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Line 32: The inverse of the above "That ''was'' the good news" version. After the teller relays what s/he believes is the "bad" news, the person being told the news interprets it as the "good" news, either for comical purposes, or because the "bad" news is what they wanted all along. If the situation [[ItFrom ~~Got~~Bad to Worse\|gets worse, it quickly becomes, "Bad News, Worse News."]] If it's all bad news, but presented as though it were good news, then it's [[Bad News in a Good Way]]. A [[Sub-Trope]] of [[Bearer of Bad News]], [[Breaking Bad News Gently]]. {{examples}} == Anime &and Manga ==▼ ▲== Anime & Manga == * ''[[Dragon Ball Kai]]'' {{quote\|'''Freeza''': There's good news and there's bad. "Good" in that I intend on seeing to it you last a bit longer. The flipside? You'll spend what time you have left in excruciating pain.}} * ''[[Pokémon: The Movie 2000\|Pokémon 2000]]'': Jessie and Meowth are listing the results/consequences of helping the heroes, while James alternates between saying "That's good!" or "That's bad!" When Jessie ultimately says that they can just steal some money to make up for their lack of it, James finishes with "That's good...or is that bad?" ~~== Comedy ==~~ * [[Bob Hope]], playing with the Christian concept of the ''[[wikipedia:Good news (Christianity)\|evangelium]]'':▼ {{quote\|'''Bob Hope''': The Good News is that [[Jesus]] is coming back. The bad news is that he's really pissed off."}}▼ * Somebody told a joke once about the Pope getting a phone call and reporting to the College of Cardinals: "The good news is, that was Our Lord on the phone. The bad news is, he was calling from Salt Lake City."▼ * Another joke: "Sir, the bad news is that my scalpel slipped while I was performing surgery on your upper thigh. The good news is that your health insurance plan seems to also cover accidental castrations."▼ * Doctor: "Mrs. Jones, I have some good news for you." "It's Miss Jones." "Miss Jones, I have some bad news for you."▼ Line 56 ⟶ 48: * A satirical example from [[Dark Knight Returns]]. With Superman's help, the US Government manages to drive the Soviet Union off of the island of Corto Maltese, but the Soviets respond by nuking the island, the fallout of which could easily spill over into the United States. The president is tasked with informing the American people, and he does so by appearing on TV and chipperly saying (whilst wearing a full radiation suit), "Well folks, I've got good news and bad news. Heh... The good news is that the Soviets have withdrawn their forces from the island of Corto Maltese.... And the bad news, well... It looks like those Soviets are pretty bad losers, yes they are..." * In a classic [[She Hulk]] story, our heroine is informed that exposure to massive amounts of radiation has apparently left her [[Cute Monster Girl\|6' 7" and bright green]] [[Shapeshifter Mode Lock\|for the rest of her life]] {{quote\|'''[[Fantastic Four (Comic Book)\|Reed Richards]]''': "I'm sorry, Jen." ''<Six or so [[Beat Panel]]s> '''Jennifer Walters''': "So what's the bad news?" }} Line 62 ⟶ 54: == ~~Fanfiction~~Fan Works == * In ''[[Hogyoku Ex Machina]]'', [[Bleach\|Ichigo]] [[Peggy Sue\|gets sent back in time]]. {{quote\|'''Ichigo:''' I have good news and bad news. The good news is that you got your powers back. Line 73 ⟶ 65: * ''[[Raging Bull]]'': {{quote\|'''Joey''': He gave me the old 'good news, bad news' routine. The good news is you're gonna get the shot at the title. The bad news is they want you to do the old flip-flop for 'em.}} * From ''[[UHF (film)\|UHF]]'': {{quote\|'''Bob''': I have good news and bad news. '''George''': Okay, give me the bad news first. Line 79 ⟶ 71: '''George''': What's the good news? '''Bob''': I lied. There is no good news. }} * In the 2004 remake of ''[[Dawn of the Dead (2004 film)\|Dawn of the Dead]]'', Kenneth, on the roof of the shopping mall, is communicating with Andy, who is on the roof of a gun store across the street. Since the zombie apocalypse is already well underway, they are forced to use whiteboards and markers, with binoculars to look at the other man's sign. {{quote\|'''Andy:''' Info? '''Kenneth:''' Fort Pastor GONE. No help coming. Line 89 ⟶ 81: * From ''[[The Rock]]'': "I have some bad news, and some really bad news! The bad news is that the gas is corrosive and its eating our suits. The really bad news is there is enough C-4 explosive and poison gas to blow the whole chamber and everyone in the building!" * From ''Robots'' {{quote\|'''Robot parts salesman''': I've got good news, and I've got bad news.