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Improbably Predictable

184 statements
34 feature instances
24 referencing feature instances

Improbably Predictable	type	FeatureClass
Improbably Predictable	label	Improbably Predictable
Improbably Predictable	page	ImprobablyPredictable
Improbably Predictable	comment	A friend or someone else who knows a character well will tell another person how the first character will react to some piece of news. Often, he will quote the character's reaction directly. Later on, when the first character receives the news, he or she will react exactly, down to the letter, how the friend said he would. Similarly, this trope can often involve one character preemptively pantomiming a character's response as they stand behind them, showing off exactly how predictable their friend is (or how well they know him or her). This trope could also involve a predictable character's friend finishing his sentences for him. If they're really showing off, they will have the response written beforehand to show them. Finally, this trope is illustrated when a person counts down "three... two... one..." to the other character having a reaction about something. Compare The Tape Knew You Would Say That and Strange Minds Think Alike. This trope is often utilized for a Batman Gambit because this type of plan requires knowledge of likely character behavior. If the one making the prediction is not established knowing the other person well, this trope crosses into Gambit Roulette. Compare The Anticipator and Badass Minds Think Alike.
Improbably Predictable	fetched	2023-07-01T12:59:40Z
Improbably Predictable	parsed	2023-07-01T12:59:41Z
Improbably Predictable	processingComment	Dropped link to LeaningOnTheFourthWall: Not an Item - FEATURE
Improbably Predictable	processingComment	Dropped link to OnceAnEpisode: Not an Item - FEATURE
Improbably Predictable	processingComment	Dropped link to SelfParody: Not an Item - FEATURE
Improbably Predictable	processingComment	Dropped link to SundayStrip: Not an Item - FEATURE
Improbably Predictable	processingComment	Dropped link to lampshadehanging: Not an Item - FEATURE
Improbably Predictable	processingComment	Dropped link to runninggag: Not an Item - FEATURE
Improbably Predictable	processingComment	Dropped link to selfreferentialhumor: Not an Item - FEATURE
Improbably Predictable	isPartOf	DBTropes
Improbably Predictable / int_11859033	type	Improbably Predictable
Improbably Predictable / int_11859033	comment	In Narbonic, Artie is smart enough to carry on a conversation by responding to the next thing the other person says.
Improbably Predictable / int_11859033	featureApplicability	1.0
Improbably Predictable / int_11859033	featureConfidence	1.0
Narbonic (Webcomic)	hasFeature	Improbably Predictable / int_11859033
Improbably Predictable / int_22211d68	type	Improbably Predictable
Improbably Predictable / int_22211d68	comment	In one episode of Bones, Booth reveals that he knows Brennan's computer password because he knows how she thinks. He also knows what she changes the password to — twice.
Improbably Predictable / int_22211d68	featureApplicability	1.0
Improbably Predictable / int_22211d68	featureConfidence	1.0
Bones	hasFeature	Improbably Predictable / int_22211d68
Improbably Predictable / int_261c8d3f	type	Improbably Predictable
Improbably Predictable / int_261c8d3f	comment	The Simpsons, "Viva Ned Flanders":
Improbably Predictable / int_261c8d3f	featureApplicability	1.0
Improbably Predictable / int_261c8d3f	featureConfidence	1.0
The Simpsons	hasFeature	Improbably Predictable / int_261c8d3f
Improbably Predictable / int_29984214	type	Improbably Predictable
Improbably Predictable / int_29984214	comment	In JoJo's Bizarre Adventure: Battle Tendency, Joseph Out Gambitting his opponent is usually punctuated by guessing their next line. He always gets it exactly right to the word. One memorable moment has Esidisi turn it around on him, which indicates the fight's not going so hot.
Improbably Predictable / int_29984214	featureApplicability	1.0
Improbably Predictable / int_29984214	featureConfidence	1.0
JoJo's Bizarre Adventure: Battle Tendency (Manga)	hasFeature	Improbably Predictable / int_29984214
Improbably Predictable / int_29e77392	type	Improbably Predictable
Improbably Predictable / int_29e77392	comment	In one episode of Horrible Histories, Henry VIII's jester gives an accurate countdown to Henry's Delayed Reaction to being told his wife is cheating on him.
