History Main / ScrewTheRulesIHaveConnections

* Russia is friends with China, Iran, and Turkey, who are only too happy to help Russia to subvert sanctions imposed upon Russia by western countries and have done so in the past.

A favored technique of the [[OverlordJr son of the villain]].

See also CoattailRidingRelative, DaddysLittleVillain, DiplomaticImpunity, KnowsAGuyWhoKnowsAGuy, {{Nepotism}}, SingleTargetLaw, ScrewTheRulesIHaveMoney, and ScrewTheRulesIMakeThem.

* Often rumored to be the origin of many a AwardSnub, with some artists with connections to awards organizers bribing them into nominating their recordings. For example, the Anita Kerr Singers somehow won the Grammy Award for Best Performance by a Vocal Group ''twice'' in 1966 and 1967 despite the nominated recordings (''We Dig Mancini'' and "A Man and a Woman") never charting in the Top 40, likely thanks to Anita herself having been vice president of the Nashville chapter of the [=NARAS=] in the mid 60s.

* This is what the various 'Influence' backgrounds in 'Franchise/TheWorldOfDarkness'' represent. Vampires, being immortal, are especially prone to cultivating these. Particularly the Ventrue.

* After the grotto is closed in ''Film/SongofBernadette'' there’s a group arrested with a vial of water from the grotto. The woman with the vial is told it’s being seized but she tells them she got it for the Empress Eugenie who requested it for the young prince, who’s sick. She happens to be the boy’s governess. It’s enough to get her and the vial released.

** In the Russian and especially the Soviet military,[[note]]The Soviet officers pay was relatively meager, and after the dissolution of the USSR, it became almost a laughingstock until finally adjusted to the more adequate values in the 2010s.[[/note]] the problem was less pronounced for the one simple reason: as the officers' pay was often insufficient to fully support a family, the officers' (and NCOs') spouses had to find the work on-base, usually as a support personnel like cooks, teachers, clerks, comm specialists, etc., giving the base commanders better control over their personnel's dependents.

* Perhaps the most infamous example of such behavior, occurred during the 1999 hijack of Indian Airlines Flight 182 from Kathmandu to Delhi by Pakistani Islamic terrorists. The plane landed at Amritsar in Indian Punjab, where the terrorists demanded a refueling. Instead of containing the plane and stalling for time till NSG commandos could assault the craft and retake it, the plane was quickly refueled and allowed to take off, apparently on direct orders from the Prime Minister’s Private Secretary, who kept the Prime Minister in the dark. Because his brother-in-law was one of the passengers onboard and he didn’t want to risk the latter’s life in any manner, including in a commando raid on Indian soil. As a result, the airplane was flown to Kandahar in Afghanistan, where the Taliban immediately reinforced the area with armor to prevent any attempt at repeating an Entebe style raid. The Indian government had no option but to completely accede to the hijackers’ demands and release a notorious terrorist they had imprisoned. That terrorist leader would go on to eventually orchestrate the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks, while the Indian government was humiliated on the world stage. All because one man in the senior most position for a government bureaucrat placed his sister’s husband’s life over everything else.

* "Go ahead, sue me if you dare [for killing a pedestrian and injuring another], [[http://knowyourmeme.com/memes/events/my-dad-is-li-gang-%E6%88%91%E7%88%B8%E6%98%AF%E6%9D%8E%E5%88%9A My dad is Li Gang!"]] Even with the effort of the Chinese government to censor the outrage and provide a staged apology from Li Qiming and his father, Baodong City Public Security Bureau Deputy Director Li Gang, Qiming pled guilty and was sentenced to six years and fines of over half a million renminbi. The internet vigilantism in this case uncovered Li Gang's corruption and the Hebei University president's plagiarism.

* Perhaps the most infamous example of such behavior, occurred during the 1999 hijack of Indian Airlines Flight 182 from Kathmandu to Delhi by Pakistani Islamic terrorists. The plane landed at Amritsar in Indian Punjab, where the terrorists demanded a refueling. Standard protocol at this point would have been to contain the airplane at the airport, open a dialog with the hijackers and stall for time until India’s elite NSG counterterrorist strike team could deploy and mount a rescue. However, the plane was quickly refueled and allowed to take off, apparently on direct orders from the Prime Minister’s Private Secretary. He kept the Prime Minister in the dark and allowed the hijacked aircraft to quickly depart, because his brother-in-law was one of the passengers onboard and he didn’t want to risk the latter’s life in any manner, including in a commando raid on Indian soil. As a result of his deliberate capitulation, the airplane was flown to Kandahar in Afghanistan, where the Taliban immediately reinforced the area with armor to prevent any attempt at repeating an Entebe style raid. The Indian government had no option but to completely accede to the hijackers’ demands and release a notorious terrorist they had imprisoned. That terrorist leader would go on to eventually orchestrate the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks, while the Indian government was humiliated on the world stage. All because one man in the senior most position for a government bureaucrat placed his sister’s husband’s life over everything else.

* This is the case for students at the military academy "The Roost" whose parents have high positions in government in ''Webcomic/TheCroaking'': for example, Del gets away with trying to murder another student (Scra) in plain view of his classmates and instructors -- Scra nearly falling to his death is instead explained away with faulty equiment.

* Olive oil companies in Italy can slip less than 20% of cheaper oil (such as hot-pressed or solvent-extracted) into their Cold Pressed Extra Virgin Olive Oil and market it as 100% pure. Because [[CorruptCorporateExecutive the big names]] of these companies have political connections, this means that anyone buying Extra Virgin Olive Oil and hoping for its health benefits is possibly not only being ripped off, but also getting much less heathy oil with it.

** In the British Army, there is a sort of informal convention that implicitly dictates that, in the parellel hierarchy of military wives, the Colonel's Lady is "first among equals". This is reflected in the informal status given to the Regimental Sergeant Major's wife. (the RSM is the most senior enlisted soldier). Whilst this bestows informal power, the wise postholder will understand she is only there as a mirror of her husband's rank and will go about using the status informally and gently -- to suggest, rather than order, and to use it in ways which support her husband in his job, and be constructive in the wider Batallion family.

* Perhaps the most infamous example of such behavior, occurred during the 1999 hijack of Indian Airlines Flight 182 from Kathmandu to Delhi by Pakistani Islamic terrorists. The plane landed at Amritsar in Indian Punjab, where the terrorists demanded a refueling. Standard protocol at this point would have been to contain the airplane at the airport, open a dialog with the hijackers and stall for time until India’s elite NSG counterterrorist strike team could deploy and mount a rescue. However, the plane was quickly refueled and allowed to take off, apparently on direct orders from the Prime Minister’s Private Secretary. He kept the Prime Minister in the dark and allowed the hijacked aircraft to quickly depart, because his brother-in-law was one of the passengers onboard and he didn’t want to risk the later’s life in any manner, including in a commando raid on Indian soil. As a result of his deliberate capitulation, the airplane was flown to Kandahar in Afghanistan, where the Taliban immediately reinforced the area with armor to prevent any attempt at repeating an Entebe style raid. The Indian government had no option but to completely accede to the hijackers’ demands and release a notorious terrorist they had imprisoned. That terrorist leader would go on to eventually orchestrate the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks, while the Indian government was humiliated on the world stage. All because one man in the senior most position for a government bureaucrat placed his sister’s husband’s life over everything else.

[[folder:Anime & Manga]]
* In ''Manga/AkameGaKill'', the depraved group Wild Hunt often excuse their actions by pointing out that they are sanctioned by the government, and their leader Syura is the son of Prime Minister Honest. After, [[spoiler:Wild Hunt rapes and kills Bols's wife and daughter and then Syura attempts to rape Kurome]], Wave says he doesn't care and kicks Syura's ass.
* Every single target of ''Manga/{{Akumetsu}}'', being filthy-rich megalomaniacs, {{Corrupt Corporate Executive}}s, and/or {{Sleazy Politician}}s, in any combination. Not that this stops him.
* In ''Manga/AsteroidInLove'', when the rest of the [[ClubStub Earth Sciences Club]] learn that Mira is the sister of the StudentCouncilPresident, Monroe attempts to invoke this by asking Mira if she could lobby for more funding for their club. This is never followed through, so it's assumed to be averted.
* ''Manga/AttackOnTitan'': [[EntitledBastard Edward "Dimo" Reeves]] blocks off an emergency exit during a Titan attack with his merchandise, declaring that the Survey Corps exist solely to die so people like him can live. When Mikasa threatens him, he tries to pull this, stating that he's known her boss for a long time and can "decide [her] fate with a single word." Mikasa is undeterred, casually knocking out his bodyguards and retorting "[[ImpliedDeathThreat how is a corpse going to talk?]]", after which Dimo gives in and gets out of the way.
* A woman who gets into an altercation with ''Manga/BambooBlade'''s teacher, Toraji-sensei, uses her position as the superintendent's next-door neighbor to get him fired.
* The Leagans in ''Manga/CandyCandy''; when Candy is working at Joseph Hospital in New York City, Eliza frequently uses her family's connections to hospital to interfere with Candy's work life and Eliza's mother, Mrs. Leagan, gets Candy fired from her job by threatening to withdraw her family's funding if Candy remains employed there, simply because she disapproves of her son Neil having fallen in love with her.
* ''Manga/DeathNote'': Though Light is one of the suspects of the Kira case from the very beginning, his father's status as the Chief of Police is what protects him from being seriously considered as such by the normal police and he knows it.
* In ''Manga/Eyeshield21'', There's Donald "Mr. Don" Oberman who was able to [[{{Unperson}} expel a talented player in Notre Dame and have all his affiliations and achievements in the school erased]] simply because Mr. Don didn't feel said player was worthy of being Notre Dame's ace running back. How influential are his connections? He's just the son of ''the President of the United States''.
* [[Manga/TheFiveStarStories Dr. Chrome Ballanche]] was able to dabble [[DangerousForbiddenTechnique in the forbidden arts]] only because he was a lifetime friend of the GodEmperor of the most powerful nation around, even if [[ScrewTheRulesImDoingWhatsRight his intentions were noble]].
* ''Manga/FruitsBasket'': Akito's status as both God of the Zodiac and head of the Sohma family effectively makes her exempt from scorn or punishment for any of her actions; the Zodiac members are [[MyMasterRightOrWrong compelled to forgive and honor her]] no matter what due to the curse, and the maids just allow her to do whatever she wants on the grounds that a God can do as they please.
* Used by both the heroes and the villains in the various iterations of the ''Franchise/GhostInTheShell'' franchise. Quite memorably, in the ''Anime/GhostInTheShellStandAloneComplex'' TV series, a perp managed to avoid conviction partially thanks to this trope, and in response [[GuileHero Chief Aramaki]] quietly arranged his "accidental" death in a car accident and hushed up any investigation that might follow, neatly demonstrating that the trope goes both ways. In another incident, some college kids were running an amateur organ black market, under the impression that their influential parents would get them out of any trouble. The Major [[BringMyBrownPants literally scares the piss out of them instead]], though her motivations were more personal than getting around their connections.
* ''LightNovel/{{Haganai}}'': During Season 2 of the anime and Volume 8 of the novels, there have been attempts to destroy the Neighbor's Club via [[RulesLawyer RulesLawyering]]. The issue this time was [[spoiler:that it turns out that Maria wasn't actually a teacher or a nun at the school, and [[BlatantLies Kate was just letting her think that to make her go to the school and behave.]] This means that the club didn't have a supervisor as is required in the school rules.]] Sena proceeds to get her daddy(the chairman) to fix the problem by [[spoiler:having him appoint Maria as a temporary part-time instructor meaning she could now be their supervisor.]] Aoi (the RulesLawyer in question) then tries to get them shut down for [[spoiler:not having an instructor when the club was formed, meaning their club shouldn't exist in the first place]] but [[NoSell Sena then proceeds to tell her]] that if she does not cease and desist she will have her reputation ruined and expelled. Needless to say, [[CurbStompBattle Sena won that round]].
* Season 1 of ''Anime/HellGirl'' early episodes featured some antagonists who were like this.
* ''LightNovel/HighSchoolDxD'': Diodora Astaroth is a {{sadist}}ic HopeCrusher who's favorite pastime is getting nuns branded as heretics and driving them to despair before raping and/or murdering them; as Issei himself realizes, the only reason anyone even puts up with Diodora, much less hasn't just killed him, is because he's related to Ajuka Beelzebub, one of the [[DemonLordsAndArchdevils Four Great Satans]], and doing so would risk provoking the Old Satan faction and triggering a civil war. Once he joins the [[ChaosIsEvil Khaos Brigade]] and participates in a plot that would have killed a lot of high-ranking people, he loses that protection, and nobody gives a shit when Issei beats him senseless and Shalba [[YouHaveFailedMe offs him]]. Ultimately [[DeconstructedTrope deconstructed]], as the Astaroth clan soon finds its reputation [[HeroWithBadPublicity in tatters]] as a direct result of Diodora's actions, with Ajuka himself being briefly MistakenForTerrorist.
* In ''Manga/{{Judge}}'', the reason the drunk truck driver that ran over the protagonist's brother didn't get the full sentence he deserved was that he was well-acquainted with the judge, and had everyone on the jury being [[ScrewTheRulesIHaveMoney bribed]].
* Miyano from ''Manga/MagaTsuki'' is able to get so much stuff done via this method that it borders on RealityWarping.
* Played with in ''LightNovel/MyNextLifeAsAVillainessAllRoutesLeadToDoom''. At magic school, Katarina has permission to come and go as she pleases from the student council room despite not being on it. However, it's because her friends on the council get the school faculty to agree to it by threatening to deny them use of the room. Katarina herself didn't ask for it and has no clue as to why she's allowed the privilege of using the room.
* ''Manga/OnePiece'':
** In the first few episodes, Helmeppo can do whatever he likes because his father, Axe-Hand Morgan, runs the town. Morgan actually hates his son but lets him use his name and authority as long as it doesn't put a dent in his ego.
** The World Nobles are an even more extreme example. If there's someone they can't shoot and is openly defying them, an admiral gets involved immediately. Arguably the only people in the world who could get away with defying the World Nobles are the Four Emperors -- not even the Seven Warlords of the Sea (who have a notorious amount of UltimateJobSecurity) can get away with that. Though this is because one of the Emperors ''alone'' is enough to challenge the World Government and the Marines with sheer manpower rather than any kind of strong influence beyond that of pirates.
** [[spoiler:Doflamingo is able to fake quitting the Seven Warlords because he is a former World Noble. According to him, he isn't considered one anymore by the others, but he still holds clout as a descendant of one of the World Government's founding families. And apparently knows something that allows him to blackmail the World Government.]]
** Caesar Clown attempts to invoke this trope at the tail end of the Punk Hazard arc, citing all of the people who rely on his factory, [[spoiler:the weapons he makes from it, and even [[WouldHurtAChild all the children who suffer under him]]]]. Luffy [[TalkToTheFist promptly responds]] that he doesn't care.
* [[GuileHero Oz]] from ''Manga/PandoraHearts'' frequently exploits his connection to Jack, the "Hero of Sablier," as well as his own standing as a member of one of the [[BlueBlood four dukedoms]]. On one occasion, he threatens to use Jack's influence to turn Pandora against Duke Barma when the latter attempts to arrest Alice and Break. Another time, he pretends to have accessed his connection with Jack in order to deceive [[ComicBook/TheCreeper Isla Yura]]. Unfortunately for Oz, this connection backfires when [[spoiler:[[WhamEpisode it's revealed]] that Jack ''isn't'' the shining hero of Sablier everyone thought he was, but rather the ''[[TragicVillain villain]]'' who caused the whole tragedy in the first place. [[BreakTheCutie Oz does not take]] [[TomatoInTheMirror this revelation]] [[LossOfIdentity well at all.]]]]
* ''LightNovel/VampireHunterD'' film. Greco, the mayor's son who sexually harasses Doris Rumm.
** This happens in the novel and is not the only example in the series.
* In ''Anime/YuGiOhArcV'', Shingo Sawatari often name-drops his father, the Mayor, when things don't go his way. PlayedForLaughs later when he's in the Synchro Dimension and he doesn't seem to understand the concept that this won't work because nobody there has ever heard of him or his father.
[[/folder]]

* ''ComicBook/DisneyDucksComicUniverse'': Subverted in a WesternAnimation/DonaldDuck comic where Donald works at a theatre. The son of a mob boss basically threatens his way to being the leading man, despite being an incredibly bad actor. The subversion occurs when Donald breaks and becomes as angry as only Donald Duck can be, telling the guy just how bad he is. The offended young man calls upon his father... who turns up and thanks Donald for ''finally'' standing up to his obnoxious son, who is always using his connections to get away with stupid stuff.

