Wallet Boy

There are so many pizza delivery ads on TV, and I never see anyone paying for it. The delivery guy comes to the door, hands over the pizza, and leaves.

I'm watching Rules of Engagement at the moment and David Spade just got a pizza delivered to him in an elevator (don't ask), and the guy gives him a pizza and a two liter, and just takes off.

Maybe money can't change hands on TV, but I could swear I've seen people hand over money on bets and things like that (Seinfeld - "The Contest") Maybe I'm wrong.

Anybody know?

magiccmom

I think Elaine on Seinfeld paid for her Chinese food out of the janitor closet with cash, and I remember Ross on Friends paying for pizza when he had a crush on the delivery girl.

GuessWho

They pay by credit card when they phone in the order.

DonnachaOne

I always pay by credit card when I phone in the order, tip an' all. Saves the driver some time and I don't have to get to an ATM.

As for movies, I'm sure it's just a time issue. Why waste screentime on throwaway characters? Keep the story moving.

Dr. Henry Jones, Jr.

even when I pay with a credit card, I have to sign for it

flair

Same here. They don't need a signature?

matta

Sometimes it depends on the amount. Many places (pizza places, Starbucks, fast food, etc.) around here don't require a signature if the order is under $20.

calhoun07

They paid with their souls.

Jimmy James

It's the same reason you don't see them actually dialing the phone or why they always seem to catch the elevator when it's right at their floor unless they need the time to say something funny first.

You'll also notice that drivers are monumentally distracted in virtually all driving scenes, but they never seem to get pulled over by cops concerned about them weaving all over the place or speeding.

ETA: The real answer just came to me -- pizza guys are so worried about being kidnapped, they just comp the pizza when it seems like they're on a TV show.

The Infidel

If the TV commercial drivers are like most of the drivers that come to my door, they probably forgot the slip back at the store.

mndtrp

In the movies I watch, pizza delivery guys (and girls!) get paid, just not with money.

DaveCole

Another question to ponder. Where does the pizza go? No one on tv ever goes to the bathroom.

One exception--Al Bundy.

Palaver

Don't forget Archie Bunker.

BDLOU

BOM CHICKA BOW!!!

nateman

If it’s a sitcom, there’s usually quite a few little nitpicks like that, which get my attention as well.

It’s a little off topic but I hate how inconstant characters on Sitcoms are with how they like their coffee. I mean, in one episode the character (ex. Carrie, King of Queens) like the coffee black, in another episode however, the character is putting milk and sugar in their coffee. It drives me crazy!

The outside not matching the inside of buildings is the biggest sitcom flaw ever!

Morf

Sorry, but that was the biggest "WTF" comment I've seen on these boards in a while.

rfduncan

They routinely paid for their pizzas on Friends...

Toad

In the Office this year, they paid a delivery guy (after keeping him hostage for several hours).

Numanoid

What I find worse than not paying is when a character just reaches into their pocket and hands the guy a wad of money, without either of them counting it, and the delivery guy just accepts it and leaves. Takes me right out of a scene.

Jimmy James

You'd hate watching me, then. I always count out the money for the pizza guy and stick it in my pocket so I can just hand it to him when he comes.

Giles

the bigger question is - why don't actor's actually eat food on screen? maybe with multiple takes, the food gets cold and gnarly.

Toad

This thread makes me feel like the most observant person in the world.

ben12

Would you rather watch a character pay a delivery man or hear another joke?

And in a commercial, they only have 30 seconds! They're not wasting time showing you how to pay.

DRG

I think a combination of continuity problems (they would have to remember exactly how much of the food was eaten for each shot) and the fact that if there were too many takes the actor would be sick from eating so much.

rfduncan

This is likely the case. I have noticed seriously ridiculous continuity problems in scenes that involve beverages and smoking (the levels of the liquid and length of the cigarette end up flipping around a lot from combining different angles from multiple takes).