47 Times TV Shows Basically Winked At The Audience

    "You know, Ms. Banks, ever since you had that baby, there's something different about you!"

    Hannah Marder
    by Hannah Marder

    BuzzFeed Staff

    A while back, we asked the BuzzFeed Community about their favorite examples of TV shows and movies breaking the fourth wall. Here are some of their submissions!

    1. On SpongeBob SquarePants, when Squidward referenced the fact that he was miserable in every episode (which lasted about 11 minutes):

    Nickelodeon

    Suggested by ijustliketocomment

    2. On Buffy the Vampire Slayer, when Buffy said, "Dawn's in trouble. Must be Tuesday," referencing how Dawn seemed to get in trouble every week and that the show aired on Tuesdays:

    UPN

    Suggested by Gaelicmaiden

    3. On Moonlighting, when Maddie and David referenced the audience and looked in the camera:

    David: "I don't know what a flying fig is." Maddie: "That's okay. They do." (With them both looking into the camera.)
    ABC

    Suggested by Zooter

    4. And when Maddie and David walked off the set because the crew was singing Christmas carols:

    David and Maddie walking behind the cameras and crew
    ABC

    Suggested by rosienuttty

    5. On Boston Legal, when Alan said he wanted to be on cable:

    Boss asks Shore, "Is there some other place you'd rather be?" And he replies, "Yes, I want to be on cable. That's where all the best work is being done."
    ABC

    Suggested by AvalonAngel

    6. When Galavant started the second season with a song about how they were back for another season:

    characters singing that it's a new season for them and it's going to be scorching
    ABC

    Suggested by senoritagemini

    7. On The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, when Jazz said Aunt Viv seemed different after she was recast:

    Jazz: "You know, Ms. Banks, since you had that baby, there's something different about you"
    NBC

    Suggested by elinumber2

    8. On Crazy Ex-Girlfriend, when Rebecca didn't recognize Greg because he had been recast:

    Rebecca, looking at Greg: "He doesn't seem totally different to you guys?"
    The CW

    Suggested by zemt

    9. When Jane ended Jane the Virgin by winking at the camera:

    Rafael asks what happens at the end of Jane's book and she says it's turned into a telenovela. Rafael asks who'd want to watch that. Jane then winks at the camera.
    The CW

    Suggested by pickledaddy420

    10. On Legends of Tomorrow, when Nate lamented that the other DC heroes weren't joining them during one conflict then blamed it on them not having done one of the crossovers:

    The CW

    Suggested by Vanessa

    11. On Angel, when Angel said he'd never sleep with Darla, then looked at the camera as he had, in fact, slept with her only two episodes before:

    Cordelia: "Imagine what could have happened if you'd gone nuts and slept with Darla!" Angel: "You know I would never do that" then looks at the camera
    The WB

    Suggested by ashley1246

    12. On Fleabag, when the Hot Priest looked into the camera, becoming the only character to do so besides Fleabag herself:

    The priest asks what Fleabag is doing, and she says nothing then looks at the camera, and the priest looks at it too and says "ahh!"
    BBC

    "Fleabag absolutely revolutionized the fourth wall break and makes you a part of the show. And then in the second season where the Hot Priest catches her breaking the fourth wall?? It's the fifth wall!!"

    —reallywittyusername

    13. On Phineas and Ferb, when Monogram talks about Candace and the princess looking alike and Carl says, "Well, it is a cartoon, sir," and Monogram chastises him for breaking the fourth wall:

    Nickelodeon

    Suggested by jen528

    14. And on Phineas and Ferb, when Dr. Doofenshmirtz said this was "real life," and then he and Perry looked at the camera:

    Doofenshmirtz says, "This isn't a sitcom, Perry the Platypus. This is real life," then they both look at the camera
    Disney Channel

    Suggested by jen528

    15. On The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, when Will looked at the camera and asked why they didn't have a ceiling and then the cameras panned up to show the studio lights:

    Will: "If we so rich...why we can't afford no ceiling?" as the camera pans up to the lights
    NBC

    Suggested by catkin

    16. On Mr. Iglesias, when Carlos referenced the actor's role on The Office:

    Mr. Iglesias: "Your drama class is back on." Carlos: (looking at the camera) "Finally! A life outside of the office!"
    Netflix

