I had a rehashed plotlines thread a while back that has since been purged. You know the SAME plots we see over and over, that get reheated and served up to us poor audience members. Sitcoms are the worse with this IMO. Some examples I can think of now:
1- The pretend your my boyfriend/girlfriend so I can impress my boss/parent/siblings.
2- Pretend I'm the boss so I can impress my parents/siblings plot
And there are many more...

An example from etain in the Very Special Episode thread:

M*A*S*H got quite a bit of this towards the end. I distinctly remember two different episodes about Potter agonizing over whether to turn in an old friend who has become too senile to be in the war anymore.

Days of Our Lives is doing a serial killer story, so One Life To Live decided to copy it. All My Children offed one of its core characters (he was only on for a short time but became key as he raped the lesbian character,) so As The World Turns killed off annoying Jersey Rose. All four of the shows now have a "Whodunnit?" sort of storyline.

You'd think there wasn't a fresh idea in daytime.

Or, as from TV lessons ... how about all those shows that wacky (or not so wacky hijinks) ensue because a character has to be all secretive when possibly, had they told the truth or explained the situation in the first place (like most normal people do), there would be no reason for the entire 30 min/1 hour/or even cliffhanger 2-3 epsisode plot.

The infrequently-seen I Love Lucy pilot was remade almost word-for-word as an episode in a later seasn.

How about the ever popular "overheard conversation is misunderstood and wackiness/drama ensues" plot? I've seen it in sitcoms, dramas, sci-fi shows, cartoons, cop shows, you name it.

Aaron Sorkin rules this thread. Josh(West Wing)/Danny(Sports Night) lose a sibling tragically and have psychological issues. Jed/Danny's fathers don't like them, they have psychological issues. Sam/Jeremy's fathers cheat on their mothers for 28/27 years, so they throw themselves into work, trying to explain a ship crash/exonerate a 50's spy, until they unload to a girlfriend/female friend. Sam/Casey sacrifice their relationships to women named Lisa for their careers. A tennis player/senator just will not lose/give up a filibuster, keeping everyone after hours. (There's websites which explain this much better than I could, but you get the picture.)



Nah, you can't blame that on television. The concept of dramatic foreclosure's all over literature. Comedy of Errors , etc. ( I have a Shakespeare final in two weeks, can you tell? ;)

Forget rehash I have an example of them actually one show actually remaking an episode from another show. It was from Michael Mann's Robbery Homicide Division and they did an episode that was remade from the Miami Vice ep that revolved around Crockett getting a death row inmate freed only to learn that the man was actually guilty and had tricked Crockett into helping him get off. In fact the RHD ep even has an adapted by credit in the opening sequence.

[/i]Edited to correct some glaring mistakes that I just caught[/b]

The first Cosby Show (pilot?) was a rehash of his nightclub act/HBO special on parenting.

The ST:TNG episode "The Naked Now" was a pretty direct rip-off of TOS's "The Naked Time" (Enterprise finds ship semi-destroyed courtesy of its own [now dead] crew; unknowingly bring back virus and go nuts on their own ship, curing themselves just in time). As you can see by the episode titles, they didn't even try to pretend it was a new idea. All post-'60s incarnations of Trek have rehashed story and character arcs, episode plots, and character types from previous series.

X-Files started repeating itself pretty early on, with varying degrees of success (depending on how clever the writer was, generally, but also on whether DD and/or GA was phoning it in that particular week). They even recycled Monster of the Week gimmicks: lots of innocent-looking but evil/posessed children, lots of creepy escalating fetishistic serial killers, and there were at least two episodes where a worm was cut out of someone's spinal column ::: shudder ::: And they weren't above recycling plots from other shows: the evil dolly from "Chinga" was a straight-up rip-off of an old Twilight Zone ep; the "trapped in an Arctic research station at the mercy of an alien menace" plot of "Ice" was from the movie The Thing, to name a couple.

Long-running Westerns like Bonanza recycled stories like crazy...Little Joe probably loved and then tragically (inevitably?) lost at least a half a dozen girlfriends to tragic accidents/illnesses over the years. They were so similar the individual details are a blur, and he was always over it by the the next episode. Dating Little Joe was like the kiss of death -- or the Old West equivalent of being a Trek Red Shirt.

I can't think of any specific examples at the moment, but Laverne & Shirley "borrowed" from I Love Lucy on several occasions.

When the KTMA season of Mystery Science Theater 3000 could no longer be shown since no one had remembered they had to get the rights to the movies first, the people behind it seized the oppurtunity to transplant some sketches and even some movies (with different jokes, though) into the next couple seasons.

