Follow TV Tropes

Following

History TheyCallMeMisterTibbs / LiveActionTV

Go To

OR

Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None


* In the TLC reality series ''Dr. Pimple Popper'', the star is referred to in the credits and publicity material as Dr. Sandra Lee, and usually addressed as Dr. Lee. Justified because she's a dermatologist, and the show (actually a spinoff of her popular [=YouTube=] channel) focuses on her practice—and ''also'' to address a "Name's the Same" situation, because a different Sandra Lee is a personality on another Discovery Networks channel, Food Network. (Dr. Lee is Chinese American; the other Sandra Lee is white.)

to:

* In the TLC reality series ''Dr. Pimple Popper'', ''Series/DrPimplePopper'', the star is referred to in the credits and publicity material as Dr. Sandra Lee, and usually addressed as Dr. Lee. Justified because she's a dermatologist, and the show (actually a spinoff of her popular [=YouTube=] channel) focuses on her practice—and ''also'' to address a "Name's the Same" situation, because a different Sandra Lee is a personality on another Discovery Networks channel, Food Network. (Dr. Lee is Chinese American; the other Sandra Lee is white.)
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None

Added DiffLines:

** During her time with the Doctor, Ace always calls him "Professor", despite his insistence that she call him "Doctor". When she calls him "Doctor", it's usually a case of OOCIsSeriousBusiness.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None


* In the first episode of Season 4 of ''Series/{{Castle}}'' Detective Beckett calls the new Captain "ma'am" leading to her responding: "My mother drops by, you can call her ma'am. Call me Sir or Captain.

to:

* In the first episode of Season 4 of ''Series/{{Castle}}'' ''Series/{{Castle|2009}}'' Detective Beckett calls the new Captain "ma'am" leading to her responding: "My mother drops by, you can call her ma'am. Call me Sir or Captain.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None


* ''Series/{{Degrassi}}'': "It's Holly freakin' J."

to:

* ''Series/{{Degrassi}}'': "It's ''Series/DegrassiTheNextGeneration'': Holly J. Sinclair says she should be called "Holly freakin' J."
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None

Added DiffLines:

* ''Series/OddSquad'':
** Oprah prefers to be called by her title of "[[EveryoneCallsHimBarkeep Ms. O]]" by her agents, and will sharply correct an agent who calls her by her actual name, as demonstrated with Todd in "Training Day" and with the Mobile Unit in "Odd Together Now".
--> '''Todd''': I'm surprised you didn't see the pattern, Oprah.
--> '''Oprah''': It's Ms. O to you, young man!
** Inversely, Odd Todd insisting he be called just that and not by "Todd" following his FaceHeelTurn is a RunningGag throughout Season 1.
** Orchid in "Switch Your Partner Round and Round", when she talks to the blob she and Olive captured:
--> '''Orchid''': I'm not going anywhere, Blobby.
--> '''Olive''': Blobby?
--> '''Orchid''': It's ''Mr.'' Blobby to ''you, Sherman.''
** A parodied example occurs with Dr. Soup in "Olive and Otto in Shmumberland''.
--> '''Olive:''' Move aside, Dr. Soup.
--> '''Dr. Soup:''' That's ''Dr.'' Soup to ''you!''
--> '''Olive:''' Didn't I say "doctor"?
--> '''Dr. Soup:''' ''[[BigShutUp Silence!]]''
** In "Crime at Shapely Manor", Otto accidentally bumps into General Pentagon and refers to him as "Mr. Pentagon", to which he replies that he didn't fight for five years in the Shape Wars just to be called Mr. Pentagon.
** Mr. Unpredictable, from the episode of the same name, is ''insistent'' that he is called just that. However, as Simon Sixer calls him Mr. U, neither of them are friends with each other and Mr. Unpredictable refuses to have anything to do with the number 6.
** In "H2 Oh No!", Seahorse Tanya urges Osmerelda and Omar to call her Tanya, which William Ocean scolds her for. It ends up being one of the things that drives her to defect from his side.