    Suggested by heavenleecintron

    17. On Community, every time Abed would reference the plot of the show like it was, well, a TV show:

    NBC

    Suggested by hannahmarder

    18. And when his character in Jeff's animated coma dream was actually called "Fourth Wall":

    Fourth Wall: "Is it life? My name is Fourth Wall and I believe that what we perceive as life is merely a syndicated children's cartoon."
    NBC

    Suggested by mollymcduck

    19. On Stargate SG-1, when O'Neill said that Teal'c only played a Jaffa on TV:

    A man calls Teal'c a Jaffa and O'Neill says he just plays one on TV
    SyFy

    Suggested by ixc15

    20. On Arrested Development, when the show was facing cancellation and the characters not so subtly referenced it, and then the narrator full-on asked the audience to tell their friends about the show:

    Michael: "Yeah our backs are against the wall, and it's just hard to accept that it's really come to begging." George: "Sometimes it's the only way to stay in the game." Narrator: "Please tell your friends about this show."
    Fox

    Suggested by webbobreier

    21. And when Tobias referenced how detailed TV and movie sets are, only to open the cabinet and see a single coffee cup:

    Fox

    Suggested by technicalitynodownbooover

    22. On Skins, when Effy gave her iconic smile at the end of Season 2 to show she'd lead the next season:

    Effy smiles at the camera
    E4

    Suggested by oviewankanobi

    23. And when Rich whispered "bye" to the camera at the end of Season 6, signaling the then-end of the show:

    Rich looking at the camera and saying "bye"
    E4

    Suggested by oviewankanobi

    24. On House of Cards, when Claire actually spoke to the camera for the first time, revealing she's always known the audience was there:

    Netflix

    Suggested by hannahmarder

    25. On That's So Raven, when Raven suggested people wouldn't like a show about a teen psychic then looked at the camera:

    Raven saying, "I mean, who would watch a show about a teen psychic?" then looking at the camera
    Disney Channel

    Suggested by hannahmarder

    26. On Supernatural, when Dean and Sam went to a world where they were filming Supernatural:

    Reporter says she's there with Jared Padalecki from TV's "Supernatural" as Sam looks around confused
    The CW

    Suggested by valkyrie_77

    27. And when Sam and Dean discovered a school was putting on a play about them and Dean looked into the camera after the mention of Destiel:

    Student putting on play says they do explore Destiel in the play but it's subtext, though you can't spell subtext without s-e-x and Dean looks at the camera
    The CW

    Suggested by kennabeary

    28. On The OA, when the characters were transported to a dimension where they were filming The OA:

    OA lies on the floor bleeding out on set as we see director's chairs and a backdrop
    Netflix

    "The last season finished with OA, Steve, and Hap jumping into a dimension where they were filming The OA and the actors were playing the characters they act. Unfortunately, we won't get another season but it blew my mind how flawlessly they did it. There were a few bits that were different from this dimension, such as Jason Isaacs being married to Brit Marling but still pretty cool."

    —angiew42d9a9178

    29. On Boston Legal, when Alan told Denny he'd barely seen him all episode.

    Alan says to Denny, "There you are. Hardly seen you this episode."
    ABC

    Suggested by ratherbereading

    30. On Fuller House, when the cast referenced Mary-Kate and Ashley's fashion careers as the reason why Michelle hadn't returned to the series:

    Stephanie asks where her little sis is and Danny says she sends her love but is busy in NY running her fashion empire, then they all look into the camera
    Netflix

    Suggested by crimsonkate

    31. On Buffy the Vampire Slayer, when Xander and Anya sang about their complaints about their relationship in "I'll Never Tell" to the camera so that it felt like you were watching a live musical:

    Xander and Anya dancing
    UPN

    Suggested by ashley1246

    32. And when Buffy looked right into the camera for "Something to Sing About" in the same episode:

    UPN

    Suggested by mysteria19

    33. On Orange Is the New Black, when Poussey looked at the camera at the very end of her last scene, a flashback that took place years before she died:

    Netflix

    Suggested by samanthab46f45c967

    34. On The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, when Will tricked Carlton into thinking he'd killed Lisa and Carlton ran around the entire set and even through the studio audience:

