Hi, Mom!

A Stock Phrase for being on camera. It could be a news camera, or it could be a surveillance camera, if it's too late to get out of its line of sight. There doesn't have to be any guarantee that "mom" is watching. Chances are, if a video camera is pointed at someone, he (and it is usually only one person who does it) will say, "Hi, Mom!"

Compare Confused Bystander Interview.

Examples of Hi, Mom! include:

Advertising

• One of the better known elements of the infamous eSure "calm down dear" adverts was an extra randomly shouting "Hello Mum!" in the middle of conversation or, in later ads, carrying a large "Hello Mum" sign.

Anime & Manga

• One of the kids showing a "V" Sign on the news in an episode of the manga Ichigo Mashimaro says "Hi, mom!"

Comic Books

• This is Glu's Catch Phrase in Monica's Gang.

Literature

• According to Dave Barry Slept Here, said by Neil Armstrong when he became the first human to set foot on the Moon.
• Done with the radio instead of television (which hadn't been invented yet) in Mr. Popper's Penguins. Mrs. Popper predicts that all the Antarctic expedition broadcast will be is a bunch of men saying "Hello Ma, Hello Pa." When Admiral Drake is broadcast, the first words out of his mouth are, "Hello Ma, hello Pa, hello Mr. Popper." Which, of course, kicks off the plot.

Live Action TV

• Criss Angel says this when demonstrating the Spectator's Point of View Camera.
• Both used straight and subverted on Friends. Ross and Chandler are pretending to be game show contestants. Ross says a clichéd hello to his son, but Chandler introduces himself as a headhunter connecting former Soviet scientists with rogue Third World countries. "Hi, Rasputin!"
• When The Colbert Report went to Iraq, Stephen had the troops send a message to their special ladies back home. Naturally, this message was "Hi, Mom!" Stephen asked if they were forgetting someone, and the troops added, "Hi, Stephen's mom!"
  • Amusing moment from a radio interview: Stephen was being asked about what kind of social circle he belonged to in high school and said thoughtfully that mostly, they "smoked a lot of pot -- hi, Mom -- and just kind of smiled at each other over the bong..."
• A staple in The Price Is Right when the big wheel is spun, the contestant will say hello to whoever they wish to hello to.
• When Dave talks to audience members on The Late Show with David Letterman he'll often ask if they have kids. If they say yes, he offers the chance to say hello to them on TV. Then Dave will yell at the kids for being up so late watching TV when they should be in bed or studying.

Web Comics

• A Running Gag in Dead Marlo is Harvey Breaking the Fourth Wall to greet his mom. He even does it on the cast page.
• Evil Diva: On Family Feud!

Western Animation

• Sonic the Hedgehog, Tails and Rotor are confronted with a Spy Eye (or whatever those things are called). It's just Robotnik and Snively at the other end, but Tails still says this phrase.
  • (Maybe Tails' mother is a Robian...?)
    • She was, for a brief time, in the Archie comics. But then a Bem scientist picked her up and changed her back.
• In one episode of Family Guy, Chris being interviewed, asks the newscaster if he can say hi to his mom. When said he can, he shouts "Hi Mom!" to Lois, who is standing just off-screen.
  • Parodied in another episode. "Can I say "Hi" to my friend? Hi, Jesus!"

Jesus (watching TV): No way! (gets a phone call) I know!

• Done in an episode of Rocko's Modern Life with a daytime talk show. Similar to the Family Guy example, Heffer wants to say hi to his mother who is part of the studio audience.
• Played quite straight in the first radio Gorillaz interview, where 2D introduces himself by saying, "Hi, um, I'm 2D. I'm the singer, I play the keyboard, and I need the toilet. Uh, can I do somefing real quick? Hi mum! I'm on the radio!"
• The Powerpuff Girls: In the episode "Uh Oh Dynamo", a fellow at Mt. Rushmore shouts "Hi Mom!" This comes back later when the Fish Balloon monster lands on the monument after being beaten, and the guy once more shouts "Hi!"