On social media, many viewers stunned after a viral video showing why TV characters never say ‘goodbye’ on phone calls.
On TikTok, a viral video revealed the reason why TV characters never say ‘goodbye’ during phone calls, which gained significant attention.
Have you ever noticed that TV characters rarely say “goodbye” when ending a phone call? This common trend has a specific reason behind it.
The abrupt end to conversations
In most TV shows, characters abruptly hang up the phone without any farewell.
This behavior may seem rude, but it serves a purpose in storytelling. A Reddit user questioned this trend, asking, “Why do most characters just hang up without saying goodbye?”
They observed that this has become the norm, wondering if it was a time-saving tactic or a cultural shift in the U.S.
A screenwriter revealed why TV characters never say ‘goodbye’ on phone calls.
Screenwriter Michael Jamin addressed this phenomenon in a popular TikTok video, which gained attention.
He has experience working on shows like King of the Hill, Wilfred, and Maron.
In the footage, Jamin explained that the TV industry refers to lines like “goodbye” as “shoe leather.”
While these lines may make a scene feel realistic, they often do not enhance the entertainment value.
The Impact of time constraints
@michaeljaminwriter #stitch with @scottpropandroll #screenwritingtips #tvwriting #screenwritingtiktok #screenwritingadvice #screenwritingcommunity #tvwriter #screenwriter
TV shows have strict running times. Typically, a show must fit into a 22-minute slot.
Networks do not accept cuts longer than this. Knowing this, producers often shoot for longer durations, around 25 minutes.
This allows room for trimming later. However, the challenge lies in deciding what to cut.
He added: “In TV, we also have running times. We have to turn in a cut to the network for like 22 minutes.
They won’t accept 22 minutes and 30 seconds. Knowing this, we always shoot long maybe 25 minutes knowing that not every scene is going to be great.
We want to have a liberty to trim and pace up a bit – but we don’t know where.”
According to Jamin, it’s easier to remove the initial minutes of a show.
After that, it becomes much harder to choose which lines to delete. “If I cut the guy saying goodbye, I might keep my favorite joke,” he explained. Over time, writers stop including farewells in scripts, knowing they will likely be cut anyway.
The video quickly went viral and sparked debate on social media.
In the comment selection, viewers reacted to this revelation with curiosity and humor.
One user thought characters skip goodbyes for dramatic effect, suggesting they are “too cool” to say farewell. Another joked about using the saved time to go on vacation in the future.
A European viewer shared their experience, saying they believed this was simply how Americans ended phone calls. Another commenter expressed gratitude for Jamin’s insight, stating that goodbyes can distract from the narrative.
One person said: Oh I thought it was for dramatic effect like they are too cool to say goodbye.
A second wrote: From now on, I will quit saying goodbye and use that time to maybe go on vacation when I’m old.
While a third commented: I’m a firm believer that it’s more distracting to say goodbye in a film or tv show.
Another added: I’m from Europe and when I was younger I thought that’s the way people in the US end their phone calls…
Someone else said: Really bad take. Makes it more unrealistic. Reminds you its a show, not real. Kills immersion (not just that, but all the sma cuts add up).
The absence of goodbyes in TV phone calls is a practical decision rooted in time constraints and storytelling choices. While it may seem unusual, this trend reflects the industry’s focus on pacing and entertainment.