}} ~~{{quote\|~~'''Fender''': What's the bad news.?▼ ▲{{quote\|'''Fender''': What's the bad news. '''Robot parts salesman''': (a little bit of a long speech) You've been officially outmoded. '''Fender''': Outmoded. Well that's fine. [[Berserk Button\|WHAT'S THE GOOD NEWS?!]] '''Robot parts salesman''': Well, when we had your parts, they were on sale. }} * In ''[[Darkman]]'', corrupt building developer [[Big Bad\|Louis Strack Jr.]] pulls a false Irrelevant News with his [[The Dragon\|#1 subordinate]], replacing the real "good news" with a joking admission that he's had his wife killed (which he later on jokingly admits to having his own wife killed). {{quote\|'''Louis Strack Jr.''': Robert, I have good news and bad. '''Robert Durant''': Custom dictates that you render the bad news first. }} Line 110 ⟶ 101: '''Tango''': What's the good news? '''Cash''': We're ALMOST out of gas! }} == Literature == Line 116 ⟶ 106: {{quote\|'''Commander Root''': And the best-case scenario? '''Foaly''': That was the best-case scenario. }} * A meta version is directed to the reader in ''[[~~Discworld/~~Going Postal (Discworld)\|Going Postal]]'': {{quote\|The broom must have been kept as an ornament, because it certainly hadn't been used much on the accumulations in the stable yard. On the positive side, this meant [Moist] had fallen into something soft. On the negative side, it meant that he had fallen into something soft.}} ** Death also performs the trope in ''[[~~Discworld/Hogfather\|~~Hogfather]]'', when speaking to the spirit of a recently deceased man (who hasn't yet realized he's dead): {{quote\|'''Ernest''': "That's going to be the sack for sure, I'm gonna be in big trouble..." '''Death''': {{~~smallcaps~~small-caps\|AH. WELL. THERE AT LEAST I HAVE SOME GOOD NEWS, ERNEST.}} looks down at Ernest's body {{~~smallcaps~~small-caps\|AND, THEN AGAIN, I HAVE SOME BAD NEWS...}} }} * ''[[Dragaera\|Five Hundred Years After]]'' by Steven Brust has an excessively [[Purple Prose\|purple]] version of this trope, featuring an extended metaphor about fortune smiling and frowning simultaneously. * Happens a few times in the [[X Wing Series]], typically the last version. Someone's being promoted. So what's the good news? * [[Morris and Chastain Investigations\|Black Magic Woman]] has a couple interesting examples: In one case, Morris has some good news and some bad news: "For one thing, I'm almost positive that your troubles here are not being caused by a poltergeist, or any other kind of resident spirit". When asked for the bad news, he says that ''was'' the bad news (said troubles are being caused by something much worse). Later, Van Dreenan has good news and bad news. The bad news is, he just realized that he's been a complete idiot for the past several hours. The good news is, he just realized that he's been a complete idiot for the past several hours (as he just came up with a plan that he should have thought of before.) * Quoth Mack, of ''[[The Automatic Detective]]'', the good news is, it looks like the data he got about the lair he's about to storm was completely accurate. The bad news is, is looks like the data he got about the lair was completely accurate (i.e. it doesn't look good for his chances of getting in and out). Line 195 ⟶ 185: '''Willie''': Good news - At least I don't have to stand on my head any more. '''Graeme''': Bad news - Neither does [[Jamie Lee Curtis]]. }} == Recorded and Stand-up Comedy == ▲* [[Bob Hope]], playing with the Christian concept of the ''[[wikipedia:Good news (Christianity)\|evangelium]]'': ▲{{quote\|'''Bob Hope''': The Good News is that [[Jesus]] is coming back. The bad news is that he's really pissed off."}} ▲* Somebody told a joke once about the Pope getting a phone call and reporting to the College of Cardinals: "The good news is, that was Our Lord on the phone. The bad news is, he was calling from Salt Lake City." ▲* Another joke: "Sir, the bad news is that my scalpel slipped while I was performing surgery on your upper thigh. The good news is that your health insurance plan seems to also cover accidental castrations." ▲* Doctor: "Mrs. Jones, I have some good news for you." "It's Miss Jones." "Miss Jones, I have some bad news for you." == Tabletop Games == * From ''[[Magic: The Gathering]]''{{'}}s "Goblin Pyromancer": "The good news is, we figured out how the wand works. The bad news is, we figured out how the wand works." Line 216 ⟶ 214: {{quote\|'''Cave Johnson''': Those of you who volunteered to be injected with praying mantis DNA, I've got some good news and some bad news. The bad news is we're postponing those tests indefinitely. The good news is we've got a much better test for you: fighting an army of [[Gone Horribly Wrong\|Mantis Men]]! Pick up a rifle and follow the yellow line. You'll know when the test starts.