Today’s TV cliche goes back to the very beginnings of television and was even a staple of Shakespeare’s comedies. The misunderstanding typically involves one character on the show overhearing or seeing something that they misinterpret as something else. The 1970’s sitcom Three’s Company typically used this trope just about every week.
When done masterfully, the audience may not even realize that they’re viewing a “misunderstanding” plot line. Most shows, however, use this plot device sloppily. When this happens, it often makes the characters look like idiots who had to be complete morons to be so confused.
