History Main / RandomSmokingScene

In other circumstances a smoking scene can be useful to the plot. A character is [[MustHaveNicotine nervous]], [[OfCourseISmoke wants to impress people]], [[SmokingHotSex just had sex]], is a well known smoker (UsefulNotes/WinstonChurchill, UsefulNotes/FidelCastro, Creator/HumphreyBogart can not be portrayed as non-smokers), is a [[SmokyGentlemensClub rich business executive]], a [[DistinguishedGentlemansPipe classy, intellectual pipe smoker]], a [[PeacePipe Native American making peace with other tribes]] or an [[GoodSmokingEvilSmoking evil person]]. Or he's just a [[SmokingIsCool badass]]. Or the story is a PeriodPiece set in an era when EverybodySmokes. However, the random smoking scene has no real purpose and could have easily been left out the story without affecting the plot. In a few instances it even becomes pointless {{padding}}. Sometimes it even makes no sense because the story takes place in a time period when tobacco hadn't yet been introduced, or the character smokes in an area where it is normally not allowed. In other circumstances it's even highly questionable because the story is actually aimed at or popular with children or teenagers. Let's face it: there's no real necessary reason to have little children smoke on screen. It's TroublingUnchildlikeBehavior that could easily be faked or avoided on screen, without hurting the story.

In other circumstances a smoking scene can be useful to the plot. A character is [[MustHaveNicotine nervous]], [[OfCourseISmoke wants to impress]] a potential love partner, [[SmokingHotSex just had sex]], is a well known smoker (UsefulNotes/WinstonChurchill, UsefulNotes/FidelCastro, Creator/HumphreyBogart can not be portrayed as non-smokers), is a [[SmokyGentlemensClub rich business executive]], a [[DistinguishedGentlemansPipe classy, intellectual pipe smoker]], a [[PeacePipe Native American making peace with other tribes]] or an [[GoodSmokingEvilSmoking evil person]]. Or he's just a [[SmokingIsCool badass]]. Or the story is a PeriodPiece set in an era when EverybodySmokes. However, the random smoking scene has no real purpose and could have easily been left out the story without affecting the plot. In a few instances it even becomes pointless {{padding}}. Sometimes it even makes no sense because the story takes place in a time period when tobacco hadn't yet been introduced, or the character smokes in an area where it is normally not allowed. In other circumstances it's even highly questionable because the story is actually aimed at or popular with children or teenagers. Let's face it: there's no real necessary reason to have little children smoke on screen. It's TroublingUnchildlikeBehavior that could easily be faked or avoided on screen, without hurting the story.

In other circumstances a smoking scene can be useful to the plot. A character is [[MustHaveNicotine nervous]], [[OfCourseISmoke wants to impress]] a potential love partner, [[SmokingHotSex just had sex]], is a well known smoker (UsefulNotes/WinstonChurchill, UsefulNotes/FidelCastro, Creator/HumphreyBogart can not be portrayed as non-smokers), is a [[SmokyGentlemensClub rich business executive]], a [[DistinguishedGentlemansPipe classy, intellectual pipe smoker]], a [[PeacePipe Native American making peace with other tribes]] or an [[GoodSmokingEvilSmoking evil person]]. Or he's just a [[SmokingIsCool badass]]. However, the random smoking scene has no real purpose and could have easily been left out the story without affecting the plot. In a few instances it even becomes pointless {{padding}}. Sometimes it even makes no sense because the story takes place in a time period when tobacco hadn't yet been introduced, or the character smokes in an area where it is normally not allowed. In other circumstances it's even highly questionable because the story is actually aimed at or popular with children or teenagers. Let's face it: there's no real necessary reason to have little children smoke on screen. It's TroublingUnchildlikeBehavior that could easily be faked or avoided on screen, without hurting the story.

* Dana Scully from ''Series/TheXFiles'' smokes exactly once in the entire series out of stress while she is by herself in a hotel room, but does not mention it to anyone or even make note of it onscreen. The cigarette is just ''there''. Creator/GillianAnderson is a smoker. In that episode, everyone involved became temporary, literal {{Cosmic Plaything}}s thanks to a rare planetary alignment. It briefly turned the town into a CityOfWeirdos, including the visiting agents.

