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Doghouse Riley's definitions

brown dogger

Brown Dogger
A scruffy looking person sitting on a blanket outside a store begging for small change, accompanied as often as not, by a brown dog on the end of a piece of string.
by Doghouse Riley February 5, 2008
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The gypsy's warning

A quiet word to an employee or aquaintance, suggesting that they'd best proceed with caution in respect of their current conduct or attitude, or they may be in for an unpleasant surprise. The details of which aren't actually set out by the giver of the warning, who may or may not have control over their fate.
The guy was certainly out of line, there probably wasn't sufficient grounds for disciplinary action, but he certainly got the gypsy's warning.
by Doghouse Riley April 17, 2008
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The Pantomime Factor

The Pantomime Factor is a device used by writers of film and TV dramas that has the audience shouting at the screen, when what the hero or heroine is about to do, defies imagination and logic.
An example of The Pantomime Factor.

The heroine on a dark night walks alone into her unlit house which clearly has had a forced entry and fails to see a figure lurking in the dark as they stumble about, never even thinking about turning on a light.
More impressionable observers will be shouting; "Look out behind you!" and similar warnings at the screen, but of course to no avail.
by Doghouse Riley July 3, 2008
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Doghouse's Laws of Television

Situations in respect of people and programmes on Television.
From observation, recognising that the general standard of television in my opinion has deteriorated and continues to do so year by year, so much so I now watch very little, I’ve found as far as the programme quality and content on all television channels, the following Doghouse's Laws of Television often apply.

I started compiling this list several years ago and some of these "laws" are now occasionally mentioned by contributors to a specific TV network message board, though of course they can apply to any channel.
I'm sure other contributors may relate to some of them and can think of other examples of practices which could be added to the list.


With a new programme, if your impression of it after ten minutes is that it's going to be rubbish, you’ll only be right 95% of the time.


The number of advance programme trails screened, will be in inverse proportion to the quality of the programme. The ”best bits” of any programme will be included in the trail.

The volume of background music will often be in inverse proportion to the amount of watchable activity on the screen at that time.


Any TV audience gets the standard of programmes it deserves. It’s no good complaining about the quality of a programme if you continue to watch it.

If an idea for a programme suggested to a TV network commissioning department isn’t another soap in one form or another, or requires an "in your face" presenter/auto-cutie, celebrities, judges, phone votes, or the inclusion of dysfunctional members of the public, it is unlikely to be made.

The number of programme presenters appearing at any one time, will usually be in inverse proportion to the quality of the programme.

The number and variety of similar programmes on TV, are likely to be in inverse proportion to their cost to present.

To reach the widest audience, in a programme where the subject is of a specific nature, it may include totally unrelated elements in an attempt to also “engage” viewers who aren’t the slightest bit interested in the actual topic, in a futile attempt to increase the ratings.

Some programmes, even a few news bulletins, given the level at which the programme makers pitch their production, should have the words; "for Dummies" added to the title.

If you've any doubts about watching a programme, from the trails or advertising you've seen, take a chance, give it a miss.
by Doghouse Riley November 2, 2008
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ghetto tourist

A popular singer or entertainer, who affects a manner, lifestyle, or the speech of someone from a deprived or oppressed background, in an attempt to be considered more "street." When in fact they had a middle class or privileged upbringing.
Both Amy Winehouse and Lily Allen are ghetto tourists.
Amy thinks she's Billie Holiday reincarnated, but she was born in a North London suburb, went to an independent school and the Sylvia Young stage school, any "tragedy" she's endured she's manufactured for herself.

Lily Allen tries to give the impression when she sings that she's really a Cockney.
She was born in Hammersmith and raised in Islington, a pleasant London suburb. Her father is an actor, her mother a film producer. She attended a number of private schools in the better parts of London, including one Prince Charles attended.
by Doghouse Riley January 12, 2009
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massage board

An internet "massage board" is where likeminded posters can massage the egos of each other by telling them how wonderful they are.
Sorry, I can't think of an example of massage boards but I'm sure that such behaviour goes on on a lot of message boards.
by Doghouse Riley December 25, 2007
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Sausage situation

A film or TV drama where innocent people are taken hostage say, in a bank, where the customers are made by the crooks to all lie on the floor in similar fashion to sausages in a pan. Thus a sausage situation.
by Doghouse Riley April 5, 2008
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