Improbably Predictable / int_29e77392	featureApplicability	1.0
Improbably Predictable / int_29e77392	featureConfidence	1.0
Horrible Histories	hasFeature	Improbably Predictable / int_29e77392
Improbably Predictable / int_3558eaa2	type	Improbably Predictable
Improbably Predictable / int_3558eaa2	comment	Abed on Community is so good at predicting his friends' responses that he can mimic them while they're talking and his videos foretell the future.
Improbably Predictable / int_3558eaa2	featureApplicability	1.0
Improbably Predictable / int_3558eaa2	featureConfidence	1.0
Community	hasFeature	Improbably Predictable / int_3558eaa2
Improbably Predictable / int_3cc40e40	type	Improbably Predictable
Improbably Predictable / int_3cc40e40	comment	In one strip of Everyday Heroes, we get simultaneous Spit Take prediction.
Improbably Predictable / int_3cc40e40	featureApplicability	1.0
Improbably Predictable / int_3cc40e40	featureConfidence	1.0
Everyday Heroes (Webcomic)	hasFeature	Improbably Predictable / int_3cc40e40
Improbably Predictable / int_3e5de40b	type	Improbably Predictable
Improbably Predictable / int_3e5de40b	comment	Scrubs: The Janitor tells J.D. that he is incredibly predictable, to which J.D. objects: Reversed earlier when J.D. predicts the Janitor's plans to a T.
Improbably Predictable / int_3e5de40b	featureApplicability	1.0
Improbably Predictable / int_3e5de40b	featureConfidence	1.0
Scrubs	hasFeature	Improbably Predictable / int_3e5de40b
Improbably Predictable / int_3f4a104b	type	Improbably Predictable
Improbably Predictable / int_3f4a104b	comment	Once in Dilbert the Pointy-Haired Boss complained to Catbert that Dilbert thought he was predictable.
Improbably Predictable / int_3f4a104b	featureApplicability	1.0
Improbably Predictable / int_3f4a104b	featureConfidence	1.0
Dilbert (Comic Strip)	hasFeature	Improbably Predictable / int_3f4a104b
Improbably Predictable / int_4e45b093	type	Improbably Predictable
Improbably Predictable / int_4e45b093	comment	The Big Bang Theory, "The Lunar Excitation":
Improbably Predictable / int_4e45b093	featureApplicability	1.0
Improbably Predictable / int_4e45b093	featureConfidence	1.0
The Big Bang Theory	hasFeature	Improbably Predictable / int_4e45b093
Improbably Predictable / int_4f067404	type	Improbably Predictable
Improbably Predictable / int_4f067404	comment	An entire episode of Just Shoot Me! ("Nina's Choice") revolved around the principals betting against each other nonstop.
Improbably Predictable / int_4f067404	featureApplicability	1.0
Improbably Predictable / int_4f067404	featureConfidence	1.0
Just Shoot Me!	hasFeature	Improbably Predictable / int_4f067404
Improbably Predictable / int_510974b4	type	Improbably Predictable
Improbably Predictable / int_510974b4	comment	In an episode of Johnny Test, Johnny tells his dog that his father will come out soon, warning him that dinner is in thirty minutes, and Johnny will be in trouble if everything is not normal by dinner.
Improbably Predictable / int_510974b4	featureApplicability	1.0
Improbably Predictable / int_510974b4	featureConfidence	1.0
Johnny Test	hasFeature	Improbably Predictable / int_510974b4
Improbably Predictable / int_5c897f4a	type	Improbably Predictable
Improbably Predictable / int_5c897f4a	comment	Schlock Mercenary played Tagon's double-dealing habits for Ironic Echo Cut. He's predictable that way.
Improbably Predictable / int_5c897f4a	featureApplicability	1.0
Improbably Predictable / int_5c897f4a	featureConfidence	1.0
Schlock Mercenary (Webcomic)	hasFeature	Improbably Predictable / int_5c897f4a
Improbably Predictable / int_61903466	type	Improbably Predictable
Improbably Predictable / int_61903466	comment	In So Random!, in a school news sketch, one of the anchors keeps handing the other letters responding to his response to the previous letter. At one point, the other anchor asks "when did you find the time to write all these letters and how did you know what I was going to say?", which is replied to with a letter saying "Because you're very predictable".