[[folder:Fan Works]]
* ''Fanfic/AnotherTimeAnotherPlaceAnotherStory'': Chen Baozhai tries to use her boyfriends -- she's a GoldDigger who dates several young men coming from very wealthy and influent families -- to try and ruin Liu Qingge's life and reputation, by framing him as a domestic abuser and pressuring his boss to fire him. Unfortunately for her, Liu Qingge is friends with Shen Yuan who belongs to THE most wealthy family in China and is rather eager to retaliate in his name.
** Shang Lei bitterly confesses he's unable to find a job in spite of his very prestigious credentials because he has no back-up ready to vouch for his reliability. Shen Yuan fixes this by introducing him to his brother Shen Jiu, thus playing it straight.
* ''Fanfic/AQUATheFirstStep'': According to Dr. Polendina, the only reason Commander Vasilyevich still had a job in the Atlesian army despite his GeneralRipper tendencies is that [[CorruptCorporateExecutive Jacques Schnee]] backed him up, bribing people and pulling strings to keep him employed.
* ''Fanfic/BadFutureCrusaders'': [[GreatDetective Babs Seed]] is able to get away with much more than other members of the guard simply because she is [[CoDragons Captain Rumble's]] ex and a lot of characters are afraid to mess with her [[TheDreaded purely out of fear of what he'll do to them if they do]]. Also at one point Dinky makes it perfectly clear Babs would have been punished severely for attacking [[TheSpymaster Featherweight]] but is lenient because of [[VillainousFriendship her own friendship]] with Rumble.
* ''Fanfic/ABrighterDark:'' After pushing one too many of her buttons, Corrin punches [[spoiler:Niles]] in the face and tells him that as a member of the Nohrian royal family she could easily get away with killing him, and even convince [[spoiler:her brother Leo]] to look the other way at her murdering one of his subordinates due to their close relationship.
* ''[[Fanfic/TheLamentSeriesChaoticNeutral Chloe's Lament]]'': Chloe's overreliance upon this [[HoistByHerOwnPetard screws her over]] after she [[BeCarefulWhatYouWishFor makes a Wish]] to [[RoleSwapAU swap places with Marinette]]. Since her father is now a 'mere' baker rather than the Mayor of Paris, she's no longer able to fall back upon this tactic.
** She also assumes that Marinette [[PsychologicalProjection will abuse her position just like SHE did]], only to find that's not the case. Though she continues to [[IRejectYourReality insist otherwise despite all evidence to the contrary]].
* ''Fanfic/DeathDaggersMHA'': Ochako is attacked by a SmugSnake with an emotional manipulation Quirk and a father who happens to be a powerful executive. He threatens to ruin the lives of not only her and the three who came to help her, but their families as well, [[EvilGloating gloating about how]] he'll destroy their futures purely because he can.
* In ''Fanfic/DiariesOfAMadman'', Navarone's [[OddFriendship unusual friendship]] with Celestia keeps him out of prison and gives him a lot of leeway in what he does, though it's also because she finds him too useful to imprison, and resorts to non-standard punishments instead.
* Defied with a vengeance in ''[[https://www.fanfiction.net/s/4606270/1/Effects-and-Side-Effects Effects and Side Effects]]''. Draco tries to blatantly ignore the fact that he was the cause of Harry's [[GenderBender change in legal status]] in order to steal the Potter title from him, knowing that his connections would ignore any rulings by 'inferior' goblins. The goblins are not impressed by his posturing, especially considering Draco is relying on his father's connections, not any connections he would have. Considering his father is currently in Azkaban at this point, the goblins proceed to strip Draco of his titles and grant them to Harry. It only gets worse when Draco panics at the loss of status and attempts to kill Harry. [[WhatAnIdiot By casting a killing curse near a ranking goblin.]] [[TooDumbToLive In their own bank.]] When Draco ''continues'' to try to play the connection card, the goblins proceed to drag him off for execution. This sublime state of suicidal foolishness becomes a RunningGag throughout the story when people ask Harry what happened to Draco.
* Roy Desoto basically used this in [[http://tbillingsemergencyfanfic.com/thelongroadbackpart1.htm this]] ''Series/{{Emergency}}'' fic, but for good rather than bad reasons. John Gage is sick and hospitalized, and Roy is the only one who can usually keep him calm-John usually gets upset in this author's fics without his friend around when he's sick. Roy was on vacation, and Dr. Brackett cleared him to go into Johnny's room upon knowing he was heading back home. A nurse fails to get the message and tries to turn Roy and his wife away, and Roy tells her to call Dr. Brackett, who's one of the head doctors on staff. Brackett isn't happy to find out about the whole thing, especially since she was mistreating Johnny as well.
* ''Fanfic/TheGospelOfMalachel'': When an assassination squad which has hit the Eva pilots' classroom gets captured by Nerv's security, Gendo expects to treat his prisoners however he sees fit and get away with it because Seele controls the U.N.
-->'''Gendo Ikari:''' "Out of twelve attackers, eleven were killed. The one that was taken alive, who, incidentally, was also the force's commander, is currently undergoing interrogation. Should he survive, he shall be turned over to the U.N for trial and sentencing. They have been tentatively identified as American in nationality, although as of yet there is no evidence linking their actions the United States government of military."\\
'''Seele 12:''' ''[icy]'' "'Should he survive?' There are rules for the treatment of prisoners that the U.N. abides by."\\
'''Gendo Ikari:''' ''[grinning]'' "NERV security does not have to answer to U.N. protocols. Treatment of prisoners is whatever NERV deems fit."
* {{Discussed|Trope}} in ''Fanfic/TheHeadhunt''. A conversation between the nonhuman members of the ''USS Bajor''[='s=] command crew has them basically decide that the Federation law banning Augments from Starfleet or public office (see [=DS9=]: "[[Recap/StarTrekDeepSpaceNineS05E16DrBashirIPresume Dr. Bashir, I Presume]]") not only runs counter to Federation values but is actually unconstitutional under the Articles of Federation. However, the humans are terrified of Augments thanks to the Eugenics Wars, and because they have so much political mojo in the Federation, nobody's had the balls to mount a legal challenge and get it struck down.
* "Fanfic/HeisheRinanovai": The Federation ambassador is willing to let Jethro Wisniewski be tried under Romulan law as long as the death penalty is taken off the table. Praetor Velal initially refuses, but then Ambassador Rama offers to help Velal get sanctions relief past the Federation Council.
* Lampshaded in ''Fanfic/IAmNOTGoingThroughPubertyAgain''. Shikamaru says that under normal circumstances, using forbidden time travel jutsu could qualify as high treason, but since the perpetrators are [[spoiler:the Hokage's son and preferred successor respectively]] he can't actually give them a harsh punishment. [[CoolAndUnusualPunishment So he just makes them wear signs saying ''WE WILL NOT MESS AROUND WITH FORBIDDEN JUTSU'' until the problem is fixed]].
* In ''Fanfic/ItsOverIsntItItsOnlyJustBegun'', Endeavor has become the Number One Hero in the wake of All-Might's [[ForWantOfANail world-changing]] HeroicSacrifice. One way he's taken advantage of his new status is to turn the whole block around his agency into a dead zone. No internet; no phone; minimal electricity. Why? So he wouldn't have to deal with the press camping on his doorstep.
-->'''Shouta:''' Aren't there other businesses on that block?\\
'''Tensei:''' Uh... I mean. There ''were''.
* ''Fanfic/TheKarmaOfLies'':
** Lila [[ConArtist cons her classmates]] by leading them to believe that she's got [[CelebrityLie high-tier connections]] and is more than happy to use them to help her dear friends. For instance, she convinces Nathaniel that she knows somebody at Creator/MarvelComics and can ensure that his entry for a contest is seen by 'the right people'.
** After he's been robbed, Adrien expects that his case will receive ''immediate'' attention because he's an Agreste. He also pressures Marinette, trying to get her to put in a good word for him since it's now widely known that she's Ladybug; however, she refuses to use her influence like that.
* [[SpoiledBrat Chloe]] heavily relies upon this in ''Fanfic/LeaveForMendeleiev'', using her father's connections [[ScrewTheRulesIHaveMoney and money]] to pull as many strings as she can. [[WesternAnimation/MiraculousLadybug Ms. Mendeleiev]] shocks her by completely refusing to bend to her will, countering her demands with a BadassBoast:
-->'''Chloe:''' "Do you know who I am?"\\
'''Mendeleiev:''' "Do ''you'' know who I am? I am the meanest teacher in this school, and if I find you disrupting my class again, I'm going to see to it that you get suspended. Now, out!"
** Chloe proceeds to try and get to Marinette and her newfound friends in other ways, such as [[spoiler:rigging the Weather Girl contest]] just to spite Aurore and convincing Mme Bustier to harass Marinette on her behalf, trying to pressure her into transferring back or agreeing to tutor Chloe.
* In ''Fanfic/NeitherABirdNorAPlaneItsDeku'', Alexis Lois "Lexi" Luthor is able to wield her family's vast network of connections to get her hands on information that should be restricted to the Japanese government, police, and the Top Ten Heroes. She makes full use of this to track down Izuku to satisfy her interest in talking to an alien.
* A Kanto politician in ''Fanfic/PokemonResetBloodlines'' forces Professor Oak to give his children starter Pokémon (despite not getting high enough scores in his official test) on threats of cutting his research budget.
* ComicBook/GwenStacy in ''[[https://archiveofourown.org/works/16717026 The Real Queen of Midtown]]'' [[NoodleIncident once got arrested]] for destruction of public property during a protest. Her father, a police captain, managed to get the arrest dismissed and was able to hide it so that anyone not doing a ''thorough'' investigation wouldn't be able to find it.
* In ''Fanfic/SonicXDarkChaos'', Tsali is able to get away with ''genocide and mass murder'' without Demon government interference because of his personal connections with Maledict himself. He also has near-limitless access to money from the Demon treasury for the same reason.
* The ''Manga/DeathNote'' [[AlternateUniverseFic AU]] ''Fanfic/ThoseWhoStandForNothingFallForAnything'' has a RunningGag where L goes around introducing all of his coworkers and his rivals and his enemies to his "good friend" the prime minister.
* In ''Fanfic/WakingNightmares'', a rare heroic version of this is used when the [[ConMan Flim Flam brothers]] come to claim Sweet Apple Acres, which they did actually win in the series. [[SpannerInTheWorks Tri]][[BullyHunter xie]] promptly points out the multitude of ways that the heroes could use their own connections to make their victory decidedly [[PyrrhicVictory meaningless.]]
* ''WebVideo/YuGiOhTheAbridgedSeries'' Mokuba Kaiba: "My brother is Seto Kaiba; I can decide who lives and who dies."
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Literature]]
* In ''Literature/AreYouInTheHouseAlone'', Phil Lawver is the son of a very wealthy and/or influential man. When he [[spoiler:rapes the narrator]], the police chief refuses to even open an investigation on him due to his family connections.
* This is the stock in trade of the "looters" in ''Literature/AtlasShrugged'', who essentially make themselves into an "Aristocracy of Pull".
* This trope is directly responsible for the entire Archer Christifori arc in ''TabletopGame/BattleTech''. A SmugSnake of a junior officer with heavy political leanings towards the increasingly oppressive Archon Katherine Steiner-Davion killed Archer's sister when he was supposed to be picking her up for an interview then tried to weasel out of it with some BlatantLies. When all he got was a slap on the wrist as punishment (he was demoted a couple ranks but spent no time in the brig and was never even charged with murder) thanks to his family's political connections, it was the final straw for Archer, who started a rebellion on his planet with his entire militia company before becoming one of the major players in the [=FedCom=] Civil War.
* ''Literature/{{Carrie}}'': Overlapping with ScrewTheRulesIHaveMoney, Chris Hargensen's father is a rich AmoralAttorney who regularly employs LoopholeAbuse to ensure she never faces the consequences of her bullying actions. He got her into Oberlin despite her poor grades, and when she's banned from attending the prom for taunting Carrie over her first period in the shower, he threatens to sue the school unless they let Chris attend; he's forced to back off when the principal shows him Chris' [[{{Delinquent}} long record]] [[BullyBrutality of violations]], declaring that they could easily have Chris locked up for them.
* In ''Literature/ChanceAndChoicesAdventures'' this is the reason the [[BanditClan Butterfield Gang]] are able to operate with impunity in northern Arkansas. Their leader Hank Butterfield is related to the local CircuitJudge, who can always be counted on to cut him some slack.
* Subverted throughout the ''Literature/CodexAlera'' series. Several times, egotistical figures with connections attempt to invoke their connections or just pull rank on their own authority, only to be outmaneuvered or simply punched out. The one time saying "Screw the rules, I have connections" works in the series, it's a bluff. One HilariousInHindsight moment in the second book has a character saying "I have connections" to defuse a tense moment between some guards and an enemy nation's ambassador, but it's only a bluff because he's really just a page boy and student acting on no authority but his own. The Hilarious in Hindsight part is, [[spoiler:he actually is the legitimate prince, but no one knows it except for the enemy he's trying to bluff.]]
