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While each show has a dedicated script, there are moments when actors decide to break the boundaries of the written word and do something completely unscripted. Sometimes, these genuine moments become so integral and authentic to the storyline that even the directors and creators of the show decide to keep them in. Here are 10 unscripted moments in shows that remained in the final cut and became memorable.
Rachel's laugh, Jamie's yawn, and other unscripted moments in TV shows that stayed
1. Dean Winchester’s catchphrase – Supernatural
Starring Jensen Ackles and Jared Padalecki, this action-adventure and horror-mystery show is a popular classic. The show revolves around two brothers, Sam Winchester and Dean Winchester, played by Padalecki and Ackles, respectively, who have the supernatural ability to hunt demons, monsters, and other paranormal beings. The show aired for 15 seasons and is a beloved series among its fans.
The show has some iconic moments that were surprisingly unscripted, which then became a running gag. Fans know that Dean Winchester tends to often use the catchphrase, “son of a b---h”. The phrase has become closely associated with the character, and people have made hilarious montages of the same. However, the story behind how it all started goes back to season three when, during an episode, Dean is annoyed with the bad luck mounting on them because Sam lost a cursed rabbit’s foot. In a moment of anger, he screams the phrase, and Jared admitted that he had to turn away from the camera as he was laughing. The line is now his iconic catchphrase.
2. Abed’s Nicolas Cage impersonation – Community
A cult classic, this popular sitcom stars Joel McHale, Danny Pudi, Alison Brie, and others. The show is set at a community college in Colorado and focuses on a group of students and teachers who often get involved in hilarious situations. The series is known for its use of surrealism, satire, pop culture references, and more. As the show is known for its satire and tributes to cliches in pop culture, it is no wonder that the show has some brilliant unscripted moments.
In one such scene, Danny Pudi’s character, Abed, is taking a class that focuses on the career of actor Nicolas Cage and whether he is a good actor or not. While doing a presentation on the actor, Pudi showcases his comedic prowess as he goes on to perform a quirky impersonation of Cage, being equal parts hilarious and overdramatic. The stunned reactions on the students' faces show that the moment was unscripted and took everyone by surprise. However, the impersonation is now a classic moment.
3. Jamie’s yawn and Briony’s improved line – Adolescence
This British crime drama is one show that has gained immense popularity in recent times for its sensitive and urgent description of how social media affects boys and makes them hateful towards girls. The show has received critical and commercial acclaim for its direction, plot, and performances, which focus on a 13-year-old boy called Jamie (Owen Cooper), who is accused of killing his classmate.
The four-episode show has received most acclaim for its third episode, where Jamie’s psychology is dissected by Erin Doherty’s character, Briony, who is a psychologist. The entire episode is intense and revolves around the continuous back-and-forth repartee that Jamie and Briony indulge in. However, there is an unscripted moment in the episode where Jamie yawns, and Briony immediately improvises by saying, “Am I boring you?” Owen stated later that he was tired and therefore let out a yawn but was surprised by Briony’s clever improvisation and let out a smile, which is also captured in the episode.
4. Oscar and Michael’s kiss – The Office
Starring Steve Carell, John Krasinski, Jenna Fischer, and others, this mockumentary sitcom, which is based on a British show, is now considered one of the most influential comedies of recent times. The show aired for nine seasons, and each season received massive critical and commercial acclaim. The show focuses on a group of employees at the fictional Dunder Mifflin Paper Company and the bizarre situations that they find themselves in.
The show’s format is such that it allows plenty of room for improvisations and ad-libs. Many of the interview segments were also ad-libbed. However, some improvisations have stayed with the show. In season three, Michael Scott (Carrell) is accused of being homophobic and decides to shut those rumors down by kissing a gay employee called Oscar (Oscar Nunez). While the script wanted Michael to kiss Oscar on the neck, it was Carrell’s idea that he should kiss Oscar on the mouth. The rest is history, and the show’s defining moment was created.
5. Holly calls for her mom – Breaking Bad
One of the most influential series on television, this crime drama starring Bryan Cranston, Aaron Paul, Anna Gunn, and others, is a show that has received massive critical and commercial acclaim since its airing. The show is about a genius chemistry teacher, Walter White (Cranston), who decides to leave his meek life and stable job to start a drug business after he is diagnosed with lung cancer and wants to collect money for his family. However, he begins to enjoy being a drug lord and forgets about his family.
The show aired for five seasons, and during the last few episodes of the final season, White decides to kidnap his daughter, Holly, from his wife and tries to bond with her. While the script mentioned that Holly would not say a word, the baby began to say “mama” repeatedly as her real mom was on the set. This unscripted moment is turned around beautifully as Walt begins crying and holds Holly close. The moment became a classic, and Cranston’s acting was praised further.
