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4[[quoteright:350:[[Webcomic/{{Wayrift}} https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/punk_punk.png]]]]
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6Alex the rock star is ready to wow the crowd with his hip brand of radical [[RapRock rap-rock]]-[[RapMetal metal]] fusion. The crowd remains in an eager silence as they calmly walk onto the stage and takes slow, echoing steps towards their personal, Jimi Hendrix-signed microphone. Their hand reaches out to grasp it. A light but dramatic cough, and... "Hey, [[TitleDrop Is This Thing On?]]" *tap tap tap* "Testing, testing, 1-2-3...".
7
8Nine times out of ten, you can bet any character speaking into a microphone will utter this phrase. Unfortunately, because of a case of TVNeverLies, people sometimes do this in RealLife, thinking (1) it is the correct way to test a microphone or (2) that it ''hasn't'' been tested already. Not only is it wrong, it's unnecessary. The audio team will probably have already spoken into the microphone while setting up the sound system before the audience arrives, and definitely before the speaker arrives on stage. Despite this fact, all forms of media still use this trope, misleading the common people to think that it is necessary to check the mic this way before speaking.
9
10Not to be confused with IsThisThingStillOn, though the two are vaguely similar. Also, Is This Thing Still On will sometimes follow Is This Thing On. Compare FeedbackRule.
11
12----
13!!Examples:
14
15[[foldercontrol]]
16
17[[folder:Anime & Manga]]
18* Marika Kato of the ''Literature/BodaciousSpacePirates'' addresses the passengers in her first attack starting with questions about whether the microphone is already transmitting.
19[[/folder]]
20
21[[folder:Audio Plays]]
22* In the ''AudioPlay/BigFinishDoctorWho'' ScrapbookStory "Tales from the Vault", [[TheDitz Jo]]'s story is on cassette, and begins:
23-->'''Jo:''' Hello? Testing. One, two. Oh, hang on, is this... oh yeah, the dial's moving. Probably a good sign. Right. Ahem. ''''''-Bzzzzz!-''''' [[CuteClumsyGirl Oh, wrong button]]. ''Anyway''...
24[[/folder]]
25
26[[folder:Comedy]]
27* Stock covering line for a comedian who tells a joke at which no-one laughs.
28* Parodied by Zack Galifianakis, playing a stand-up comic from the 1700s. "Is this thing on?... ''What is this thing?''"
29* Also parodied by Patton Oswalt, when he commented on how he was amazed he was still funny because he was in a great relationship and in love:
30-->'''Patton Oswalt:''' You ever find yourself in a relationship and realize it's a rainbow basket filled with sunflower kisses? ...Hello? Is this thing on? C'mon-- what are you, mummies?
31* In Music/BillBailey's ''Part Troll'' tour, he mentions how in one review he was described as looking like "a medieval roadie":
32-->'''Bill Bailey:''' A medieval roadie? Ah, one do I say, one do I say, one do I say, one do I say then surely two should follow, two should follow, two should follow, two should follow.
33* Averted in [[WebVideo/LoadingReadyRun CrapShots]] [[http://youtu.be/kTOVID1Thdw #25]]. Graham tests the microphone, but does not tap it. [[spoiler:He does say some pretty embarrassing things, though.]]
34* In a Ukrainian comedy show, a performer tested the microphone replaced "one two three" with "eight nine ten jack queen king ace".
35[[/folder]]
36
37[[folder:Comic Books]]
38* ''ComicBook/AstroCity'': In "Through Open Doors (Part One)", the intergalactic ambassador Telseth's BigEntrance gets messed up this way.
39* Rainbow Dash says this about her own voice when she grows frustrated with everyone else ignoring her in the second story-arc of ''ComicBook/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagicIDW''.
