Line #160 Main/CallingShotgun


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5	[[quoteright:249:[[ComicBook/SistersRainaTelgemeier https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/rsz_11untitled7.png]]]]
6
7	->'''Simmons:''' Shotgun!\
8	'''Grif:''' ''[a split-second late]'' Shotgu-- Fuck!
9	-->-- ''WebAnimation/RedVsBlue''
10
11	Simply put, a character sees a CoolCar that they know they will never get to drive and will do the next best thing: they call shotgun! (The front passenger seat, for those unfamiliar with the metaphor) Bonus points if they beat out another character by a fraction of a second.
12
13	[[http://www.shotgunrules.com Here be the official rules concerning the etiquette and conduct when calling shotgun.]]
14
15	The term "riding shotgun" comes from the days of stagecoaches in the Old West. A stagecoach had a crew of two. One drove while the other protected the cargo and passengers with a short [[ShotgunsAreJustBetter shotgun]] called a coach gun. While the term was never actually used in the Old West, it was first popularized by the movie ''Film/{{Stagecoach}}''. When the transition from stagecoaches to automobiles was made has never been determined.
16
17	A typical way to play with this trope is to have the passenger [[LiteralMetaphor actually carry a shotgun]].
18
19	----
20	!!Examples:
21
22	[[foldercontrol]]
23
24	[[folder:Comic Books]]
25	* From ''ComicBook/BirdsOfPrey'':
26	-->'''Lady Blackhawk:''' You drive. I call shotgun.\
27	'''Gypsy:''' But Shiva's already in that seat...\
28	'''Lady Blackhawk:''' [[LiteralMetaphor No. I mean]] -- I call ''[[ShotgunsAreJustBetter shotgun]]''.
29	[[/folder]]
30
31	[[folder:Fan Fiction]]
32	* In the fanfic ''[[https://www.fanfiction.net/s/10661256/1/Gunpowder-Lead Gunpowder and Lead]]'', a character refers to the passenger-seat position in the urban tank used to batter down doors in a raid as "riding widowmaker", using the name for the specific Justice-Department issue shotgun in the setting.
33	* ''Fanfic/OversaturatedWorld'': From [[https://www.fimfiction.net/story/349607/8/crossworlds-guardian-sailor-orbital/influence-and-semantics-the-first-team-encounter the eighth chapter]] of ''Crossworlds Guardian, Sailor Orbital!'':
34	-->''"I call shotgun!" Raspberry Fluff shouted as she rushed forward--only to jerk to a sudden stop as Ditzy grabbed her collar. "Ow! Hey!"\
35	"As the leader, I need full and instant view of the situation we're going into in order to determine our course of action. Hence, I get shotgun."''
36	[[/folder]]
37
38	[[folder:Film -- Animated]]
39	* ''WesternAnimation/MeetTheRobinsons'': Note that the driver is the ''hat''.
40	-->'''Bowler Hat Guy:''' ''[runs over to the TimeMachine]'' Shotgun!
41	[[/folder]]
42
43	[[folder:Film -- Live-Action]]
44	* ''Film/BladesOfGlory'':
45	-->'''Chazz:''' I permanently call shotgun.\
46	'''Jimmy:''' You do not get shotgun every time!
47	* A repeated line in ''Film/DazedAndConfused''.
48	-->'''Slater:''' Shotgun!
49	* ''Film/HotFuzz'':
50	-->'''Danny Butterman:''' ''[running to police car]'' I'll drive!\
51	'''Nicholas Angel:''' Shotgun!
52	* ''Film/MalibusMostWanted'': After being kidnapped and shoved into the trunk of a car, B-Rad yells "Shotgun!"
53	* ''Film/Transformers2007'':
54	-->'''Miles:''' Hey, I called shotgun! Bros before hoes, man!
55	* ''Film/{{Serenity}}'': River Tam slips into the co-pilot's seat next to Captain Mal.
56	-->'''Captain Mal:''' So, you gonna ride shotgun with me, help me fly?\
57	'''River Tam:''' That's the plan.
58	* ''Film/UndercoverBrother'': As the B.R.O.T.H.E.R.H.O.O.D. agents run to the hovercraft so they can escape The Man's island, Conspiracy Brother calls out "Shotgun!"
59	* ''Film/MysteryMen'':
60	-->'''Spleen:''' Shotgun!\
61	'''Blue Raja:''' Yes, well, I already called it, didn't I?