6. Stefon covering his mouth – Saturday Night Live
This late-night live sketch comedy show is, by nature of its format, bound to have a lot of improvised moments on set. With all the various skits, sketches, and stand-up acts, there is a lot of room for unscripted moments to take place. The moments often turn into running gags for years that viewers have come to love.
One such example is that of Bill Hader’s character, Stefon, on the show. When Hader was a part of the show, his character Stefon was a city correspondent on Weekend Update. The character already had a lot of quirks as he was flamboyant and eccentric. However, one character quirk for Stefon is that he always begins his segments by covering his mouth with his hands. Hader has stated that he did this because it allowed him a moment to compose himself before speaking. However, the unscripted moment became a part of Stefon’s character.
7. Moira’s final words – Arrow
Starring Stephen Amell, Susanna Thompson, Manu Bennett, and others, this superhero series is known for its action and emotional scenes. The show revolves around a billionaire and playboy Oliver Queen (Amell), who comes back from a shipwreck and decides to turn into a vigilante who fights against crime. Based on a DC comics character, the show was a hit among viewers and critics and aired for eight seasons. During the course of the show, there have been a lot of emotional farewells, but the passing of Arrow’s mother, Moira Queen (Thompson), is especially gut-wrenching and memorable.
As Moira stands in front of Deathstroke (Bennett), ready to be sacrificed, she decides to say the line, “Close your eyes, baby”, as her daughter is right beside her. Thompson later stated in an interview to Give Me My Remote that she wanted to add the line because Thea is right beside her, nd her character would not want Thea to see her getting killed. The actress did not share this addition with anyone, and when she did it during the rehearsal, creator Marc Guggenheim was impressed and left it in.
8. Theo and Shirley’s reaction to Nell’s ghost – The Haunting of Hill House
Based on the novel by Shirley Jackson, this modern piece of horror drama became an instant classic for its equal focus on horror and family bonds. Created by Mike Flanagan and starring Victoria Pedretti, Elizabeth Reaser, Kate Siegel, and others, the horror show focuses on five adult siblings who lived in a haunted house during their childhood and are still haunted to this day.
The iconic show also has an unscripted moment in episode eight. Theo (Siegel) and Shirley (Reaser) are arguing while driving, and Nelly’s ghost (Pedretti) suddenly pops out from the backseat. The moment is unscripted, and Siegel and Reaser’s reactions are genuine. Flanagan told Entertainment Weekly that he had told Pedretti to make her appearance sooner than scripted. While Siegel and Reaser’s character had some more lines to say, Pedretti’s character decided to make an early appearance, which left the other two shocked and captured their real expressions.
9. Marshall’s reaction to his dad dying was genuine – How I Met Your Mother
The popular sitcom is another show that is consistently considered one of the most influential comedies of modern times. Starring Jason Segel, Neil Patrick Harris, Alyson Hannigan, and others, the show is about Ted Mosby (Josh Radnor), who goes into a flashback and tells his children the story of how he met their mother. The show is known for its humor and witty lines, but even the light-hearted show has its emotional moments.
In one important scene, Marshall (Segel) finds out from his wife, Lily (Hannigan), that his father has unexpectedly died of a heart attack. The reaction given by Segel is genuine as producer Carter Bays told Entertainment Weekly that Segel wanted to deliver an authentic performance and did not read Hannigan’s lines. Segel also ad-libbed the last line of the scene, “I’m not ready for this.” The moment is now an iconic part of the show.
10. Rachel’s reaction to Phoebe’s singing – Friends
Another classic and hugely popular show that has given audiences many laugh-out-loud moments and is still a part of cultural phenomena, this influential sitcom created by David Crane and Marta Kauffman stars Jennifer Aniston, Lisa Kudrow, David Schwimmer, and others. The show has many hilarious unscripted moments, and noting down only one is difficult.
However, one episode that surely takes the cake is when Ross (Schwimmer) gets his hands on bagpipes and tries to showcase in front of his friends what he has learnt. While he does not do a very good job of it, the hilarious part is when Phoebe (Kudrow) begins to sing to the unruly tune of the instrument. Rachel (Aniston), is sitting next to her and her reaction is genuine as she is unable to stop her laugh and is visibly amused at Phoebe’s singing attempt. The outtakes show that Aniston actually burst out laughing.
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Unscripted moments in TV shows often capture raw, genuine reactions that make scenes even more memorable. Whether it's an impromptu catchphrase, an unplanned yawn, or an unexpected improvisation, these moments add authenticity and depth to the characters and stories we love. They remind us that sometimes, the best moments in television happen when actors embrace spontaneity, making their performances feel even more real and unforgettable.
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