History Series / TheSpoilsOfBabylon

* ReducedToRatburgers: Prior to striking oil, the Morehouse household survives on canned squirrel stew. While there's nothing improbable about someone eating the meat of small rodents, the fact that the squirrel meat ''still has the fur on it as they are eating it'' gives away the surreal quality of an AlienLunch.

* ThoseTwoBadGuys: Generals Cauliffe and Maddoxton fit this role, murdering anyone involved with [[spoiler:the carburetor.]]

* {{Jerkass}}: Eric Jonrosh is an alcoholic, pretentious weirdo who's prone to sexual harassment, and may have murdered someone he loved... and more.

* TheConspiracy: There is a group of rich homosexuals, the Mattachine Society, who know secrets about the government, which is why rocket scientist Wilbur Stygamian was assassinated.

* IncestIsRelative: Cynthia and Devon are adopted siblings and lovers.

* TheConspiracy: There is a group of rich homosexuals who know secrets about the government, which has made them prime targets for assassinations, including William Stygamian.
* TheFifties: The series tries to paint a picture and does it horribly wrong.

* ProductPlacement: In ''Babylon'', Bagpipes O'Toole vodka is name-dropped. In ''Dying'', the film ''[[SerialEscalation stops in its tracks]]'' to advertise Boghei French-Like Cigarettes, Bagpipes O'Toole [[Film/TheRoom scotch-flavored vodka]], and biscuits.

!!Tropes Found in ''The Spoils of Babylon'':

* AuthorTract: Invoked and parodied with Eric Jonrosh's blatantly left-wing views.

* VanityProject: An in-universe example, "The Spoils of Babylon" was [[CopiouslyCreditedCreator produced, written, and directed by Eric Jonrosh]] who wrote the novel it was based on and plays the Shah of Iran in an episode.

!!Tropes Found in ''The Spoils Before Dying''

* SoUnfunnyItsFunny: Some rather strange and comical lines are delivered entirely straight, including bizarre forays into Shakespearean monologues in some scenes.
* StylisticSuck: Pretty much the series' ''raison d'etre''. It's full of BadBadActing, deliberate examples of SpecialEffectsFailure[[note]]The exteriors and many driving scenes are rather obvious, ranging from sets where the footage in the back is repeating, establishing shots being obvious miniatures and some driving scenes simply being toy cars dragged with strings.[[/note]] and an entire part played by a mannequin voiced by Creator/CareyMulligan.

!!Many tropes that get misused get misused here, and to slightly over the top, comic effect. Tropes used include:

* BigFancyHouse

* CreatorCameo: Jonrosh shows up as The Shah of Iran, in scenes clearly filmed separately from everyone else.

* {{Jerkass}}: Eric Jonrosh is an alcoholic, pretentious weirdo who's prone to sexual harassment.

* NoOneCouldSurviveThat: When Devon [[spoiler:is shot down,]] The Generals state how no one could survive the crash. When we see Devon, [[spoiler:He's in one piece despite his plane going up in a fiery explosion.]]

* PaintingTheFourthWall: The series is presented as if it's an actual 70's miniseries based on a novel that is only being shown for the first time, with author-director Eric Jonrosh introducing and outroducing each episode. Thus, we get chains of actors playing characters playing characters.
** Tobey Maguire as Dirk Snowfield as Devon Morehouse
** Kristen Wiig as Lauoreighiya Samcake as Cynthia Morehouse
** Tim Robbins as Sir Richard Driftwood as Jonas Morehouse
** etc.

* PurpleProse: Exceedingly common with Jonrosh. Parodied, of course.

* SmallNameBigEgo: Eric Jonrosh.
* SoUnfunnyItsFunny: Some rather strange and comical lines are delivered entirely straight, including bizarre forays into Shakespearean monologues in some scenes.
* SpecialEffectFailure: Invoked. The exteriors and many driving scenes are rather obvious, ranging from sets where the footage in the back is repeating, establishing shots being obvious miniatures and some driving scenes simply being toy cars dragged with strings.