* Creator/CliveCussler: Many of the villains have massive influence and wealth; the VigilanteMan only stops them.
* ''Literature/{{Discworld}}'':
** This ''used'' to be the case in Ankh-Morpork; an ongoing theme is the way [[DaChief Sam Vimes]] and [[MagnificentBastard Lord Vetinari]] have made it harder and harder to pull this off, providing an almost endless source of plot conflict as the city's BlueBlood population fight for their privilege.
** There's a beautiful moment in ''Literature/FeetOfClay'' where an UpperClassTwit tries to pull the "I'm a friend of your Commander" line on [[RightInFrontOfMe some badly-shaved watchman in battered armour]]. This does not go well for him.
** Subverted in ''Literature/{{Snuff}}'' when the obnoxious UpperClassTwit Gravid Rust escapes [[spoiler:capital punishment for trafficking goblin slaves and troll drugs]] by accepting exile to Fourecks instead, since Ankh-Morpork nobility wouldn't accept one of their own being sentenced by non-humans. However, Vetinari ''also'' has connections, including a friend-of-a-friend in Fourecks with a singular interest in venomous spiders...
* In ''Literature/DoraWilkSeries'', one of Thorn Councilmen tries to force Dora to free his nephew from prison and rape charges, basing himself on this trope. She has none of this, though.
* ''Literature/ForestKingdom'': In the ''Hawk & Fisher'' spinoff series, many, many criminals in Haven use or try to use this to get away with their crimes, including the villain of book 1, an influential person who got Hawk and Fisher pulled off a case involving a child prostitution ring he was a patron for. [[spoiler: It's also why he killed William Blackstone, who'd also figured out his involvement and was building a case against him.]]
* [[{{Jerkass}} Percy Wetmore]] from ''Literature/TheGreenMile''. His CatchPhrase practically is "I '''KNOW''' people!!!" whenever anyone starts thinking of doing anything to him. He even got his job as a Death Row prison guard through his connections. Edgecombe couldn't figure out why he'd want a job like that, but seeing Percy treats the inmates, it's pretty obvious he likes feeling he has power over someone. Subverted when the others show that they too know people.
* ''Literature/HarryPotter'':
** Draco Malfoy is the biggest example. He uses the threat "When my father hears about this..." at least once a conversation, at least in the earlier books. It's not particularly effective. In the [[Literature/HarryPotterAndThePhilosophersStone first book]], when he says he's going to tell his father about how he has to go into the Forbidden Forest for punishment, Hagrid dismisses the threat, saying that Lucius Malfoy would tell him that's how things are done at Hogwarts. In [[Literature/HarryPotterAndTheGobletOfFire Book 4]], bringing up Lucius Malfoy practically makes Mad-Eye Moody [[spoiler:née Barty Crouch Jr.]] salivate at the thought of an excuse to talk to [[spoiler:a former Death Eater.]] Particularly one he hates for his lack of [[spoiler:fealty to Voldemort]]. In ''Literature/HarryPotterAndTheOrderOfThePhoenix'' Draco incites a new wave of panic in the students studying for their [=OWLs=] by loudly declaring that his father has history with Griselda Marchbanks (head of the Wizarding Examinations Authority). However, Neville says he's almost certainly bluffing, as his grandmother actually ''is'' friends with Marchbanks (and she's never mentioned the Malfoys) and he doubts he'll get a leg up because of this relationship.
** Similarly, Umbridge's connections in the Ministry allow her to literally get away with (attempted) murder in [[Literature/HarryPotterAndTheOrderOfThePhoenix Book 5]], as she's still around in Books [[Literature/HarryPotterAndTheHalfBloodPrince 6]] and [[Literature/HarryPotterAndTheDeathlyHallows 7]].
** Snape's connection to Dumbledore allows him to get away with blatantly unprofessional conduct that would get him banned from teaching in a Muggle school.
** James Potter. You'd think the fact that a [[ClassRepresentative Prefect]] like Remus Lupin hanging around him most of the time would hamper his ability to [[TheBully bully]] people... except, Lupin was ''also'' one of his closest friends [[spoiler:([[PetTheDog because James didn't ostracize him when he learned that he was a werewolf before the werewolf became school prefect]])]] who preferred to simply look the other way in regards to James' bullying. Though, to James's credit, he outgrew the bullying behavior by the time he became Head Boy.
* ''Literature/HiveMind2016'': Telepaths are rare and valuable enough to be effectively above the law. Many of them realize this and undergo 'distancing', where they do whatever they want. Most develop a moral code eventually; Keith is still distant. Amber is considered unlikely to become distant due to being TheEmpath.
* ''Literature/HonorHarrington'': Pavel Young lived and breathed this trope, abusing the heck out of the North Hollow family's position as one of the more powerful noble houses in the Star Kingdom to satisfy his basest desires and avoid any responsibility for his actions.
* ''Literature/TheHungerGames'': A different interpretation of the word "connections" in this case, but the reason Katniss hasn't been tossed in a cell for illegally hunting the District 12 wildlife isn't because of any particular skill at evading the Peacemakers. It's because the Peacemakers are also her customers.
* ''Literature/TheHuntForRedOctober'': A Soviet doctor who was [[VodkaDrunkenski drunk on duty]] botched what should have been a simple appendix removal. Being the son of a senior party official, he remained unpunished for the violation of the rules and the death resulting from it. [[spoiler:This is part of what drove Ramius to defect, as the victim was his wife.]]
* Occurs in a brief exchange in ''Literature/TheMoonIsAHarshMistress''. A man trying to get Mannie to get the government to buy patriotic buttons for members of LaResistance gets the brush-off. The man takes umbrage, threatening to go directly to Party Chairman Adam Selene, a close friend of his. Mannie is unimpressed by this statement, since [[spoiler:Adam Selene is an alter ego of Mike. Since only Mannie and two others know that Mike is secretly a sentient computer, it's pretty obvious that the man is bluffing.]]
* A rare good example in ''Literature/{{Oblomov}}''. Tarantyev's buddy thinks he can pull off robbing Oblomov blind, but his friend Stolz happens to be on first-name base with the general, who gets Mukhoyarov (said buddy) fired.
* Lightly used in ''Literature/PaladinOfShadows'' novel ''A Deeper Blue''. When an admiral objects to Adams pulling a cigar, the former is asked to check whose authority is behind him.[[note]]The US President's.[[/note]] The man quickly gives in.
* Deconstructed in ''Literature/ThePhantomOfTheOpera'': The original book by Gaston Leroux shows the consequences of a society that embraces this principle: The opera managers know how to play politics better than to manage, and who the opera singer knows is more important to being ThePrimaDonna than to sing better. This means that everyone is a StupidBoss who doesn’t know how to do his job. Every employee knows that, so the bosses are ProperlyParanoid about being pranked by them because [[DudeWheresMyRespect nobody respects them]]. They also are the ideal victims for a {{BlackMail}}er, and that’s how Erik (the titular phantom) could convince them to let him do whatever he pleases.
* In the fourth book of ''Literature/ProtectorOfTheSmall'', Neal puts a spell on an abusive innkeeper that will prevent him from beating his servants by reflecting the pain back on himself. When the innkeeper says that it's illegal to force a magic on a person, Neal says that nobody's going to believe the innkeeper over Duke Baird of Queenscove's son. (To be fair, the innkeeper himself implied that he was buddies with the local magistrate and they're in a border town with an impending war, preventing a by-the-book resolution.)
* [[AllThereInTheManual Reference material]] for ''Literature/TheRailwaySeries'' reveals that the [[LegacyCharacter first]] Sir Topham Hatt, Baronet, had this. He was an engineer in his own right, before becoming director of the entire North Western region. He knew Sir William Stanier and Sir Nigel Gresley, both among the most famous locomotive engineers the world had ever seen. His good standing with them ensured Gordon was purchased, and Henry was rebuilt, to give his railway the powerhouses it needed.
* Another rare heroic example in ''Literature/TheRavenCycle'': Richard Campbell Gansey III lives among psychics, spirits, and magicians. His super power? Calling in favors. He uses this power for good, either to help a friend in trouble (such as when Ronan faces expulsion or Adam presses charges against his father) or to further his search for [[KingInTheMountain Glendower]]
* ''Literature/SamTheCatDetective'': Prior to ''The Great Catsby,'' a local woman shot her rich husband and got away with claiming she’d mistaken him for a burglar because her sister was married to the sheriff.
* ''Literature/TheScholomance:'' Todd breaks one of the biggest taboos of the magical community by killing another student for his room, but he avoids any major punishment due to his father being a prominent member of the New York enclave.
* ''Literature/SisterhoodSeries'' by Creator/FernMichaels: The Vigilantes definitely use this trope to accomplish their missions and with style! In fact, it seems that Washington, D.C. pretty much requires everyone to make use of this trope. A number of the bad guys use this, and John Chai from ''Vendetta'' happens to be very explicit, considering how he was promising the Vigilantes that his father would make them pay (The Vigilantes were ''not'' intimidated by this, for the record).
* ''Literature/ASongOfIceAndFire'' has Janos Slynt attempt to do this at the Wall, despite the fact that at the Wall you're essentially a dead man and no one will care what happens to you.
* '''Literature/TheUnteachables'': In the BackStory, Jake avoided being expelled after being caught selling test answers because two school board members were former fraternity brothers of Jake's dad.
* ''Literature/VorkosiganSaga'':
** Miles Vorkosigan, the Barrayaran Prime Minister's son and Emperor's foster brother, occasionally does this; he considers it a last resort. He still gets in a lot of trouble, and the time he does try to use connections to keep from [[spoiler:losing his secret covert ops identity after injuring an officer during a seizure, then falsifying the report of the incident]], it doesn't work, though he still [[spoiler:gets a medical discharge instead of dishonorable discharge and a further sentence]]. Really, his usual philosophy is more "Screw the Rules, My Results Will Justify It" or [[IndyPloy "Screw The Rules, I'll Deal With the Consequences Later"]]. It's probably ironic that in the aftermath of the above incident, not only did his connections prove as valuable as he could possibly have wanted, they were taking care of and protecting him to a degree neither her nor they were aware of at the time.
** Similar to the Discworld example above, this used to be the case for the aristocracy in general, and the efforts toward reforming the government to stop this are frequently mentioned.
* Falcone, closest thing to a BigBad in the ''Literature/WarchildSeries'', has been arrested once before and sent to prison. His connections either broke him out or saw fit to release him early (the books are rather vague on that). When he gets arrested a second time, he tells our heroes it's a waste of time and brags about how he'll be out again. Indeed, he doesn't even make it to the prison when a group of his loyalists arrive to free him from the custody of the {{Space Marine}}s. But in a fitting turn, [[spoiler:he is murdered on the docks because one of our [[BlackAndGreyMorality gray heroes]] can't bear to see him get away unpunished.]]
* ''Literature/WarformedStormweaver'': According to an epigraph, the [[DeusEstMachina MIND's]] influence means that wealth is far less important than it used to be; now what matters is social capital and family connections. Even then, it's limited. Notably, while Aria and Viv both come from well-off families, their actual money is never mentioned, just their connections.
* ''Literature/WolfHall'':
** Thomas Cromwell is a member of a covert reading group of John Tyndale's English translation of the Bible, who face death by burning if discovered (as indeed several of them are). Cromwell is a little safer than people like Little Bilney because he's the right hand of Cardinal Wolsey, and it's an unspoken understanding between the two of them that he's allowed his little bit of heresy because of their friendship. (Cromwell also pays close attention to when Wolsey mentions names from the group and warns them of forthcoming raids. Later, when he's Master Secretary and thus becomes the Connection, he ''tries'' to arrange an escape for John Frith, but Frith refuses to take it.)
** Cromwell later does this from the other end in an example of "screw the rules ''for'' my connections." When he's put in charge of bringing down Anne Boleyn, he's reminded by his accomplices of Thomas Wyatt, a poet with a well-known crush on Anne. Henry Wyatt is a family friend who once asked Cromwell to look after his wayward son, so when Mark Smeaton names Thomas Wyatt as one of Anne's partners, Cromwell refuses to add him to the list and refuses his accomplices' advice to arrest him until Wyatt arrives in London and Cromwell has no choice but to take him in. Even then he puts Wyatt in the Tower of London only for protective custody and doesn't even start a case in the hopes that the well-publicized executions of Anne and her five accused lovers will take the heat off. It does, and he releases Wyatt unharmed a little while later.