Added: 417

Changed: 1

Removed: 126

Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None


*** Though note that the staff has no problem referring to senators and congressmen they don't like by their last names alone.



** There's also a particularly poignant moment in the first season where Bartlett has to determine whether he'll give clemency to a man on death row. After calling in an old priest friend for guidance, the priest asks him whether to call him Jed or Mr. President. He insists on Mr. President, and then explains that, by being called the President, he's acting in the official capacity, whereas if he were called Jed, then the decisions he makes would be by a man, not by an office.

to:

** There's also a particularly poignant moment in the first season where Bartlett Bartlet has to determine whether he'll give clemency to a man on death row. After calling in an old priest friend for guidance, the priest asks him whether to call him Jed or Mr. President. He insists on Mr. President, and then explains that, by being called the President, he's acting in the official capacity, whereas if he were called Jed, then the decisions he makes would be by a man, not by an office.


Added DiffLines:

** Leo insists on respectful naming even when Bartlet isn't in the room:
--->'''Vice-President Hoynes:''' Leo, I have had it up to here with you and your pal! I got shoved into a broom closet--
--->'''Leo:''' [[BerserkButton Excuse me! Me and my "pal"?]]
--->'''Vice-President Hoynes:''' Yes.
--->'''Leo:''' You are referring to President Bartlet?
--->'''Vice-President Hoynes:''' Yes.
--->'''Leo:''' Refer to him that way!

Changed: 2152

Removed: 175

Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None


** ''Series/StarTrekTheOriginalSeries''

to:

** ''Series/StarTrekTheOriginalSeries''''Series/StarTrekTheOriginalSeries'':



*** In "Mirror, Mirror", Scotty does address to the captain as "Jim", when Kirk offers to stay behind to operate the transporter after its automatic timer has been disabled. This was a rare case where Scotty was stressing his personal concern for the captain.
*** A more specific example: in the episode "Whom Gods Destroy", Kirk keeps calling (the insane) former Captain Garth, "Captain Garth". Garth insists on "Lord Garth".
*** Inverted in “The City on the Edge Of Forever,” when Edith Keeler picks up on Spock’s form of address:
--->'''Spock''': Interesting. Where would you estimate we belong, Miss Keeler?\\
'''Edith Keeler''': [to Spock] You? At his side, as if you've always been there and always will.\\
'''Edith Keeler''': [to Kirk] And you... you belong... in another place. I don't know where or how... I'll figure it out eventually.\\
'''Spock''': [to Kirk] I'll finish with the furnace.\\
'''Edith Keeler''': [to Kirk] "Captain." Even when he doesn't say it, he does.
** In ''Series/StarTrekTheNextGeneration'' the captain almost invariably refers to his officers as "Number One," "Dr. Crusher," "Mr. Data," etc. And Beverly is the only one who can get away with calling him "Jean-Luc" on anything like a regular basis. A deleted scene from ''Film/StarTrekNemesis'' references this fact, with Riker playing a prank on his replacement and telling him to drop the formal titles with Captain Picard. It gets him a DeathGlare.
*** In the episode where Riker gets Q powers, he starts addressing everyone, including Picard, by their first names as he becomes DrunkWithPower. Picard calls him out on this.

to:

