The TVTropes Trope Finder is where you can come to ask questions like "Do we have this one?" and "What's the trope about...?" Trying to rediscover a long lost show or other medium but need a little help? Head to Media Finder and try your luck there. Want to propose a new trope? You should be over at You Know, That Thing Where.
MiinU
Since: Jun, 2011
17th Aug, 2019 11:08:59 AM
You answered your own question: Failure Is the Only Option because Status Quo Is God.
Both tropes encompass a broad range of reasons (meta and in-universe), but it's especially common practice in sitcoms because nothing is/was ever allowed to change.
MetaFour
MOD
Since: Jan, 2001
eroock
Since: Sep, 2012
18th Aug, 2019 07:35:01 AM
Sometimes a case of Nice Job Breaking It, Rivals!.
Edited by eroock
NTaya
Since: Aug, 2015
19th Aug, 2019 05:58:30 PM
Sadist Show is exactly what I've been looking for. Thanks!
Miss_Desperado
Since: Sep, 2016
19th Aug, 2019 08:42:37 PM
And here I was about to suggest Failure Montage. Oh well.
If not for this anchor I'd be dancing between the stars. At least I can try to write better vampire stories than Twilight.
Is there a trope for shows or at least episodes which end with *everyone* failing? Where neither heroes nor villains manage to achieve anything and left with nothing? Failure Is the Only Option seems to be about a completely different thing, Status Quo Is God is close, but I'm thinking more along the lines of a comedy about a bunch of losers, like Invader Zim where often neither Zim nor Dib are able to win, and their failures are played for laughs.
Edited by NTaya