40[[/folder]]
41
42[[folder:Comic Strips]]
43* In one ''[[ComicStrip/TheFarSide Far Side]]'' comic, captioned "Testing whether fish have feelings", two scientists have one microphone in a fishbowl inhabited by a single goldfish and another one being held by one of the scientists. The scientist begins to yell insults at the fish, only to ask if the mic is on when he doesn't get a response.
44* In one ''Brother Juniper'' comic the title character speaks into the lectern microphone in an empty church.
45-->'''Brother Juniper:''' Testing... coal collection... warm hearts or frigid church... testing.
46[[/folder]]
47
48[[folder:Fan Works]]
49* Nappa's ghost in ''WebVideo/DragonBallAbridged'', while ''mentally'' contacting Vegeta.
50-->'''Nappa:''' Is this thing on? ''[coughs noisily]'' You are now thinking about what [[AmbiguouslyGay Zarbon]] did to you while you were unconscious. [[ParanoiaFuel Have fun with that.]]
51* ''Fanfic/MarioAndSonicHeroesUnite'': "Attention. 1, 2, 3. Uhm... is this mic on?"
52* In ''[[https://www.fanfiction.net/s/10520581/2/Harry-Potter-and-the-Vampire-s-Ring Harry Potter and the Vampire's Ring]]'' Sirius starts a recorded will this way.
53* In ''[[https://www.fanfiction.net/s/11420222/11/The-Fairy-Godmother The Fairy Godmother]]'' this is the first thing Harry's father says in a recorded will.
54* ''Fanfic/TheGreatAlicornHunt'': Rarity runs into this trope while attempting to make a ship-wide announcement.
55* In ''Fanfic/ThePriceOfFlight'', Lord Vetinari's first words when speaking into a {{Magitek}} PA system are
56--> Is this thing on, Drumknott? Capital.
57[[/folder]]
58
59[[folder:Films -- Animation]]
60%%* The 2009 ''WesternAnimation/AstroBoy'' film.
61* ''WesternAnimation/Shrek2'' has this trope, although rather amusingly, when the fairy godmother is recording an "answering machine message"...
62* ''WesternAnimation/TheIncredibles1'' has Mr. Incredible say this in his initial interview.
63* In ''WesternAnimation/HomeOnTheRange'', show cow Maggie says this line and blows at her ''cow bell''.
64* In ''WesternAnimation/{{walle}}'', the captain of the ''Axiom'' begins his groundbreaking announcement that Earth is once again inhabitable by asking this question.
65* ''WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyEquestriaGirlsRainbowRocks'': Just before the finals of the BattleOfTheBands, Rainbow Dash does the "Check, one two, testing, testing" thing and taps the microphone. Then Sunset Shimmer unwisely raises the volume to the max, causing an ear-splitting feedback on Dash's next try.
66* In ''WesternAnimation/TurningRed'', When Mei starts recording with a camcorder, Miriam sticks her face right in front of it and asks if it's on.
67* ''WesternAnimation/TwiceUponATime'': Synonamess Botch taps his mic and says "Is this thing on?" before addressing his minions.
68[[/folder]]
69
70[[folder:Films -- Live-Action]]
71* Said in the ''Film/TheProwler'' when the supervising teacher tells the partygoers that there is a [[TitleDrop prowler]] on the grounds and everyone should stay inside.
72* In ''Film/HoubaOnTheTrailOfTheMarsupilami'', Not-So-IntrepidReporter Dan Geraldo does this with ''the business end of a blowpipe''. To be fair, he's thinking it's held by an imposter and not a real jungle native. He gets a faceful of darts for his troubles.
73* ''Film/AvengersEndgame'': Before recording his message to Pepper at the beginning of the movie, Tony Stark taps against his helmet (which he uses as a recorder) and asks "This thing on?"
74[[/folder]]
75
76[[folder:Literature]]
77* ''Literature/{{Discworld}}'':
78** In ''Literature/SoulMusic'', Asphalt the roadie says "One two. One. One. One two," prior to the concert at The Cavern, but doesn't know ''why''.