*** In "Mirror, Mirror", "[[Recap/StarTrekS2E4MirrorMirror Mirror, Mirror]]", Scotty does address to the captain as "Jim", when Kirk offers to stay behind to operate the transporter after its automatic timer has been disabled. This was a rare case where Scotty was stressing his personal concern for the captain.
*** A more specific example: in the episode "Whom Gods Destroy", Kirk keeps calling (the insane) former Captain Garth, "Captain Garth". Garth insists on "Lord Garth".
*** Inverted in “The "[[Recap/StarTrekS1E28TheCityOnTheEdgeOfForever The City on the Edge Of Forever,” of Forever]]" when Edith Keeler picks up on Spock’s Spock's form of address:
--->'''Spock''': ---->'''Spock:''' Interesting. Where would you estimate we belong, Miss Keeler?\\
'''Edith Keeler''': [to Spock] Keeler:''' ''[to Spock]'' You? At his side, as if you've always been there and always will.\\
'''Edith Keeler''': [to Kirk]
will. ''[to Kirk]'' And you... you belong... in another place. I don't know where or how... I'll figure it out eventually.\\
'''Spock''': [to Kirk] '''Spock:''' ''[to Kirk]'' I'll finish with the furnace.\\
'''Edith Keeler''': [to Kirk] Keeler:''' ''[to Kirk]'' "Captain." Even when he doesn't say it, he does.
*** A more specific example: in the episode "[[Recap/StarTrekS3E14WhomGodsDestroy Whom Gods Destroy]]", Kirk keeps calling (the insane) former Captain Garth, "Captain Garth". Garth insists on "Lord Garth".
** In ''Series/StarTrekTheNextGeneration'' ''Series/StarTrekTheNextGeneration'', the captain almost invariably refers to his officers as "Number One," "Dr. Crusher," "Mr. Data," etc. And Beverly is the only one who can get away with calling him "Jean-Luc" on anything like a regular basis. A deleted scene from ''Film/StarTrekNemesis'' references this fact, with Riker playing a prank on his replacement and telling him to drop the formal titles with Captain Picard. It gets him a DeathGlare.
*** In the episode where "[[Recap/StarTrekTheNextGenerationS1E9HideAndQ Hide and Q]]", in which Riker gets Q powers, he starts addressing everyone, including Picard, by their first names as he becomes DrunkWithPower. Picard calls him out on this.



*** Gets turned on its head in the episode "Invasive Procedures", when the Dax symbiote is stolen by another Trill. When the newly made Verad Dax makes it clear that he's willing to leave Jadzia to die, Sisko makes it ''very'' clear that Verad, at least, is not allowed to call him "Benjamin" ([[spoiler: subverting YouWouldntShootMe in the process]]).

to:

*** Gets turned on its head in the episode "Invasive Procedures", "[[Recap/StarTrekDeepSpaceNineS02E04InvasiveProcedures Invasive Procedures]]", when the Dax symbiote is stolen by another Trill. When the newly made Verad Dax makes it clear that he's willing to leave Jadzia to die, Sisko makes it ''very'' clear that Verad, at least, is not allowed to call him "Benjamin" ([[spoiler: subverting ([[spoiler:subverting YouWouldntShootMe in the process]]).



** In the pilot for ''Series/StarTrekVoyager'', Ensign Kim calls Captain Janeway "sir" as per Starfleet protocols regarding addressing a superior officer regardless of gender. Janeway replies that she isn't comfortable being addressed as "sir", adding, "'Ma'am' will do in a crunch, otherwise I prefer 'Captain'." Later, when they're preparing to depart Kim calls her "Ma'am" and she answers, "It's not crunch time yet, Mr. Kim. I'll let you know when."

to:

** In [[Recap/StarTrekVoyagerS1E1Caretaker the pilot pilot]] for ''Series/StarTrekVoyager'', Ensign Kim calls Captain Janeway "sir" as per Starfleet protocols regarding addressing a superior officer regardless of gender. Janeway replies that she isn't comfortable being addressed as "sir", adding, "'Ma'am' will do in a crunch, otherwise I prefer 'Captain'." Later, when they're preparing to depart Kim calls her "Ma'am" and she answers, "It's not crunch time yet, Mr. Kim. I'll let you know when."



** On ''Series/StarTrekEnterprise'', even "Trip" Tucker calls his best buddy "Captain" Archer (or, as he pronounces it, "Cap'n"). Archer himself almost always addresses the crew by first name (or nickname, in Trip's case).
** On ''Series/StarTrekDiscovery'', Captain Pike's XO on the ''Enterprise'' isn't keen on sharing her actual name and insists on being called "Number One".

to:

** On In ''Series/StarTrekEnterprise'', even "Trip" Tucker calls his best buddy "Captain" Archer (or, as he pronounces it, "Cap'n"). Archer himself almost always addresses the crew by first name (or nickname, in Trip's case).
** On In ''Series/StarTrekDiscovery'', Captain Pike's XO on the ''Enterprise'' isn't keen on sharing her actual name and insists on being called "Number One".
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
They Fight Crime is no longer a trope


