History Main / ZanyScheme

* In the first ''Film/HighSchoolMusical'' movie, Chad and Taylor, along with their respective teams, cook up a plan to drive Troy and Gabriella away from the upcoming musical so they can focus on their own competitions instead. Namely, Troy's teammates exploit his [[WellDoneSonGuy desire of approval from his father]] and trick him into saying Gabriella and the musical are only distractions, while Taylor and the other nerds film the moment with a webcam they hid in the locker room, making Gabriella assume Troy doesn't really care for her. The whole thing works a [[GoneHorriblyRight tad too well]] and causes Troy and Gabriella to feel way too downhearted to properly focus on anything, [[MyGodWhatHaveIDone much to the regret]] of the Wildcats and the nerds.

[[folder:Film - Animated]]

[[folder:Film - Live-Action]]

* On ''Series/{{Hyperdrive}}'', [[spoiler:Teal]] constructs an intricate plan that falls somewhere between Zany Scheme and GambitRoulete involving chocolate, knockout gas, and the purchase of a planet, [[spoiler:just so she can get a date with Commander Henderson.]]

* WebVideo/TheNostalgiaCritic is always busy coming up with these for the [[Website/ThatGuyWithTheGlasses Channel Awesome]] staff- such as invading the micro-nation of [[WebVideo/{{Kickassia}} Molassia]] or [[WebVideo/SuburbanKnights searching for magical gauntlets in urban Chicago]]. The site members are now familiar and tired of his plots but they can't complain, or else they're fired. And they kinda enjoy it, even though they won't admit.

* [[Western Animation/Ducktales (2017)]] Weaponized and exploited by Flintheart Glomgold during the Lunar Invasion of Duckburg. The Lunarians' plans counter every defense Scrooge and the gang have to the point where [=McDuck=] and Co. have nothing to fight with, until Glomgold, in an Enemy Mine situation due to the events of the invasion, decides to take charge. His scheme is so ridiculously convoluted that the Lunarians are driven back and the invasion is thwarted because their leader has no idea how to counter Glomgold's seemingly assinine and inane actions.

* [[Western Animation/Ducktales (2017)]] Weaponized and exploited by Flintheart Glomgold during the Lunar Invasion of Duckburg. The Lunarians' plans counter every defense Scrooge and the gang have to the point where McDuck and Co. have nothing to fight with, until Glomgold, in an Enemy Mine situation due to the events of the invasion, decides to take charge. His scheme is so ridiculously convoluted that the Lunarians are driven back and the invasion is thwarted because their leader has no idea how to counter Glomgold's seemingly assinine and inane actions.

--->'''Dwight:''' I break into Tiffany's at midnight. Do I go for the vault? No. I go for the chandelier. It's priceless. As I'm taking it down, a woman catches me. She tells me to stop. It's her father's business. She's Tiffany. I say "no". We make love all night. In the morning the cops come and I escape in one of their uniforms. I tell her to meet me in Mexico but I go to Canada. I don't trust her. Besides, I like the cold. Thirty years later I get a postcard. I have a son, and he's the chief of police. (in an aside: ''This'' is where the story gets interesting.) I tell Tiffany to meet me in Paris by the Trocadero. She's been waiting for me all these years. She's never taken another lover. [[BaitAndSwitch I don't care. I don't show up. I go to Berlin.]] ''That's'' where I stashed the chandelier.

[[quoteright:350:[[Webcomic/TheOrderOfTheStick https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/zany.png]]]]

A SitCom plot where [[{{Schemer}} one or more characters tries to achieve some end]] -- usually extricating themselves from trouble -- by some kind of elaborate, unlikely plan, something like "You distract them by faking a heart attack while I sneak into the bedroom and switch the real ring for the fake one, and remember this whole time they think I'm you and you're me...". Often the plan isn't fully exposed and only NoodleImplements are given.

Sometimes they pull it off by the skin of their teeth. More often than not it all comes crashing down right at the end. Sometimes another character launches a CounterZany, which may escalate into a ZanySchemeChicken. This trope can sometimes be similar to a small-scale GambitRoulette and the source of many a FullNameUltimatum.

Since the Zany Scheme is usually spelled out to the audience in advance, it is subject to the UnspokenPlanGuarantee.

** The episode "Swarm of the Century" thoroughly [[DeconstructedTrope deconstructs]] this trope. When some eternally-hungry and constantly-reproducing insects called Parasprites invade Ponyville, the Mane Six try to stop them -- everyone, that is, except resident {{Cloudcuckoolander}} Pinkie Pie, who instead runs around collecting musical instruments. The rest of the ponies dismiss her weird action as "Pinkie being Pinkie," but in the end, it turns out that the Parasprites enter a Pied Piper-like state when they hear music, and Pinkie's one-pony marching band ends up saving the day. In her [[AnAesop letter to Princess Celestia]], Twilight Sparkle notes that while someone's ideas can occasionally seem odd, you should listen to them anyway (although that might have been clearer if [[BrokenAesop Pinkie had taken the time to explain what she was doing]]).