62	* In the opening ChaseScene of ''Film/MadMax1'', MFP officers [[ThoseTwoGuys Roop and Charlie]] squabble LikeAnOldMarriedCouple over who's driving their Pursuit Special. First Charlie is driving with Roop in passenger seat armed with a double-barreled shotgun, but his attempt to shoot the Nightrider only causes them to crash. Once they get their vehicle started again Roop insists on taking the wheel, getting them into [[RuleOfThrees two more crashes]] that end with their Pursuit Special a write-off and Charlie permanently disabled.
63	[[/folder]]
64
65	[[folder:Literature]]
66	* In ''Literature/ThievesLikeUs'' and ''Thieves 'Til We Die'', Con ''always'' rides shotgun. No one protests this, because they all know that it's a part of her DarkAndTroubledPast (the last time she rode in the backseat of a car, it crashed, and she was stuck in the remains for hours [[NightmareFuel while the paramedics cut through her parents' mangled bodies to rescue her]]). [[spoiler:In the first book, we see that forcing her into the backseat makes her undergo a massive HeroicBSOD, and leaves her stumbling like a zombie for quite awhile.]]
67	[[/folder]]
68
69	[[folder:Live-Action TV]]
70	* ''Series/{{Psych}}'':
71	** In the episode "Rob-a-Bye Baby":
72	--->'''Gus:''' Blimp rides!\
73	'''Shawn:''' Shotgun.\
74	'''Gus:''' You can't call shotgun on a blimp!\
75	'''Shawn:''' You can call shotgun anywhere except a crowded movie theater.
76	** It becomes somewhat of a RunningGag. In "Earth, Wind and... Wait for It", Shawn attempts to call shotgun on a fire station pole, and in "Truer Lies", Shawn again tries to call shotgun -- this time on a hot air balloon. Both instances also follow up with Gus' "You can't call shotgun on X, Shawn."
77	* In the ''Series/TerminatorTheSarahConnorChronicles'' "Queen's Gambit":
78	-->'''Sarah Connor:''' Field trip.\
79	'''John Connor:''' I call shotgun.\
80	'''Cameron Phillips:''' [[ComicallyMissingThePoint I call 9 mm]].
81	* In the ''Series/{{Angel}}'' episode "The Cautionary Tale of Numero Cinco":
82	-->'''Wesley Wyndam-Pryce:''' Yeah, remind me again how you ended up in the front seat.\
83	'''Spike:''' Called shotgun, mate.\
84	'''Wesley:''' Oh. I thought we were doing a weapons check.
85	* ''Series/That70sShow'' episode "Nobody's Fault But Mine":
86	-->'''Michael Kelso:''' Fine, Shotgun!\
87	'''Steven Hyde:''' There's only two of us, you moron!
88	* In ''Series/MyNameIsEarl'', Randy initiates his abortive romance with Catalina by calling "dibs".
89	* Michael Scott does this in ''Series/TheOfficeUS'', even though they're taking Dwight to the hospital and he really should be in the front. Michael then explains the sanctity of the rule of shotgun and how it can't be questioned.
90	* Hank does it during a ridealong on ''Series/CornerGas'', causing Karen, the actual policewoman, to ride in the back of the car. Later in the episode, Karen tries calling shotgun, but is told to grow up.
91	* A variant from ''Series/{{Friends}}''. Joey and Chandler have traded apartments with Rachel and Monica, and they're moving in. While carrying something into their new place...
92	-->'''Joey:''' I call Monica's room!\
93	'''Chandler:''' You can't just call Monica's room.\
94	'''Joey:''' Sure I can. Standard shotgun rules: I'm in sight of the room and I call it.\
95	'''Chandler:''' Damn!
96	* ''Series/HowIMetYourMother'': Immediately after chastising Ted for buying a new car, Barney calls shotgun for all eternity, which he and Robin then argue about. It comes up again later when he (unsuccessfully) tries to enforce it and he and Robin get back into the argument.
97	* ''Series/PersonOfInterest'': A VisualPun in "God Mode". When our heroes break into a lockup to find a [[CoolCar Ferrari]], Shaw promptly hands her SPAS-12 shotgun to Reese.
98	-->'''Reese:''' What's this for?\
99	'''Shaw:''' [[CompensatingForSomething To help you feel less inadequate]] while I drive this thing.
100	* Used several times for comedic effect in ''Series/TheInbetweeners''.