Improbably Predictable / int_61903466	featureApplicability	1.0
Improbably Predictable / int_61903466	featureConfidence	1.0
So Random!	hasFeature	Improbably Predictable / int_61903466
Improbably Predictable / int_645d2bd1	type	Improbably Predictable
Improbably Predictable / int_645d2bd1	comment	In Warbreaker, Lightsong goes to meet Blushweaver and, after talking to her for a while, produces a written account of their conversation so far that he prepared in advance. It's not completely accurate, though for the most part that's because it's exaggerated for comedy (e.g., at one point it claims that Blushweaver was so overcome by Lightsong's eloquence that she was Dumb Struck for several minutes).
Improbably Predictable / int_645d2bd1	featureApplicability	1.0
Improbably Predictable / int_645d2bd1	featureConfidence	1.0
Warbreaker	hasFeature	Improbably Predictable / int_645d2bd1
Improbably Predictable / int_64e03e4b	type	Improbably Predictable
Improbably Predictable / int_64e03e4b	comment	A 2011 radio ad for Verizon's high-speed network has a woman talking about how fast her connection is. She goes on to say "[my friend] will forget about that ticket soon. Because 52 seconds ago, her boyfriend just changed his relationship status to single." She goes on to talk some more about the network, and then returns to count down "Three, two, one" at which point there is the sound of shattering glass and a scream.
Improbably Predictable / int_64e03e4b	featureApplicability	1.0
Improbably Predictable / int_64e03e4b	featureConfidence	1.0
Facebook	hasFeature	Improbably Predictable / int_64e03e4b
Improbably Predictable / int_6abf16c2	type	Improbably Predictable
Improbably Predictable / int_6abf16c2	comment	A conversation in the Big Finish Doctor Who story Pretty Lies, between a journalist and his editorial computer:
Improbably Predictable / int_6abf16c2	featureApplicability	1.0
Improbably Predictable / int_6abf16c2	featureConfidence	1.0
Big Finish Doctor Who (Audio Play)	hasFeature	Improbably Predictable / int_6abf16c2
Improbably Predictable / int_6c9193a1	type	Improbably Predictable
Improbably Predictable / int_6c9193a1	comment	The Venture Bros., "SPHINX Rising," when Henchman 21 and Sergeant Hatred discuss The Monarch's tactics as his giant flying cocoon approaches:
Improbably Predictable / int_6c9193a1	featureApplicability	1.0
Improbably Predictable / int_6c9193a1	featureConfidence	1.0
TheVentureBrothers	hasFeature	Improbably Predictable / int_6c9193a1
Improbably Predictable / int_7c038c18	type	Improbably Predictable
Improbably Predictable / int_7c038c18	comment	Phineas and Ferb: The show will occasionally Self-Parody its use of Once an Episode gags and Catch Phrases by having the characters predict exactly when they will happen. "Run Candace Run": The boys are watching as a nature documentary describes the Cheetah as being the fastest land animal. Candace looks at her watch, then up expectantly. The sound effects lampshade this with the sound of a timer going "ding!" as Phineas says "I know what we're gonna do today!" Candace also does this in one episode where she's able to predict what's happening after Phineas and Ferb finish another daily adventure, including their mom calling the boys in for snacks and Ferb giving out his Once an Episode non-sequitur, such as "You know the gladiators were Roman, not Greek."
Improbably Predictable / int_7c038c18	featureApplicability	1.0
Improbably Predictable / int_7c038c18	featureConfidence	1.0
Phineas and Ferb	hasFeature	Improbably Predictable / int_7c038c18
Improbably Predictable / int_7c48915b	type	Improbably Predictable
Improbably Predictable / int_7c48915b	comment	Gunnerkrigg Court. Here (and here), Andrew Smith demonstrates that he's the only person who can predict when Parley is going to arrive via teleportation. (Word of Tom is that Smitty is just guessing, but because of his order-causing powers, his guesses just happen to be right.)
