History Series / SamAndCat

** Later on, their favorite show is canceled, and Cat cries over how insane it is for a network to cancel a big hit show without even giving it a proper finale, which is of course what happened to ''Series/{{Victorious}}'' ([[HarsherInHindsight and]] ''Sam and Cat' [[HarsherInHindsight itself, as it turned out]]).

[[quoteright:320:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/sam_and_cat_pose_002_3587.png]]
[[caption-width-right:320:OddCouple? ''That's'' putting it lightly!]]

* TruncatedThemeTune: The theme song when it plays in the last few episodes starting from "[=#BlooperEpisode=]" is a few lines shorter.

%% * GettingCrapPastThe Radar: Due to overwhelming and persistent misuse, GCPTR is on-page examples only until 01 June 2021. If you are reading this in the future, please check the trope page to make sure your example fits the current definition.

! All spoilers for ''Series/ICarly'' and ''Series/Victorious'' may be left unmarked. Administrivia/YouHaveBeenWarned!

* AbusiveParents: Butler's Mom. She won't let Butler enjoy his childhood because good things keep happening to him, so she wants him to participate the texting competition so she can get the prizes.

* AmbiguouslyGay: The black hair colorist in "[=#MotorcycleMystery=]." Apparently, it's contagious, because when he colors up Dice and Goomer's hair, they start engaging in some kind of teenage salon chat:
--> '''Goomer:''' (''showing Dice a magazine'') Hey, check out Bieber's abs!\\

* BabysitterFromHell: {{Subverted|Trope}} in "[=#Pilot=]." Despite their existing characterizations, both Sam and Cat are shown to be good babysitters after everything has calmed down. During the initial chaos, however, Sam forgets Darby, the baby, in the bush and at the nursing home, and she allows Max and Chloe, with Darby strapped in the basket, to take an electric scooter for a joyride.

* BaitAndSwitch: Cat and Sam take an accident prone boy Oscar to Bots where multiple dangers are shown (a man losing his pet tarantula, and fishermen carrying loaded spearguns one of which has a loose trigger, said fishermen placed next to their table who keep teasing the audience with the harpoon placed directly facing Oscar). Instead of one of those hurting him, a Bot accidentally squirts him with very hot cheese.

* BerserkButton: Anyone who watched ''Series/{{iCarly}}'' knows that Sam doesn't play if you provoke her or her friends.

* BilingualBonus: In a bonus scene in "[=#MyPoober=]":
--> '''Sam (at Cat)''': Si no encontramos nuestra piña llena de dinero tendré que agarrar las tijeras y cortarse los dedos de los pies!
--> '''Translation''': If we don't find our pineapple full of money I will have to grab the scissors and cut off your toes!

* BriefAccentImitation: Sam does a whole pile of these, from English and mid-Atlantic to creepy Hannibal Lecter-type.

* ComicallyMissingThePoint: Cat, in all her {{Cloudcuckoolander}} glory, does this when Sam says she's planning to go wherever her motorcycle takes her:
-->'''Cat:''' But I thought the person controlled the bike.

-->'''Sam:''' That is not how I pictured her.
-->'''Cat:''' [[ExpectingSomeoneTaller Yeah, I thought she'd be taller.]]

* ContinuitySnarl: The show is also infamous for a minor number of inconsistencies with the merged canon of ''iCarly'' and ''Victorious'', i.e. Sikowitz not recognizing Sam even though they did not interact in the crossover, yet both were present during the rap battle (since it happened several years prior, it was for a few minutes tops and it was Sikowitz, this is easily handwaved).
** In "[=#RevengeOfTheBritBrats=]," Goomer knows about Gwen and Ruby, as well as the events from their first appearance, yet that took place before Sam and Cat met him. Goomer wasn't even there when Dice lost $500, and when Cat lost her bike.
*** It's not impossible that Dice, Sam or Cat simply told him about it - he did appear the episode after, so that'd be the kind of thing Sam would brag about.

* {{Crossover}}: The title characters coming from ''Series/ICarly'' and ''Series/{{Victorious}}''. (Fortunately Cat never met Fawn Leibowitz, or she'd think Sam had a(nother) twin sister.) It's planned to be a more long lasting one than "iParty With Victorious."

** In another [[{{Series/Zoey101}} Coco]] appears in the airport while Sam, Cat and two kids are about to board a plane. Yes, she still works at PCA and she reveals that Carl married (and later divorced) her and proposed to her mother.
* CurbStompBattle: Goomer vs three muggers in "[=#MommaGoomer=]". He even manages to stare down the last mugger into unconsciousness.

* CutShort: Out of 40 episodes ordered, "only" 35 (or 36, depending on if you count "[=#TheKillerTunaJump=]" as two regular episodes or one hour-long show) were filmed. Likewise it didn't have a proper [[NoEnding ending]] either as this had happened in the middle of the series.