[[folder:Live-Action TV]]
* ''Series/AsTheWorldTurns'' loves this trope because of its legacy families. Many of the characters, even just with ties to super couples and their parents/children, tend to be able to get away with anything on connections alone.
* This almost has to be happening for Lee "Apollo" Adama in ''Series/BattlestarGalactica2003''. Having your dad be the head of the Colonial Military can mean you get cut a lot of slack. At the end of Season 1, he [[spoiler:commits mutiny and puts a gun to the head of ''Galactica'''s XO]], but this doesn't seem to hurt his career much. Towards the end of Season 2, he's even [[spoiler:promoted to commander (over a few higher-ranking and more-experienced officers, the aforementioned XO included -- though events early in the season hint said XO wouldn't be the best commander) and put in charge of his own Battlestar]]. And is there any other explanation for in Season 4 when [[spoiler:despite the pressing need for experienced pilots at all times, he is allowed to quit the military for good and gets shoehorned into a Quorum seat, which allows him to temporarily rise to be president when Roslin is missing, mostly because they needed a candidate his father would accept]]? Given what we have seen of the lack of options open to ordinary people of the fleet and the need for all those in essential positions to do their duty all the time, one can't help but feel Lee is lucky to have the opportunities he has. And, in fact, he [[LampshadeHanging lampshades]] this a bit. At [[spoiler:Baltar's trial]], specifically, he notes that he had done some ridiculous things that should have gotten him prosecuted at least... but he was forgiven.
* This ''epically'' backfired on an episode of ''Series/BeyondScaredStraight'' where a bunch of female inmates, including a young one about to be sentenced for robbery, were scolding the preteens and teenagers who were acting up. A 12-year-old tried to pull this on the young inmate, saying her recently-released mother was once the head of a vicious gang, only for her to tell her she wasn't scared of the woman and became so angry and threatening to the girl and her mother that both the guards ''and'' other inmates had to hold her back. The girl herself was soon reduced to tears.
* ''Series/BigSky'': Ronald gets away with kidnapping women for so long partly due to being in bed with a dirty cop who protected him.
* In ''Series/BlueBloods'', the Reagan kids avert this trope in that they refuse to use their father's clout as Police Commissioner. In "Critical Condition," Sosa suggests that with Jamie's family connections, he could have made Detective by now. That said, other characters try to invoke the trope, to mixed results:
** Inverted in "Parenthood," when Mayor Carter Poole's illegitimate daughter Ariel joins a protest and is caught up in the ensuring dragnet. Ariel doesn't demand special treatment, but her parents politely suggest, separately, that Frank had better let the matter drop.
** In "Rush to Judgment," Jamie is accused of undue force (he was actually trying to knock someone out of the path of an oncoming biker), a D.A. makes it clear she thinks he's guilty and his father must be covering for him. When video proves Jamie innocent, the woman continues to smark about his family always getting their way.
--->'''Jamie''': If my family really threw their weight around like you say...how smart is it for you to be insulting us?
** In "Men in Black," Jamie and Vinny arrest the previous mayor's daughter and her friend after catching them in the act of smoking pot on a park bench. When preparing to arrest them, said daughter tries to invoke this:
--->'''Rebecca Levitt:''' Don't you guys have any real criminals to chase?\\
'''Jamie Reagan:''' You might want to ease up on that attitude, Rebecca.\\
'''Rebecca Levitt:''' You don't know who my father is.\\
'''Jamie Reagan:''' ''[smirks]'' I don't really care.
** Of course, after a discussion with Erin her dad tells the judge:
--->'''Rebecca's father:''' I would like to tell the court that my daughter is a wonderful young woman... ''[{{beat}}]'' ...who needs to learn to respect the law.
** The bad guys don't have a monopoly on this. In "Warriors" the State Department refuses to grant political asylum to a Turkish cellist in danger of being the victim of an [[HonorRelatedAbuse honor killing]] if she returns home (for having dated and slept with an American during the tour). [[spoiler:Frank talks a contact into getting the New York Philharmonic Orchestra to hire her, and his opposite number at State, the episode's SympatheticInspectorAntagonist, expedites a work visa.]]
** There's an implication that when Nicky is arrested with her friends in "Road to Hell" after drugs are found in the car during a traffic stop that Nicky was expecting the process to be easier for her on the basis of her last name.
** In "In the Box," Garrett's stepson Sam has been arrested for scoring oxycodone during an observational buy. Garrett wants to have him released into rehab. However, Frank is suspicious of the circumstances and has his secretary Abigail Baker investigate, discovering that Garrett has used his pull at 1PP to keep Sam out of prison on several prior occasions. Frank confronts Garrett and gets him to see that he's enabling his stepson's drug habit and not helping him.
** In "Dedications," Frank brings up having to use Henry's influence to squash a commendation when a botched attempt to arrest the head of a Westies gang faction led to the death of the guy's wife and grandson.
** It's played almost ridiculously straight in one episode which features the Deputy Commissioner cheating on his wife during a marital spat with a woman in Atlantic City. He makes it clear that the affair was mutual, admits to lying about his position when he met the woman, and she has pictures of text messages they sent to each other. The DPC is ready to resign, as he doesn't want to bring a scandal down on the department...so Frank asks his father to call up his old buddies on the Atlantic City force to put some pressure on the woman to "disappear," ''specifically saying'' he wants Henry to do it off the record so it can't be traced back to him. What makes it particularly egregious is that the episode's A-plot features Danny going on a rant about how priests lie to cover up child molesters (which, while true, turns out to have ''nothing'' to do with the case at hand). And the show doesn't even mention the parallels. [[ViewersAreGoldfish Maybe the producers thought no one would notice.]]
* In ''Series/{{Bones}}'', Brennan appears to have some fairly high connections of her own, as indicated in one episode in which a State Department agent was reviewing the Jeffersonian to maintain their security clearance:
-->'''Pickering''': When you were in Cuba, [[NoodleIncident did you meet with a man named Juan Guzman?]] \\
''({{Beat}}. Brennan holds a finger up, picks up the phone, and dials.)'' \\
'''Brennan''': Hello. It's Dr. Brennan from the Jeffersonian. You told me to call you if anyone asked about...you know. Him. ''(pauses)'' Someone from the state department named Samantha Pickering. ''(gives phone to Pickering)'' \\
'''Pickering''': Pickering. ''(pauses)'' Yes, sir. Yes, I'll wait-I'll wait here. ''(gives phone back to Brennan, who hangs up)'' \\
'''Brennan''': Any more questions? \\
'''Pickering''': No. Uh, no, in fact, the entire review is suspended. I'm to wait here until someone comes to destroy my notes.
* ''Series/BreakingBad'':
** After the failed attempt on Hank's life by the Salamanca twins which ends with both of them dead, Juan Bolsa calls Gus Fring to accuse him of having set it all up to put pressure from the authorities on the cartel and invokes this as part of his BadassBoast to downplay the threat.
-->'''Juan Bolsa''': I see things clear enough. One DEA gets shot, all of Washington starts barking. The DF suddenly has to put on a big show and I wind up with ''federales'' in my rosebushes. And just for a while, appearances, politics... Are you still there, Gustavo?\\
'''Gus Fring''': Yes, I'm here.\\
'''Juan Bolsa''': I'll weather this. I always do. My brother is a police chief. I got connections. They'll get me through. And when I get proof and the others find out what you've done, maybe we come pay you a visit. Maybe—\\
''(The ''federales'' [[InstantlyProvenWrong raid Bolsa's hacienda and shoot him dead]])''
** Gomez uses this to bluff the owner of Gus's laundromat when Hank sends him there to search for evidence of an underground meth lab:
-->'''Steven Gomez:''' So I bust this chef. Well, he says he's a chef, but just because you work at a restaurant that charges $14 for a burger, that don't make you a chef. That makes you a glorified burger flipper, at least in my book. Anyway, so we bust this chef for heroin possession. He says, "Well, just because you found heroin in my chef whites doesn't make it mine. Maybe it came from the place that launders my chef whites" -- this place.\\
'''Dennis Markowski:''' Oh, come on, man. I don't want to do this stuff with you.\\
'''Steven Gomez:''' I--I know, I know. You don't have to say it. I'll say it for you: "His story is a big load of steaming horse shit." I mean, we're going to find heroin here like we're going to find Jimmy Hoffa. Right? The thing is, is that the chef's daddy is a United States Senator. I'm not going to tell you which one, but you probably know who he is, right? So now I've got to waste my time checking out this burger flipper's story, and if I don't, his old man's going to jam me up, my ASAC, my whole entire office. [[TakeThat Politics, huh?]] So what do you think?\\
'''Dennis Markowski:''' Listen, you know what? I have to check with my boss, and he's out of town, and I can't promise I'll reach him anytime soon either, you know?\\
'''Steven Gomez:''' Well, yeah, that's probably the way to go, so I'll have to go get a warrant, and we'll do it official, but you're probably going to have to close down for the day.
* Deconstructed in ''Series/BrooklynNineNine'' in an episode where the Deputy Commissioner's son is revealed to have been tagging police cars with graffiti, but whenever he gets arrested he calls his father, who puts pressure on the arresting detectives to drop the charges. While venting to Captain Holt, Detective Peralta enviously calls the kid lucky, which gets this response:
-->'''Holt:''' I wouldn't say he was lucky. I feel bad for this kid. I mean, what kind of father cares so little for his son that he lets him get away with everything?
* On ''Series/BurnNotice'', one scumbag AbusiveParent uses his connections to protect his mobster brother. When Michael and company take out the scumbag by making him look like an unstable lunatic, it's mentioned in the epilogue that the brother will likely go down with him.
* ''Series/{{Castle}}'':
** Castle is a surprisingly benign version of this... while he uses his influence as a best-selling mystery author (and the fact that he has the mayor on speed dial) to be allowed to shadow Detective Beckett, he has proved quite useful, with his GenreSavvy providing breakthroughs in several cases, and on one occasion using his connections to rush evidence through the lab to close a case.
--->''[after making a bet on whether or not their Vic of the Week was a CIA agent]''\\
'''Beckett:''' All right, you're on!\\
''[Castle dials a number]''\\
'''Beckett:''' ...who are you calling?\\
'''Castle:''' My guy in the CIA.\\
'''Beckett:''' ''[disbelieving]'' You have a guy in the ''CIA''???\\
'''Castle:''' When will you learn? I've got a guy '''everywhere'''.
** Captain Montgomery is good at subverting this. He later reveals to Beckett that he could have gotten rid of Castle at any time ("The mayor doesn't run this place, I do."), but only kept him around because he thought it would be good for her. Also, when a suspect threatens to call the police commissioner, he replies "Tell him I said hi. [[RefugeInAudacity And that I could use a raise]]."
* This is the main reason why the Office of Disruptive Services team on ''Chaos'' is able to operate the way they do. They have connections going all the way to the White House. Their ObstructiveBureaucrat boss wants them fired, but as long as they do not screw up in a major way, their everyday misdeeds will go unpunished.
* ''Series/{{Crusade}}'': [[http://www.midwinter.com/lurk/guide/505.html The Pro Zeta Corporation uses its influence with its clients to avoid an investigation.]]
* ''Series/Daredevil2015'':
** Part of the reason that Wilson Fisk is so hard to take down is that he's deeply connected, with corrupt cops and senators on his payroll.
** Karen Page gets her job at the ''New York Bulletin'' because Mitchell Ellison feels bad about not having previously supported Ben Urich, who he knew had been close with Karen and had been mentoring her through her investigation of Wilson Fisk up until Fisk killed Ben. It's clear that Karen's connection to Ben and to Ellison is why she's getting a job with one of New York City's major newspapers ''and'' immediately getting a private office, despite not having any journalism degree or prior experience in the field. (Most reporters would be lucky to get a cubicle to start)
** Rosalie Carbone, introduced in the last two episodes of ''Luke Cage'' Season 2 prior to showing up in ''Daredevil'' Season 3, has immense influence in organized crime. She has as much control over the underworld in Rikers as Fisk does.
* ''Series/TheDefenders2017'':
** After Danny Rand and Luke Cage get into a fight when Luke interrupts Danny's attempt to interrogate Cole, Luke gives Danny a dressing-down about how his crusade against the Hand has him going after bottom-feeders when his wealth and social status give him the ability to take his fight right to the top. After much discussion with Colleen, Danny decides to go to the Hand's headquarters at Midland Circle in his capacity as the CEO of Rand Enterprises. Unfortunately, it's a trap, and while he manages to fight off most of Alexandra's men, he's almost captured, until Luke, Jessica, and Matt show up to rescue him.
** The pull Luke has with Misty Knight from their work on Cottonmouth and Diamondback is how he's able to convince her to stash Claire Temple, Colleen Wing, Malcolm Ducasse, Trish Walker, Foggy Nelson, and Karen Page in her precinct when the Hand begin targeting them.
** The Hand have thrived for so long because of their use of connections. They use contacts in the mayor's office and Trish's radio station to shut down talk about the earthquake triggered by underground mining at Midland Circle. After Elektra kills Alexandra, the remaining fingers -- Murakami, Bakuto and Madame Gao -- try to reason with her by pointing out that the Hand's connections are what gives them power and has allowed them to survive, but Elektra flat-out tells them she doesn't care about them beyond using them as tools to get the substance.
* Part of a climactic scene in late Season 3 of ''Series/{{Dexter}}''. Dexter confronts a monster he's created by reminding him of the evidence he has. [[spoiler:Miguel]]'s reply? "You got what, a ring? I got [[spoiler:fucking CITY HALL!]]" Of course, he never did learn exactly who or what Dexter really is...