VacationLand exposited:

I wouldn't say "rip-off". More like "homage". Yes, the plot was basically the same. But keep in mind 2 other things. First, that episode was in the first season of TNG. I'm sure that Roddenberry used the idea to draw in fans of TOS. The other thing is that "Naked Time" was directly referenced in "Naked Now". Riker and Crusher, in researching past instances of the phenomenon comes across the original Enterprise records, including McCoy's antidote. Which, since they find it approximately halfway through the episode, naturally fails to work again.

At the time, believe it or not, there was a lot of confusion with people thinking TNG would just 'update' every episode of TOS. Before TNG came on the air the publicity clarified it, saying that they would remake a couple of TOS episodes, but would mostly focus on new stories.

I thought the evil dolly episode of The X-files was written by Stephen King? Whoops.

Speaking of Miami Vice, the episode in which Iman guested as a Sonny's girlfriend/serial killer with dual personalities was a direct ripoff of a Starsky & Hutch episode.

Well, of course, there's always the pregnancy + elevator = hijinx.

California Dreams borrowed heavily from Saved By the Bell. Zack dates a fat girl as well as the "find your heritage/we were slaves" storylines.

It was, and it wasn't really a ripoff. The XF doll (IIRC) forced people to hurt or kill themselves. Talking Tina from TZ just said threatening things, and put herself at the top of the stairs so Telly Savalas would trip over her and break his neck. Talking Tina was way less gruesome than the XF doll.

"I'm Talking Tina, and you'd better be nice to me!"

Nitpicking here, sorry, but it's "Talky Tina"!

"My name is Talky Tina, and I'm going to kill you!"

*Ducks under desk, shivering*
"My name Talky Tina, get it right or I'll kill you!"

You forgot to mention Harry Morgan's first appearance on MASH, where he played a general who had become too senile to be in the war anymore!

(So y'all don't have to IMDB it: Harry Morgan played Potter)

Really? I could've sworn I heard "Talking Tina." Huh.

"I'm Talky Tina, and you're on your way down the stairs, Elle!"

Speaking of X Files ripping things off, the movie and the sixth season premiere "The Beginning" blatantly ripped off the Alien movies with a dangerous creature that incubated inside someone before bursting out of the host, and then going on a bloody killing spree afterwards.

X-Files ripped off (or paid homage to - whichever) "Run Lola Run" with that episode where Mulder's bank gets robbed over and over by Carol Burnett's daughter and that guy from Northern Exposure.

Another plot rehash I'm sick to death of is the "non-wedding". Two main characters fall in love and plan an elaborate, expensive wedding (which usually takes place in one of the other main character's living room or backyard for some reason). At the altar, when the minister asks "Do you take this man/woman" one of them says "No!", they have a heartfelt discussion and determine that they should just stay good friends, and everyone goes on as before. WTF? Lame excuse to have a big "wedding show" during sweeps, but not change the actual dynamics of the show.

One I'm thinking pf is from older (hey I'm 16) sitcoms, like Family Matters and Home Improvement to name a few, where the wife gets a separate bank account and the husband gets uptight about it and wants her to get rid of it. This always annoyed me for some reason

Word, supercoolme. That one was used on The Dick Van Dyke Show, too, so it's even older than you think.

The Equalizer- Robert McCall finds himself being held hostage during a wedding reception

Kung Fu:The Legend Continues- The Caines and Captain Blaisdell find themselves being held hostage during a wedding reception

Additional link- some writer and producer overlap, common use of Robert Lansing

(edited to correct nothing much)

From BTVS, "He's got a soul now", once it was said it had to be repeated and beaten into us every episode and then they took the same supid thing and brought it over to AtS where it was already being used.

Every single Peter Engel production. I swear, he has five scripts and just changes the names each time.

What was the difference between California Dreams, Saved By the Bell, Hang Time, USA High and Malibu, CA? NOTHING. Absolutely nothing.

Actually, its kinda sad that I've seen all those shows.

If you want to discuss cartoons, they show the same damn things over and over. In different forms.
You know, the old body-switch, so each character learns how hard it is to walk in each other's shoes.
My all time favorite stupid show, Power Rangers (Still going strong, too) has the same rehashed plot in every single show.
One Ranger has a problem as a civilian. The monster they fight in the episode pertains to this Ranger's problem in some way. They fight the monster as Rangers, they assemble the mighty superweapon from individual Ranger weapons, they blow the monster up. The head villain uses the magic formula/scroll/power beam to grow the monster to super-size. They assemble the giant mecha, and the Ranger with the problem gets to deliver the finishing blow to the monster. Everybody looks fit and athletic in their tight civilian clothes later on at the end of the episode.
(Now you know why I watch the show.)