}} ** There's also this one: {{quote\|{{spoiler\|'''[[~~G La DOS~~GLaDOS]]'''}}: Okay, so the bad news is the tests are MY tests now. So they can kill us. The good news is... well, none so far, to be honest. I'll get back to you on that.}} * [[Traffic Department 2192]]: {{quote\|'''Dispatcher''': Congratulations, Vel! You've made some new enemies today! Line 222 ⟶ 220: '''Dispatcher''': Some of them are still alive. }} * The ''[[Nancy Drew (video game)\|Nancy Drew]]'' games have many [[Have a Nice Death]] messages in this format. Usually the bad news nullifies the good news, though this trope is also played with in other ways. * (I don't know where to put this, but it's a fan-made [[~~Starcraft~~StarCraft]] campaign) In one mission of the "Fallen Angel" campaign, which is part of the "Legacy of the Confederation" story, which branches from [[~~Starcraft~~StarCraft]] canon. In here, the agents sent for the mission manage to shut down the generators the power the cloaking field. However, one of the agents then had "bad news" and "really bad news". The leader tells him to tell first the "really bad"… which is that behind the cloaking field is a 'net' that shorts out all electronics, including their [[cloaking Fields]]. As for the "bad news", it's the generator that's powering it, which is protected by a security system involving explosions. * In the iOS game ''[[Highborn]]'', Archie tells Enzo he's got good news and bad news. Enzo says to tell him half the good news first, then the bad news, then the other half of the good news. * ''[[Crash Twinsanity]]'': Line 236 ⟶ 234: == ~~Webcomics~~Web Comics == * ''[[The ~~Order of the Stick\|~~Order of the Stick]]'' [http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0614.html #614] has the first variety. Also played with in an [http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0512.html earlier strip]: {{quote\|'''Haley'''(to a group of Hobgoblins): OK, I've got some good news and some bad news. The bad news is, I won initiative, so you all get a sneak attack each. The good news is, I don't have to bother thinking up the second half to that joke, 'cause you're all dead now.}} :* Then you take a look at what the hobgoblin in the final panel is saying... : [http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0691.html Done again ~~recently~~in another strip]: {{quote\|'''Roy''' (to the team): The good news is, we're here! The bad news is... we're here.}} * ''[[Cyanide ~~and~~& Happiness]]'' keeps [http://www.explosm.net/comics/729/ plenty] of [~~http~~https://~~www~~web.archive.org/web/20140915040622/http://explosm.net/db/files/Comics/Rob/goodnewsbadnews.png these] in the [http://www.explosm.net/comics/1555/ drawer]. * ''[[Girl Genius]]''. The good news is [http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20090309 he doesn't have gangrene]. * ''[[Saturday Morning Breakfast Cereal]]'' [http://www.smbc-comics.com/index.php?db=comics&id=1796#comic has] [http://www.smbc-comics.com/index.php?db=comics&id=893#comic used] [http://www.smbc-comics.com/index.php?db=comics&id=967#comic this] [http://www.smbc-comics.com/index.php?db=comics&id=1325#comic repeatedly]. * ''[[Scandal Sheet]]'' has this exchange: {{quote\|"Mitch? I have good news and bad news." Line 253 ⟶ 251: "Actually, I lied. There isn't any good news." }} * From ''[[Chainsawsuit]]'': {{quote\|'''Doctor''': Bad news- [[Dead Baby Comedy\|you have AIDS]]. '''Doctor''': Good news- it's confined to a relatively small part of your body. '''Doctor''': [[False Reassurance\|Your blood.]] }} * Happens a fair bit in ''[[Schlock Mercenary]]''. A briefing [~~http~~https://www.schlockmercenary.com/2002-08-05 from Der Trihs]: "...Of course, that hints at the existence of more ''bad'' news." ~~Kathryn~~ "[~~http~~https://www.schlockmercenary.com/~~2011~~2005-0609-3011 ~~finds~~Is ~~herself~~that the bad news, ~~good~~or ~~and~~the ~~bad~~''good'' news?]." OrTag [~~http~~https://www.schlockmercenary.com/~~2008~~2006-0206-1007 learns this game]:. Or [https://www.schlockmercenary.com/2008-02-10 this]: {{quote\|'''Admiral Emm:''' Commodore Bhotsu plays an amusing game with me. At least, I suppose it to be amusing for '''him'''. I would now like to play it with '''you'''. It is called "Good News, Bad News." '''Colonel DeHaans:''' Umm. . . I know this game well, Admiral. I'd rather not play. }} Kathryn [https://www.schlockmercenary.com/2011-06-30 finds herself news, good and bad] (the same). ** One from AIs: {{quote\|'''Ennesby''': This sounds like a new spin on the old "good news bad news" play. '''Bristlecone''': In that format, [[And Knowing Is Half the Battle\|the good news is "I found the bad news."]] The bad news is "I found worse news." }} :* Ennesby [https://www.schlockmercenary.com/2016-04-21 gives] the best-case scenario. :* AI of Shoemaker-Levi is [https://www.schlockmercenary.com/2018-09-16 giving]<sup>spoilers!</sup> an [[Exact Words\|exact answer]]: {{quote\|'''Admiral Devereaux''': Nice, but I want to know about Breath Weapon's [[Interstellar Weapon\|long gun]] systems. '''Levi''': You instructed me to give you GOOD news, Admiral.}} :* And another AI (after [https://www.schlockmercenary.com/2019-11-07 Schlock is accidentally misplaced by retreating enemy]): {{quote\|'''Chelle''': ''Cindy!'' Telemetry check, Sergeant Schlock! '''Cindy''': Found him. Good news, he IS still in this galaxy. '''Chelle''': We should stop lowering the bar for good news.}} * Dave from ''[[Homestuck]]'', about a machine that can defeat CAPTCHA codes: ~~{{quote\|{{color\|red\|'}}~~ ~~{{color\|red\|'}}~~ ~~{{color\|green\|'}}~~ ~~{{color\|red\|'}} }}~~ ** [http://www.mspaintadventures.com/?s=6&p=002834 Earlier] in the same comic, Rose produces a time-travel clone of her long-dead pet cat. {{quote\|The wretched creature exhibits a number of unfortunate mutations though. The good news is that it will be mercifully [[Colony Drop\|UNESTABLISHED]] along with this facility shortly. This is also the bad news. }} * ''EatATau'' has two Eldar warriors (in a [[That's No Moon\|craftsworld]] overrun by Tyranids) [https://web.archive.org/web/20170817001806/http://eatatau.smackjeeves.com/comics/2029729/the-burning-flame-iii/ updating each other]. {{quote\|'''Uriel''': Do you want first the bad news... or the worse?}} == Web Original == Line 277 ⟶ 283: * From the ''[[Yogscast Minecraft Series]]'', we're reminded why one of the game's unwritten rules is "never dig up." {{quote\|'''Simon:''' Good news is I've dug our way out. Bad news is we're going to drown.}} * [[Uncyclopedia]]'s [https://uncyclopedia.ca/wiki/Worst_100_Ways_to_Deliver_Bad_News Worst 100 Ways to Deliver Bad News] is a mess of these. The bad news is that your mum has just been eaten by a shark, but the good news is that I just saved ten cents on my auto insurance by switching to Gecko. * ''[[SCP Foundation]]''; in [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wn1G22Z05Ns one of the many] "Kill 682" stories <ref>non-canon humor-oriented stories where the otherwise [[Impossible Task]] of killing SCP-682 is actually achieved.</ref> the good news delivered to Dr. Bright is that, after [https://scp-wiki.wikidot.com/scp-682 SCP-682] escapes (killing 792 guards in the process) it steals a car, goes on a drunken bender, and eventually plows into a tree, killing itself. The bad news? It was Dr. Bright's car. == Western Animation == Line 301 ⟶ 308: '''Shopkeeper''': ...That's bad. '''Homer''': [[Screw This, I'm Outta Here\|Can I go now?]] }} * Happened in ''[[DuckTales (1987)]]'' when Scrooge received the news that half of his fortune, stashed in a shipment of ice cream, was eaten by a sea monster. * In ''[[The Venture Brothers]]'', Colonel Gathers pulls the There is No Good News variant on Brock. * The Not So Good News variant shows up in the ''[[My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic\|My Little Pony Friendship Is Magic]]'' episode "Dragonshy" Line 313 ⟶ 320: '''Lard Nar:''' And the good news?! '''Shloonktapooxis:''' Well, [[Bad News in a Good Way\|it's been replaced by a new,]] ''[[Bad News in a Good Way\|HORRIBLE]]'' [[Bad News in a Good Way\|one]]! }} * From the finale of ''[[Danny Phantom]]'': {{quote\|'''Danny''': (to the other ghosts) Well, gang, there's good news and bad news. The good news: my powers are back. The bad news: [[Pre-Ass-Kicking One-Liner\| MY POWERS ARE BACK!]] ([[Make Me Wanna Shout\|cue ghostly wail]])}} {{reflist}} [[Category:~~Good News, Bad News~~{{PAGENAME}}]]▼ [[Category:Red Fish Blue Fish]] [[Category:Comedy Tropes]] [[Category:Stock Phrases]] ▲[[Category:Good News, Bad News]]