* StylisticSuck: Pretty much the series's ''raison d'etre''. It's full of BadBadActing, deliberate examples of SpecialEffectsFailure and an entire part played by a mannequin voiced by Creator/CareyMulligan.

In 1976, noted author Eric Jonrosh [[note]] [[CouchGag Author-Producer-Actor-Writer-Director-Raconteur-Bon Vivant-Legend-Fabulist, among]] [[TryToFitThatOnABusinessCard many other descriptions.]] [[/note]] embarked on an ambitious three-year quest to film his [[{{Doorstopper}} sprawling]] best-seller, ''The Spoils Of Babylon''. The project was ultimately abandoned as the initial running time was over 22 hours. That is until an older, burnt-out Jonrosh was convinced to agree to a severely truncated re-edit of two hours, and is now finally releasing his masterpiece for the world to see.

Okay, in reality, '''The Spoils Of Babylon''' is an IFC miniseries created by former [[Series/SaturdayNightLive SNL]] writers Andrew Steele & Matt Piedmont that parodies classic television soaps such as ''{{Series/Dallas}}'', and miniseries based off {{Doorstopper}} novels such as ''Series/TheThornBirds''. The plot concerns the birth of a large corporation, [[MegaCorp Morehouse Conglomerated]], and the drama over the Morehouse family who runs it. Rivalries, vendettas, and forbidden semi-incestuous love affairs abound. The story is framed by the twisted narrative of Eric Jonrosh (Creator/WillFerrell), an old burnt-out author/actor who wrote the fictional ''Spoils Of Babylon'' novel in-universe.

* OvercomplicatedMenuOrder: "The Age of the Bastard". While Devon cannot get a vegetation option at the steakhouse that somehow fits in the tiny submarine, Cynthia's order just gets more and more complicated.

* ShoutOut: Eric Jonrosh's modern appearance is based off a later-in-life Creator/OrsonWelles, while Devon's appearance briefly resembles that of Creator/BobDylan in one segment of the storyline.

* TheNeedsOfTheMany: Jonas', and later Devon's, ethos. The fact that it's not shared by Cynthia or Devon leads to problems to say the least.

Okay, in reality, '''The Spoils Of Babylon''' is an IFC miniseries created by former [[Series/SaturdayNightLive SNL]] writers Andrew Steele & Matt Piedmont that parodies classic television soaps such as ''{{Series/Dallas}}'', and miniseries based off {{Doorstopper}} novels such as ''Series/TheThornBirds''. The plot concerns the birth of a large corporation, Morehouse Conglomerated, and the drama over the Morehouse family who runs it. Rivalries, vendettas, and forbidden semi-incestuous love affairs abound. The story is framed by the twisted narrative of Eric Jonrosh (Creator/WillFerrell), an old burnt-out author/actor who wrote the fictional ''Spoils Of Babylon'' novel in-universe.

Okay, in reality '''The Spoils Of Babylon''' is an IFC miniseries created by former [[Series/SaturdayNightLive SNL]] writers Andrew Steele & Matt Piedmont that parodies classic television soaps such as ''{{Series/Dallas}}'', and miniseries based off {{Doorstopper}} novels such as ''Series/TheThornBirds''. The plot concerns the birth of a large corporation, Morehouse Conglomerated, and the drama over the Morehouse family who runs it. Rivalries, vendettas, and forbidden semi-incestuous love affairs abound. The story is framed by the twisted narrative of Eric Jonrosh (Creator/WillFerrell), an old burnt-out author/actor who wrote the fictional ''Spoils Of Babylon'' novel in-universe.

In 1976, noted author Eric Jonrosh [[note]] [[CouchGag Author-Producer-Actor-Writer-Director-Raconteur-Bon Vivant-Legend-Fabulist, among]] [[TryAndFitThatOnABusinessCard many other descriptions.]] [[/note]] embarked on an ambitious three-year quest to film his [[{{Doorstopper}} sprawling]] best-seller, ''The Spoils Of Babylon''. The project was ultimately abandoned as the initial running time was over 22 hours. That is until an older, burnt-out Jonrosh was convinced to agree to a severely truncated re-edit of two hours, and is now finally releasing his masterpiece for the world to see.

