrez, would often laugh while surrounded by his cohorts. He would then gleefully tell them, "Laugh with me." Keep in mind, Guitierrez was voiced by Creator/RicardoMontalban in full-on [[Film/StarTrekIITheWrathOfKhan Khan]]-mode.

* In one episode of ''WesternAnimation/MyLifeAsATeenageRobot'' Smitus monologues about his evil plan and then lets out an evil laugh, while his minions just stare. He gives them an icy glare and says, "You laugh too." The minions all start laughing themselves silly, so much so that they accidentally let the episode's AppliedPhlebotinum out of their ship's airlock.
* Non-villainous example in ''WesternAnimation/TheSimpsons'' episode "Homer vs. Patty and Selma", Homer is forced to borrow money from Patty and Selma. They agree to help him out on the condition that he become their slave until he repays the debt. They then begin smirking and laughing, and Homer chuckles a little with them at first. Eventually he starts to genuinely laugh more so than those two, who then get a little annoyed at him.
* Non-laugh variation: the "Shanghaied" episode of ''WesternAnimation/SpongeBobSquarePants'' has the Flying Dutchman take [=SpongeBob=] and Patrick onboard as his crew. When he demands that they scream to scare people, they comply with various ridiculous noises, until he finally gives up on making them scary.

* ''WesternAnimation/DangerMouse'': "You're not laughing, Stiletto. Why aren't you laughing?"

-->'''[[{{Mooks}} Guard]] at the Boiling Rock:''' Well, isn't that cute. ''[{{beat}}]'' I ''said,'' isn't that cute?\\
'''[[AntiHero Zuko]]:''' Um, yes! Very cute, sir.\\

* ''WesternAnimation/KungFuPanda2'' subverts this in that the BigBad asks TheHero to laugh with him. He does so and then questions why he's laughing.

** This trope is actually PlayedForDrama in the UsefulNotes/{{P|layStation2}}S2-only Tsukiotoshi-hen. After [[spoiler:Keiichi, Rena, and Shion]] all kill Satoko's uncle, Satoko finds out and [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J37XUXfKPSw&feature=related basically yells]] "WhatTheHellHero?!" at everyone involved. This upsets [[spoiler:Keiichi]], and so after they all get back to his house, both [[spoiler:Rena and Shion]] try comforting him by [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JPkF2_EakeM&feature=related telling him to laugh]] and looking progressively more insane and threatening. He finally goes along with it, indicating his tenuous grip on sanity at this point.

* ''Wiki/SCPFoundation'': [[http://www.scp-wiki.net/scp-2030 SCP-2030]] is a twisted "hidden camera" show called "Laugh Is Fun", in which [[BodyHorror horrible things]] happen to people, only for those involved to [[MoodWhiplash laugh it off when the host shows up]]. Each episode ends with the host making a monologue that ends with something like this:

* [[Wiki/SCPFoundation SCP]][[http://www.scp-wiki.net/scp-2030 -2030]] is a twisted "hidden camera" show called "Laugh Is Fun", in which [[BodyHorror horrible things]] happen to people, only for those involved to [[MoodWhiplash laugh it off when the host shows up]]. Each episode ends with the host making a monologue that ends with something like this:

* In ''Film/TheMuppets'', the antagonist was unable to laugh but that did not stop him from leaning over to his henchmen and simply saying "maniacal laugh" whenever he wanted them to crack up.

** [[Recap/DoctorWhoS27E6Dalek "Dalek"]]: Henry van Statten's "in-tru-da window" joke is met with dead silence, to which he clarifies "In-tru-da window, that was ''funny!''" at which point his goons get the message and join in.
** In [[Recap/DoctorWho2010CSAChristmasCarol "A Christmas Carol"]], Kazran does this and follows it up with a "That was funny!"
* In the DVDCommentary, Ian Hislop suggests that part of the reason for Piers Morgan's notoriously awful appearance on ''Series/HaveIGotNewsForYou'' was that as Editor of the Mirror he'd been able to enforce this trope, and consequently believed himself to be very funny. Notably, [[EpicFail he actually tries to bully the audience into this]], but since they're not his Mooks it obviously doesn't work.