* When first introduced in the ''Literature/{{Discworld}}'' series, head wizard Mustrum Ridcully is, in ''Discworld/ReaperMan'', a militant non-smoker. He adamantly refuses a cigarette claiming that if you could see the inside of your own lungs you'd think twice. But in ''Discworld/UnseenAcademicals'' he is seen searching his rooms, late at night, for smoking materials, as he really needs tobacco. Either the pressures of the job made him take it up or this is a continuity error/random smoking scene.

* Happens often in the classic ''WesternAnimation/LooneyTunes'', yet in their defense: back in the 1930s-1950s these cartoons were more aimed at adults than children, and the hazardous effects of smoking had not yet been proven. Montage of several smoking scenes in ''Looney Tunes'' can be seen [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WaTDAE9FncE here.]]

** ''Main/WordOfDante Star Trek: Deep Space 9'' believes this is how space shifters can adapt themselves to look like another object is through DNA Exchange.

* ''Film/StarTrekVITheUndiscoveredCountry'': When Kirk and McCoy arrive at the Klingon penal colony of Rura Penthe, a fellow prisoner, Martia, gives Kirk a drag on what she's smoking, claiming it will keep him warm. (Rura Penthe being an ice planet.) Strangely, she doesn't offer it to McCoy (neither does Kirk).

* InUniverse example in ''Film/MrsDoubtfire: The cartoon Daniel is dubbing in the opening scene has the parakeet take a long drag of his OneLastSmoke before he is eaten by the cat, thoroughly enjoying it. Daniel objects and ad-libs dialogue to make it seem as if the bird doesn't like it, which gets him fired.

Most of these random smoking scenes are just included in the story because...
# U.S. cigarette companies can no longer advertise smoking on television, so they pay directors and actors money to let their characters light a cigarette in a film or TV series. ProductPlacement can be really useful to inspire people into smoking.

# It's an old movie from before the Surgeon General's Report on Smoking and Health was published in 1964. Expect EverybodySmokes to overlap with this trope.
# Perhaps they want to be controversial, though this could backfire if such a smoking scene is in a work [[NoSmoking aimed at kids]]. See NoSuchThingAsBadPublicity.

* A rather infamous anti smoking TV commercial from the 1980s featured [=C-3P0=] condemning [=R2-D2=] for smoking a cigarette. Well-intended, but probably the best illustration of a "random smoking scene", since [=R2-D2=] was never seen smoking in the ''Franchise/StarWars'' movies. They even had to "add" an arm to the robot to make him able to smoke.

[[folder:Anime and Manga]]

** In the comedic Naruto spin-off, ''[[Manga/RockLeesSpringTimeOfYouth Rock Lee and His Ninja Pals]]'', it showed a scene of Orochimaru dressed as a woman in a bar smoking. Subverted in chapter 14 of the manga. Gamakichi was comparing his relationship with Gamatatsu to Neji and Hinata's. After a brief montage, it showed Hinata dressed as their father, Gamabunta, complete with a pipe. However, smoke wasn't coming from the pipe.
* In the ''Manga/OnePiece'' movie, ''Strong World'', Brook was shown smoking something dressed as a hippy.

[[folder:Film]]
* In ''Film/ChildsPlay2'' little Andy is seen taking a drag from a cigarette in one scene. This happens really out of nowhere and serves no further purpose to the rest of the story. Also, in the first film he was just a regular nice little boy. You really wonder why the director would include such a scene, especially since we're talking about a small kid.

* Dixie [=McCall=], while on a break, in one early episode of ''{{Series/Emergency}}''. Although most of the show's actors smoked, this is one of the rare times any of the characters is shown doing it. Of course, this was before hospitals banned it in general.

* Parodied in ''WebComic/ExterminatusNow'' with the introduction of [[http://exterminatusnow.co.uk/2003-10-03/comic/meet-the-crew/syrus-the-virus/ Virus]]. He doesn't smoke, but he tries in his opening, and ends up hacking up a lung. This is lampshaded in the next page.

* WesternAnimation/ClassicDisneyShorts: In the WesternAnimation/MickeyMouse cartoon ''Disney/TheBraveLittleTailor'', the story takes place in a fairy tale setting in the Middle Ages. Yet the giant decides at one point to roll himself an enormous improvised cigarette! Perhaps the historical setting started to annoy him?