* In ''Series/{{Dollhouse}}'', it's not a person but the title business. It largely survives because it has a lot of rich and powerful people, including at least one senator and the Governor of California, on its client list.
* Landry in ''Series/FridayNightLights'' is a cop's son, and therefore, when he [[spoiler:confesses to murder]], the police are visibly trying to find a way to avoid prosecuting him. Even in his interview, the detective almost desperately tries to coach him into setting up his defence, and when his dad arrives, they let him go and ultimately fail to file charges.
* ''Series/GameOfThrones'':
** Ser Jaime and Tyrion of the wealthy and powerful House Lannister get by on Tywin's and Cersei's reputation as well as their family's gold. Subverted in "Walk of Punishment" when Jaime tries to bribe Locke into releasing him. Locke gives Jaime a well-deserved TheReasonYouSuckSpeech, mocking him for acting as if he's better than others and in control, when in fact nearly all of his influence and power comes from his father, and that when separated from him Jaime is helpless and should talk more wisely. [[spoiler:To emphasize his point, he then lops off Jaime's hand.]]
** Tywin Lannister, probably the most powerful (and certainly the richest) person in Westeros, backs the Baratheons of King's Landing to the hilt, allowing them to pretty much do whatever they want, no matter the obstacles. Unfortunately, this has also extended to the borrowing of money, leading to the Baratheons of King's Landing acquiring astronomical amounts of debt which they are largely unable to service.
* In the Australian series ''Halifax f.p.'', a detective working an interstate case is threatened with damage to his career by a local politician. When the detective points out that he's not even from that state, the politician indicates the club they're standing in, and talks of how politicians from all over the country pass through the club when visiting his state, and how politics is all about working these connections...
* Done humorously in the movie ''Ike: Countdown to D-Day''. The film made a point of showing Montgomery's (historically true) prohibition on smoking in his headquarters or at meetings he's attending, even to the point that Eisenhower, his superior in the Allied chain of command, wasn't allowed to light up. During the briefing for Operation Overlord given to King George VI, the king pulls out a cigarette, much to the distress of Monty who clearly isn't willing to tell his monarch that smoking is banned in the building. Immediately almost all the other senior Allied commanders, including Eisenhower, start smiling and also light up.
* ''Series/{{JAG}}'': Meg Austin's father was a friend with [[TheCameo Colonel Oliver North]] (of the Iran-Contra scandal fame). Meg calls in a favor from "Uncle Ollie" once or twice when they need info they can't get through official channels.
* ''Series/JessicaJones2015'':
** Jessica attempts to use the connections of her acquaintances when trying to acquire sufentanil that she can use against Kilgrave. She tries to ask Trish if she has connections to any shady doctors who might be willing to slip her some, but Trish says that all the doctors she knows save small African villages and wouldn't be easy to persuade. So she next goes to Jeri Hogarth's ex-wife Wendy, who is a doctor. Wendy is not helpful either, because on top of not giving a damn about Jessica, she works in a clinic and sufentanil is surgical anesthesia. So Jessica just resorts to stealing some from a hospital, using Malcolm as a distraction.
** Trish has more success using her own celebrity status to sweet talk the right people into revealing the security firm that Kilgrave has hired to protect him in case Jessica uses the sufentanil to knock out his powers. As she explains to Simpson:
--->'''Trish Walker:''' I might have a lead.\\
'''Will Simpson:''' So, you gonna tell me?\\
''[Trish walks past Simpson, gets an envelope on the table behind them, and passes to him. He opens it. Inside are the pictures of various people in black shirts]''\\
'''Will Simpson:''' Mmm, military.\\
'''Trish Walker:''' Ex. They're bodyguards. Kilgrave's new bodyguards.\\
'''Will Simpson:''' And how do you know?\\
'''Trish Walker:''' I went to all the top New York security firms, told them an old stalker of mine was back, that I was in the market for a new protection detail. After that, it was just a matter of getting the right people to talk.\\
'''Will Simpson:''' No way. The first rule of personal security is to keep your clients secret.\\
'''Trish Walker:''' I give good talk.
** Played for laughs in a later episode. When Jessica and Trish are searching the morgues looking for Kilgrave's father, Trish bribes Maury Tuttlebaum, the morgue attendant at Riverbank Medical Center, into letting them search the bodies by getting him the chef's table at Per Se.
--->'''Jessica Jones:''' Dinner at the fancy restaurant is supposed to buy us quiet assistance.
** In Season 2, Trish uses another favor with Maury to get him to fast-track the identification of a charred skull she and Jessica find in Dr. Hansen's incinerator.
** In Episode 6 of Season 2, Trish and Jessica try to enter a private country club to talk to Dr. Karl Malus's donor Justis Ambrose. But because Trish is not a member there, the maitre'd refuses to let them through despite recognizing Trish. Ultimately, Jessica has to sneak in by hopping over a wall while Trish just launches a tirade at the maitre'd by calling him a sexist, which culminates in her eventually throwing up due to going through the withdrawal of being off Simpson's inhaler.
** In episode four of Season 2, Trish's new boyfriend Griffin Sinclair offers to use his pull as a newscaster at ZCN to get Trish a job there. She politely declines, saying, "I love you for offering, but going to them as Griffin Sinclair's girlfriend won't get me taken seriously," and she would rather get the job by her own merits than her connections.
* Used frequently in ''Series/LawandOrderSpecialVictimsUnit''. Though expect whoever just got off on that to get killed shortly after by a victim that couldn't care less.
* On ''Series/{{Life}}'', Russian gangster Roman Nevikov has a whole bunch of FBI agents in his pocket, which allows him to walk away from pretty much any criminal charges the LAPD cares to bring by claiming to be a federal informant providing information about terrorist networks.
* ''Series/LukeCage2016'':
** Mariah Dillard is a city councilwoman in bed with the criminal activities of her gangster cousin Cottonmouth, and these connections are how she and Diamondback are able to sell Judas bullets to the NYPD as part of their scheme to discredit and kill Luke Cage.
** Cottonmouth, in turn, has managed to escape arrest and convictions because he's got cops on his payroll to interfere in investigations that might incriminate him or his underlings, one of whom is Misty Knight's partner.
** Diamondback has connections that give him access to Hammer Industries weapons, such as the brand-new Judas bullet.
* ''Series/TheMarvelousMrsMaisel'': In Season 3, when Joel is opening up his own club in Chinatown, he finds that it's difficult to get things done. Fortunately, Mei comes along and is quick to use her family connections in Chinatown to make business easier for Joel, such as getting the liquor board to fasttracking the approval of the liquor license that Joel had had tied up for months.
* Attempted on ''Series/TheMentalist'' by a VictimOfTheWeek's wealthy husband, who demands that [[TheStoic Agent Cho]] tell him the name of his murdered wife's lover.
-->'''Walcott:''' Are you sure, Agent Cho? Because I can make one phone call and your career is ''toast''.\\
'''Cho:''' ''[completely unimpressed]'' That's impressive. The most I can get with one phone call is a pizza.
* Scooter on ''Series/TheMuppetShow'' gets by (at least early in the show) mostly on the fact that his uncle owns the theater where the show takes place. He's not necessarily a brat about it, and he doesn't make that many demands, but just casually mentioning his uncle is enough for Kermit to cave in instantly. (Scooters uncle appeared in one episode, and it's easy to see why someone would be afraid of him. He's a [[BadBoss nasty guy to work for]].) This aspect slowly disappears over time.
* In the ''Series/MysteryScienceTheater3000'' short film "Cheating", Johnny gets caught cheating on a test, and Tom Servo riffs, "Fortunately, your mob ties will get you off, Johnny."
* Subverted in the mini-series ''Nancy Wake''. Wake's husband, industrialist Henri Fiocca, tells a Gestapo officer that he can be talking on the phone with [[TheQuisling Marshall Petain]] in half an hour. "Can you do the same with your Fuhrer?" Later on, he's arrested and the Gestapo officer tells him, "By the way, Marshall Petain has never heard of you."
* ''Series/TheNightManager'': Roper is unconcerned with being caught since he has some very high-level connections in the American and British governments (including a top member of [=MI6=]). [[spoiler:His luck runs out eventually on that score though, since his business partners seek revenge and his MI6 connection is forced to drop him.]]
* Hailey Grimm from ''Series/TheOtherKingdom'' often feels like certain school rules don't apply to her due to the fact that she's the principal's niece.
* ''Series/ThePunisher2017'': William Rawlins has managed to escape prosecution for the war crimes he committed in Afghanistan thanks to his rise to being the Director of Covert Operations for the CIA. In turn, Billy Russo has managed to also escape persecution for his role in these war crimes thanks to his pretty face and good charisma when it comes to schmoozing politicians.
* On ''Series/QueerAsFolk'', a [[KillerCop police officer]] who frequently uses male prostitutes [[IDidntMeanToKillHim accidentally strangles one of them]]. Luckily (for him), his long-time friend and former partner on the force is now the [[CorruptPolitician chief of police]] and agrees to help him cover up the whole thing.
* ''Series/{{Rake}}'': A lot of people get away with their crimes due to having friends in high places, like Edgar Mitchell with his dirty cops.
* In ''Series/{{Scrubs}}'', a medical student is annoying the shit out of Elliot, because his father is the CEO of the corporation that owns the hospital, so Elliot can't punish or treat him badly. After Kelso tells Elliot that it's ''his'' job to kiss his father's ass and that she should go out and kick his ass, she does so.
** Cole, one of the medical students introduced in Season 9, is the son of a major donor to the hospital and pulls this to get away with screwing around in the hospital. While it does keep him from being expelled, it doesn't keep anyone from getting back at him for his general jackassery.
* Subverted in the ''Series/{{Sharpe}}'' TV-adaption of "[[Recap/SharpeS1E2SharpesEagle Sharpe's Eagle]]". When UpperClassTwit and exemplary [[TheNeidermeyer Neidermeyer]] Henry Simmerson gets rightfully chewed out for his disastrous incompetence by the Duke of Wellington, he makes a poorly-veiled threat regarding his connections. Wellington immediately shuts him down.
--> '''Simmerson:''' I have a cousin at Horse Guards, sir... and I have friends at court.\\
'''Wellesley:''' ''[With a cold DeathGlare]'' The man who loses the King's Colours... loses the King's friendship.
* ''Series/{{Southland}}'': Cooper and Sherman stop a speeder, who tries to pull the "do you know who my father is?" card, leading to one of Cooper's more memorable comebacks.
--->'''Speeder:''' Do you know who my father is?\\
'''Cooper:''' Why, did your mom not tell you?
* ''Series/SWAT2017'': Chris arrests a young man for drunk driving while off duty, but it turns out that his father is the deputy mayor and he makes the case disappear. He'd done so twice before too. She fights to bring him down, and eventually succeeds with Lynch's help, catching the guy on tape admitting his acts, which is used for making him resign (while they urge that his son get the help he needs).
* In the Japanese Tokusatsu ''Series/TokusouSentaiDekaranger'', a group of villains are incredibly calm towards Sen-chan's questions, annoyances, and at one point death sentence because one of their fathers is a judge for the Space police. [[spoiler:Unfortunately for them, Sen-chan just decides to kill them before they have time to tell their connections.]]
* Practically everyone on ''Series/VeronicaMars'' is guilty of some version of this. Veronica herself constantly exploits any and all connections she has in law enforcement. Usually justifiable, considering she lives in [[CrapsackWorld Neptune]].
* In ''Series/TheWestWing'', an inversion of this got Charlie Young his job as personal assistant to President Bartlett. Deborah Fiderer was pressured to give Charlie's position to the son of a prominent Democratic supporter (read: donor), but she wouldn't do it and ended up getting fired as a result. Despite this, though, she [[ScrewTheRulesImDoingWhatsRight refused to admit what had happened]] as she didn't want Charlie to feel obliged to her for doing what she knew was right. The President is so impressed by her loyalty (and amazing memory) that he hires her to become his new private secretary.
* One of the major themes on ''Series/TheWire''. Clay Davis and Ervin Burrell are two of the biggest offenders.
* Averted in the pilot of ''Series/WithoutATrace''. Martin Fitzgerald tells Jack Malone he doesn't want any special treatment just because he's the FBI Director's son, to which Malone replies that he wasn't planning on giving him any.