* ''Franchise/MetalGear'':

** [[Recap/DoctorWhoS27E6Dalek "Dalek"]]: Henry van Statten's "in-tru-da window" joke is met with dead silence, to which he clarifies "In-tru-da window, that's ''funny!''" at which point his goons get the message and join in.

* A version that is definitely not played for laugh in ''Anime/OnePieceFilmGold''. The BigBad Gild Tesoro will tell people to laugh with him, and forbid them to laugh when he isn't. When one of his subordinates dares to laugh at something without his permission, Tesoro immediately responds by encasing the guy's head in gold and lets him suffocate. [[spoiler: A flash-back show that it come from his DarkAndTroubledPast, where he served as a slave of the [[AristocratsAreEvil World Nobles]] who would punish him for laughing without permission.]]

* In ''ComicBook/TheCartoonHistoryOfTheUniverse'', UsefulNotes/{{Caligula}}, in a scene based on Suetonius's ''The Twelve Caesars'', bursts into hysterical laughter at a banquet. When a guest asks him why, the emperor says it just occurred to him that with a single word he could have the guest's throat slit. He resumes laughing, pausing briefly to say "You laugh too." The guest complies with a nervous chuckle.

[[folder:Films -- Animation]]
* In ''WesternAnimation/{{Shrek}}'', Farquaad and Fiona's wedding comes with placards telling the congregation how to react. When it's revealed Shrek has feelings for Fiona, the guards turn them over to say "Laugh".

[[folder:Films -- Live-Action]]

* ''Film/EvilDead2'': After a while of torturing Ash, [[AnimateInanimateObject the entire house comes to life and starts laughing at him]]. [[CrazySane Ash]] [[LaughingMad quickly gets swept up in it]], [[DissonantLaughter and not long after]] [[DespairEventHorizon starts sobbing in pain]].
* In ''Film/TheMuppets'', the antagonist was unable to laugh but that did not stop him from leaning over to his henchmen and simply saying "maniacal laugh" whenever he wanted them to crack up.

* ''Literature/JourneyToChaos'': Mr.15's clone soldiers will laugh without prompting whenever he does. He likely programmed them that way.

** In the episode "Dalek", Van Statten's "in-tru-da window" joke is met with dead silence, to which he clarifies "In-tru-da window, that's ''funny!''" at which point his goons get the message and join in.
** In the episode "[[YetAnotherChristmasCarol A Christmas Carol]]", Kazran does this and follows it up with a "That was funny!"

* Subverted in ''Series/{{Angel}}'' when Darla teases Lindsey and she and Drusilla start laughing at him. Lilah isn't told to, but starts laughing with them. She promptly gets a "Shut up" from Darla and a "Shh.." from Drusilla.
* On ''[[Series/ThirtyRock 30 Rock]]'', Tracy's entourage is obligated to laugh heartily at every joke Tracy tells. Kenneth runs into problems when he joins Tracy's entourage and doesn't go along with it.

->'''Guitierrez''': Mm-hmm-hmm, ha ha ha ha ha! Laugh with me, Jocko... Laugh with me!
->'''Jocko''': EEEEEEEEEE! EEEEEEEEEEEE!
--> -- ''WesternAnimation/{{Freakazoid}}''

!!Examples

[[AC: {{Anime}}]]

[[AC: {{Comics}}]]

* In ''Comicbook/TheCartoonHistoryOfTheUniverse'', UsefulNotes/{{Caligula}}, in a scene based on Suetonius's ''The Twelve Caesars'', bursts into hysterical laughter at a banquet. When a guest asks him why, the emperor says it just occurred to him that with a single word he could have the guest's throat slit. He resumes laughing, pausing briefly to say "You laugh too." The guest complies with a nervous chuckle.

%%%%%[[AC: {{Fan Works}}]]
%%%%%%%%%%%% Weblinks are not examples.
%%%%* Ladies and gentleman, [[http://omny87.deviantart.com/art/The-Day-of-Which-I-Dreamed-Since-I-Was-Small-306729021 the cutest little future succubus zombie pony you ever did see.]]

