“Still to come” and other little white lies
"Still to come," current affairs hosts tell us every night, for a story that never, ever comes. What are the most over-used lines in television?
- Published by David Knox
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“Still to come,” current affairs hosts tell us every night….
And yet the story never comes. It’s just a big tease for the promo on a story the following night.
“Coming up next,” they say. But when?
The lines are some of the most over-used phrases in television. And there are plenty of them.
Nearly a year ago A Current Affair‘s Tracy Grimshaw shared her thoughts on the matter in a very candid interview with TV Tonight:
“You know what, if I was sitting home I’d throw something at the telly!” she laughs. “I don’t get everything I want on the show!
“We’re not fooling anybody that we’ve got another story coming up. In truth we should re-word that. But it’s been done that way for a while. I just have to trust that our viewers are smart enough to know what we mean when I say ‘coming up’, I mean ‘not really coming up, tune in tomorrow!’”
Alas, nothing has changed (hint hint public affairs producers?).
But it’s not the only overused phrase in the biz.
What about any sentence with the phrase “comfort zone?” As in “They’re out of their comfort zone; I’m out of my comfort zone?”
Australian Idol uses the word “Journey” like it has patented the darned thing.
Another over-used phrase has emerged on The 7PM Project . Everytime Charlie Pickering says the phrase “Thankyou very much so and so” you just know he’s been given a directive down the earpiece to jump to the next item. Even if it means cutting off a guest before they have barely started. Just ask Hayley Lewis, who last night had 55 seconds to answer her solitary question on being the new Biggest Loser host. Barely worth the cab fare.
Then there’s all those makeover shows always telling us “This is our biggest makeover EVER.”
And what about network promos? When Nine’s homeMADE began spinning the adjectives, it really went overboard: “Such an emotional rollercoaster / Never before have you seen a show like this / It’s life changing / It’s transforming / It’s the biggest renovation competition EVER.”
We can add to the list of promo little white lies such as “You won’t believe your eyes!” “This year’s biggest shock!” “You’ll never see this one coming!” Maybe they just keep reusing old promo scripts from the past three years?
Even off-screen there are over-used phrases too.
In media reporting, how often do we hear the phrase, “A source told so and so” (guilty on that one, here!).
And then there is ACMA’s favourite: “ACMA does not, at this stage, propose to take any further action in relation to this matter.”
Of course no-one is begrudging anyone a catchphrase. George Calombaris yelling “Chop! Chop!” or Henry Roth wanting to see the “Passion in your Fashion” are signature brandings. Television loves those, and it helps crystallise a personality. Just ask Jeff “immunity is back up for grabs” Probst.
But let’s not kid anyone there are a few lines we could live without.
So let’s hear them. What are television’s most overused phrases and worst little white lies?
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- Tagged with A Current Affair, Australian Idol, Biggest Loser, The 7pm Project
67 Responses
Why was last nights CSI Miami called the ‘season final’?
It was ep 19 of season 7 “Target Specific” there are another 6 eps before they even get into the current US season.
Why not call it the ‘2009 final’, why do they feel the need to lie to it’s viewers?
I’m sick of Today Tonight trying to tell me what’s Unaustralian or what could happen to me and my family.
i absolutely hate when the show starts later than advertised, so that the crap before it ,can run overtime -get the hint channel Nein!
Sports people saying “At the end of the day..” especially in motor sport.
when a show is axed the phrase “it has run its course” or “come to its natural end” is often heard.
TEN promos got a bit carried away with this week’s Rush episode too. “Hundreds of students” at a university siege? Sorry. Some extras is not hundreds guys….
to be honest – with some of the “you wont believe how Hot this new show really is” – it really puts me off watching a show. Just because a new 2wk old show is a “Massive hit” in the states, doesnt mean im gonna like it – and in fact, if these channels tell me i am, then im more than likely goign towatch something else.
Channels – dont tell me what im going to like – i can make my mind up by myself, tyvm….
I’m so glad I’m not the only one who plays the “Marcia Light and Shade Drinking Game”. I truly hate that phrase.
Another pet hate of mine is when during the first commercial of a tv show, the show that is on in the next timeslot is given the “Coming up next” promo. Next?! That show is not on for another 45mins! Let me watch this show first!
ET and The Insider are both fans of the “…the shocking details you don’t want to miss!” and “…you’ll only hear about it here” taglines.
But by far the most irritating TV (white) lies, are when the networks publish and even promo the tv shows they have for their schedule for the coming year, and they never eventuate. Yes Nine I’m looking at you. And Seven? You’re not much better.
I’m with brisvegas I can’t stand Channel 10’s voice overs and they are getting worse
“Adults Only Special” episodes that have the same rating as normal episodes but are screened in a later timeslot.
The word Ten uses as its “slogan” which excruciates me beyond measure every time I see/hear it. And I also hate it when TV hosts address the audience as “Australia” like the whole population is watching.
Australia…. your chicken is ready.
wow – i truely am among friends on this website. I was all set to vent, but i think everything that irks me on oz tv has been covered.
That being said, my main gripe is something along the lines of “…..in an all new ep….you Won’t believe what he says/does next…….. the end of the episode will blow you away…….”
I also hate the C10 voiceovers. The “guy” announcer tries to sound too hard like the “movie-trailer-voiceover guy (you know – the guy whot talks during a movie trailer ‘…In a world…..’)” – and the “girl” announcer sound like she’s having some sort of sexual release when she describes certain words, like “rush”, what sounds more like “ruuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuushhhhh”.
Rex ‘The Moose’ Mossop, where are you?
All of the abovve; particularly C10’s ridiculous “all new”/”must see” etc.
But what _really_ gets me is when the show credits are shrunk to 1/3 screen or less, completely unread-able anyway, so that the rest of the screen can promote whatever the next “all new” thing is – is that even legal?!
Frantelle,
The thing between Lawson/Shannon on Rush isnt over.. its about the time they kicked that storyline off.
not just the most over said line, what about over seen story plots.
Border security; Every episode i am going to see the mail room, i am going to see asian families try to smuggle food and not understand english, i’m always going to see something about drugs and always going to see someone interrogated.
how about these lifestyle shows change it up a bit, like this week the food fight episode, well that is just old food smuggling asians trying to sneak food in and claim they can not speak english when we all know they can.
lets see things like the mechanics and stuff like an Airport show, not just a border security show with the same plot every week.