[[folder:Music]]
* "Bitchin' Camaro" by Music/TheDeadMilkmen gives us this gem:
-->''I ran over some old lady\\
at the county fair.\\
And I didn't get arrested\\
because my dad's the mayor.''
* ''Music/TomLehrer'': "My Home Town" from ''Music/SongsByTomLehrer'' mentions Sam, who was the village idiot and a {{pyromaniac}}, but about whom "Nothing could be done / Because he was the mayor's son".

[[folder:Myths & Religion]]
* It's been suggested that this is why Jesus Christ wasn't immediately arrested following the cleansing of the temple -- Herod Antipas let it slide as part of a conspiracy with Sejanus to get himself installed as King of Judea and overthrow the conservative, corrupt High Priest Caiaphas.

[[folder:Podcasts]]
* Invoked by one of the mayor's assistants in ''Podcast/WelcomeToNightVale'', she claims to have [[ItMakesSenseInContext supernatural mayoral powers]]. She then urges to have Cecil's reporters look away, and then follows through before they do.

[[folder:Pro Wrestling]]
* The [[Wrestling/ShaneMcMahon McMahon]] [[Wrestling/StephanieMcMahon kids]] don't fall into this too well... Shane's a fan favorite (the inversion of Vince in many ways, but he has broken out into one of his {{catchphrase}}s once. Not the one you're thinking of though.), and while Stephanie is a bit of a bitch as well as a DaddysGirl, she was a {{face}} in her General Manager days (and ironically, her reign came to an end when Vince beat her in an I Quit match).
* Being friends with a high-profile wrestler is a great way to guarantee a job. Wrestling/BrutusBeefcake owes his entire career to his friendship with Wrestling/HulkHogan. Wrestling/KevinNash was first brought into the [[Wrestling/{{WWE}} WWF]] because of his friendship with Wrestling/ScottHall, and then they became good friends with Wrestling/ShawnMichaels and former indy sensation the 1-2-3 Kid (Wrestling/SeanWaltman). They would form Wrestling/TheKliq and amass all kinds of backstage power for themselves, with Wrestling/TripleH joining in 1995. Later in Wrestling/{{WCW}}, the top wrestlers would try to become friends with Wrestling/EricBischoff and would usually get a huge push from it. Just ask Hulk Hogan, Kevin Nash, and Wrestling/DiamondDallasPage, among others.
* Wrestling/{{Carlito|Colon}} became this way in Ohio Valley Wrestling after joining Bolin Services, telling Wrestling/JimCornette he could do whatever he wanted when being yelled at him for arriving to a training session late. It also led, somewhat ironically, to Carly disowning his family and WWC, who'd you'd think would provide more connections than Kenny Bolin...
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Radio]]
* The early ''Radio/AdventuresInOdyssey'' episode "Camp What-A-Nut" features a low-key version of this. Chas Wentworth, son of a wealthy businessman who (among other things) partially owns the camp itself, has a well-earned reputation as a troublemaker who figures his money will cover any trouble he might get into. For once, among other things, this doesn't come hand in hand with being popular. In fact, it eventually comes out that he is caught in a cycle of being a jerk to everyone because most people don't like him because he keeps flaunting his cash on the flawed assumption that people universally respect money.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Video Games]]
* ''VideoGame/CantrII'': This is part of what makes the game fascinating, watching the mental gymnastics performed to justify punishing one person and not another, for the same infraction.
* In ''VideoGame/DragonAgeOrigins'', [[StarterVillain Bann Vaughan]], son of the current Arl of Denerim, employs this trope throughout the City Elf Origin, first by responding to the Warden's threats with the stock phrase "Do you have any idea who I am?" He later claims the Alienage will be purged by his father should the Warden slay him.
* ''Franchise/TheElderScrolls''
** Throughout the series, the [[TheOrder Order of the Black Worm]], a secretive MagicalSociety[=/=][[TheNecrocracy Necrocracy]] founded by the legendary/infamous [[OurLichesAreDifferent Lich]][=/=]{{Necromancer}} Mannimarco that is dedicated to the study of TheDarkArts, has long been able to forge connections with people in positions of power. Empress Clivia Tharn allowed the Order to practice freely in Cyrodiil during [[VideoGame/TheElderScrollsOnline the Planemeld]], and the Order forged connections with [[VideoGame/TheElderScrollsIIDaggerfall Lord K'avar and Princess Morgiah]] leading up to the [[TimeCrash Warp in the West]]. When this has failed, the Order has simply resorted to [[ScrewTheRulesIHaveMoney bribery]] or [[MightMakesRight threats]] instead.
** ''[[VideoGame/TheElderScrollsVSkyrim Skyrim]]'':
*** Doing favors for the jarls can result in the [[PlayerCharacter Dragonborn]] becoming a Thane. It's mostly a ceremonial title, but one of the perks is the ability to force guards to overlook any bounty that you might have on your head. It only works if your crimes are minor, though.
*** Oddly enough, however, [[spoiler:the bounty for ''assassinating the Emperor'' is low enough for you to do this. (1500, 150% of the bounty for normal murder.) Sure, it was a decoy, but you didn't know that and your intent was to kill the real Emperor. This might make sense if you've completed the Stormcloak questline and liberated Skyrim from the Empire, but if you have, that in itself presents FridgeLogic as to why the [[PraetorianGuard Penitus Oculatus]] is still in Skyrim in the first place.]]
*** The Thieves Guild questline also allows you to do this; when you reach a certain rank you can bribe guards for half the normal price for bounties.
*** Several quests in the game also allow you to bring up your title if you've become the faction leader of a certain faction (by completing the relevant [[SidequestSideStory questlines]]).
* In ''VideoGame/TheGodfather 2'', you can do favours for corrupt officials in exchange for getting their help later.
* Some of the bystanders in ''VideoGame/GrandTheftAutoViceCity'' claim that they "know people".
* More than a few of the targets in ''Franchise/{{Hitman}}'' have used their connections to get away with huge and heinous crimes. Too bad for them that ''other'' people have connections to the [=ICA=], the employers of one [[ProfessionalKiller Agent 47.]]
* ''Franchise/MassEffect'':
** Spectres more or less have this privilege. They answer directly to the Citadel Council, and are explicitly "above the law", enabling them to do things that would otherwise be very illegal in the pursuit of greater threats. Some Spectres abuse this, others are more scrupulous, but as long as they get the job done, the Council will back them. Of course, if the Council decides a Spectre has gone too far, they can revoke this privilege, and then the ex-Spectre is on the hook for everything they've done.
** In ''VideoGame/MassEffect3'', Aria T'loak, a crimelord and former de-facto ruler of Omega, is capable of bypassing Citadel customs by calling up the Asari councilor and telling her to give her permission.
* In ''VideoGame/MaxPayne 3'', the paramilitary leader Neves says that he knows a lot of powerful people. Max tells him that they won't be able to help him now.
** Victor Branco pulls the same thing, declaring that even if Max takes him in, he'll walk. Max responds "You'll walk with a limp" and [[FinishingStomp shatters one of Branco's legs with a harsh stomp]].
* In ''VideoGame/Persona5'', a drunk douchebag tries to sexually harass a woman. Fortunately for her, you happen to be passing by and stop him. ''Un''fortunately for you, said douchebag has more pull with the police than you and promptly has you arrested for assault, expelled from your high school, and forced to move away to serve a year of probation. Many of the villains in the game are people who get away with misdeeds due to their connections, all the way up to [[spoiler:Masayoshi Shido, a candidate for Prime Minister and the aforementioned drunken douchebag who gave your protagonist such grief in the first place.]] Luckily, the [[AntiHero Phantom Thieves]] don't really give a damn about how famous or well-connected 'shitty adults' are. In fact, trying to invoke this trope and act above the law is a quick way to piss them off and [[HeelFaceBrainwashing get your heart stolen]].
* In ''VideoGame/StarTrekOnline'', there's [[Series/StarTrekDeepSpaceNine Nog]], the son of the Grand Nagus Rom and first Ferengi in Starfleet. Despite this humongous helping hand, Nog prefers to do things without his help. When you first meet him, yes, he's carrying around his father's staff, but he tells the PlayerCharacter that he's here on Starfleet duty and, besides, the staff was his father's second best.
* In ''VideoGame/TalesOfTheAbyss'', there's an unusual example in that it's actually useful to the player outside of cutscenes: equipping Jade with his "Emperor's Best Friend" title gets you a discount in shops.
** VideoGame/TalesOfVesperia has 2 characters who due to their positions of power will probably be acquitted for their heinous crimes even after being arrested. Yuri murders both of them in cold blood before they're given the chance.
* Having a high reputation with a government in the ''[[VideoGame/{{X}} X-Universe]]'' series lets you get away with an absurd amount of murders. You can capture their flagship, murder the crew, then sell the fighter pilots into slavery, and you'll often take only a minor reputation hit unless you started slaughtering everything else in the sector.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Western Animation]]
* One of the greatest examples is Ed Wuncler III from the ''WesternAnimation/TheBoondocks'' cartoon. His grandfather is the ultra-rich owner of... pretty much everything, so Ed gets away with... well, pretty much everything. Take, for example, his foray into bank robbery. It was bungled about as badly as it could have been, and when they get into the car, they start arguing and eventually ask the bank manager (who they had also kidnapped) for a second opinion. Later, back at Ed's house, a police officer shows up to return Ed's wallet, which he lost at the bank ''while in the process of robbing it''. He even apologizes for having wasted Ed's time. It helps when your grand-dad owns both the police and the bank in question.
** [[spoiler:Wuncler Sr. does this in the Season 3 finale by calling ''The President of the United States'' to get a renegade agent to stand down.]]
* ''WesternAnimation/DannyPhantom'': As the star football player, the teachers often give [[JerkJock Dash's]] bullying behavior a free pass. Best displayed in the pilot episode, where Mr. Lancer punishes Danny, Sam, and Tucker for a food fight Dash started while Dash gets off scot-free, declaring that his athletic status makes him "exempt from scorn."
* Used in ''WesternAnimation/{{Futurama}}'' with the Mayor's aide dating Leela.
** Parodied to some degree, since he likes to try and use his position even when it wouldn't make any difference (e.g. saying he's the mayor's aide and requesting a table even after the restraunteer in question cheerfully showed them to a table).
* ''WesternAnimation/MiraculousLadybug'': The only reason Chloé can get away with being such an insufferable AlphaBitch to everyone is because her dad is the mayor, as well as a DotingParent who will use the full extent of his authority to bring harsh punishment upon anyone who dares make his precious little angel displeased in any way. She is well aware of this and exploits this trope to its fullest potential. On the ludicrously rare occasion that her dad shows something resembling a spine and doesn't do what she says, she quickly puts him back in line by threatening to call the only person who has authority over ''him'': [[HenpeckedHusband her mom]].
* ''WesternAnimation/NeoYokio'': The Magistocracy, the families of magic and psychic users, have "Magisticratic Immunity" from the law enforcement of Neo Yokio and will only answer to the Lord Mayor. Aunt Agatha uses this to save Kaz from the Remembrancer's interrogation.
* ''WesternAnimation/TheSimpsons'':
** Subverted by Mayor Quimby's nephew, who is a SpoiledBrat, but didn't actually commit the crime he is thought to have. Also subverted in that in spite of Quimby's rampant bribery, his nephew ''still'' comes very close to being imprisoned for the crime.
** Marge benefited from this in an episode when she had a nervous breakdown and blocked traffic on a bridge. She was arrested, but Mayor Quimby immediately pulled some strings to get her released without charge. Quimby did it because he knew that if Marge went to jail, he could kiss the "chick vote" goodbye, but the results were still beneficial.
* Courtney and her gratuitous use of her lawyers on ''WesternAnimation/TotalDramaAction'', which has gotten her multiple immunities and preferential treatment by the producers. [[spoiler:As the show goes on, though, they eventually start to tire of her attitude. Her lawyers stop returning her calls.]]
[[/folder]]

* Season One of ''Anime/HellGirl'' early episodes featured some antagonists who were like this.

* Some of the bystanders in ''VideoGame/GrandTheftAutoViceCity'' claim that they "know people".
* In ''VideoGame/TalesOfTheAbyss'', there's an unusual example in that it's actually useful to the player outside of cutscenes: equipping Jade with his "Emperor's Best Friend" title gets you a discount in shops.
** VideoGame/TalesOfVesperia has 2 characters who due to their positions of power will probably be acquitted for their heinous crimes even after being arrested. Yuri murders both of them in cold blood before they're given the chance.
* In ''VideoGame/TheGodfather 2'', you can do favours for corrupt officials in exchange for getting their help later.

* In ''VideoGame/DragonAgeOrigins'', [[StarterVillain Bann Vaughan]], son of the current Arl of Denerim, employs this trope throughout the City Elf Origin, first by responding to the Warden's threats with the stock phrase "Do you have any idea who I am?" He later claims the Alienage will be purged by his father should the Warden slay him.
* Having a high reputation with a government in the ''[[VideoGame/{{X}} X-Universe]]'' series lets you get away with an absurd amount of murders. You can capture their flagship, murder the crew, then sell the fighter pilots into slavery, and you'll often take only a minor reputation hit unless you started slaughtering everything else in the sector.

* In ''VideoGame/MaxPayne 3'', the paramilitary leader Neves says that he knows a lot of powerful people. Max tells him that they won't be able to help him now.
** Victor Branco pulls the same thing, declaring that even if Max takes him in, he'll walk. Max responds "You'll walk with a limp" and [[FinishingStomp shatters one of Branco's legs with a harsh stomp]].

* ''VideoGame/CantrII'': This is part of what makes the game fascinating, watching the mental gymnastics performed to justify punishing one person and not another, for the same infraction.
* In ''VideoGame/Persona5'', a drunk douchebag tries to sexually harass a woman. Fortunately for her, you happen to be passing by and stop him. ''Un''fortunately for you, said douchebag has more pull with the police than you and promptly has you arrested for assault, expelled from your high school, and forced to move away to serve a year of probation. Many of the villains in the game are people who get away with misdeeds due to their connections, all the way up to [[spoiler:Masayoshi Shido, a candidate for Prime Minister and the aforementioned drunken douchebag who gave your protagonist such grief in the first place.]] Luckily, the [[AntiHero Phantom Thieves]] don't really give a damn about how famous or well-connected 'shitty adults' are. In fact, trying to invoke this trope and act above the law is a quick way to piss them off and [[HeelFaceBrainwashing get your heart stolen]].

* In the second case of ''VisualNovel/PhoenixWrightAceAttorney'', Redd White is a man who has connections with the judges, prosecutors, police force... He essentially has the entire legal system wrapped around his finger. He uses said connections to [[spoiler:get Phoenix arrested and charged with the murder of Mia Fey, despite Maya Fey being the original defendant, because he knew Phoenix could prove his guilt... and then ended up being proven guilty by Phoenix anyway.]]

* In ''VisualNovel/SpiritHunterNG'', if security proves to be too much of a hassle for the characters to get past, then Seiji tugs on his Yakuza connections and has them 'taken care of', allowing the protagonists free reign. Later on, he's replaced by CowboyCop Ooe, who uses her status to the same effect.

* This is the case for students at the military academy "The Roost" whose parents have high positions in government in ''Webcomic/TheCroaking'': for example, Del gets away with trying to murder another student (Scra) in plain view of his classmates and instructors- Scra nearly falling to his death is instead explained away with faulty equiment.

* Gaea from ''Franchise/{{Noob}}'' has done plenty of ban-worthy stuff. Some of that stuff was cooperating with [[TheCracker Tenshirock]], who helped her get her avatar back when it was banned, then kept it from being kicked out a second time when she [[NotMeThisTime got framed by someone else]] in the webseries and novels.

* One of the greatest examples is Ed Wuncler III from the ''WesternAnimation/TheBoondocks'' cartoon. His grandfather is the ultra-rich owner of... pretty much everything, so Ed gets away with... well, pretty much everything. Take, for example, his foray into bank robbery. It was bungled about as badly as it could have been, and when they get into the car, they start arguing and eventually ask the bank manager (who they had also kidnapped) for a second opinion. Later, back at Ed's house, a police officer shows up to return Ed's wallet, which he lost at the bank ''while in the process of robbing it''. He even apologizes for having wasted Ed's time. It helps when your grand-dad owns both the police and the bank in question.
** [[spoiler:Wuncler Sr. does this in the season three finale by calling ''The President of the United States'' to get a renegade agent to stand down.]]

* ''WesternAnimation/MiraculousLadybug'': The only reason Chloé can get away with being such an insufferable AlphaBitch to everyone is because her dad is the mayor, as well as a DotingParent who will use the full extent of his authority to bring harsh punishment upon anyone who dares make his precious little angel displeased in any way. She is well aware of this and exploits this trope to its fullest potential. On the ludicrously rare occasion that her dad shows something resembling a spine and doesn't do what she says, she quickly puts him back in line by threatening to call the only person who has authority over ''him'': [[HenpeckedHusband her mom]].
* ''WesternAnimation/NeoYokio'': The Magistocracy, the families of magic and psychic users, have "Magisticratic Immunity" from the law enforcement of Neo Yokio and will only answer to the Lord Mayor. Aunt Agatha uses this to save Kaz from the Remembrancer's interrogation.

** In the British Army, there is a sort of informal convention that implicitly dictates that, in the parellel hierarchy of military wives, the Colonel's Lady is "first among equals". This is reflected in the informal status given to the Regimental Sergeant Major's wife. (the RSM is the most senior enlisted soldier). Whilst this bestows informal power, the wise postholder will understand she is only there as a mirror of her husband's rank and will go about using the status informally and gently - to suggest, rather than order, and to use it in ways which support her husband in his job, and be constructive in the wider Batallion family.

* British investigative journalist Stephen Knight looked into long-standing allegations of corruption among Freemasons operating under vows of secrecy and concluded that in many areas, including the process of law, there was a case to answer. One case concerned a Freemason in a messy divorce who boasted to his wife that he'd "fixed" the case so that the judge was also a Mason and would resolve the divorce in a manner wholly favourable to him. Unfortunately, the Masonic judge had to withdraw from the hearing as he was ill, and a replacement, assigned impartially by the court, turned out to be one of Britain's few ''women'' judges. The divorce did not go as the husband planned it. Not at all. But when checking out the judge who would have taken the case, Knight discovered he - and the husband - both belonged to the same Masonic lodge, which meant that both parties were knowingly engaging in a conflict of interests and impartiality.

%% Image selected per Image Pickin' thread: https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/posts.php?discussion=1546634724063391300
%% Please do not replace or remove without starting a new thread.

* ''Film/DeathNoteSeries'': In this incarnation, this is Light's primary motivation to become Kira; he holds the legal system on a BrokenPedestal because he's sick of those with connections abusing the law and getting off scot-free.
* ''Film/DodgeballATrueUnderdogStory'': The Purple Cobras are able to enter the big Las Vegas dodgeball tournament without a regional qualifying match because the dodgeball chancellor is a friend of White's.
* ''Film/MeanGirls'': I don't think my father, the inventor of Toaster Struedel, would like that I'm not on this list.
* When Willy Bank, the antagonist of ''Film/OceansThirteen'', tries to use this as a threat against Danny Ocean, Danny replies he has all the same connections ''and'' they like him better.

* ''Film/SchindlersList'': A rare positive example: Oskar Schindler's membership of the Nazi party and friendship with senior Nazi officials are the reason he can save the lives of his eponymous List (well, that and a certain amount of outright bribery).
* ''Film/SororityRow'':
-->'''Kyle:''' Are you crazy? Do you have any idea what my father is capable of?\\
'''Jessica:''' Oh yeah? [[InsultBackfire Well, maybe I'm fuckin' the wrong guy!]]
* Jackie Treehorn from ''Film/TheBigLebowski'', according to the Malibu Police Chief.
--> '''Police Chief:''' Mr. Treehorn draws a lot of water in this town. You don't draw shit, Lebowski.
* Another positive example in ''Film/HussarBallad'': while having a lower rank than Field Marshal Kutuzov, General Balmashov is a personal assistant to the Russian Tsar, and demonstrate willingness to throw all his weight to overrule Kutuzov's unjust decision.

* In the ''Film/PoliceAcademy'' movies, a politician pulls this stunt on Hooks to get out of a parking ticket, thinking he can easily intimidate the squeaky-voiced policewoman. He discovers that BewareTheQuietOnes applies instead when she hits him with a bunch of additional charges.

* ''Film/TrappedTheAlexCooperStory'': The Simms repeatedly tell teenage lesbian Alex there's nothing that she can do to stop them from holding her in their brutal [[CureYourGays conversion therapy camp]], as they're both connected with everybody in town and well-respected counselors. At first it's true, but thankfully she connects with a teacher, crisis counselor and lawyer to free herself.

