The Show

The Show is a long-running television program that has been airing since at least the second half of 2005. It follows the actions of its three teenage main characters Jon, Camo, and Connor. The Show is set in a close approximation of Real Life. It typically has little plot but its ratings have always stayed in the higher end.

Applied Phlebotinum Tropes

 * Ambiguous Disorder: All three main characters completely believe their lives are part of a TV show. Ironically, this is the truth.
 * Blind Jump: The Show's parkour sections are typically never planned out by the characters; this is lampshaded by Ryan when he goes through the course.
 * By the Power of Grayskull!: This trope has been used several times over the course of the show's run. Most typically, Connor uses the Trope Namer.
 * Caffeine Bullet Time: Jon very rarely gets a sugar buzz, but when he does, it's used to increase his speed.
 * Can't Have Sex Ever: In recent episodes, Jon sees his as proof that he is destined to never have sex of any kind ever again.
 * Cold Iron: In the episode "Black Magic", Camo and Connor suggest that because Jon, tossing bits of iron at him would cause him great pain.
 * Comm Links: In earlier episodes, walkie-talkies were often used to let the characters speak over distance. This trope was used most hilariously in "The Summer of Star Wars", where Connor used the walkie-talkies to give relationship advice to Neighborhood Zach while he was with a girl.
 * The Dark Side: To the three main characters, becoming a "douche" means joining the Dark Side, with little to no chance of redemption.
 * Duct Tape for Everything: It seems nearly all of Jon's household shelves and drawers hold duct tape, and one of the Show's many Running Gags is suggesting it to fix a problem.
 * Electric Torture: Used as part of a Funny Background Event with an electric pen during "Pre-Finals Week".
 * Exact Time to Failure: In some episodes, Connor ticks off seconds on his fingers immediately before someone he doesn't want to talk to runs up to him.
 * Functional Magic: It has yet to be revealed whether or not Jon's actions in "Black Magic" were successful or not.
 * Great Big Book of Everything: During the first season of the original run, Connor had several different GBB Es. They were slowly phased out of the show's formula.
 * Hulking Out: Every so often Jon will go into an uncontrollable rage and completely demolish anything (or anyone) around him. This has been lampshaded by the other two main characters and even referenced by name.
 * Make a Wish: In the beginning of "Black Magic," it is suggested to Jon that "making a wish" could be better than.
 * Virgin Power: During "They Did It", while to talking to Jon, Connor says that maybe he will gain "super virgin abilities" by not having sex long enough. He doesn't.