101	** In the episode where Simon gets his car, the boys are going to Thorpe Park, and he picks up Will first. Will naturally sits on the front seat, and when they stop to pick up Jay, Simon and Will both get out of the car to greet him. When Will is about to get back to the front seat, Jay instantly calls shotgun. Will has not heard of shotgun before, and it is explained to him, after which Jay and Simon insis that he should sit at the backseat. Cue one of Will's usual "unwritten rule I have never about heard before or just don't like" rants.
102	** In a later episode, Simon lets his own girlfriend sit in the backseat, in the uncomfortable space between Will and Jay, just because Neil called shotgun, and she does not manage to change his mind. While Simon is often the OnlySaneMan, he certainly has a noticeable quirk in how he follows the shotgun rules like they are laws with capital punishment for breaking them.
103	* ''Series/{{Lost}}'': Hurley finds an abandoned Dharma Initiative VW microbus and tries to restore it. Unable to get it running, he decides to run it down a hill, hoping that popping the clutch at the right time will jumpstart it. Sawyer and Jin both try to talk him out of an obvious suicide run -- and then Charlie calls shotgun.
104	* A variant on ''Series/{{Intimate}}'' where it's about getting into the car at all: The guys spontaneously decide to take a vacation, but Max points out they are five and only he has a car, which is a four-seater. The others instantly start playing games to determine the loser: calling shotgun, touching the ground, and "the floor is lava". Leo is able to keep up with the first two games, but as he's the only one not directly standing next to a couch (and even Max steps on the chair behind him just to be safe faster than Leo can react), he loses out in the end.
105	[[/folder]]
106
107	[[folder:Radio]]
108	* A ''Radio/JohnFinnemoresSouvenirProgramme'' sketch has a young boy calling "Shotgun!" while his sister is halfway through saying "Bagsy the front seat!" Dad reckons that the boy said it first, but when the girl appeals to Mum, she rules that theirs [[SeriousBusiness is not a "shotgun" household]]. The son appeals ''this'' decision, taking it to the Council of Grandparents, who have a split vote, so it eventually goes to the extended family in session.
109	* In ''Radio/CabinPressure'', Martin reckons that he doesn't need to call shotgun; he gets to sit in the front of Carolyn's car because he's the captain.
110	-->'''Douglas:''' The captain sits at the front of the plane, because he's driving it. It doesn't mean he gets to sit in the front of any vehicle he happens to be in.
111	[[/folder]]
112
113	[[folder:Video Games]]
114	* ''VideoGame/RatchetAndClankUpYourArsenal'':
115	-->'''[[spoiler:Klunk]]:''' Shotgun!\
116	'''Qwark:''' Aargh!\
117	''[various impact noises]''\
118	'''Ratchet:''' Hey! Gah-- what are you doing?\
119	'''Qwark:''' Move over, I'll drive!\
120	'''Ratchet:''' Uh, no thanks, I'd rather make it there in one piece.\
121	'''Qwark:''' Stand down, soldier, this is your captain speaking!\
122	'''Ratchet:''' [[CurseCutShort Captain my]]--\
123	''[various cartoon impact noises, grunting throughout]''\
124	'''Ratchet:''' Wait! No, don't sit on the flight stick!\
125	'''Qwark:''' Auuaaugh!
126	* In ''VideoGame/HalfLife2: Episode 2'', Alyx Vance playfully calls "Shotgun!" before she and Gordon Freeman go riding in a dune buggy-like car. The chapter itself is even called "Riding shotgun".
127	* ''Franchise/{{Halo}}'': Friendly human [=NPCs=] will often call out 'shotgun' while you or another character is driving a vehicle and the gunner position is already taken.
128	* In one of the ''VideoGame/{{Hearthstone}}'' [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qtk_-YpxLt0 Mulligan shorts]] Uther and Gul'Dan get confused about the concept and spend so long trying to figure it out that Jaina ends up calling it instead.
129	[[/folder]]
130
131	[[folder:Webcomics]]
132	* Hunter of ''Webcomic/SuicideForHire'' calls shotgun in [[http://suicideforhire.comicgenesis.com/d/20071114.html this strip]]. He is very [[http://suicideforhire.comicgenesis.com/d/20071121.html satisfied]].
133	* The ''ComicStrip/ThePerryBibleFellowship'' shows us the correct way to settle draws [[http://pbfcomics.com/comics/shotgun/ here]].
134	* ''Webcomic/AppleGeeks'' introduced a game for calling shotgun. When someone calls it, any other number of passengers can respond by pulling down their pants. The first person has to drop his/her pants as well. A race then ensues (pants around ankles), and whoever gets to the car first gets shotgun.