Improbably Predictable / int_7c48915b	featureApplicability	1.0
Improbably Predictable / int_7c48915b	featureConfidence	1.0
Gunnerkrigg Court (Webcomic)	hasFeature	Improbably Predictable / int_7c48915b
Improbably Predictable / int_89bf8ce	type	Improbably Predictable
Improbably Predictable / int_89bf8ce	comment	30 Rock: Jack makes a joke, and Liz hands him an envelope predicting that joke. Then Jack hands her an envelope, predicting her prediction of his joke. By later seasons, this is simply an accepted character trait, that Jack knows absolutely everything about Lemon. For example, he uses this to describe precisely how Liz's holiday went (down to the tree ornaments), and not only the movie that she's going to, but when/where/how/why. Then it's revealed she has a boyfriend. Who he knew nothing about, and never saw coming.
Improbably Predictable / int_89bf8ce	featureApplicability	1.0
Improbably Predictable / int_89bf8ce	featureConfidence	1.0
30 Rock	hasFeature	Improbably Predictable / int_89bf8ce
Improbably Predictable / int_8cb3a247	type	Improbably Predictable
Improbably Predictable / int_8cb3a247	comment	In Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, Harry predicts how Ron and Hermione will react to his dream about Voldemort, and they both react more-or-less exactly as he thought they would.
Improbably Predictable / int_8cb3a247	featureApplicability	1.0
Improbably Predictable / int_8cb3a247	featureConfidence	1.0
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire	hasFeature	Improbably Predictable / int_8cb3a247
Improbably Predictable / int_8d814070	type	Improbably Predictable
Improbably Predictable / int_8d814070	comment	MAS*H's early seasons with Henry Blake in command often had Radar O'Reilly, the company clerk, do this. Radar was often known for popping up out of nowhere behind Blake whenever he needed him, and often had what he needed before Blake even asked for it. He remains a Hypercompetent Sidekick to both Blake and his replacement, Colonel Potter, for the entirety of his run on the show, leaving his replacement, Klinger, with big shoes to fill.
Improbably Predictable / int_8d814070	featureApplicability	1.0
Improbably Predictable / int_8d814070	featureConfidence	1.0
MAS*H	hasFeature	Improbably Predictable / int_8d814070
Improbably Predictable / int_8fd3db0b	type	Improbably Predictable
Improbably Predictable / int_8fd3db0b	comment	Star Trek: Lower Decks, when Boimler returns to the Cerritos at the beginning of season 2, he explains to his friends that he got transporter cloned. This is immediately followed by Tendi paying Rutherford for guessing that would be the reason Boimler was inevitably transferred back. When asked how he guessed, Rutherford explained that it seemed like "a Boimler thing to do."
Improbably Predictable / int_8fd3db0b	featureApplicability	1.0
Improbably Predictable / int_8fd3db0b	featureConfidence	1.0
Star Trek: Lower Decks	hasFeature	Improbably Predictable / int_8fd3db0b
Improbably Predictable / int_93221cce	type	Improbably Predictable
Improbably Predictable / int_93221cce	comment	Kamen Rider OOO: Kougami offers Eiji and Ankh access to his Medal System, in return for 70% of the Core Medals they take from the enemies. Ankh, of course, wants it for free, but when that fails he resorts to haggling - starting low with 40% and going up, while Kougami just sticks to 70%. He finally spits out a reluctant "60%!", and Kougami accepts... and then uncovers a birthday cake he'd prepared earlier, with "60%" written in blueberries.