* Dark King Silvers Rayleigh from ''Manga/OnePiece''. He proposed to Luffy that he should [[spoiler:Break into Marine headquarters again, ring the bell that's inside a good sixteen times, wait for someone to take a picture of him there and then escape again back to the Isle of Women. Then, when his crew sees his arm that has 3D crossed out and 2Y underneath, they will know that they should stay where they are for another two years and take a ''[[TookALevelInBadass level in badass]]'' or two.]] The funny thing is, it totally worked.
* Par for the course in ''Manga/RanmaOneHalf''. Half the plots are built around zany schemes, usually involving a way to get rid of the various Jusenkyo curses, or master some new martial arts technique. And the practically ''never'' wind up working out.

* In ''Manga/SgtFrog'', pretty much any attempt by Keroro to begin the invasion of "Pekopon" (i.e., Earth) is this...along with any attempt to make money, especially if it's raise money to start the invasion, and ''especially'' if it's to make money to buy more "Gunpla" (Franchise/{{Gundam}} models), even just to get Gundam models period.
-->'''Keroro''':[[UnevilLaugh Keeeero kero kero kero kero...]]
* And for that matter, any attempt by [[Manga/SquidGirl Ika Musume]] to start '''her''' invasion[[note]]Or "inkvasion" as the dub calls it.[[/note]] of Earth.

[[folder: Film - Animated]]

* In ''WesternAnimation/MonstersInc'', Mikes plan to get Boo out of town before the CDA finds out.

** In "[[Recap/FamilyGuyS2E2HolyCrap Holy Crap]]", Peter is trying to think of a way to get his visiting father, Francis, to express love for him. Francis is highly religious, and the Pope [[ContrivedCoincidence just so happens]] to be traveling in Rhode Island around the same time. When Peter sees the Pope on TV, he announces "I just got a crazy idea!"--and promptly [[SubvertedTrope sticks his hand in a working waffle iron]]. Once the pain fades, he [[DoubleSubversion realizes he can kidnap the Pope and get him to help with Francis]].

* ''WesternAnimation/EdEddNEddy'' did this frequently, and occasionally [[LampshadeHanging lampshaded]] it.
* [[Franchise/TheLionKing Timon and Pumbaa]] frequently came up with these in their [[DenserAndWackier somewhat surreal]] [[WesternAnimation/TimonAndPumbaa TV show]].
* ''WesternAnimation/PinkyAndTheBrain'' is defined by this. OnceAnEpisode, the Brain comes up with a new Zany Scheme to TakeOverTheWorld.