    Carlton running through different sets the show uses and the studio audience screaming "NO!"
    NBC

    Suggested by nattyiscool

    35. On Animaniacs, when the characters spoke over the credits complaining about their job / the people who work on the show:

    The characters saying, "I'm glad that's over!" and "I have a headache this big and it's got Warner Bros. written all over it!" then mocking the producers, calling them overpaid, credit-grabbing do-nothings
    Fox Kids

    Suggested by beyourowndensity

    36. On Glee, when Brittany "thought [she] was doing a voiceover" but was really just speaking to the camera:

    Brittany talks about planning a sham election to become senior class president while looking at the camera and Blaine walks up and asks who she's talking to. She says she thought she was doing a voiceover.
    Fox

    Suggested by bisexualwxrlock

    37. On The Simpsons, when Dr. Hibbert looked at the audience and asked if they could solve who shot Mr. Burns (but it turned out he was talking to Wiggum):

    Hibbert says, "Well, I couldn't possibly solve this mystery. Can you?" then looks at the camera
    Fox

    Suggested by emeraldmaz

    38. On Family Guy, when Peter said that they were being canceled because Fox didn't have room for them anymore as they needed to focus on a bunch of other shows, then listed all these other shows, which all got canceled:

    Peter saying Fox canceled them because there wasn't any more room on the schedule, because they needed to make room for terrific shows like (lists canceled Fox shows), then says maybe if they ALL get canceled, "Family Guy" will have a shot
    Fox

    Suggested by sockcucker

    39. On Phineas and Ferb, when Doofenshmirtz said it felt like the summer had been going on for four years (which was how long the show — which took place over a summer — had been going on at that point):

    Disney Channel

    Suggested by robairsarai

    40. On One Day at a Time, when Alex said there was nothing good on Netflix anymore in a reference to the fact that Netflix canceled the show and they had to move to network TV:

    Penelope asks if they've decided what to watch for movie night and Alex replies that there's nothing good on Netflix anymore
    TV Land

    Suggested by natashah4a0411315

    41. On Roseanne, when DJ was in therapy repeating, "They say she's the same, but she isn't the same," about Becky, as they swapped the actor multiple times in the series:

    DJ saying, "They say she's the same, but she isn't the same," and the doctor saying they may never know what that means, then pictures of the two different Beckys
    ABC

    Suggested by natashah4a0411315

    42. On Henry Danger, when the characters made sure to remind the young audience not to start fires:

    Henry asks if it's OK that they have a fire indoors and Henry says yes but only because he's an adult and he's there, and Henry clarifies that no kid should do this without adult supervision, then they all look at the camera
    Nickelodeon

    Suggested by thebonelady

    43. On Scrubs, when Carla wasn't into JD's suit and he said it only mattered if America loved it:

    JD saying, "Because all that really matters is whether or not America loves it," then looking at the camera
    NBC

    Suggested by michaeldavid

    44. On Community, when Abed said the only way they wouldn't be back for another season was if a meteor hit and then looked at the camera and called it "canon":

    Abed: "We'll definitely be back next year. If not, it'll be because an asteroid has destroyed all human civilization. And that's canon" (looking at camera). Annie: "What? What are you...?" (frowning at camera).
    NBC

    Suggested by jenniewatchestv

    45. On Boy Meets World, when they referenced the fact that the network had changed the airtime of the show:

    The kid Topanga is babysitting asks to stay up and watch his favorite show, which used to be at 8:30 and is now at 9:30, and Corey gets heated, asking why they would change the time if it was doing well, and the kid says they're trying to kill it
    ABC

    Suggested by egc26

    46. On Crazy Ex-Girlfriend, when a new character was introduced and everyone sang a song wondering why the show would introduce a new character:

    The characters sing, "Who's this new character?" and "Do we really need a new guy this far into the season?" and "Is this some sort of desperate move to help our ratings?" but then clarify their statements after to work with the plot
    The CW

    Suggested by hannahc20

    47. And finally, on Jane the Virgin, when the narrator revealed that he was an older version of Mateo:

    Mateo says Great Glamma said he'd be good at voiceover work and the narrator says, "And for the record, I am"
    The CW

    Suggested by disgruntledpelican89

    Did we miss any? Let us know in the comments!

    Note: Submissions were edited for length/clarity.