79** One of the silliest and most obviously deliberate examples anywhere occurs in ''Literature/{{Thud}}'': an ancient recording of a historic dwarven leader begins with a couple of loud knocking noises, followed by "Art thys thyng workyng?"
80[[/folder]]
81
82[[folder:Live-Action TV]]
83* During the Carson-era of ''Series/TheTonightShow'', Johnny would leap up to grab the boom mic, bring it close to his mouth and announce: "Attention, K-Mart shopper!" whenever a joke fell flat.
84* ''Series/DoctorWho'': The Doctor does this with his camera when recording his instructions for Martha in "Human Nature".
85* ''Series/FallingSkies'': [[http://www.fallingskies.com/watch/comics The bonus material on the official site]] has Pope starting an oral history of the Second Mass on a tape recorder he stumbles on. This is the very first thing he says, and he's genuinely surprised that it works.
86* In one of the last episodes of ''Series/ILoveLucy'', Fred installs an intercom between his guest house and the Ricardo's main house. Lucy tests it with the "Testing 1, 2, 3" method.
87* Parodied in ''{{Series/Galavant}}''. King Richard attempts to do a comedy routine, and [[EpicFail fails miserably]]. He then says this and taps ''his mouth'', since they're in the Middle Ages and microphones don't exist.
88* Played with in ''Series/SlingsAndArrows''. A stagehand soundchecks with "check, one, [[ShoutOut to be]] or [[Creator/WilliamShakespeare not to be]]" before [[TheFunInFuneral Oliver's memorial service]].
89* ''Series/StargateSG1'', season 8 episode "New Order, Part 2": Jack O'Neill does this while his mind is merged with the computer of Thor's spaceship, and he's talking through its comms.
90-->'''Jack's voice:''' Hello. Testing, testing. One, two. One, two, one, two, testing. Helloooo? Is this thing on?
91* On the often-aired commercials for the series ''Series/{{V 2009}}'', the underside of the alien spacecraft was a huge video screen displaying the smiling face of their leader, Anna. Except for that one time, where it showed Creator/ZachBraff saying "Hello? Is this thing on?" It was [[TrailerSpoof actually]] a promo for ''Series/{{Scrubs}}''.
92* ''Rutland Weekend Television'' did a song called "Testing".
93* ''Series/SaturdayNightLive'': In a "Wayne's World" sketch Creator/TomHanks plays Garth's cousin Barry who is a roadie for Music/{{Aerosmith}}. Barry's job is to set up the mic stands including saying "Test test, check one, check one, sibilance, sibilance, check two check two, sibilance" into each mic.
94[[/folder]]
95
96[[folder:Music]]
97* Music/GetoBoys -- "My minds Plain' Tricks on Me"
98-->''I sit alone in my four cornered room, starin' at candles... Oh that shit is on? heh.\
99Let me drop some shit like this here''
100* Music/{{Eminem}}:
101** ''The Eminem Show'' album ends with a skit. During the skit Ken Kaniff taps the microphone and says "Erm... izzis thing on...?"
102** At the start of "The Real Sugar Baby" (a cover of Eminem's "The Real Slim Shady", only with a female singer and with "sugar baby" instead of "slim shady") the singer goes into the mic at the start; "Hello, is this thing on?"
103* The Shellac song, "The End of Radio", repeats this phrase many times. Which is especially surreal when you consider that band leader Steve Albini is a ''professional recording engineer''. "This... microphone... ''turns sound into electricity!'' Can you hear me now?!"
104* Lady Sovereign begins "A Little Bit of Shhh" with this phrase.
105* Zach De La Rocha of Music/RageAgainstTheMachine would usually open concerts by shouting "one, two"
106* Less Than Jake has a song with this trope as its name. It uses the phrase to represent loneliness and watching the world leave you behind as you mourn a loss.
107-->''You're on your own.\
108 Can't make it through this world all alone.\
109 Is this thing on at all?''
110* The Music/JimiHendrix song "Hey Baby (New Rising Sun)" has this trope as its first line after the epic intro/solo.
