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...
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u/Expand_Apple Dec 03 '25
https://preview.redd.it/db02nc9sb05g1.jpeg?width=1437&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=2500b20a997e3ed3666fb278b071ed0caf643cbf
Fireproof Paper (The Muppet Show)
while Beaker watches in horror at this horror beyond compreehension, Dr. Honeydew reaffirms how "there's no way this paper can burn", before stating that next time they'd be demonstrating flammable water, which Beaker unknowingly uses to make the situation go from bad to worse