* ''WesternAnimation/TheSimpsons''

* In one episode of ''Series/{{Angel}}'' the title character is seen leaning against a car smoking a cigarette. Partially justified as we know the character would have a dark past from his time without a soul and smoking hardly seems the worst vice that he may would have indulged (as well as being a vampire not really being at risk from the potential health problems) but mostly in that it is both to show him crossing a moral/despair event horizon and to spring his trap lighting the two villains on fire with a pre-poured gasoline pool.

# It's an old movie from before the time scientists discovered in 1964 that smoking is hazardous for your health. Expect EverybodySmokes to overlap with this trope.

* [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qhm-22Q0PuM This ad]] for Herman Cain (at the time a candidate for the [[UsefulNotes/AmericanPoliticalSystem 2012 Republican nomination for President]]) features Cain's Chief of Staff Mark Block talking about what Cain hopes to achieve by running...and then, towards the very end, a shot of him taking a drag off his cigarette. It comes out of nowhere and counts as a BigLippedAlligatorMoment, as well. Combined with the closing shot of Cain slowly turning to the camera and slooooooowly smiling, the ad [[MemeticMutation quickly went viral]]. This is also a very clear case of Type 2: WordOfGod says that Block happened to be smoking throughout the taping, but the cigarette was out of frame, and the editors thought it would be cool to [[ThrowItIn throw in a shot of him taking a drag]].
* A rather infamous anti smoking TV commercial from the 1980s featured [=C3P0=] condemning [=R2D2=] for smoking a cigarette. Well intended, but probably the best illustration of a "random smoking scene", since [=R2D2=] was never seen smoking in the ''Franchise/StarWars'' movies. They even had to "add" an arm to the robot to make him able to smoke.

[[folder: Anime and Manga]]

* In the ''Manga/OnePiece'' movie, ''Strong World,'' Brook was shown smoking something dressed as a hippy.
* Gray of ''Manga/FairyTail'' was seen smoking in his first few appearances. Laxus smoked a cigar in his first appearance. None of them has smoked since. GoodSmokingEvilSmoking may be in effect here as a way to characterize them, since Gray is mostly heroic, while Laxus initially was a straight-out {{Jerkass}}.
* Bulma in ''Anime/DragonBallZ'' is seen smoking two times during the early part of the Majin Buu Saga, which are pretty much the only times you actually see her smoking.

* ''Film/WhatWomenWant'': After Marshall's female psychiatrist discovers that he can hear what women think she is so shocked that she decides to smoke a cigarette. She admits it's "highly unorthodox", but yet it's still a strange reaction.
* ''Film/StarTrekVTheFinalFrontier'': Smoking is implied to be exceedingly rare or non-existent among humans in ''Franchise/StarTrek'', but St. John Talbot, the human ambassador to Nimbus III, is nevertheless smoking a cigarette in one scene. None of the characters seem to notice or point this out. (Then again, he ''is'' on a CrapsackWorld.)
* In ''Film/TeenageMutantNinjaTurtles1990'', a bar with bad little children is shown. Some of them are smoking huge cigars. The smoking was to demonstrate the super-child-unfriendly environment fostered by Shredder and the Foot, (along with other evils like gambling, stolen electronics, truancy, and [[ArsonMurderAndJaywalking skateboarding]]). This scene may be a bit explicit and jarring to modern viewers, who expect some minimal level of euphemism when dealing with the plight of wayward urban youth.
* ''Film/PaperMoon'': Child actress Tatum O' Neal plays a con artist in this film, alongside her own father, Ryan O' Neal. You would think that he would at least guard her from being exploited by the director, but no. The ten year old actress is seen smoking in several scenes. And she won an Academy Award for her portrayal!
* In the biopic ''Film/EdWood'' (1994), Creator/SarahJessicaParker plays the role of Creator/EdWood's wife Dolores Fuller. Fuller lived to see the movie adaptation of her husband's life, but didn't like the way Parker portrayed her on screen since the actress smoked all the time, while she actually always has been a non-smoker. (http://www.elvis.com.au/presley/interview_doris_fuller.shtml)

[[folder: Literature]]
* In his introductory scene in ''Literature/GalaxyOfFear'', [[NamesToRunAwayFromReallyFast Karkas]] is smoking and [[SecondFaceSmoke blows some into Tash's face]]. He's not otherwise shown smoking, [[spoiler: even when [[GrandTheftMe in Tash's body]], perhaps because she's not yet fourteen.]]