111* Music/BarenakedLadies' "Testing 1, 2, 3."
112-->''Testing 1,2,3\
113Can anybody hear me?\
114If I shed the irony\
115Would anybody cheer me?''
116* Schooly D's original recording of the ''WesternAnimation/AquaTeenHungerForce'' theme starts with his calling out "Mic check, mic check..."
117* Full Force's "Alice, I Want You Just for Me":
118-->Testing, testing, one, two, one, two\
119Testing, one two\
120In the place to be
121[[/folder]]
122
123[[folder:Podcasts]]
124* Episodes of ''Podcast/TheMagnusArchives'' are in the form of recordings the archivist is making of statements about supernatural experiences. He utters the "1-2-3" version at the start of the first episode.
125[[/folder]]
126
127[[folder:Print Media]]
128* "Leaders and Followers", an article in ''Magazine/{{Dragon}}'' written as a transcript of a panel at an adventurers' convention, opens with the deaf old wizard chairing the panel tapping the mic and saying "Can you hear me now?" unaware that the audience is saying they can. Eventually, one of the panelists takes the microphone away from him.
129[[/folder]]
130
131[[folder:Puppet Shows]]
132* ''Series/SesameStreet'': One News Flash sketch features the witch from "Literature/SnowWhite". Before addressing the MagicMirror, she blows on her microphone, then says, "Testing. One, two..."
133[[/folder]]
134
135[[folder:Radio]]
136* ''Radio/OurMissBrooks'': Miss Brooks tests the microphone before beginning announcing duties at the titular "Walter v. Stretch Grudge Match".
137* ''Rory Bremner's One Question Quiz'', with a contestant who's "been dead since 1797":
138-->'''Mary Wollstonecraft:''' ''[tap tap]'' Is this thing on? Also, what is this thing?
139[[/folder]]
140
141[[folder:Theatre]]
142* Used in ''Theatre/{{Wicked}}'' -- ''for a malfunctioning wand''.
143* The Tango: Maureen in ''Theatre/{{Rent}}''.
144-->'''Mark:''' Say something. Anything.\
145'''Joanne:''' Test, 1, 2, 3...\
146'''Mark:''' ... anything but ''that''.
147[[/folder]]
148
149[[folder:Video Games]]
150* In ''VideoGame/DeadToRights'', the objective of one of the levels is to stop a member of a corrupt SWAT-style unit from calling his boss. During the level the guy constantly repeats "Come in, hey Dick you copy! This stupid... What's the damn frequency?"
151* Similarly, Malcolm Corley said "How do I turn this thing off?" in ''VideoGame/FullThrottle''.
152* At one point in ''VideoGame/BatmanArkhamAsylum'', Harley Quinn says this while delivering an announcement over the Arkham Asylum PA system.
153* Harley does it again in ''VideoGame/BatmanArkhamCity'' when speaking through her statue-communicators.
154* In the intro of ''VideoGame/CrashOfTheTitans'', Cortex appears inside of a big zeppelin and utters this line before properly addressing (and kidnapping some of) the protagonists of the game.
155* ''VideoGame/ResidentEvil5'': Albert Wesker says this in a [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GyxNviCGLoI voicemail message]] (don't look for it in the game; it's a joke by Wesker's VO D.C. Douglas).
156-->'''Wesker:''' Is this thing on? Excella, I told you I hate AT&T! ''[sigh]'' Greetings, you have reached Albert Wesker's... celulate device. I'm currently away on business -- business that does not concern you. If Chris has given you this number I'll deal with you shortly. If you're calling to confirm the date of launch for the final phase of... the plan, please dial 01-800- ''[background noise]'' Excella, do not touch that! ''[more noise]'' Goddamnit, woman!
157* In the introduction to ''1931: Scheherazade at the Library of Pergamum'' Sadie's aunt insists on fiddling with the microphone before the high school graduation ceremony begins.
