Breaking the fourth wall is incredibly unconventional within television, and despite the fact that it often leads to great work when it happens, it is very rare that it does. But that doesn’t stop some brave television shows taking the leap, smashing through the barrier, and talking directly to the camera.
Anytime it happens, breaking the fourth wall will certainly shock people at first, because it doesn’t happen often. However, when it is done right it can create some truly incredible television that will certainly hook an audience.
Of course, there are also times when it doesn’t work. But speaking to the camera does help create a unique connection between a character and the audience if done right. Here are 10 television shows that did break the fourth wall.
Saved By The Bell
Saved By The Bell is one of the most well-known television shows for breaking the fourth wall, mainly because it was done so obviously. Zack Morris had the ability to basically hit the pause button his life, going into time out so that he could go to the camera and explain exactly what was going on.
It certainly was unique and different at the time, being able to give the audience all the latest news on the developments at Bayside High. While watching the show offered most of the details, having Zack break certain moments down really did make the show that much more enjoyable.
Fresh Prince Of Bel Air
Fresh Prince Of Bel Air is one of the most popular television shows of all time, proving just how good fourth-wall breaking can be. This was a breakthrough role for Will Smith that helped introduce the talented actor to the entire world, and he did so by breaking television conventions.
His character, Will, would often speak to the camera during the series. He would offer observations about his Bel Air family, speaking from the heart or being a little sarcastic. It’s one of the reasons fans connected with the character so much because it made audiences feel like he was talking directly to them.
Fleabag
One of the most recent examples of a television show breaking the fourth wall is Fleabag. The show handles it in such a fantastic way, almost following the lines of Deadpool where they will happily reference ’the viewer’ as if they are there while in the middle of the conversation.
It is very rare for the fourth wall to be broken in this way. Whether it be by a wink or just a phrase acknowledging the presence of someone always watching, it is a totally different way of presenting this type of medium and the show benefits massively from it.
Malcolm In The Middle
Back to another classic television show now with Malcolm in the Middle. This was another show where the main character would often talk to the audience directly, addressing them many times throughout an episode. The entire premise of the show depended on it.
Malcolm would address the viewers as if they were a page in his journal, going through whatever was happening in his life at the time. Setting up an episode in that way, but also commenting on scenes throughout the show by addressing the camera directly.
Secret Diary Of A Call Girl
Early on in this fantastic show, it seems to be that Belle, played by Billie Piper, is simply narrating the show from her point of view. Giving a voiceover explanation as to how she works as a prostitute and why. But when she turns and speaks directly to the camera it is a total game-changer.
This helped portray the fact that Belle really was in control, regardless of what was happening on the screen. It also allowed the connection between the character and the audience, as the viewers were in on her secrets, knowing both sides of her life, which nobody else did.
Doctor Who
That’s right, even the Time Lord likes to break convention every now and then to address his audience directly. It isn’t something that is done in every single episode, and it can be quite rare that this is done, but several Doctors have spoken straight to the camera in the past.
This started all the way back with the first Doctor, who wished viewers a happy Christmas and has continued since. Tom Baker’s Doctor spoke to the camera many times, often in a lighthearted way, and even David Tennant addressed the audience during the famous ‘Blink’ episode.
Fuller House
Remakes of popular television shows are never easy to do, but Fuller House has certainly done a tremendous job of it. One of the reasons the show has been so popular on Netflix is due to the fact that it has broken the fourth wall many times throughout its run.
The show does a brilliant job with this as it isn’t just staring into the camera and talking directly to the audience. It is subtle nods throughout conversations or actions the characters do that clearly reference things the actors have actually done in the past that audiences are able to laugh about.
Moonlighting
Moonlighting was a very popular 1980s crime comedy that just so happened to star Bruce Willis. It was a show that would often use the fourth wall to its benefit, playing around with it from the very start all the way through to the end in a fun manner.
However, the most memorable moment was in the final episode, when the characters discover that Moonlighting has actually been cancelled. It shows the set being taken down by staff as the main characters confront the producer, bringing an end to the show in the most fourth wall shattering scene ever.
House Of Cards
The moment that Frank Underwood first turns to the camera and addresses the audience directly is a major shocker in House Of Cards. However, it was this fourth wall breaking twist that helped make this incredible Netflix series so gripping and popular right from the start.
Fourth wall breaking was rare in a show as serious as this, tackling politics at the highest level. However, having Frank address the camera, revealing to the audience exactly what he was truthfully feeling or hoping to achieve created a huge connection, giving the viewers the feeling like they were in on his decisions with him.
Peep Show
This popular UK television show took breaking the fourth wall to an entirely different level. In the Peep Show, the characters are constantly staring at the camera directly. The entire show is a fourth wall breaker, which is something we have never seen before or since.
The idea behind choosing this angle is so that the audience feels like they are actually inside the head of the character. This is why they are constantly providing their thoughts so that the audience can hear them, really breaking things down which led to some amazing comedy.