How about the Battle of the Sexes episode:

Wife: I can't believe all the things I have to do today.
Husband: What? Dust? Watch Donahue? Please. I have to go out and actually work all day.
Wife: You have no idea how hard it is to take care of a house.
Husband: You want to make a bet? (Cue music)
[hilarity ensues]

I mean, of course the husband completely sucks at housework (cue the shirt with the iron marks). The wife may not do any better on the job site, but Husband is definitely the one who'll be eating crow that night.

What really ticks me off is that they did this on "The Jeffersons", complete with the iron-mark burned shirts and the kitchen full of bubbles (presumably from the washer, but maybe from the sink). Isn't George supposed to be a drycleaner?

"The Jeffersons" was heavily mined for "227." I don't remember a battle of the sexes ep, but other hijinks made their way from the penthouse in the sky over to Mary Jenkins' apartment with some regularity.

If you watch "Bewitched" closely, you'll notice plots from the black and white seasons (1&2) redone during the Dick York color years. Additionally, some plots from the Dick York color years were redone in the Dick Sargent years.

I mean, how many times can Samantha be sent back in time without her witchcraft? How many famous historical figures can be summoned to present times?

And since "I Dream of Jeannie" was little more than NBCs "Bewitched" ripoff, of course the plots would transfer.

The only plot redo I ever enjoyed was on "Animaniacs", where "Pinky and the Brain" ripped off the "Honeymooners" episode where Ralph was on the $64,000 Question. Instead of it being Ed's annoying piano tune, though, the question Brain didn't get was a phrase Pinky had been repeating over and over again... Ralph's "Bang, Zoom!" from the "Honeymooners." That was a true homage, though. And very funny.

Bwah! So true.

This is one of those plots-that-will-not-die: lead married couple on the show learns that -- dun dun DUN! -- they aren't legally married! Ohmigod, so then they have to have another wedding, but first they have to question whether they're meant to be together.

From the strange parallels of Peter Engel productions comes...the drug addiction storyline!

Evidence:
- Jessie (SBTB) hooked on caffeine pills to help her with studying (something she is obviously good at to begin with); friends (Zack, Slater)try to intervene, much to her resentment/anger (beating fists to "I'm so excited - and so, so, scared!")
- Tiffany (California Dreams) hooked on steroids to help her with volleyball (something she is obviously good at to begin with); friends (Sly) try to intervene, much to her resentment/anger (bashing Sly into locker with repeated threats of, "I'm not hooked, so back off!")

I rest my case. (let's come up with more of these...mucho fun!)

of course Peter Engel copied for all shows. The max was used for all the shows too as the hangout.same building.

Michael Landon also used some bonzanza storylines for Little house.

You mean every. single. episode. of Frasier?

Why is this shit still hilarious? Was it that over-the-top? Was it so stupid it was funny even then? I just don't know.

Also, I'm cracking up as I remember perky Tiffany yelling, "I'm not hooked, so back off!" in her most threatening chipmunk voice.

Lifetime just did a movie "Gracie's Choice" that was a ripoff of "Homeless to Harvard" and another called "Homecomings" based on a book by Cynthia Voight.

Homeless to Harvard: Motivational high school counselor, sister who falls by the wayside, druggie mom, absent dad, five second stay in abusive juvenile detention facility, instant turnaround from slacker to overachiever

Homecomings: Older teen sister fights to keep three younger siblings with her, druggie mom, absent dad, grandmother who takes them in

(actually this describes lots of movies, but those were the two that came to mind)

I've been watching the ER reruns in the morning, and they're recycling story lines within the program. Carol tried med school, so has Abby. Doug started seeing a woman because he bonded with her kid, Luka's beginning to do the same thing with Sam. In fact, a lot of Luka's story line seems to be a recycle of Doug's to me. Sleeps with hookers, falls in love with a nurse, spirals downward until some event changes his attitude. Dr. Pratt also seems to be modeled on Dr. Benton--ladies man, troubled family, cocky.

Okay, because I thought I was nuts for thinking that's what they were advertising. They're basically the same movie right?