* When first introduced in the ''Literature/{{Discworld}}'' series, head wizard Mustrum Ridcully is, in ''Discworld/ReaperMan'', a militant non-smoker. He adamantly refuses a cigarette claiming that if you could see the inside of your own lungs you'd think twice. But in ''Discworld/UnseenAcademicals'' he is seen searching his rooms, late at night, for smoking materials, as he really needs tobacco. Either the pressures of the job made him take it up or this is a continuity error/random smoking scene.

[[folder:Live Action Television]]

* Dana Scully from ''Series/TheXFiles'' smokes exactly once in the entire series out of stress while she is by herself in a hotel room, but does not mention it to anyone or even make note of it onscreen. The cigarette is just ''there''. Creator/GillianAnderson is a smoker. In that episode, everyone involved became temporary, literal {{Cosmic Plaything}}s thanks to a rare planetary alignment. It briefly turned the town into a CityOfWeirdos, including the visiting agents.

** In "[[Recap/DoctorWhoS1E1AnUnearthlyChild An Unearthly Child]]", the First Doctor is shown [[GoodSmokingEvilSmoking lighting up a pipe]] upon landing on prehistoric Earth - the story is about him being captured by a group of cavemen who want him to create fire for them, but he loses his matches. This was 1963, and public opinion about showing heroic characters in children's shows smoking changed soon afterward, meaning that neither he nor any of his future incarnations are ever seen smoking again. (The ExpandedUniverse, which is a bit less child-friendly, has it that Four occasionally smokes a pipe too or at least enjoys sharing them socially, Eight has a taste for cigarettes and Two is [[TheStoner a bit of a stoner]].)
** "[[Recap/DoctorWhoS14E3TheDeadlyAssassin The Deadly Assassin]]" has a scene where the Fourth Doctor uses a hookah and a pile of his clothes in a chair as a DecoyGetaway, so as to create the illusion that he's smoking in the corner with his back to the door when the Time Lord guards break into his TARDIS. Since he isn't ever seen smoking on screen, it comes across as a bizarre part of the illusion. He isn't shown actually smoking it, though he [[OralFixation pops the end of the pipe into his mouth]] while he's setting it up. Later in the story, though, he [[WakingNonSequitur wakes up from beside a machine that's been burned out]] by saying "do you mind? This is a non-smoking compartment."

[[folder:VideoGames]]

* Happens a few times in ''WesternAnimation/TomAndJerry'', but in Great Britain these scenes have all been censored thanks to the complaints of a concerned parent.
* Although not in the show itself, ''WesternAnimation/TheFlintstones'' did commercials in the first two seasons extolling the great taste of Winston cigarettes.

** Near the end of the episode "[[Recap/TheSimpsonsS5E6MargeOnTheLam Marge on the Lam]]," Marge is seen smoking a cigarette in a [[SmokingIsCool Badass Smoker]] pose. This is really awkward because she normally doesn't smoke and for most of the episode her friend Ruth Powers was acting out the Badass Smoker part.
** In the episode "[[Recap/TheSimpsonsS8E9ElViajeMisteriosoDeNuestroJomer El Viaje Misterioso de Nuestro Jomer]]," Marge is also seen smoking a cigarette to distract Homer from the chili festival in town. Her plan backfires because Homer knows "she doesn't smoke." Later, Homer dismisses her with the words: "Sheesh, why don't you have a cigarette or something?" whereupon Marge concludes: "Mm, I suppose I could."
** In the episode "[[Recap/TheSimpsonsS11E12TheMansionFamily The Mansion Family]]," the Simpsons take care of Mr. Burns' mansion. Bart then lights a cigar, only to have it slapped away by Marge.

* In Jiraiya's debut episode of ''Anime/{{Naruto}}'', he was shown smoking a pipe. However, this is the only time you actually see him smoking.
* In the comedic Naruto spin-off, ''[[Manga/RockLeesSpringTimeOfYouth Rock Lee and His Ninja Pals]]'', it showed a scene of Orochimaru dressed as a woman in a bar smoking. Subverted in chapter 14 of the manga. Gamakichi was comparing his relationship with Gamatatsu to Neji and Hinata's. After a brief montage, it showed Hinata dressed as their father, Gamabunta, complete with a pipe. However, smoke wasn't coming from the pipe.
* In the OnePiece movie, ''Strong World,'' Brook was shown smoking something dressed as a hippy.