* DiagonalBilling. Averted. Unlike ''Series/ShakeItUp'', Creator/JennetteMcCurdy's names appears first in the credits instead of with Music/ArianaGrande. This is likely due to the show being at first a vehicle for Jennette before Ariana was added after ''Victorious'' was cancelled (or, alternatively, Sam goes before cat in the title, so the actresses are billed the same way).

* DoItYourselfThemeTune: Averted. The show's theme song, "Just Fine", is performed by Michael Corcoran rather than one of the leads which makes it unique in that it's the first show Dan's made since ''Series/TheAmandaShow'' that didn't have one of the main characters sing it. Even odder when you consider that one of the leads is popular recording artist Ariana Grande.

* DumbassHasAPoint: In "[=#RevengeOfTheBritBrats=]," Goomer, of all people, points out that the British twins stole Cat's can of Bibbie so she gets mad at Sam and sprayed Sam's motorcycle pink so she gets mad at Cat, thus ruining their friendship. It was [[LampshadeHanging lampshaded]] by Sam and Dice.

* FakeShemp: Stand-ins for [[{{Series/Victorious}} Tori, Beck, Jade, Robbie and Andre]] appear in "[=#MommaGoomer=]." They have their backs facing the audience for Sikowitz's lesson on "backwards acting".

* {{Fanservice}}: In "[=#DollSitting=]", Cat wears a pink genie costume that shows her chest and abs. She also feels the need to show off her legs on a number of occasions, like when playing Baberaham Lincoln ("[=#BrainCrush=]").

* GRatedDrug: Dice sells baggies of celebrity hair. Sam suggests that Cat's constant sniffing of Justin Bieber's hair is affecting her behavior.

*** And apparently Cat is addicted to presents, to the point where she makes a new holiday in order to get some (she calls it "Yay Day"), and cannot stop herself from opening them. It gets so bad that she starts opening Goomer's present without meaning to and has a hard time stopping. And she takes medication, I'm sorry I mean "special vitamins", for it. Just how many addictions does Cat have?

* HypercompetentSidekick: Sam is this to Cat, who is pretty ditzy, usually when it comes to common sense stuff; Downplayed though, as even Sam herself can be careless and aggressive.

* {{Hypocrite}}: Sam showed utter disgust in urinals and calling boys gross in "[[Series/{{iCarly}} iOwe You]]". Fast forward to Los Angeles and she has a urinal mounted above her headboard, where she even contemplates using it in the future.

* KarmaHoudini: Even though it was an accident, Sam and Cat are this for being rewarded with free cheeseburgers for life after letting two kids they were supposed to be watching take a joyride, which in turn caused a guy to collapse from the stress of chasing them. That sort of thing isn't uncommon in Dan Schneider shows, though.

** In "[=#FirstClassProblems=]" Goomer & Dice escape from airport security guards after Goomer throws two glasses of chocolate milk at them, even causing a lock down of the airport. After doing so however, not only were they not arrested by airport police, but they seemed to have escaped wanted charges as well.
** In "[=#WeStealARockStar=]" Sam, Cat and Dice all kidnap rock star Del Deville after accidentally knocking him out, and then after a whole episode of holding him prisoner in their apartment, he is released after hearing Cat play a (copyrighted) guitar riff and asking her to use it in a new song of his. This is literally the second time in the series Sam and Cat have gotten away with kidnapping. Fortunately karma does show itself sometime after Deville's new album is released when he is sued for copyright infringement over use of the guitar riff, and loses the case.

* LampshadeHanging: This bit from the pilot...
-->'''Cat:''' We sort of have this whole fun odd couple dynamic. Built in conflict. Lots of potential for more adventure.

-->'''Sam:''' See, on TV, they're not allowed to use real Pear computers, so they replace the pears with a banana.
-->'''Cat:''' That's so clever!

* LeaningOnTheFourthWall: Sam explains to Cat that ''That's a Drag'' uses nonexistent Banana computers instead of Pear because it's a TV show and they have to use ParodyNames to avoid copyright issues. (If you don't get it, Dan swaps out the Apple brand name with Pear.)

* LocalHangout: The restaurant Bots, similar to Nozu and Groovy Smoothie.

* NoCelebritiesWereHarmed: Invoked in "[=#BabysitterWar=]" when Sam finds a Music/JustinBieber impersonator... who promptly gets hit with a frozen chicken.

--> '''Sam''': [[LampshadedTheObscureReference "Kids are not gonna get this!"]]

** "[=#BlooperEpisode=]" has the main cast using their actual names as they're on their lunch break during filming the show. And Ariana uses her natural hair and voice throughout.

* OldMediaPlayingCatchUp: After the Twitter/Facebook hybrid "The Slap" being featured on ''Series/{{Victorious}}'', the show seems to be heading even more into promoting Twitter style social media, with the episode titles taking the form of [=#HashTags=].