* Used several times in ''WesternAnimation/TheRenAndStimpyShow'':
** In "[[Recap/RenAndStimpy1x03SpaceMadnessTheBoyWhoCriedRat The Boy Who Cried Rat]]", Ren dresses himself in a WesternAnimation/MickeyMouse outfit ([[ShoutOut plus the episode being a parody of]] WesternAnimation/TomAndJerry), as Stimpy offers his rodent killing services to a couple that Ren made his mouse-hole in, just so they could earn [[MemeticMutation five bucks]].
** "[[Recap/RenAndStimpy2x06BigBabyScamDogShow Big Baby Scam]]", where Ren and Stimpy pretend to be babies so they wouldn't have to do any work and be fed and pampered. Oh, the victims of their plan are the exact same people.
** "Altruists" of ''WesternAnimation/RenAndStimpyAdultPartyCartoon'', to some extent. [[Film/TheThreeStooges Despite the whole plot]] [[ShoutOut being]] [[OutOfCharacter very unusual for the duo]], they attempt to break into a house to steal money and various other things from a rich family. Their plan included distracting the angry duck guarding the house with Stimpy disguised as a duck-woman, willing for a one night stand, beating the couple's kids with a blackjack, and stealing a painting of the Mexican Elvis, Mexa Canelves. Of course, the couple they rob is the afromentioned one.
* In ''WesternAnimation/PhineasAndFerb'', this is Dr. Doofenshmirtz's shtick as the [[{{Flanderization}} show goes on]]. At the beginning of the series, he genuinely tried to take over "THE ENTIRE TRI-STATE AREA!" with his "-inators," but as the episodes progressed, he became just as likely to develop enormous machines to erase some embarrassing phone messages that he left his girlfriend or keep the Fireside Girls from selling him snacks.
* Pete and especially Max on ''WesternAnimation/GoofTroop'' often come up with one of these. [[LaserGuidedKarma Pete's usually backfire in ways that punish him.]] With Max, the schemes sometimes succeed, sometimes fail, and are sometimes [[ShaggyDogStory profoundly unnecessary]]. Usually they rely on [[DumbIsGood Goofy]] and [[ExtremeDoormat PJ]] respectively to get the job done, though Goofy often causes more problems than he solves and PJ is almost always [[TheDragAlong totally set against the plan]] which he will [[OnlySaneMan often criticize for being stupid]] or at least doubt that it will work.
* The "Hey Girls," the group formed by Holly Hobbie and her friends in ''WesternAnimation/HollyHobbieAndFriends'' often hatch them, though they often turn out to be both inspired and work out well.
* "Owl's Well That Ends Well" of ''WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagic'' has Spike getting jealous of Twilight Sparkle's new owl companion. He decides the best course of action would be to dress up like DastardlyWhiplash, cover a mouse-shaped cat toy in ketchup and frame the owl. HilarityEnsues.
** The episode "Swarm of the Century" thoroughly [[DeconstructedTrope deconstructs]] this trope. When some eternally-hungry and constantly-reproducing insects called Parasprites invade Ponyville, the Mane Six try to stop them--everyone, that is, except resident {{Cloudcuckoolander}} Pinkie Pie, who instead runs around collecting musical instruments. The rest of the ponies dismiss her weird action as "Pinkie being Pinkie," but in the end, it turns out that the Parasprites enter a Pied Piper-like state when they hear music, and Pinkie's one-pony marching band ends up saving the day. In her [[AnAesop letter to Princess Celestia]], Twilight Sparkle notes that while someone's ideas can occasionally seem odd, you should listen to them anyway (although that might have been clearer if [[BrokenAesop Pinkie had taken the time to explain what she was doing]]).
* This is a common occurrence on many of Creator/HannaBarbera's works, especially WesternAnimation/YogiBear, (many incarnations of) WesternAnimation/TheFlintstones, WesternAnimation/TopCat, and WesternAnimation/TheJetsons (though, not as often as the others).
* Pretty much any attempt by [[WesternAnimation/WileECoyoteAndTheRoadRunner Wile. E Coyote to catch the Road Runner]] is this...
* ''WesternAnimation/SouthPark:'' In "[[Recap/SouthParkS19E1StunningAndBrave Stunning and Brave]]", when Cartman has finally had enough of the bros at [[PoliticalCorrectnessIsEvil P.C. Fraternity]]:

* [[WesternAnimation/FostersHomeForImaginaryFriends Bloo's]] bread and butter. Lampshaded by Mr. Herriman in ''Partying is Such Sweet Soiree'':
-->'''Mr. Herriman:''' I trust I can count on you to refrain from your usual numbskull plots and knuckle-headed shenanigans?\\
'''Bloo:''' [[InsistentTerminology Eh, they're really more like hare-brained schemes.]]\\
'''Mr. Herriman:''' If they were hare-brained, they'd be clever.
* ''WesternAnimation/TheGetAlongGang'' has Bingo "Bet-it-all" Beaver, who has been known to try these on any occasion.
* On ''WesternAnimation/{{Grojband}}'', Corey always has "a crazy plan that just might work" whenever he and the band need lyrics for their songs or when he's trying to find what Grojband's new gimmick is for the episode. Amazingly, his wacky plans almost always succeed.
* Most episodes of ''WesternAnimation/LeagueOfSuperEvil'' involve the titular villains pulling one in some effort to be evil. Of course, given that they're all {{Harmless Villain}}s, most of their "evil" schemes rarely involve anything more dangerous than annoying their neighbors or trying to prove a point to somebody (like a more competent supervillain, a superhero, or the neighborhood kids).
* ''WesternAnimation/ReadyJetGo'': The protagonist Jet is ''full'' of them. Many of them involve either machines, food, or science. In "Astronaut Ellen Ochoa", he comes up with a convoluted method to make lemons into lemonade.
* ''WesternAnimation/{{Futurama}}'': Commonly used for episodic conflict, occasionally [[LampshadeHanging lampshaded]] by any of the characters.
** In "The Devil's Hands Are Idle Playthings," Robot Devil gives Bender an airhorn that he attaches to his face, which Bender plans on using [[JerkAss to become even more annoying than usual.]] This results in Leela getting deafened, resulting in her borrowing Calculon's ears to hear Fry's opera, resulting in the Robot Devil [[DynamicEntry interrupting the show halfway through]] and revealing his plan while [[SpontaneousChoreography managing to keep in time and with the melody of the music.]]
-->'''Robot Devil:''' Ah, my ridiculously circuitous plan is one quarter of the way complete! [[EvilLaugh Muahahahaha! Waaahahahaha haaa!]]
* ''WesternAnimation/MiraculousLadybug'': The episode "Gigantitan" opens with [[TheHero Marinette]] launching an elaborate scheme to get a date with Adrien. Her plan opens with [[{{Goth}} Juleka]] ([[CodeName codenamed]] Rose) bringing a fake "no parking" sign near Adrien's bodyguard's car, while [[OnlySaneMan Mylene]] (Sunflower) informs [[PoliceAreUseless Officer Roger]] about the "illegally" parked car, forcing the bodyguard to drive away. When Adrien finishes the photoshoot he's attending, he will approach the spot where his bodyguard was, prompting Marinette to approach him while [[WideEyedIdealist Rose]] (inexplicably codenamed Tulip) cues up a rickshaw for them (driven by [[RecurringExtra Theo]]). The rickshaw will take them to Andre the ice-cream seller, at which point [[PassionateSportsGirl Alix]] (Violet) to rollerskate past the two while throwing flower petals. Predictably, the plan falls apart almost immediately.
* This is the entire premise of ''WesternAnimation/CalvinAndTheColonel''.
* This often happens in ''WesternAnimation/CatDog'' where it's often [[CatsAreMean Cat]] who often comes up with plans in order to make a quick buck or a type of item that interests him (like a new tv set in one episode), and often uses [[DogsAreDumb Dog]] as his means to get what he wants. Examples include making their own brand of candy, using Dog to power everyone's electricity in the city and forcing Dog to eat pecan pies despite being allergic to them to win a tv.