Improbably Predictable / int_93221cce	featureApplicability	1.0
Improbably Predictable / int_93221cce	featureConfidence	1.0
Kamen Rider OOO	hasFeature	Improbably Predictable / int_93221cce
Improbably Predictable / int_a77de360	type	Improbably Predictable
Improbably Predictable / int_a77de360	comment	Dilbert: Dilbert talks with a pre-recorded message left by his mother, ending with:
Improbably Predictable / int_a77de360	featureApplicability	1.0
Improbably Predictable / int_a77de360	featureConfidence	1.0
Dilbert	hasFeature	Improbably Predictable / int_a77de360
Improbably Predictable / int_a8729c90	type	Improbably Predictable
Improbably Predictable / int_a8729c90	comment	In The Fairly OddParents!, this takes place when Timmy wishes his parents had superpowers, then when he finds they are too busy with fighting evil that they can't take care of him, and wishes that they weren't superheroes, but Cosmo's and Wanda's wands don't worknote This example is a bit of a Continuity Nod, as this has happened before on the show. The episode "Superbike" even cautioned against using the word "super" in wishes for this exact reason.:
Improbably Predictable / int_a8729c90	featureApplicability	1.0
Improbably Predictable / int_a8729c90	featureConfidence	1.0
The Fairly OddParents!	hasFeature	Improbably Predictable / int_a8729c90
Improbably Predictable / int_b2ac2311	type	Improbably Predictable
Improbably Predictable / int_b2ac2311	comment	Peanuts: In a Sunday Strip, Linus and Lucy drew pictures for their grandmother. Linus had Lucy take the drawings and ask which one Grandma liked better. He successfully predicted that Grandma would like both drawings equally. A second strip around the same time had Linus tell Lucy to ask their grandma why there's a Father's Day and a Mother's Day but no Children's Day, and he correctly predicted that she would reply "Every day is Children's Day". Both strips are an inverted parody of the then-current child psychology craze of Dr. Benjamin Spock, with Linus saying "You just have to understand the adult mind!"
Improbably Predictable / int_b2ac2311	featureApplicability	1.0
Improbably Predictable / int_b2ac2311	featureConfidence	1.0
Peanuts (Comic Strip)	hasFeature	Improbably Predictable / int_b2ac2311
Improbably Predictable / int_b8b584cf	type	Improbably Predictable
Improbably Predictable / int_b8b584cf	comment	In a Zits strip, Jeremy comes down for breakfast with a stack of cards, and answers each of his mother's questions ("Orange juice? Eggs?") with the next card. Finally she insists, "I am not that predictable!" and he reveals the card which reads, "Wanna bet?"
Improbably Predictable / int_b8b584cf	featureApplicability	1.0
Improbably Predictable / int_b8b584cf	featureConfidence	1.0
Zits (Comic Strip)	hasFeature	Improbably Predictable / int_b8b584cf
Improbably Predictable / int_d4efb984	type	Improbably Predictable
Improbably Predictable / int_d4efb984	comment	In The Golden Girls, Stan walks out the front door. Someone is about to say something when Dorothy cuts them short and counts down. "Three...two...one..." Stan walks back in and Dorothy shouts, "Out, Stan!" This is used to contrast a later moment in the episode when she attempts the same prediction and fails, indicating that Stan has changed.
Improbably Predictable / int_d4efb984	featureApplicability	1.0
Improbably Predictable / int_d4efb984	featureConfidence	1.0
The Golden Girls	hasFeature	Improbably Predictable / int_d4efb984
Improbably Predictable / int_d4fe015f	type	Improbably Predictable
Improbably Predictable / int_d4fe015f	comment	QI's gimmick is that it's a quiz that penalizes boring/obvious answers rather than wrong ones. When this happens, a klaxon goes off and the answer appears on the huge screens in the studio to prove that it was expected. Generally speaking, this means Common Knowledge answers, but sometimes the show predicts the panellists' jokes (specific panellists, in a few cases). The very first episode had an example of this, when the revelation that Caravaggio had cut a guy's testicles off over a game of tennis led to Danny Baker saying, "New balls, please!" They also predicted that Jo Brand would give the answer "have you been talking to my husband?" in response to the question "What was the Great Disappointment?" In another example, Jimmy Carr was taken aback to set off the klaxon when his answer to the most dangerous thing to do in bed was "reverse cowgirl".