[[AC:Films -- Animated]]

[[AC: Literature]]
* In the original ''Literature/{{Redwall}}'' book, there is an unspoken rule in the sparrow kingdom that lives in the Abbey's peaks: When the mad king tells a joke, it's always funny. Even subjects who are half-asleep will obediently laugh along out of fear.
* ''Literature/JourneyToChaos'': Mr.15's clone soldiers will laugh without prompting whenever he does. He likely programmed them that way.

[[AC:Films -- Live-Action]]

[[AC:LiveActionTV]]

[[AC:VideoGames]]
* ''Franchise/MetalGear''

* This trope is actually PlayedForDrama in ''VisualNovel/HigurashiWhenTheyCry'''s UsefulNotes/{{P|layStation2}}S2-only Tsukiotoshi-hen. After [[spoiler:Keiichi, Rena, and Shion]] all kill Satoko's uncle, Satoko finds out and [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J37XUXfKPSw&feature=related basically yells]] "WhatTheHellHero?!" at everyone involved. This upsets [[spoiler:Keiichi]], and so after they all get back to his house, both [[spoiler:Rena and Shion]] try comforting him by [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JPkF2_EakeM&feature=related telling him to laugh]] and looking progressively more insane and threatening. He finally goes along with it, indicating his tenuous grip on sanity at this point.\\
\\
Its sequel, ''VisualNovel/UminekoWhenTheyCry'', also plays this for drama, though a bit differently. In Alliance, when Kasumi Sumadera has trapped [[spoiler:Ange]] and is tearing through Maria's grimoire, laughing at her spells, she comes upon the image of Sakutaro, cracks up, rips it in half, and demands that all of her [[{{Mooks}} henchmen]] also laugh at it. This time it's used more to underline her pathetic, bullying behavior.

[[AC: {{Webcomics}}]]

** In an example of EarlyInstallmentWeirdness, this is patently untrue given that he's perfectly capable of [[http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0661.html bellowing when enraged]].

[[AC: WebOriginal]]

[[AC: WesternAnimation]]

--> '''[[{{Mooks}} Guard]] at the Boiling Rock:''' Well, isn't that cute. ({{Beat}}) I ''said,'' isn't that cute?
--> '''[[AntiHero Zuko]]:''' Um, yes! Very cute, sir.
--> '''[[TheSmartGuy Sokka]]:''' ''Super'' cute.

-->'''Boss:''' And then, we'll take those Rainbow Monkeys, and... *whispers to henchman Simon, they both laugh*
-->'''Boss:''' ''Shut up Simon!''
-->'''Simon:''' Yes, sir...

* Non-laugh variation: the "Shanghaied" episode of ''WesternAnimation/SpongebobSquarepants'' has the Flying Dutchman take Spongebob and Patrick onboard as his crew. When he demands that they scream to scare people, they comply with various ridiculous noises, until he finally gives up on making them scary.

'''Spongebob:''' Nyeeeeeeeh!\\

'''Spongebob:''' Nyeeeeeeeh!\\

* Non...semi...YMMV-villainous example from [[WesternAnimation/TomAndJerry Tom and Jerry]]. Every time Robin Hood introduces his Merry Men, they totally fail to get out a proper laughter. You can expect another Tom mishap ten seconds later, when they show they CAN do a roaring laugh.

[[AC: RealLife]]

* A version that is definitely not played for laugh in OnePieceFilmGold. The BigBad Gild Tesoro will tell people to laugh with him, and forbid them to laugh when he is'nt. When one of his subordinates dares to laugh at something without his permission, Tesoro immediately responds by encasing the guy's head in gold and lets him suffocate. [[spoiler: A flash-back show that it come from his DarkAndTroubledPast, where he served as a slave of the [[AristocratsAreEvil World Nobles]] who would punish him for laughing without permission.]]

* This is one of ComicBook/TheJoker's recurring schticks, played not for comedy (usually) but for the disturbing way he forces his victims to play along. A particularly memorable occurrence-- In the story "Dreadful Birthday, Dear Joker", he catches one of his henchmen failing to join in the laughter. He [[BadBoss terminates him with extreme prejudice]] by using a BANGFlagGun (which could have inspired a similar YouHaveFailedMe sequence from ''Film/BatmanBeyondReturnOfTheJoker''.) An identical scenario occurs in ''Comicbook/{{Batman}} [[CrossOver vs.]] the Comicbook/IncredibleHulk'', also written by Len Wein.