* In ''Advertising/JayBushAndDuke ads for Bush's Baked Beans, Duke's schemes for selling off the secret family recipe range from the mundane, such as simply printing advertising flyers (albeit using a secret printing press in his basement) to the zany: spelling out a contact message in crop circles or getting bees to spell out this message in the air.

* ''Manga/NegimaMagisterNegiMagi'' has Asakura and some of the girls from Negi's class come up with one of these (during the BeachEpisode) to help Negi and Asuna make up after a fight. The plan: rather than you know, talk it out, they decide to pretend that Negi is drowning so that Asuna can rescue him. Then [[GagBoobs Chizuru]] decides to embellish it a little by adding some [[ThreateningShark fake sharks]], played by Natsumi and Ku Fei, to the mix. Naturally, they fail to tell Negi their plan, so he freaks out when he's suddenly pulled underwater and attacked by sharks. As such, he attacks a shark with Martial Arts, only to find that ''the shark knows Kung Fu''. The plan fails miserably, by the way.

* ''Manga/NegimaMagisterNegiMagi'' has Asakura and some of the girls from Negi's class come up with one of these (during the BeachEpisode) to help Negi and Asuna make up after a fight. The plan: rather than you know, talk it out, they decide to pretend that Negi is drowning so that Asuna can rescue him. Then [[GagBoobs Chizuru]] decides to embellish it a little by adding some [[EverythingsEvenWorseWithSharks fake sharks]], played by Natsumi and Ku Fei, to the mix. Naturally, they fail to tell Negi their plan, so he freaks out when he's suddenly pulled underwater and attacked by sharks. As such, he attacks a shark with Martial Arts, only to find that ''the shark knows Kung Fu''. The plan fails miserably, by the way.

* Shows up in one of the last places you'd expect: ''VideoGame/RideToHellRetribution''. You need to get through an electrified fence. Having gotten a handle on this game's particular brand of stupid by this point, you might expect that you can just smash a circuit breaker nearby, or even just find a way around the fence because the developers were too lazy to put in something interesting. Nope, you beat up a bunch of identical tough guys at a nearby gas station who attack you for no apparent reason, steal a tanker... and drive it dozens of miles away to the ''goddamn Hoover Dam'', murder your way through the maze of transformers, grab an assault rifle, and shoot the tanker from across the river to blow it up and... shut down the power to the electric fence somehow, despite no visible damage to any part of the facility. Oh, and you don't even drive all the way back; it just cuts to you climbing over the gate, which wasn't even electrified.

** Lampshaded in the fourth season episode "Extreme Howdy's Makeover" where Sabrina pulls a ZanyScheme of her own. When exposed, Virginia observes:

-->'''Sulley''': Spoons?

* The Trump Boys series from ''Website/TheOnion'' features Donald Trump Jr and Eric Trump engaged in these , however their plans are always childishly simple and lack any common sense such as interrogating a janitor using a serum of all the sodas mixed together or trying to cover up their dads crimes by printing out incriminating emails and shredding them.

* The Trump Boys series from''Website/TheOnion'' features Donald Trump Jr and Eric Trump engaged in these , however their plans are always childishly simple and lack any common sense such as interrogating a janitor using a serum of all the sodas mixed together or trying to cover up their dads crimes by printing out incriminating emails and shredding them.

* The Trump B''Website/TheOnion''

* ''WesternAnimation/SouthPark:'' In "[[Recap/SouthParkS19E1StunningAndBrave Stunning and Brave]]", when Cartman has finally had enough of the bros at [[PoliticalCorrectnessGoneMad P.C. Fraternity]]: