I Need You to Shut Up

Everything About Fiction You Never Wanted to Know.
Stop talking. Brain thinking. Hush.

"I need-"
"I need... I need you to shut up!

An old gag dating back to the Looney Tunes days. A character will state that he or she needs something and another character will name off incorrect guesses as to what Character A needs until being told the trope's name.

May be punctuated with a Big "Shut Up!". See also Stop Helping Me! and Lame Comeback.

Examples of I Need You to Shut Up include:

Film

  • A variant from the Doom movie, in which Sarge (The Rock) utters this several times: "Portman, you need to shut the fuck up!"

Live-Action TV

  • The Doctor Who episode "The Christmas Invasion" is the Trope Namer, though not its originator.
    • And as the page image indicates, Eleven can get a bit tetchy if people talk while he's thinking.
    • Ten also got frustrated when too many people were talking during "Fear Her", and shouted "Fingers on lips!". He then stared pointedly at everybody present until they complied, including Rose.
  • A variant in Stargate SG-1

Vala: Is there anything I can do to help?
Daniel: Yes, yes there is. Go over to that panel on the other side of the room.
Vala: Okay, now what?
Daniel: Now stay there, don't touch anything, and shut the hell up!

  • Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: After the brainwashsed Green Ranger tears apart the Command Centre, Billy is busy trying to repair it while Alpha keeps Ai-yi-yi-ing. Zack reminds Alpha that Billy's trying to concentrate.
  • The newest[when?] Sherlock goes as far as to order everyone at a crime scene to stop talking and one police officer who particularly annoys him to look at the wall instead of Sherlock.

Sherlock: Anderson, shut up.
Anderson: I didn't say anything.
Sherlock: You're thinking. It's annoying.

Video Games

  • In Brutal Legend, when Lars confronts General Lionwhyte for enslaving the rest of humanity. "Lionwhyte, the time has come... for you to SHUT THE HELL UP!"

Western Animation

Yue: Why is he sitting like that?
Katara: He's meditating. He's trying to cross over into the Spirit World. It takes all his concentration.
Yue: Is there any way we can help?
Aang: How about some quiet?! Come on, guys, I can hear every word you're saying!

  • In the My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic episode "Suited For Success", Rarity pulls an indirect version after Applejack and Twilight Sparkle have a little back-and-forth. Twilight even mentions that they should be quiet beforehand.

Applejack: What do you think she's makin'?
Twilight: Looks like a dress.
Applejack: Well, that makes sense, since this is a dress-makin' shop and all.
Rarity: *irritated, but trying not to show it* Is there something I can help you with?

    • Played directly in the episode "It's About Time", when Twilight Sparkle arrives from the future and has to force her hoof into her present-day self's mouth to stop her constant interruptions.
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