* Parodied in a ''Series/LateNightWithConanOBrien'' skit where [[TheyFightCrime Conan is partnered with economist and former Secretary of Labor Robert Reich in a cop show parody]]. Conan addresses Reich as "Former Secretary of State Robert Reich", while Reich addresses Conan as "''Late Night with Conan O'Brien'''s Conan O'Brien".

to:

* Parodied in a ''Series/LateNightWithConanOBrien'' skit where [[TheyFightCrime Conan is partnered with economist and former Secretary of Labor Robert Reich in a cop show parody]].parody. Conan addresses Reich as "Former Secretary of State Robert Reich", while Reich addresses Conan as "''Late Night with Conan O'Brien'''s Conan O'Brien".
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None

Added DiffLines:

* In ''Series/{{Chernobyl}}'', Legasov addresses Shcherbina as "Boris" in an effort to convince him not to fly their helicopter over the stricken power plant. Shcherbina immediately shouts ''not'' to call him Boris.[[note]]In the initial script, Legasov addresses him as "Boris Yevdokimovich" (given name + his patronym), which ''is'' an acceptably polite form of address in Russian, but still not deferential enough.)[[/note]] As they begin working closely together and develop a mutual respect, they do shift to a FirstNameBasis.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None


* In ''Series/{{Smallville}}'', everyone around [[{{Superman}} Clark]]'s age call his mother "Mrs. Kent", although she sometimes asks the closer ones to just call her Martha.

to:

* In ''Series/{{Smallville}}'', everyone around [[{{Superman}} Clark]]'s Clark's age call his mother "Mrs. Kent", although she sometimes asks the closer ones to just call her Martha.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None


''(Later)''\\

to:

''(Later)''\\''[Later]''\\



'''Blackadder:''' ''(To himself)'' God. If only they had a brain cell between them.

to:

'''Blackadder:''' ''(To himself)'' ''[To himself]'' God. If only they had a brain cell between them.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None


--> ''(Later)''\\

to:

--> ''(Later)''\\

Added: 678

Changed: 2

Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None


'''Prince George:''' ''[looking pleased with himself]'' That's what I said -- "Your Highness Your Highness", Your Highness Your Highness.

to:

'''Prince George:''' ''[looking pleased with himself]'' That's what I said -- "Your Highness Your Highness", Your Highness Your Highness.\\
--> ''(Later)''\\
'''Blackadder:''' If you would let the Duke in.\\
'''Prince George:''' Certainly, Your Highness, Your Highness.\\
'''Blackadder:''' And you'd better get out too, Baldrick.\\
'''Baldrick:''' Yes, Your Highness, Your Highness.\\
'''Blackadder:''' ''(To himself)'' God. If only they had a brain cell between them.


Added DiffLines:

* In ''Series/FawltyTowers'', some of the guests address Basil as "Fawlty", including the Major, Mr Hamilton in "Waldorf Salad", and Lord Melbury in "A Touch of Class". At first, Basil is fawning over Lord Melbury and does not mind at all, but when he has found out [[spoiler: that Melbury is a con man]], Basil says "''Mr'' Fawlty to you, Lord Melbury.".
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None

Added DiffLines:

*** He also makes it clear that (for the first three-and-a-half seasons, at least) he doesn't like being called "Emissary". When Vedek Winn addresses him as such, he tells her that he'd prefer his rank or his first name.