Characterization Tropes

 * Abstract Apotheosis: In a dark moment in the recent episode "Collapse", Melanie implies that she is Above Good and Evil and is a personification of love itself.
 * Actual Pacifist: Though the three main characters are (mostly) good people, none of them could qualify for Actual Pacifist. Of the three, Camo comes closest, but brief moments of violence (most notably in "Treasure Hunt") keep him out of the category.
 * Addiction Displacement: During the Break-Up and Recovery arcs, Jon uses music and writing to keep from talking to his ex.
 * Afraid of Blood: So far, it seems the only blood Connor is afraid of is his own. Same goes for Jon. Camo, on the other hand, regularly donates.
 * Afraid of Needles: Jon has an intense fear of needles, but so far it has not become a plot point.
 * Age-Appropriate Angst: While there have been no huge tragedies yet, the teenaged characters on the show all react with a realistic amount of angst.
 * All Work vs. All Play: When 20 Set Juliet practices are shown, it is typically Luke and Jon who emphasize All Work, while Andrew embodies All Play.
 * Allergic to Routine: During "Decline", Connor realizes that his then-girlfriend Julia seemed to be this.
 * Ambition Is Evil: At first, Andrew's musical ambition was shown to be the source of his control freak nature, but the character soon evolved away from this.
 * A Minor Kidroduction: In many ways, the first season of the original series is A Minor Kidroduction, as it features the main cast first coming together.
 * Angst Dissonance: During the Break-Up arc, Jon strayed into this, but soon played it for laughs in the beginning of the Recovery arc.
 * Angst? What Angst?: Some episodes in the Recovery arc are completely light-hearted and separated from the main plot, until Melanie makes her reappearance in the second half.
 * Animals Hate Him: In the most recent season, Jon's house has become more or less a zoo, so he views every animal in the house as having a personal vendetta against him.
 * Annoying Laugh: Jon's is the most lampshaded, but when talking about minor character Serena, someone will usually imitate her distinctive laugh.
 * Apologetic Attacker: In the climax of the mostly comedic "Treasure Hunt", Connor becomes an Apologetic Attacker after
 * Apologises a Lot: Connor often falls into this, as does Sarah.
 * Attention Whore: Many characters are declared Attention Whores by the three main cast.
 * Bad Dreams: Used in many episodes, as of the Recovery arc.
 * Bad Guys Play Pool: Averted. Connor and Jon play pool almost every time they are at Nana's. Usually, it is played during a plot-relevant conversation.
 * Badass Baritone: When he wants it to, Jon's singing voice can become this.
 * Beneath the Mask: In recent seasons, Jon has become an expert at hiding his emotions (they usually come out in the episode's climax).
 * Berserk Button: So many.
 * Jon often begins Hulking Out at any mention of . He also gets angry at hypocrisy. But God help you if you mess with his friends.
 * Connor also has a few. He doesn't typically take kindly to prejudice or injustice, and like above, messing with his friends is generally not a good idea.
 * Betty and Veronica: For a couple of episodes in the most recent season, it seemed that Megan and Kyra were being set up to be this for Jon. However, this idea quickly lost steam.
 * Beware the Nice Ones: Side character Kenny Nauert, who is typically shown as a devout Christian and hard worker, can reportedly "wreck your shit up" if you get on his wrong side.
 * Bitch Alert: "Waterfront" had one of these moments in its opening scene, when Jon judges Julia as she walks towards him.
 * Blood Brothers: One of the Show's Running Gags is to have one of the main three suggest a blood pact and be immediately shot down (this is probably due to Jon's fear of needles and Connor's fear of his own blood).
 * Bookworm: Both Camo and Connor fall into this category.
 * Break the Cutie: Oh God, so many. Both Jon and Connor (each with their own respective Fangirl Fanbase) have been broken over and over. In the most recent seasons, it seems it is Jon's turn.
 * Break the Haughty: Andrew had a brief, episode-long conflict with Serena that ended with him confiding in his bandmates, clearly humbled and brought down.
 * Brilliant but Lazy: Jon and Connor are both good at various things, but both of them generally put no effort forth unless they truly enjoy the subject.
 * Card-Carrying Villain: The first few episodes with 20 Set Juliet try to portray Andrew as this, but recently it has been toned down a lot. In fact, many fans (along 90% of the band) now consider Andrew redeemed.
 * Catch Phrase:
 * "Oh my Gosh, dude" has been a favorite of Jon's since the beginning. He also has a tendency to start hypothetical scenarios with "What if..." in a distinct way.
 * Camo has a very unique of saying "Yeah...yeah...yeah!" he also has "Kaaay".
 * Connor uses "derp". The three main cast have too many to list.
 * Challenge Seeker: Jon loves a good challenge, especially athletically.
 * Character Tics: Both Jon and Connor fix their hair in distinctive ways, and air hump to show victory or point out innuendo.
 * A Chat with Satan: In "Black Magic", it is speculated by Connor that Jon  incorrectly would open a portal to Hell.
 * Chewing the Scenery: All three of the main cast can chew serious scenery.
 * Chronic Hero Syndrome: Jon has this in spades in the new series. In the last few seasons, Connor has begun to develop it as well.
 * Cloudcuckoolander: Practically every character on The Show.
 * Collector of the Strange: Connor's room is filled with various toys and knick-knacks, most notably his collection of 30+ Potato Heads.
 * Compliment Fishing: Jon admitted to doing this once in "Video Call".
 * Cultural Rebel: Jon views himself as one of these at times, and he and Connor often discuss it and what it means to be one.
 * Dark and Troubled Past: Sarah's Backstory is the most notable, but there are a few others.
 * Depending on the Writer:
 * Depending on the writer, Jon is either a homegrown sports nut, a protector of the innocent, or a cultural deviant hippie. Yeah.
 * Camo and Connor are either complete loners, or someone whose busy social life often interferes with his involvement in the plot.
 * Designated Protagonist Syndrome: This trope has applied to both Jon, Connor, and Camo during various seasons. After a few seasons of Connor suffering from Designated Protagonist Syndrome, the past year has been much more Jon-focused.
 * Donut Mess with a Cop: Connor's father is a cop; hilariously, empty donut boxes are often in the background during kitchen scenes at his house.
 * Driven to Suicide: The last two-parter, "Collapse", focuses on Melanie becoming suicidal. The issue is resolved before anything can happen, but it still stands out as one of the darkest moments this season.
 * Establishing Character Moment:
 * For many viewers, Jon defending his father was this for Jon.
 * Connor regularly reestablishes his status as an every-man by breaking down after stressful episodes.
 * Everybody Smokes: Averted hard.
 * Face of the Band: In "Concert", Andrew is clearly aspiring to become this.
 * Fantastically Indifferent: Connor can come off as this at times.
 * Former Teen Rebel: Many fans speculate Jon will become this in his adult years.
 * French Jerk: Averted. The only overtly French character is sweet and a friend to Camo and Connor during their duo episodes.
 * Friendly Rivalry: The relationship between Tyler and Connor seemed to be one of these in the last seasons of the original series, but he has since been downgraded to practically a background character.
 * The Friend Nobody Likes: Tyler was this in early episodes of the new series, but he soon faded out all together. Connor sometimes views himself as this.
 * Friend to All Living Things: All three main characters could fall under this trope for various reasons. Melanie tries to paint herself as one of these, but ends up making herself look worse.
 * Functional Addict: Jon's recent onset of OCD, while usually played for laughs, is sometimes shown as an addiction that he has to fight to control.
 * Guilt Complex: Connor has this, big time. In the second half of "Collapse", Melanie calls him out on it several times.
 * Guttural Growler: During the climax of "Family Circus", Jon's voice gets very guttural and growly while speaking to his mother.
 * Hates Everyone Equally: Jon has shades of this.
 * Holy Burns Evil: Jon's mother often pulls out holy water whenever things get too Satan-y.
 * Hormone-Addled Teenager
 * Hyper Awareness: Of the main cast, Connor can show shades of this.
 * In Harmony with Nature: The first half of the most recent season portrays Jon as this.
 * Insists on Paying
 * The Movie Buff: Connor.
 * Nerd: All three main characters qualify.
 * Smoking Is Cool: The Show goes out of its way to show this isn't the case.
 * Took a Level In Kindness
 * Undying Loyalty: The three main characters have this.
 * Unlucky Childhood Friend: Connor was in this situation for two full seasons with Elizabeth.