* In ''Film/{{Nobody}}'' Hutch kills dozens of Russian mafiosos, burns down his house, steals a multi-million dollar piece of art, turns his construction company into a battlefield, and [[MurderArsonAndJaywalking hotwires his neighbor's car]]. While sitting in an interrogation room, his two captors get a phone call each and he's let go as nobody in the US government wants to mess with the "Auditor".
* ''Film/{{Casino}}'': Subverted. The cowboy who puts his feet on the table at Ace's casino protests that he has "important friends" when he's escorted off the premises kicking and screaming for being a jerkoff. He does turn out to be a friend of Nicky's, although unfortunately for the cowboy, so is Ace, and he's a much more valuable friend to Nicky. Nicky is ready to lay the smackdown on the cowboy himself and forces him to apologize.

* ''Literature/HonorHarrington'': Pavel Young lived and breathed this trope, abusing the heck out of the North Hollow family's position as one of the more powerful noble houses in the Star Kingdom to satisfy his basest desires and avoid any responsibility for his actions.

* [[{{Jerkass}} Percy Wetmore]] from ''Literature/TheGreenMile''. His CatchPhrase practically is "I '''KNOW''' people!!!" whenever anyone starts thinking of doing anything to him. He even got his job as a Death Row prison guard through his connections. Edgecombe couldn't figure out why he'd want a job like that, but seeing Percy treats the inmates, it's pretty obvious he likes feeling he has power over someone. Subverted when the others show that they too know people.
* In ''Literature/AreYouInTheHouseAlone'', Phil Lawver is the son of a very wealthy and/or influential man. When he [[spoiler:rapes the narrator]], the police chief refuses to even open an investigation on him due to his family connections.
* ''Literature/{{Discworld}}'':
** This ''used'' to be the case in Ankh-Morpork; an ongoing theme is the way [[DaChief Sam Vimes]] and [[MagnificentBastard Lord Vetinari]] have made it harder and harder to pull this off, providing an almost endless source of plot conflict as the city's BlueBlood population fight for their privilege.
** There's a beautiful moment in ''Literature/FeetOfClay'' where an UpperClassTwit tries to pull the "I'm a friend of your Commander" line on [[RightInFrontOfMe some badly-shaved watchman in battered armour]]. This does not go well for him.
** Subverted in ''Literature/{{Snuff}}'' when the obnoxious UpperClassTwit Gravid Rust escapes [[spoiler:capital punishment for trafficking goblin slaves and troll drugs]] by accepting exile to Fourecks instead, since Ankh-Morpork nobility wouldn't accept one of their own being sentenced by non-humans. However, Vetinari ''also'' has connections, including a friend-of-a-friend in Fourecks with a singular interest in venomous spiders...
* ''Literature/SamTheCatDetective'': Prior to ''The Great Catsby,'' a local woman shot her rich husband and got away with claiming she’d mistaken him for a burglar because her sister was married to the sheriff.
* Falcone, closest thing to a BigBad in the ''Literature/WarchildSeries'', has been arrested once before and sent to prison. His connections either broke him out or saw fit to release him early (the books are rather vague on that). When he gets arrested a second time, he tells our heroes it's a waste of time and brags about how he'll be out again. Indeed, he doesn't even make it to the prison when a group of his loyalists arrive to free him from the custody of the {{Space Marine}}s. But in a fitting turn, [[spoiler:he is murdered on the docks because one of our [[BlackAndGreyMorality gray heroes]] can't bear to see him get away unpunished.]]
* This is the stock in trade of the "looters" in ''Literature/AtlasShrugged'', who essentially make themselves into an "Aristocracy of Pull".
* ''Literature/VorkosiganSaga'':
** Miles Vorkosigan, the Barrayaran Prime Minister's son and Emperor's foster brother, occasionally does this; he considers it a last resort. He still gets in a lot of trouble, and the time he does try to use connections to keep from [[spoiler:losing his secret covert ops identity after injuring an officer during a seizure, then falsifying the report of the incident]], it doesn't work, though he still [[spoiler:gets a medical discharge instead of dishonorable discharge and a further sentence]]. Really, his usual philosophy is more "Screw the Rules, My Results Will Justify It" or [[IndyPloy "Screw The Rules, I'll Deal With the Consequences Later"]]. It's probably ironic that in the aftermath of the above incident, not only did his connections prove as valuable as he could possibly have wanted, they were taking care of and protecting him to a degree neither her nor they were aware of at the time.
** Similar to the Discworld example above, this used to be the case for the aristocracy in general, and the efforts toward reforming the government to stop this are frequently mentioned.
* Subverted throughout the ''Literature/CodexAlera'' series. Several times, egotistical figures with connections attempt to invoke their connections or just pull rank on their own authority, only to be outmaneuvered or simply punched out. The one time saying "Screw the rules, I have connections" works in the series, it's a bluff. One HilariousInHindsight moment in the second book has a character saying "I have connections" to defuse a tense moment between some guards and an enemy nation's ambassador, but it's only a bluff because he's really just a page boy and student acting on no authority but his own. The Hilarious in Hindsight part is, [[spoiler:he actually is the legitimate prince, but no one knows it except for the enemy he's trying to bluff.]]

* Literature/SisterhoodSeries by Creator/FernMichaels: The Vigilantes definitely use this trope to accomplish their missions and with style! In fact, it seems that Washington, D.C. pretty much requires everyone to make use of this trope. A number of the bad guys use this, and John Chai from ''Vendetta'' happens to be very explicit, considering how he was promising the Vigilantes that his father would make them pay (The Vigilantes were ''not'' intimidated by this, for the record).
* Another rare heroic example in Literature/TheRavenCycle: Richard Campbell Gansey III lives among psychics, spirits, and magicians. His super power? Calling in favors. He uses this power for good, either to help a friend in trouble (such as when Ronan faces expulsion or Adam presses charges against his father) or to further his search for [[KingInTheMountain Glendower]]

* Lightly used in ''[[Literature/PaladinOfShadows A Deeper Blue]]''. When an admiral objects to Adams pulling a cigar, the former is asked to check whose authority is behind him.[[note]]The US President's.[[/note]] The man quickly gives in.
* ''Literature/TheHuntForRedOctober'': A Soviet doctor who was [[VodkaDrunkenski drunk on duty]] botched what should have been a simple appendix removal. Being the son of a senior party official, he remained unpunished for the violation of the rules and the death resulting from it. [[spoiler:This is part of what drove Ramius to defect, as the victim was his wife.]]

* This trope is directly responsible for the entire Archer Christifori arc in ''TabletopGame/BattleTech''. A SmugSnake of a junior officer with heavy political leanings towards the increasingly oppressive Archon Katherine Steiner-Davion killed Archer's sister when he was supposed to be picking her up for an interview then tried to weasel out of it with some BlatantLies. When all he got was a slap on the wrist as punishment (he was demoted a couple ranks but spent no time in the brig and was never even charged with murder) thanks to his family's political connections, it was the final straw for Archer, who started a rebellion on his planet with his entire militia company before becoming one of the major players in the [=FedCom=] Civil War.

* In ''Literature/DoraWilkSeries'', one of Thorn Councilmen tries to force Dora to free his nephew from prison and rape charges, basing himself on this trope. She has none of this, though.
* ''Literature/TheHungerGames'': A different interpretation of the word "connections" in this case, but the reason Katniss hasn't been tossed in a cell for illegally hunting the District 12 wildlife isn't because of any particular skill at evading the Peacemakers. It's because the Peacemakers are also her customers.
* ''Literature/WolfHall'':
** Thomas Cromwell is a member of a covert reading group of John Tyndale's English translation of the Bible, who face death by burning if discovered (as indeed several of them are). Cromwell is a little safer than people like Little Bilney because he's the right hand of Cardinal Wolsey, and it's an unspoken understanding between the two of them that he's allowed his little bit of heresy because of their friendship. (Cromwell also pays close attention to when Wolsey mentions names from the group and warns them of forthcoming raids. Later, when he's Master Secretary and thus becomes the Connection, he ''tries'' to arrange an escape for John Frith, but Frith refuses to take it.)
** Cromwell later does this from the other end in an example of "screw the rules ''for'' my connections." When he's put in charge of bringing down Anne Boleyn, he's reminded by his accomplices of Thomas Wyatt, a poet with a well-known crush on Anne. Henry Wyatt is a family friend who once asked Cromwell to look after his wayward son, so when Mark Smeaton names Thomas Wyatt as one of Anne's partners, Cromwell refuses to add him to the list and refuses his accomplices' advice to arrest him until Wyatt arrives in London and Cromwell has no choice but to take him in. Even then he puts Wyatt in the Tower of London only for protective custody and doesn't even start a case in the hopes that the well-publicized executions of Anne and her five accused lovers will take the heat off. It does, and he releases Wyatt unharmed a little while later.
* [[AllThereInTheManual Reference material]] for ''Literature/TheRailwaySeries'' reveals that the [[LegacyCharacter first]] Sir Topham Hatt, Baronet, had this. He was an engineer in his own right, before becoming director of the entire North Western region. He knew Sir William Stanier and Sir Nigel Gresley, both among the most famous locomotive engineers the world had ever seen. His good standing with them ensured Gordon was purchased, and Henry was rebuilt, to give his railway the powerhouses it needed.

* ''Literature/{{Carrie}}'': Overlapping with ScrewTheRulesIHaveMoney, Chris Hargensen's father is a rich AmoralAttorney who regularly employs LoopholeAbuse to ensure she never faces the consequences of her bullying actions. He got her into Oberlin despite her poor grades, and when she's banned from attending the prom for taunting Carrie over her first period in the shower, he threatens to sue the school unless they let Chris attend; he's forced to back off when the principal shows him Chris' [[{{Delinquent}} long record]] [[BullyBrutality of violations]], declaring that they could easily have Chris locked up for them.
* In ''Literature/ChanceAndChoicesAdventures'' this is the reason the [[BanditClan Butterfield Gang]] are able to operate with impunity in northern Arkansas. Their leader Hank Butterfield is related to the local CircuitJudge, who can always be counted on to cut him some slack.
* ''Literature/HiveMind2016'': Telepaths are rare and valuable enough to be effectively above the law. Many of them realize this and undergo 'distancing', where they do whatever they want. Most develop a moral code eventually; Keith is still distant. Amber is considered unlikely to become distant due to being TheEmpath.
* ''Literature/ForestKingdom'': In the ''Hawk & Fisher'' spinoff series, many, many criminals in Haven use or try to use this to get away with their crimes, including the villain of book 1, an influential person who got Hawk and Fisher pulled off a case involving a child prostitution ring he was a patron for. [[spoiler: It's also why he killed William Blackstone, who'd also figured out his involvement and was building a case against him.]]
* ''Literature/TheScholomance:'' Todd breaks one of the biggest taboos of the magical community by killing another student for his room, but he avoids any major punishment due to his father being a prominent member of the New York enclave.

* Subverted in the ''Series/{{Sharpe}}'' TV-adaption of "[[Recap/SharpeS1E2SharpesEagle Sharpe's Eagle]]". When UpperClassTwit and exemplary [[TheNeidermeyer Neidermeyer]] Henry Simmerson gets rightfully chewed out for his disastrous incompetence by the Duke of Wellington, he makes a poorly-veiled threat regarding his connections. Wellington immediately shuts him down.
--> '''Simmerson:''' I have a cousin at Horse Guards, sir... and I have friends at court.\\
'''Wellesley:''' ''[With a cold DeathGlare]'' The man who loses the King's Colours... loses the King's friendship.
* ''Series/{{Crusade}}'': [[http://www.midwinter.com/lurk/guide/505.html The Pro Zeta Corporation uses its influence with its clients to avoid an investigation.]]
* In ''Series/{{Scrubs}}'', a medical student is annoying the shit out of Elliot, because his father is the CEO of the corporation that owns the hospital, so Elliot can't punish or treat him badly. After Kelso tells Elliot that it's ''his'' job to kiss his father's ass and that she should go out and kick his ass, she does so.
** Cole, one of the medical students introduced in season 9, is the son of a major donor to the hospital and pulls this to get away with screwing around in the hospital. While it does keep him from being expelled, it doesn't keep anyone from getting back at him for his general jackassery.
* In the ''Series/MysteryScienceTheater3000'' short film "Cheating", Johnny gets caught cheating on a test, and Tom Servo riffs, "Fortunately, your mob ties will get you off, Johnny."
* Scooter on ''Series/TheMuppetShow'' gets by (at least early in the show) mostly on the fact that his uncle owns the theater where the show takes place. He's not necessarily a brat about it, and he doesn't make that many demands, but just casually mentioning his uncle is enough for Kermit to cave in instantly. (Scooters uncle appeared in one episode, and it's easy to see why someone would be afraid of him. He's a [[BadBoss nasty guy to work for]].) This aspect slowly disappears over time.
* Landry in ''Series/FridayNightLights'' is a cop's son, and therefore, when he [[spoiler:confesses to murder]], the police are visibly trying to find a way to avoid prosecuting him. Even in his interview, the detective almost desperately tries to coach him into setting up his defence, and when his dad arrives, they let him go and ultimately fail to file charges.
* This almost has to be happening for Lee "Apollo" Adama in ''Series/BattlestarGalactica2003''. Having your dad be the head of the Colonial Military can mean you get cut a lot of slack. At the end of season 1, he [[spoiler:commits mutiny and puts a gun to the head of ''Galactica'''s XO]], but this doesn't seem to hurt his career much. Towards the end of season 2, he's even [[spoiler:promoted to commander (over a few higher-ranking and more-experienced officers, the aforementioned XO included -- though events early in the season hint said XO wouldn't be the best commander) and put in charge of his own Battlestar]]. And is there any other explanation for in season 4 when [[spoiler:despite the pressing need for experienced pilots at all times, he is allowed to quit the military for good and gets shoehorned into a Quorum seat, which allows him to temporarily rise to be president when Roslin is missing, mostly because they needed a candidate his father would accept]]? Given what we have seen of the lack of options open to ordinary people of the fleet and the need for all those in essential positions to do their duty all the time, one can't help but feel Lee is lucky to have the opportunities he has. And, in fact, he [[LampshadeHanging lampshades]] this a bit. At [[spoiler:Baltar's trial]], specifically, he notes that he had done some ridiculous things that should have gotten him prosecuted at least... but he was forgiven.
* Part of a climactic scene in late season three of ''Series/{{Dexter}}''. Dexter confronts a monster he's created by reminding him of the evidence he has. [[spoiler:Miguel]]'s reply? "You got what, a ring? I got [[spoiler:fucking CITY HALL!]]" Of course, he never did learn exactly who or what Dexter really is...
* In the Japanese Tokusatsu ''Series/TokusouSentaiDekaranger'', a group of villains are incredibly calm towards Sen-chan's questions, annoyances, and at one point death sentence because one of their fathers is a judge for the Space police. [[spoiler:Unfortunately for them, Sen-chan just decides to kill them before they have time to tell their connections.]]
* In ''Series/{{Bones}}'', Brennan appears to have some fairly high connections of her own, as indicated in one episode in which a State Department agent was reviewing the Jeffersonian to maintain their security clearance:
-->'''Pickering''': When you were in Cuba, [[NoodleIncident did you meet with a man named Juan Guzman?]] \\
''({{Beat}}. Brennan holds a finger up, picks up the phone, and dials.)'' \\
'''Brennan''': Hello. It's Dr. Brennan from the Jeffersonian. You told me to call you if anyone asked about...you know. Him. ''(pauses)'' Someone from the state department named Samantha Pickering. ''(gives phone to Pickering)'' \\
'''Pickering''': Pickering. ''(pauses)'' Yes, sir. Yes, I'll wait-I'll wait here. ''(gives phone back to Brennan, who hangs up)'' \\
'''Brennan''': Any more questions? \\
'''Pickering''': No. Uh, no, in fact, the entire review is suspended. I'm to wait here until someone comes to destroy my notes.
* ''Series/{{Castle}}'':
** Castle is a surprisingly benign version of this... while he uses his influence as a best-selling mystery author (and the fact that he has the mayor on speed dial) to be allowed to shadow Detective Beckett, he has proved quite useful, with his GenreSavvy providing breakthroughs in several cases, and on one occasion using his connections to rush evidence through the lab to close a case.
--->''[after making a bet on whether or not their Vic of the Week was a CIA agent]''\\
'''Beckett:''' All right, you're on!\\
''[Castle dials a number]''\\
'''Beckett:''' ...who are you calling?\\
'''Castle:''' My guy in the CIA.\\
'''Beckett:''' ''[disbelieving]'' You have a guy in the ''CIA''???\\
'''Castle:''' When will you learn? I've got a guy '''everywhere'''.
** Captain Montgomery is good at subverting this. He later reveals to Beckett that he could have gotten rid of Castle at any time ("The mayor doesn't run this place, I do."), but only kept him around because he thought it would be good for her. Also, when a suspect threatens to call the police commissioner, he replies "Tell him I said hi. [[RefugeInAudacity And that I could use a raise]]."
* Practically everyone on ''Series/VeronicaMars'' is guilty of some version of this. Veronica herself constantly exploits any and all connections she has in law enforcement. Usually justifiable, considering she lives in [[CrapsackWorld Neptune]].
* In ''Series/{{Dollhouse}}'', it's not a person but the title business. It largely survives because it has a lot of rich and powerful people, including at least one senator and the Governor of California, on its client list.