135	* Butch of ''Webcomic/ChoppingBlock'', [[http://choppingblock.keenspot.com/d/20010518.html rather literally.]]
136	* In ''Webcomic/{{Freefall}}'', [[http://freefall.purrsia.com/ff1200/fv01154.htm Sawtooth tries to call shotgun]], but Qwerty objects, since Sawtooth is too big to actually fit in the vehicle (he's actually considerably larger than said vehicle).
137	[[/folder]]
138
139	[[folder:Web Videos]]
140	* In ''WebVideo/DragonBallZAbridged'', Android 16 climbs into the back of a van, closes the door, and ''then'' says "Shotgun." 17 replies "Not quite what that means, but you keep trying, man."
141	* ''WebVideo/TheHire'': A VisualPun in "Beat the Devil". Music/JamesBrown and Creator/CliveOwen must win a drag race with the Devil (played by Creator/GaryOldman) who's seated next to Creator/DannyTrejo as his driver. Oldman starts the race by firing a shotgun out the sunroof of his CoolCar.
142	* ''WebAnimation/RedVsBlue'':
143	** The characters, typically the Red Team, routinely call dibs and shotgun on any new vehicle. Generally it's Grif winning against Simmons, unless Simmons winning can be used as a punchline. For example:
144	--->'''Simmons:''' Shotgun!\
145	'''Grif:''' Shotgun! Fuck!\
146	'''[[CampGay Donut]]:''' Shotgun's lap!\
147	'''Simmons:''' Fuck!
148	** It's worth pointing out that the Reds generally have a system that works for them already in place for the Warthog/Puma/Chupathingy. Grif drives, Simmons takes the mounted turret gun, and Sarge rides shotgun (and he does, in fact, carry one). Then Sarge turns it into a codeword so Simmons and Grif can generally do something awesome with it. Of course, [[RagtagBunchOfMisfits the Reds being who they are]], it takes some work before they get it...
149	--->'''Sarge:''' ''[after several unsuccessful attempts]'' Shotgun, damnit!
150	* In one ''WebVideo/ThomasSanders'' Vine, Thomas' friends complain when he calls shotgun, saying that he already had it on their earlier drive...only to turn around and learn that [[{{Pun}} he actually found a shotgun]].
151	-->'''Thomas:''' ''And'' I want the front seat! ''[cocks gun]''
152	[[/folder]]
153
154	[[folder:Western Animation]]
155	* ''WesternAnimation/{{Futurama}}'': When the crew need to go inside Fry's body with a miniature Planet Express Ship, both Bender and Zoidberg yell out, "Shotgun!" Bender beats Zoidberg to it.
156	* [[ScrewPolitenessImASenior Mrs. Avery]] does this in ''WesternAnimation/ThePJs''... with an actual shotgun.
157	* In an episode of ''WesternAnimation/FamilyGuy'', Peter befriends Bill Clinton. When about to enter the former President's limo, Peter pauses momentarily to express his awe before calling shotgun.
158	* In ''WesternAnimation/SouthPark'', when Cartman and his friends are on a trip to Nebraska, he calls shotgun, but Kenny is already sitting on the front. He tells Kenny to get out multiple times but Kenny ignores hum... until Cartman throws a dollar and Kenny leaves.
159	* In ''WesternAnimation/Ben10AlienForce'', Manny calls out "Shotgun!" repeatedly, even though he's already in the front seat. He says it's just fun to yell it.
160	* In the ''WesternAnimation/BatmanTheBraveAndTheBold'' episode "Menace of the Madniks!", when Batman, Booster Gold and Blue Beetle are taking the Bug to Hub City Penitentiary, Booster says "Road trip! I call shotgun!" GilliganCut to Bats and Beetle in the front seats, while Booster sits in the back, protesting "I totally called shotgun!"
161	* In ''WesternAnimation/PhineasAndFerbMissionMarvel'', when the villains prepare to go to the Tri-State Area, M.O.D.O.K. eagerly calls shotgun, only for the Red Skull to yell at him that since he's a {{Cephalothorax}}, he won't fit in the seat.
162	[[/folder]]
163
164	[[folder:Other]]
165	* Creator/MitchHedberg:
166	** "Last time I called shotgun we had rented a limo, so I fucked up!"
167	** His buddy Dwayne would call shotgun even if he and Mitch were being forced into a car at gunpoint. "I'd be riding in the backseat with the other kidnapper going: shrug 'He called it!'"
168	[[/folder]]

Context Main / CallingShotgun