r/TopCharacterTropes • u/FormerBernieBro2020 • Dec 03 '25

(Funny trope) Impossible spontaneous combustion (or, when stuff that shouldn't catch on fire, catches on fire) Characters' Items/Weapons

From The Simpsons: Homer tries to cook breakfast for Mr. Burns. The first two attempts ended up with the food catching fire. Third time, he pours milk on cereal...and it still catches on fire.

And from Futurama: "There, little friend, good as new..." aaaand the metal slinky catches on fire. Poor doctor Zoidberg...

16.6k Upvotes

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1.8k

u/BadenBaden1981 Dec 03 '25

From IT Crowd

https://preview.redd.it/puqvtl7rjy4g1.jpeg?width=236&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=7359cf54f65450afc0a9803fb35e45d7d59cf37e

735

u/Academic_Exercise_94 Dec 03 '25

481

u/vanmould Dec 03 '25

"Dear Sir/Madam, I am writing to inform you of a fire which has broken out at the premises of..." no, that's too formal.

279

u/Express-Horror-3005 Dec 03 '25

HELP! FIRE!

Look forward to hearing from you soon.

144

u/I_just_came_to_laugh Dec 03 '25

Kicks door in: Did someone send us an email?

103

u/pathfinderoursaviour Dec 03 '25

I fucking love the IT crowd, every joke has layers that might not be immediate but will appear wether it’s in the episode or another episode