Sad Singing Telegram
Someone receives a disappointing or insulting message (often a subpoena) via singing telegram.
The Dick Van Dyke Show
Appearances
- The Dick Van Dyke Show: Season 1, episode 17, "Punch Thy Neighbor" (1962). Jerry won't stop harassing Rob about an episode of the Alan Brady Show that he thought was "rotten." He goes so far as to send a singing telegram to Rob's house to insult him.
- The Odd Couple: Season 1, episode 14, "Scrooge Gets an Oscar" (1970). Oscar's ex-wife, Blanche, sends him a singing telegram to remind him that his alimony payment is past due.
- The Bob Newhart Show: Season 5, episode 1, "Enter Mrs. Peeper" (1976). The Peeper is coming to visit again, and he sent a singing telegram COD ($12) to announce his trip.
- Welcome Back, Kotter: Season 1, episode 14, "The Longest Weekend" (1976). Mr. Kotter tells Julie a story about his Aunt Esther, who received a singing telegram telling her that her sister had passed away.
- Fernwood 2 Night: Episode 64, "The Ransom" (1977). Barth is served a subpoena from a Miami court with a singing telegram.
- Sledge Hammer!: Season 1, episode 2, "Hammer Gets Nailed" (1986). After Sledge puts a reporter in the hospital, he sends a singing telegram to apologize for causing him to fall off a ledge in a speeding car.
- Night Court: Season 4, episode 21, "Her Honor: Part 1" (1987). When Dan gets turned down for a judgeship of favor of Christine, Roz and Bull hire a singing telegram to "congratulate" him on getting the job just to pour salt in the wound.
- Night Court: Season 5, episode 22, "Danny's Got His Gun: Part 1" (1988). After Dan is sent to the arctic circle by the Army Reserves, a man arrives with a telegram, and Harry pays him to sing it, not knowing that it says Dan's plane was shot down and he's presumed dead.
- The Nanny: Season 5, episode 16, "The Dinner Party" (1998). Niles sends a singing telegram to CC to rub it in that Mr. Sheffield is marrying Fran and not her.
- Just Shoot Me!: Season 3, episode 4, "Funny Girl" (1998). Maya wants to prove to Finch that she can pull off a practical joke, so she plans an elaborate prank on Elliot, which involves fake letters from an ex-security guard and a singing telegram with creepy lyrics.