Added: 559

Changed: 534

Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None


* ''Series/TheProfessionals''. In "Where the Jungle Ends", George Cowley gets stabbed, falls down a small cliff, and has a fuel tank explode in his face. When Doyle expresses concern as to DaChief's well-being...
-->'''Doyle:''' Cowley! Cowley, you okay?!
-->'''Cowley:''' Yes, yes, I'm okay. ''(DeathGlare)'' AND IT'S MISTER COWLEY!
-->'''Doyle:''' ''(grinning)'' You ''are'' OK, aren't ya.

to:

* ''Series/TheProfessionals''. ''Series/TheProfessionals''
**
In "Where the Jungle Ends", George Cowley gets stabbed, falls down a small cliff, and has a fuel tank explode in his face. When Doyle expresses concern as to DaChief's well-being...
-->'''Doyle:''' --->'''Doyle:''' Cowley! Cowley, you okay?!
-->'''Cowley:''' --->'''Cowley:''' Yes, yes, I'm okay. ''(DeathGlare)'' AND IT'S MISTER COWLEY!
-->'''Doyle:''' --->'''Doyle:''' ''(grinning)'' You ''are'' OK, aren't ya.ya.
** In "In the Public Interest", Chief Constable Green insists on a FirstNameBasis with Cowley even though he's never met him before. Cowley lets it slide because he wants Green to let his guard down, but drops the façade once he has proof of Green's abuse of power.
--->'''Cowley:''' Chives was a runaway truck, careering downhill. Running over the guilty and the innocent. A runaway truck. But you released the handbrake.
--->'''Green:''' George!
--->'''Cowley:''' The name is Cowley! ''Mister'' Cowley!
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None


* ''Series/InTheHeatOfTheNight'', naturally, does a riff on this in the series pilot. A deputy, not realizing who Tibbs is, chastises him for entering a private area of the police station - "Boy! You ain't supposed to be in there!" Tibbs promptly sits him down, with all the force of Howard Rollins' Oscar-winning intensity:

to:

* ''Series/InTheHeatOfTheNight'', naturally, does a riff on this in the series pilot. A white deputy, not realizing who Tibbs is, chastises him for entering a private area of the police station - "Boy! You ain't supposed to be in there!" Tibbs promptly sits him down, with all the force of Howard Rollins' Oscar-winning intensity:

Added: 515

Changed: 3

Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
Added item on "The Dropout''


* On ''Series/CriminalMinds'', [[ParentalSubstitute Gideon]] always insisted on introducing Reid as "Dr. Reid," going so far as to correct his fellow agents when whoever was doing the introducing left out Reid's title. This was more of an issue in the early seasons, when Reid was twenty-four and looked fifteen; the use of "Dr." is to ensure that other law enforement personnel take him seriously. Now that he's approaching thirty, the team seems to have relaxed about this a bit.

to:

* On ''Series/CriminalMinds'', [[ParentalSubstitute Gideon]] always insisted on introducing Reid as "Dr. Reid," going so far as to correct his fellow agents when whoever was doing the introducing left out Reid's title. This was more of an issue in the early seasons, when Reid was twenty-four and looked fifteen; the use of "Dr." is to ensure that other law enforement enforcement personnel take him seriously. Now that he's approaching thirty, the team seems to have relaxed about this a bit.



--> '''Robert:''' Mama, may I present Matthew Crawley and Mrs Crawley; my mother, Lady Grantham.\\

to:

--> '''Robert:''' Mama, may I present Matthew Crawley and Mrs Mrs. Crawley; my mother, Lady Grantham.\\



'''Countess:''' Well, we could always start with Mrs Crawley and Lady Grantham.

to:

'''Countess:''' Well, we could always start with Mrs Mrs. Crawley and Lady Grantham.


Added DiffLines:

* ''Series/TheDropout'': At a dinner for the Harvard Medical School Board of Fellows, Elizabeth Holmes bumps into Phyllis Gardner. Dr. Gardner tells Elizabeth that she knows about an upcoming ''Wall Street Journal article'' that will reveal the lies that Elizabeth has told about her company. She finishes by giving a TheReasonYouSuckSpeech to Elizabeth. Elizabeth tries to slip away with a lame "It was good to see you, Phyllis."
-->'''Dr. Gardner''': Don't call me Phyllis. I'm not Phyllis to you. I'm Dr. Gardner.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None

Added DiffLines:

* ''Series/Foundation2021'': Zephyr Halima, a TurbulentPriest who's {{the Emperor}}'s most prominent political opponent, calls him by his first name to his face, even after his aide politely reminds her of the correct honorific.

Top