* In [[GrandTheftAutoV Grand Theft Auto Online]]'', after a team of characters successfully completes a special mission, sometimes they are briefly in a cut-scene seen smoking a cigarette and stubbing it out.

* ''VideoGame/StarcraftII'' has a scene where Raynor and Horner light up big cigars to celebrate their victory over Mengsk. Completing Hanson's missions sees Raynor ''finally'' put the pack of cigarettes he carries in his sleeve to use, but she knocks the cig out of his mouth before he can light up (she is a doctor after all).

* WesternAnimation/ClassicDisneyShorts
** In the WesternAnimation/MickeyMouse cartoon ''Disney/TheBraveLittleTailor'', the story takes place in a fairy tale setting in the Middle Ages. Yet the giant decides at one point to roll himself an enormous improvised cigarette! Perhaps the historical setting started to annoy him?
* WesternAnimation/LooneyTunes
** Happens often in the classic Looney Tunes, yet in their defense: back in the 1930s-1950s these cartoons were more aimed at adults than children. And the hazardous effects of smoking had not yet been proven.
** Montage of several smoking scenes in the Looney Tunes (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WaTDAE9FncE)
* WesternAnimation/TomAndJerry
** Happens a few times, but in Great Britain these scenes have all been censored thanks to the complaints of a concerned parent.

** Near the end of the episode "[[Recap/TheSimpsonsS5E6MargeOnTheLam Marge on the Lam]]," Marge is seen smoking a cigarette in a [[SmokingIsCool Badass Smoker]] pose. This is really awkward because she normally doesn't smoke and for most of the episode her friend Ruth Powers was acting out the [[SmokingIsCool Badass Smoker]] part.
*** In the episode "[[Recap/TheSimpsonsS8E9ElViajeMisteriosoDeNuestroJomer El Viaje Misterioso de Nuestro Jomer]]," Marge is again seen smoking a cigarette to distract Homer from the chili festival in town. Her plan backfires because Homer knows "she doesn't smoke." Later, Homer dismisses her with the words: "Sheesh, why don't you have a cigarette or something?" whereupon Marge concludes: "Mm, I suppose I could."

** In fact, it even attracted criticism: [[http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/northamerica/usa/5423098/The-Simpsons-promotes-smoking.html]]

* [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qhm-22Q0PuM This ad]] for Herman Cain (at the time a candidate for the [[UsefulNotes/AmericanPoliticalSystem 2012 Republican nomination for President]]) features Cain's Chief of Staff Mark Block talking about what Cain hopes to achieve by running...and then, towards the very end, a shot of him taking a drag off his cigarette. It comes out of nowhere and counts as a BigLippedAlligatorMoment, as well. Combined with the closing shot of Cain slowly turning to the camera and slooooooowly smiling, the ad [[MemeticMutation quickly went viral]].
** This is also a very clear case of Type 2: WordOfGod says that Block happened to be smoking throughout the taping, but the cigarette was out of frame, and the editors thought it would be cool to [[ThrowItIn throw in a shot of him taking a drag]].
* A rather infamous anti smoking TV commercial from the 1980s featured [=C3P0=] condemning [=R2D2=] for smoking a cigarette. Well intended, but probably the best illustration of a "random smoking scene", since [=R2D2=] was never seen smoking in the Franchise/StarWars movies. They even had to "add" an arm to the robot to make him able to smoke. By the way: since he's a robot: what harm could it do to him anyway?
** As C-3PO puts it, while it isn't harmful to robots, it sets a bad example for their organic friends.

* In the comedic Naruto spin-off, ''[[{{Manga/RockLeesSpringTimeOfYouth}} Rock Lee and His Ninja Pals]]'', it showed a scene of Orochimaru dressed as a woman in a bar smoking. Subverted in chapter 14 of the manga. Gamakichi was comparing his relationship with Gamatatsu to Neji and Hinata's. After a brief montage, it showed Hinata dressed as their father, Gamabunta, complete with a pipe. However, smoke wasn't coming from the pipe.