* On ''Series/BurnNotice'', one scumbag AbusiveParent uses his connections to protect his mobster brother. When Michael and company take out the scumbag by making him look like an unstable lunatic, it's mentioned in the epilogue that the brother will likely go down with him.
* This is the main reason why the Office of Disruptive Services team on ''Chaos'' is able to operate the way they do. They have connections going all the way to the White House. Their ObstructiveBureaucrat boss wants them fired, but as long as they do not screw up in a major way, their everyday misdeeds will go unpunished.
* One of the major themes on ''Series/TheWire''. Clay Davis and Ervin Burrell are two of the biggest offenders.
* Hailey Grimm from ''Series/TheOtherKingdom'' often feels like certain school rules don't apply to her due to the fact that she's the principal's niece.
* On ''Series/QueerAsFolk'', a [[KillerCop police officer]] who frequently uses male prostitutes [[IDidntMeanToKillHim accidentally strangles one of them]]. Luckily (for him), his long-time friend and former partner on the force is now the [[CorruptPolitician chief of police]] and agrees to help him cover up the whole thing.
* ''Series/{{JAG}}'': Meg Austin's father was a friend with [[TheCameo Colonel Oliver North]] (of the Iran-Contra scandal fame). Meg calls in a favor from "Uncle Ollie" once or twice when they need info they can't get through official channels.
* On ''Series/{{Life}}'', Russian gangster Roman Nevikov has a whole bunch of FBI agents in his pocket, which allows him to walk away from pretty much any criminal charges the LAPD cares to bring by claiming to be a federal informant providing information about terrorist networks.
* Done humorously in the movie ''Ike: Countdown to D-Day''. The film made a point of showing Montgomery's (historically true) prohibition on smoking in his headquarters or at meetings he's attending, even to the point that Eisenhower, his superior in the Allied chain of command, wasn't allowed to light up. During the briefing for Operation Overlord given to King George VI, the king pulls out a cigarette, much to the distress of Monty who clearly isn't willing to tell his monarch that smoking is banned in the building. Immediately almost all the other senior Allied commanders, including Eisenhower, start smiling and also light up.
* ''Series/GameOfThrones'':
** Ser Jaime and Tyrion of the wealthy and powerful House Lannister get by on Tywin's and Cersei's reputation as well as their family's gold. Subverted in "Walk of Punishment" when Jaime tries to bribe Locke into releasing him. Locke gives Jaime a well-deserved TheReasonYouSuckSpeech, mocking him for acting as if he's better than others and in control, when in fact nearly all of his influence and power comes from his father, and that when separated from him Jaime is helpless and should talk more wisely. [[spoiler:To emphasize his point, he then lops off Jaime's hand.]]
** Tywin Lannister, probably the most powerful (and certainly the richest) person in Westeros, backs the Baratheons of King's Landing to the hilt, allowing them to pretty much do whatever they want, no matter the obstacles. Unfortunately, this has also extended to the borrowing of money, leading to the Baratheons of King's Landing acquiring astronomical amounts of debt which they are largely unable to service.
* Used frequently in ''Series/LawandOrderSpecialVictimsUnit''. Though expect whoever just got off on that to get killed shortly after by a victim that couldn't care less.
* Subverted in the mini-series ''Nancy Wake''. Wake's husband, industrialist Henri Fiocca, tells a Gestapo officer that he can be talking on the phone with [[TheQuisling Marshall Petain]] in half an hour. "Can you do the same with your Fuhrer?" Later on, he's arrested and the Gestapo officer tells him, "By the way, Marshall Petain has never heard of you."
* Deconstructed in ''Series/BrooklynNineNine'' in an episode where the Deputy Commissioner's son is revealed to have been tagging police cars with graffiti, but whenever he gets arrested he calls his father, who puts pressure on the arresting detectives to drop the charges. While venting to Captain Holt, Detective Peralta enviously calls the kid lucky, which gets this response:
-->'''Holt:''' I wouldn't say he was lucky. I feel bad for this kid. I mean, what kind of father cares so little for his son that he lets him get away with everything?

* In ''Series/TheWestWing'', an inversion of this got Charlie Young his job as personal assistant to President Bartlett. Deborah Fiderer was pressured to give Charlie's position to the son of a prominent Democratic supporter (read: donor), but she wouldn't do it and ended up getting fired as a result. Despite this, though, she [[ScrewTheRulesImDoingWhatsRight refused to admit what had happened]] as she didn't want Charlie to feel obliged to her for doing what she knew was right. The President is so impressed by her loyalty (and amazing memory) that he hires her to become his new private secretary.
* In the Australian series ''Halifax f.p.'', a detective working an interstate case is threatened with damage to his career by a local politician. When the detective points out that he's not even from that state, the politician indicates the club they're standing in, and talks of how politicians from all over the country pass through the club when visiting his state, and how politics is all about working these connections...

** Rosalie Carbone, introduced in the last two episodes of ''Luke Cage'' season 2 prior to showing up in ''Daredevil'' season 3, has immense influence in organized crime. She has as much control over the underworld in Rikers as Fisk does.

** In season 2, Trish uses another favor with Maury to get him to fast-track the identification of a charred skull she and Jessica find in Dr. Hansen's incinerator.
** In episode six of season 2, Trish and Jessica try to enter a private country club to talk to Dr. Karl Malus's donor Justis Ambrose. But because Trish is not a member there, the maitre'd refuses to let them through despite recognizing Trish. Ultimately, Jessica has to sneak in by hopping over a wall while Trish just launches a tirade at the maitre'd by calling him a sexist, which culminates in her eventually throwing up due to going through the withdrawal of being off Simpson's inhaler.
** In episode four of season 2, Trish's new boyfriend Griffin Sinclair offers to use his pull as a newscaster at ZCN to get Trish a job there. She politely declines, saying, "I love you for offering, but going to them as Griffin Sinclair's girlfriend won't get me taken seriously," and she would rather get the job by her own merits than her connections.

* ''Series/TheDefenders2017'':
** After Danny Rand and Luke Cage get into a fight when Luke interrupts Danny's attempt to interrogate Cole, Luke gives Danny a dressing-down about how his crusade against the Hand has him going after bottom-feeders when his wealth and social status give him the ability to take his fight right to the top. After much discussion with Colleen, Danny decides to go to the Hand's headquarters at Midland Circle in his capacity as the CEO of Rand Enterprises. Unfortunately, it's a trap, and while he manages to fight off most of Alexandra's men, he's almost captured, until Luke, Jessica, and Matt show up to rescue him.
** The pull Luke has with Misty Knight from their work on Cottonmouth and Diamondback is how he's able to convince her to stash Claire Temple, Colleen Wing, Malcolm Ducasse, Trish Walker, Foggy Nelson, and Karen Page in her precinct when the Hand begin targeting them.
** The Hand have thrived for so long because of their use of connections. They use contacts in the mayor's office and Trish's radio station to shut down talk about the earthquake triggered by underground mining at Midland Circle. After Elektra kills Alexandra, the remaining fingers - Murakami, Bakuto and Madame Gao - try to reason with her by pointing out that the Hand's connections are what gives them power and has allowed them to survive, but Elektra flat-out tells them she doesn't care about them beyond using them as tools to get the substance.
* ''Series/ThePunisher2017'': William Rawlins has managed to escape prosecution for the war crimes he committed in Afghanistan thanks to his rise to being the Director of Covert Operations for the CIA. In turn, Billy Russo has managed to also escape persecution for his role in these war crimes thanks to his pretty face and good charisma when it comes to schmoozing politicians.

* ''Series/BreakingBad'':
** After the failed attempt on Hank's life by the Salamanca twins which ends with both of them dead, Juan Bolsa calls Gus Fring to accuse him of having set it all up to put pressure from the authorities on the cartel and invokes this as part of his BadassBoast to downplay the threat.
-->'''Juan Bolsa''': I see things clear enough. One DEA gets shot, all of Washington starts barking. The DF suddenly has to put on a big show and I wind up with ''federales'' in my rosebushes. And just for a while, appearances, politics... Are you still there, Gustavo?\\
'''Gus Fring''': Yes, I'm here.\\
'''Juan Bolsa''': I'll weather this. I always do. My brother is a police chief. I got connections. They'll get me through. And when I get proof and the others find out what you've done, maybe we come pay you a visit. Maybe—\\
''(The ''federales'' [[InstantlyProvenWrong raid Bolsa's hacienda and shoot him dead]])''
** Gomez uses this to bluff the owner of Gus's laundromat when Hank sends him there to search for evidence of an underground meth lab:
-->'''Steven Gomez:''' So I bust this chef. Well, he says he's a chef, but just because you work at a restaurant that charges $14 for a burger, that don't make you a chef. That makes you a glorified burger flipper, at least in my book. Anyway, so we bust this chef for heroin possession. He says, "Well, just because you found heroin in my chef whites doesn't make it mine. Maybe it came from the place that launders my chef whites" -- this place.\\
'''Dennis Markowski:''' Oh, come on, man. I don't want to do this stuff with you.\\
'''Steven Gomez:''' I--I know, I know. You don't have to say it. I'll say it for you: "His story is a big load of steaming horse shit." I mean, we're going to find heroin here like we're going to find Jimmy Hoffa. Right? The thing is, is that the chef's daddy is a United States Senator. I'm not going to tell you which one, but you probably know who he is, right? So now I've got to waste my time checking out this burger flipper's story, and if I don't, his old man's going to jam me up, my ASAC, my whole entire office. [[TakeThat Politics, huh?]] So what do you think?\\
'''Dennis Markowski:''' Listen, you know what? I have to check with my boss, and he's out of town, and I can't promise I'll reach him anytime soon either, you know?\\
'''Steven Gomez:''' Well, yeah, that's probably the way to go, so I'll have to go get a warrant, and we'll do it official, but you're probably going to have to close down for the day.
* This ''epically'' backfired on an episode of ''Series/BeyondScaredStraight'' where a bunch of female inmates, including a young one about to be sentenced for robbery, were scolding the preteens and teenagers who were acting up. A twelve-year-old tried to pull this on the young inmate, saying her recently-released mother was once the head of a vicious gang, only for her to tell her she wasn't scared of the woman and became so angry and threatening to the girl and her mother that both the guards ''and'' other inmates had to hold her back. The girl herself was soon reduced to tears.

* ''Series/BigSky'': Ronald gets away with kidnapping women for so long partly due to being in bed with a dirty cop who protected him.
* ''Series/TheMarvelousMrsMaisel'': In season 3, when Joel is opening up his own club in Chinatown, he finds that it's difficult to get things done. Fortunately, Mei comes along and is quick to use her family connections in Chinatown to make business easier for Joel, such as getting the liquor board to fasttracking the approval of the liquor license that Joel had had tied up for months.

* ''Series/SWAT2017'': Chris arrests a young man for drunk driving while off duty, but it turns out that his father is the deputy mayor and he makes the case disappear. He'd done so twice before too. She fights to bring him down, and eventually succeeds with Lynch's help, catching the guy on tape admitting his acts, which is used for making him resign (while they urge that his son get the help he needs).

* This is what the various 'Influence' backgrounds in 'Franchise/TheWorldOfDarkness'' represent. Vampires, being immortal, are especially prone to cultivating these. Particularly the Ventrue.
* ''TabletopGame/{{Shadowrun}}'' characters can cultivate connections that vary in function, influence, and loyalty. Being a 'connection horse' is a popular way to make a socially-oriented character extra useful: having a ton of loyal friends in high places makes running the shadows fairly easy at times.

* ''TabletopGame/HeroSystem'' characters may have a "Contact" Perk, representing an NPC who is willing to do favors and pull strings.

* More than a few of the targets in ''Franchise/{{Hitman}}'' have used their connections to get away with huge and heinous crimes. Too bad for them that ''other'' people have connections to the [=ICA=], the employers of one Agent 47.

** After he's been robbed, Adrien expects that his case will receive ''immediate'' attention because he's an Agreste. He also pressures Marinette, trying to get her to put in a good word for him since it's now widely know that she's Ladybug; however, she refuses to use her influence like that.

See also CoattailRidingRelative, DaddysLittleVillain, DiplomaticImpunity, KnowsAGuyWhoKnowsAGuy, {{Nepotism}}, ScrewTheRulesIHaveMoney, and ScrewTheRulesIMakeThem.

''(The ''federales'' [[InstantlyProvenWrong storm Bolsa's house and gun him down]])''