158-->'''Aunt Evelyn:''' Is this thing on? Newfangled technology, even if I did donate it...what?! It is?!
159* After beating Iggy inside the Golden Temple in ''VideoGame/PaperMarioColorSplash'' the announcer will ask "Is this thing on?" before announcing Mario as the winner.
160* In ''VideoGame/ThiefIITheMetalAge'', Karras begins recording into the steampunk wax-cylinder device ''he invented'' thusly: "Is this functioning?"
161* In ''VideoGame/{{Overwatch}}'' Winston said this while preparing for a Video to recall Overwatch agents in the cinematic teaser.
162-->'''Winston:''' ''[grabs the camera and pulls it up to point it at him; he is eating a banana]'' Is this on?
163* In ''Homescape'', after Austin and William add a microphone to the stage in the party room.
164-->'''Austin:''' Testing, one, two, give me some beats! Oh, it's working! Can you hear me, dad?
165[[/folder]]
166
167[[folder:Web Comics]]
168* In ''Webcomic/TheInexplicableAdventuresOfBob'', spoken by the Captain of the [[SpacePirates Pirates of Ipecac]] before he announces his plans to attack Earth.
169* Turg the minotaur asks "This thing working?" with a communication crystal ball in ''Webcomic/YetAnotherFantasyGamerComic''.
170* In ''Webcomic/OurLittleAdventure'', [[http://danielscreations.com/ola/comics/ep0118.html a dwarf does this with a recording amulet.]]
171* ''Webcomic/GirlGenius'': [[http://twitter.com/Othar/status/1464283426 In an entry]] of [[Webcomic/GirlGenius Othar Tryggvassen's]] twitter, our favorite GentlemanAdventurer finds his twitting device after a TimeSkip.
172[[/folder]]
173
174[[folder:Web Animation]]
175* In WebAnimation/HazbinHotel's pilot, Alastor jokingly [[RedBaron The Radio Demon]] does this with his staff when Charlie is surprised at his offer to help.
176-->'''Alastor:''' Hello? Testing, Testing!
177[[/folder]]
178
179[[folder:Web Video]]
180* In the ''WebVideo/YuGiOhTheAbridgedSeries'' 5Ds one shot, a routine attempt at this combined with Jack Atlas having NoIndoorVoice resulted in the ''Zero Reverse disaster''. [[note]] In canon, it's because a reactor went into meltdown. Here? All Jack [[/note]]
181-->'''Yusei:''' The strange part is that the microphone [[BeyondTheImpossible wasn't even plugged in.]]
182[[/folder]]
183
184[[folder:Western Animation]]
185* Uttered by Lrrr of the planet Omicron Persei 8 in an episode of ''WesternAnimation/{{Futurama}}''.
186* Used in the series ''WesternAnimation/DaveTheBarbarian'' in which a peasant asks a series of really bad jokes before asking: "Has this thing been invented yet?"
187* Subverted in ''WesternAnimation/TheSimpsons'' where Moe tells an awful joke, asks if his microphone is on, then gets an apology from Barney as he failed to plug the wire in.
188* Used in the start of the opening theme for ''WesternAnimation/SidTheScienceKid''.
189* In ''WesternAnimation/ThePowerpuffGirls1998'' episode "The City of Frownsville", Lou Gubrious sets a ray on Townsville that has everyone crying torrents of tears. The girls attempt to make the crowd at a festival laugh, even though ''they're'' crying as well. Blossom taps the mic and sobs, "Is this thing on?"
190* ''WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagic'':
191** In episode "[[Recap/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagicS2E5SisterhoovesSocial Sisterhooves Social]]", Granny Smith does it with a megaphone, before grumbling about modern appliances in general.
192** In "[[Recap/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagicS5E7MakeNewFriendsButKeepDiscord Make New Friends but Keep Discord]]", Discord starts his stand-up routine with the obligatory "Check, check, is this thing on?"