Improbably Predictable / int_d4fe015f	featureApplicability	1.0
Improbably Predictable / int_d4fe015f	featureConfidence	1.0
QI	hasFeature	Improbably Predictable / int_d4fe015f
Improbably Predictable / int_d9c602eb	type	Improbably Predictable
Improbably Predictable / int_d9c602eb	comment	South Park: In "Butt Out", Cartman asks his friends to help him hide from the anti-smoking activists who want to kill him, and they decide to get help from the Big Tobacco Company. However, Kyle is against the idea because he thinks it will go about the way many episodes do. This trope is paired with Self-Referential Humor in "South Park Gets Cancelled." Early on in the episode, Stan and Kyle notice that things are happening exactly like they did in the very first episode of the show. Eventually, they start perfectly reciting the things that people will say and realize that they're somehow reliving the same day again. It's eventually revealed that the lives of the South Park citizens are aired as a reality show on an alien planet, but the show has been cancelled, leading to the creation of real-life reruns.
Improbably Predictable / int_d9c602eb	featureApplicability	1.0
Improbably Predictable / int_d9c602eb	featureConfidence	1.0
South Park	hasFeature	Improbably Predictable / int_d9c602eb
Improbably Predictable / int_eef69f10	type	Improbably Predictable
Improbably Predictable / int_eef69f10	comment	In one sketch on Dave Allen at Large, Dave is playing Sherlock Holmes. He is with Watson
Improbably Predictable / int_eef69f10	featureApplicability	1.0
Improbably Predictable / int_eef69f10	featureConfidence	1.0
Sherlock Holmes	hasFeature	Improbably Predictable / int_eef69f10
Improbably Predictable / int_f74b5f80	type	Improbably Predictable
Improbably Predictable / int_f74b5f80	comment	Babylon 5: During a season one episode, Garibaldi (with the help of Commander Sinclair) pranks Lt. Commander Ivanova into thinking she slept through breakfast, at which point she hurriedly leaves, placing a call to the station's command-and-control center. As Sinclair moves to another part of the mess hall, Garibaldi counts down... In another episode, Talia is standing outside an elevator and tells Sinclair that she's afraid to get into one, because every time she does, Mr. Garibaldi seems to be there. (This was, in fact, a subtle Running Gag throughout season 1.) Sinclair informs her that Mr. Garibaldi is good, but he's not omniscient. Cue the elevator doors opening, and... well, you fill in the rest.
Improbably Predictable / int_f74b5f80	featureApplicability	1.0
Improbably Predictable / int_f74b5f80	featureConfidence	1.0
Babylon 5	hasFeature	Improbably Predictable / int_f74b5f80

The following is a list of statements referring to the current page from other pages.

Improbably Predictable	processingCategory2	Comedy Tropes
Peanuts (Comic Strip) / int_ee919707	type	Improbably Predictable
Zits (Comic Strip) / int_ee919707	type	Improbably Predictable
Divine Blood / Fan Fic / int_ee919707	type	Improbably Predictable
The Breakfast Club / int_ee919707	type	Improbably Predictable
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire / int_ee919707	type	Improbably Predictable
The Running Grave / int_ee919707	type	Improbably Predictable
Welcome to Demon School! Iruma-kun (Manga) / int_ee919707	type	Improbably Predictable
Community / int_ee919707	type	Improbably Predictable
QI / int_ee919707	type	Improbably Predictable
Scrubs / int_ee919707	type	Improbably Predictable
So Random! / int_ee919707	type	Improbably Predictable
The Golden Girls / int_ee919707	type	Improbably Predictable
30 Rock / int_ee919707	type	Improbably Predictable
World's Dumbest... / int_ee919707	type	Improbably Predictable
The Miracle Worker (Theatre) / int_ee919707	type	Improbably Predictable
Hardly Working (Web Video) / int_ee919707	type	Improbably Predictable
Jacksfilms (Web Video) / int_ee919707	type	Improbably Predictable
Jake and Amir (Web Video) / int_ee919707	type	Improbably Predictable
Everyday Heroes (Webcomic) / int_ee919707	type	Improbably Predictable
Narbonic (Webcomic) / int_ee919707	type	Improbably Predictable
Nerf NOW!! (Webcomic) / int_ee919707	type	Improbably Predictable
Shortpacked! (Webcomic) / int_ee919707	type	Improbably Predictable
Star Trek: Lower Decks / int_ee919707	type	Improbably Predictable

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