Character Tropes

 * The Cynic: In the earlier episodes of the new series, Connor had shades of this, but it soon dissolved into a more sarcastic attitude.
 * Black Best Friend: Guess.
 * Fighting the Lancer: The main plot of the episode "The Break" centered around this trope; Connor (the Lancer for that season) and Jon (the Hero) get into a small fight that separates them for almost two weeks.
 * Friends with Benefits: Invoked, appropriately enough, in "Friends with Bennies", with Sarah and Connor. They
 * Like Brother and Sister: Elizabeth refers to her and Connor as this.
 * Platonic Life Partners: Minor character Kayla and Connor had this kind of relationship in some episodes; it never became a plot point and is generally accepted.
 * Straight Man and Wise Guy: In more comedic episodes, Jon is usually the Straight Man, while Connor plays the Wise Guy. Camo is just a Cloudcuckoolander.
 * Comic Trio: The three main cast.
 * Five-Man Band: The three main cast switch out between Hero, Lancer, and Smart Guy regularly.
 * Lead Bassist
 * Loser Protagonist: All three main characters have shades of this.

Dialogue Tropes

 * Angrish: Jon slides into this during "Family Circus".
 * Armor-Piercing Question: Melanie tries to deliver several to Connor during "Collapse", but they fail.
 * Atomic F-Bomb: Typically dropped by Jon.
 * Casual Danger Dialog: Whenever something potentially dangerous happens to the characters, Connor and Jon will usually stay calm.
 * Cough-Snark-Cough: Used by Connor often. Most commonly, "*cough*, jailbait".
 * Department of Redundancy Department: Connor and Jon point out the pointless of the "Justice Society of Justice".
 * Dramatic Ellipsis: Connor calls minor character Sam out on using these in Facebook messages.