* The {{Trope Namer|s}} comes from ''WesternAnimation/{{Freakazoid}}''. The eponymous hero's eventual EvilCounterpart, Guitierrez, would often laugh while surrounded by his cohorts. He would then gleefully tell them, "Laugh with me." Keep in mind, Guitierrez was voiced by Ricardo Montalban in full-on [[Film/StarTrekIITheWrathOfKhan Khan]]-mode.

* A version that is definitely not played for laugh in OnePieceFilmGold. The Bigbad Gild Tesoro will tell people to laugh with him, and forbid them to laugh when he is'nt. When one of his subordinates dares to laugh at something without his permission, Tesoro immediately responds by encasing the guy's head in gold and lets him suffocate. [[spoiler: a flash-back show that it come from Tesoro's DarkAndTroubledPast, where he served as a slave of the [[AristocratsAreEvil World Nobles]] who would punish him for laughing without permission.]]

* Lady Aska in ''Manga/MagicKnightRayearth'' (and a NoblewomansLaugh to boot).

[[AC: {{Fan Works}}]]
* Ladies and gentleman, [[http://omny87.deviantart.com/art/The-Day-of-Which-I-Dreamed-Since-I-Was-Small-306729021 the cutest little future succubus zombie pony you ever did see.]]

* In ''VideoGame/Yakuza1'', before the fight between Kiryu and Majima, the latter gets conked on the head by one of the baseballs spat out from the nearby baseball cages. He and his underlings laugh at it, except for one unlucky guy; Majima being AxCrazy, he beats the shit out of him with his bat.

* In ''Series/TheBigBangTheory'', Raj goes to work for [[InsufferableGenius Sheldon]]. Sheldon plays one of his awkward pranks on Raz and after informing him of the fact that he was joking, mentions, "I'm your boss now. You may want to laugh at that."

* In ''Film/WhatWeDoInTheShadows'', there's a scene durign the credits in which the alpha male of the werewolves gloats that the others will always laugh at his jokes and if they don't, he makes sure they do. One of the werewolves laughs out of turn and is immediately scolded to pay attention for the proper time.

--> '''Flying Dutchman:''' What a night be this. Crew! [[LargeHam Howl with me, so that we might set the seven seas, ABLAZE with fear!]] Awoooo!
'''Spongebob:''' Nyeeeeeeeh!

'''Flying Dutchman:''' Awooo!
'''Spongebob:''' Nyeeeeeeeh!
'''Patrick:''' Leedleleedleleedlele!

* Non-laugh variation: the "Shanghaied" episode of ''WesternAnimation/SpongebobSquarepants'' has the Flying Dutchman take Spongebob and Patrick onboard as his crew. When he demands that they "[[LargeHam howl with me, that we might set the seven seas, ABLAZE with fear!]]", they comply with various ridiculous noises, until he finally gives up on making them scary.

* In ''VideoGame/WolfensteinTheOldBlood'', the PlayerCharacter, BJ Blazkowicz, is infiltrating a Nazi base disguised as a German soldier. As he has his papers checked by a guard, the base commander, Rudi Jäger, passes by and demands to have a look at BJ's papers himself. Jäger then asks if he really is from Frankfurt as his papers claims, causing BJ, who's German is very rusty, to blurt out "Ja, Ich bin ein... Hot Dog." (Yes, I am a... Hot Dog). A {{beat}} later, Jäger busts into laugher, praising BJ's pitch perfect impersonation of a "stupid American". The guard, meanwhile, is confused for a moment, but quickly joins his [[BadBoss commander]] with an obviously fearful and very nervous forced laugh of his own.

->'''Guitierrez''': Mm-hmm-hmm, ha ha ha ha ha! [[TropeNamers Laugh with me]], Jocko... Laugh with me!

* ''WesternAnimation/DangerMouse'': "You're not laughing, Stiletto. Why aren't you laughing?"]]