In 1976, noted author Eric Jonrosh [[note]] [[CouchGag Author-Producer-Actor-Writer-Director-Raconteur-Bon Vivant-Legend-Fabulist, among [[TryAndFitThatOnABusinessCard many other descriptions.]] [[/note]] embarked on an ambitious three-year quest to film his [[{{Doorstopper}} sprawling]] best-seller, ''The Spoils Of Babylon''. The project was ultimately abandoned as the initial running time was over 22 hours. That is until an older, burnt-out Jonrosh was convinced to agree to a severely truncated re-edit of two hours, and is now finally releasing his masterpiece for the world to see.

* ShoutOut: Eric Jonrosh's modern appearance is based off a later-in-life Creator/OrsonWelles.

Okay, in reality '''The Spoils of Babylon''' is an IFC miniseries created by former [[Series/SaturdayNightLive SNL]] writers Andrew Steele & Matt Piedmont that parodies classic television soaps such as ''{{Series/Dallas}}'', and miniseries based off {{Doorstopper}} novels such as ''Series/TheThornBirds''. The plot concerns the birth of a large corporation, Morehouse Conglomerated, and the drama over the Morehouse family who runs it. Rivalries, vendettas, and forbidden semi-incestuous love affairs abound. The story is framed by the twisted narrative of Eric Jonrosh (Creator/WillFerrell), an old burnt-out author/actor who wrote the fictional ''Spoils Of Babylon'' novel in-universe.

''The Spoils of Babylon'' is an IFC miniseries that parodies classic television soaps such as ''{{Series/Dallas}}'', and miniseries such as ''Series/TheThornBirds''. The plot concerns the birth of a large corporation, Morehouse Conglomerated, and the drama over the Morehouse family who runs it. Rivalries, vendettas, and forbidden semi-incestuous love affairs abound. The story is framed by the twisted narrative of Eric Jonrosh (Creator/WillFerrell), an old burnt-out author/actor who wrote the fictional ''Spoils of Babylon'' novel in-universe.

* TroubledProduction Invoked. Jonrosh goes into uncomfortable detail about the myriad of problems the production faced, such a three-year long shoot, divorce and implying that he shot someone to keep the production in line.

* SpecialEffectFailure: [[Invoked]] The exteriors and many driving scenes are rather obvious, ranging from sets where the footage in the back is repeating, establishing shots being obvious miniatures and some driving scenes simply being toy cars dragged with strings.

* TroubledProduction [[Invoked]] Jonrosh goes into uncomfortable detail about the myriad of problems the production faced, such a three-year long shoot, divorce and implying that he shot someone to keep the production in line.

''The Spoils of Babylon'' is an IFC miniseries that parodies classic television soaps such as ''{{Series/Dallas}}'', and miniseries such as ''Series/TheThornBirds''. The plot concerns the birth of a large corporation, Morehouse Conglomerated, and the drama over the Morehouse family who runs it. Rivalries, vendettas, and forbidden semi-incestuous love affairs abound. The story is framed by the twisted narrative of Eric Jonrosh, an old burnt-out author/actor who wrote the fictional ''Spoils of Babylon'' novel in-universe.

Followed up by a spinoff, ''The Spoils Before Dying'', based on another fictitious Eric Jonrosh novel.

* AmbitionIsEvil: An intended message of Eric Jonrosh's story. Jonas Morehouse is willing to give up the profit and success that comes with a huge oil conglomerate by switching to a more environmentally friendly technology. Similarly, Devon Morehouse abandons Morehouse Conglomerated while Cynthia and Devon become drunk on their own ambition and feed the MilitaryIndustrialComplex.

* DrunkWithPower: Cynthia and her son Winston
* DumbBlonde: Cynthia Morehouse

* SpecialEffectFailure: The exteriors and many driving scenes are rather obvious, ranging from sets where the footage in the back is repeating, establishing shots being obvious miniatures and some driving scenes simply being toy cars dragged with strings.

* MessyHair: After Devon leaves to WanderTheEarth after [[spoiler:Cynthia burns down the mansion and murders Lady York]], he sports a Music/BobDylan haircut.