193** In "[[Recap/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagicS6E26ToWhereAndBackAgainPart2 To Where and Back Again – Part 2]]", Discord again, quite naturally, asks "Is this thing on?" while taping the mic when the changelings aren't laughing at all to his jokes.
194* Uncle Fred in ''[[WesternAnimation/{{Arthur}} Arthur's Perfect Christmas]]'' in his video Christmas card. "Is this thing on? ... Oh, it is!"
195* In ''WesternAnimation/TheBeatles'' episode "Tell Me Why," the boys discover a donkey that runs like a race horse when exposed to loud music. They enter it in a Madrid race with Ringo as the jockey. As they start to play the opening of the song, nothing is coming out of the speakers -- because the guitars weren't plugged into them.
196* At the end of an episode of ''WesternAnimation/TheFairlyOddParents'', a giant robot tells a bad joke and, after a second of silence, asks "Is this voice amplification device functional?"
197* ''WesternAnimation/TheNewScoobyDooMovies:'' In "[[Recap/TheNewScoobyDooMoviesS2E2TheHauntedShowboat The Haunted Showboat}]]'' the gang and the Pussycats pretend to abandon the riverboat, but hide in the cargo hold to set a trap for the crooks. They discuss their plan, only to realize that the boat's speaker tube is off the hook right next to them and broadcast their conversation through the riverboat.
198* In ''WesternAnimation/{{Pelswick}}'', this is used by Vice Principal Ziegler as a RunningGag: ”Is this thing on?" [[PhraseCatcher "YES! IT'S ON!"]]
199[[/folder]]
200
201[[folder:Real Life]]
202* Audio professionals will say "check one two" while setting up microphones since the phrase features harsh syllables and plosives, such as ch-ECK, WUH-ne, and TOO. They don't say three and ''never'' tap the mic. If more speech is required, they will use tongue-twisters, poems, newspaper articles, or any other large banks of text to ensure a broad range of vowel and consonant sounds are properly equalized.
203* Reputedly happened to a priest at the beginning of Eucharist. "And He took the bread, praised God and said: Is this thing on?"
204* At one point in his Presidency, UsefulNotes/RonaldReagan was asked to talk into a mic for a sound level and said [[DeadpanSnarker "My fellow Americans, I'm pleased to tell you today that I've signed legislation that will outlaw Russia forever. We begin bombing in five minutes."]] Needless to say, the Russians were not amused, their Air Force staying on guard for a full half hour after the comment. [[CrossesTheLineTwice The Americans, on the other hand,]] were too busy howling with laughter to care much.
205* When you are about to use a mic, just start talking naturally and see if you can hear yourself over the speakers. If it's not on after all, it won't matter. If in doubt, you can always just ask "Can everybody hear me?" [[AlwaysWantedToSaythat Or just give into the meme and start testing.]]
206* During UsefulNotes/{{Romania}}n dictator Nicolae Ceaușescu's final speech on 21 December 1989, as the crowd began to boo and heckle him -- an unprecedented moment in Communist Romania -- Ceaușescu was so stunned that he resorted to pretending the crowd simply couldn't hear him, tapping his microphone and shouting "Alo!" (the standard Romanian telephone greeting) until order was (temporarily) restored.
207* A variation of this trope is used for radio communication, where it will likely not be immediately apparent to the operator if their station is transmitting properly or not, even if they ''know'' the transmitter is on, as radios typically cannot receive anything while transmitting, and will instead be dead silent to the operator. In this case, the operator can call out for a "Radio Check" or a "Signal Report", where they might receive some variant of "Loud and Clear" or "Five by Five" if everything is working properly. For amateur radio operators, this is a required part of most radio conversations for logging purposes, especially if done for competitions. When in doubt, you can always just give a signal report of "Five Nine", indicating a perfect signal, whether it was actually that good or not, just to be polite and help the other person complete their radio log.
208[[/folder]]

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