* RecycledPremise: "[=#BabysittingWar=]" will remind anyone who had seen Series/{{iCarly}}'s "iSaw Him First" with a babysitting theme instead, including the outwitting/bribery competition, a male "casualty", and being called out for the pettiness of the conflict by a third party who suggests that the duo stick together.

* RunningGag: Cat thinking Sam's last name is Puckle as opposed to Puckett.

--> '''Stacey''': ''(seeing Cat cradling the other shoe)'' [[SpeechImpediment Shay, who'sh she?]]
--> '''Sam''': Her? She's... er... she's your friend! Who came to visit you!
--> '''Stacey''': I have a friend?... My head injury must be shuper shevere - I don't even recognise you.
--> '''Cat''': Well, I'm... um... ''(takes Sam aside)'' Can I tell her my real name?
--> '''Sam''': No, don't tell her your real name.
--> '''Cat''': OK, OK. ''(to Stacey)'' Well, I'm... I'm Sam Puckett!
--> '''Sam''' ''(slapping her forehead)'': The ''one'' time she gets the last name right...

* ShouldntWeBeInSchoolRightNow: Averted. Sam is 19 and goes to 'online school' and most of their babysitting happens after Cat gets home from school.

* SpitTake: Subverted - Cat does a ''[[WaterfallPuke waterfall take]]'' instead when Sam mentions that ''she just sent Nona to the retirement home''.

* SpoiledBrat: Delbin, the [[spoiler:fake]] building manager's son.

* TakeThat: In the second episode, Sam and Cat discover their favourite television show was cancelled without a finale episode, despite being a massive hit. The plot of this episode is their attempts to get the show back on the air. The same thing happened to Dan Schneider's last television series, ''Series/{{Victorious}}'', and then again to [[HilariousInHindsight this very show]].

* TimeSkip: Takes place after some point in ''Series/{{iCarly}}''.

* TomboyAndGirlyGirl: Personality wise Sam is the Tomboy and Cat the Girly Girl. Look wise they are about the same, though Cat is shown in dresses while Sam is in Jeans and T-shirts.

* TrailersAlwaysLie: In the commercials for "[=#TextingCompetition=]" it seemed like an old friend of Dice's would be a obstacle for Sam in the tournament, however he doesn't effect the main plot and mostly interacts with Dice, and even then, there's no overall conclusion to it.

* WhereTheHellIsSpringfield: Averted. Cat states their zip code is 90291, which would place their residence in [[https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/UsefulNotes/LosAngeles Venice Beach]].

* TeensAreShort: How short? Jennette [=McCurdy=] is 5' 2" and she's ''still'' the taller one ([[Series/{{iCarly}} well, this time anyway]]).

''Sam & Cat'' is a Creator/{{Nickelodeon}} teen sitcom, created by Creator/DanSchneider. It is a SpinOff from both ''Series/ICarly'' (Sam Puckett, played by Creator/JennetteMcCurdy), and ''Series/{{Victorious}}'' (Cat Valentine, played by Music/ArianaGrande).

With the end of ''iCarly'' approaching, the network was looking to create a new show for Jennette to star in (continuing the tradition of making shows with actors from the previous show, and Jennette's contract formed at the start of ''iCarly'' gave her her own show no matter what). It eventually settled on this {{crossover}} SpinOff.

Sam, after Carly moves away to Italy, has decided to wander the country. Leaving UsefulNotes/{{Seattle}} and spending a month traveling the States, she arrives in UsefulNotes/LosAngeles, where she meets Cat. After a day of hijinks that end in the two bonding, as well as being awarded a life time of free cheeseburgers, Sam and Cat decide to live together after Cat's grandmother, Nona, goes to live in a retirement home. During the day the two babysit three kids, Max, Chloe, and Darby, who were supposed to be babysat by Cat's grandma, the mom, happy with how the two babysat, offers to let them do it again which leads to them starting a babysitting business.

It was greenlit for 20 episodes that were filmed in early 2013 and the first episode premiered on June 8, 2013, with the last episode of this order coming out in November. Nick ordered an additional 20 episodes on top of the original order, which began airing on January 4th, 2014. On April 4th, 2014 the series was put on "[[http://www.deadline.com/2014/04/future-of-nickelodeon-series-sam-cat-in-limbo-amidst-behind-the-scenes-drama/ permanent hiatus]]," likely due to problems on set. [[http://www.deadline.com/2014/07/sam-cat-wont-cancelled-nickelodeon/ The series was officially cancelled in mid-July]], and the final episode aired on July 17 with 35 of the planned 40 episodes produced. Read Ariana's Facebook/[=TwitLonger=] post on the subject [[http://www.twitlonger.com/show/n_1s2fke0 here]].

* PowerWalk: Played for laughs at the end of "[=#RevengeOfTheBritBrats=]" with the title characters.