Don't forget every sitcom family's obligatory trip to Disney/big amusement park or Hawaii (or both!)
Full House went to Disney and Hawaii, Family Matters went to Disney, The Brady's went to Hawaii and King's Island, I think they went to Disney on Step by Step, and didn't Cory and Toganga go on Boy Meets World?

And 2 out of 3 times when a woman is preggers, she has twins. TV women are so fertile!

Same for David E. Kelley. Don't worry if you miss an ep of Ally McBeal/The Practice/Chicago Hope/Boston Public - they're ALL THE SAME.

Actually, what is worse than that the plot where the couple decide to not have the wedding is the ridiculously overused plot about one of the couple (the Doubter) having doubts about getting married because they are really in love with somebody else. When this lover does appear to stop the wedding, not only does the partner who was about to marry the Doubter not totally lose it, they actually ask something like "Is this what you really want?" and then say "I just want you to be happy" and then the Doubter and Lover just get married in front of all the guests, none of whom say a word or leave or complain that they were here to see their friend/daughter/whatever get married, not see them dumped for somebody else. God. You would think that if writers were going to completely rehash a storyline, they'd at least get a plausible one!

One can only hope that the Jiltee and his/her family submit a bill for wedding expenses to Doubter and Lover afterwards.

What about the Family-Goes-to-Europe plot? They will either 1) get involved in international intrigue involving spies and top secret plans, 2) the "hot" teenage son will meet a princess and help her escape her strict parents and bodyguards so they can fall in love during a montage set to kicky music, or 3) the "hot" teenage son will meet a prince who looks exactly like him and they will switch places to experience how the other half lives.

I love how people are always meeting their exact doubles on TV, and even their own parents can't tell them apart.

Super Secret TV Formulas on VH1 deals with many overused plots.

How about husband/wife looses wedding ring?

Expectant parents can't decide baby name*

Main character learns old flame has child who resembles him*

Main character runs for city council/class president (sometimes gets dirt on opponent in unethical way, wrestles with conscience on whether to use it).

12 Angry Men Redux (The only one of these I ever liked was Newhart's. Strangely, The Odd Couple did one, and Jack Klugman (Oscar) was in the original movie)

*Frasier did both of these in one episode, must have been trying for some sort of record

Hee. I love this thread.

How about: Woman finds herself the subject of an unplanned pregnancy, so she freaks out and considers the alternatives, only to decide she wants the child, after all. Subsequent test then proves she's not pregnant.

If the woman is married, this is the point where she and her husband will start trying for a baby.

So I have no life and since I've seen most California Dreams episodes, but have not memorized a lot of them like I have with SBTB, here are some rehashed storylines that I googled.



Sounds a lot like the SBTB episode where Mr. B injures Zach's leg and Zack dreams he dies during surgery. And Lisa Turtle goes a candystriping.



Sounds a lot like the SBTB episode where Lisa's dance partner injures himself before the big dance contest, so Screech, who has the hots for Lisa, volunteers as her partner. [CaseyKasem]Let's do the...the sprain.[/CaseyKasem]




This has a lot of SBTB plots all in one eppy. The very special drunk driving episode. The 'you won't graduate unless you do this' (also used in The Fresh Prince, which, ironically enough, both involved the male lead(s) in tights in front of the school). And the gang get their diplomas from Principal Belding/Blumford. SIDENOTE: How funny is it that Tara Reid starred as the girl who wants to drink?

I loathe the plot where someone is babysitting or petsitting and the pet dies or gets lost or the kid gets lost and the rest of the episode they:

a) Try to stall the pet owner/parent (usually using their wacky sidekick as a diversion)
b) Find a replacement pet that looks "just like" the original.

It never works and they have to admit what they should have had the balls to admit 30 minutes ago.

ETA, "This is a Peter Engel's production" is my new catchphrase! hee.

Bwah! The sprain, the Urkel ... damn if 90s TV didn't promote some lame-ass dances.

And how did you lose a wedding ring?
a) down the sink drain
b) at the gym
c) after taking it off to prove you're still attractive to the opposite sex
d) you didn't really lose it; your spouse secretly had it engraved before you renewed your vows!

On occasion a series will literally reuse an extant script (to which its producers own the rights). This was rampant during the fall when the writers' strike was going on, so no new scripts could be written. Solution? use old ones. The New Mission Impossible was created to take advantage of this (they also filmed in Australia, so they could use original scripts there -- but several of the stories were acknowledged reuse of old scripts). There were no doubt a number of other examples during those months; one I happened to notice was a Sonny Spoon ("Be True To Your School") which used a Riptide script from 3 or 4 years before.