i learned a new term here today. called breaking the fourth wall.

[AllaN01Bear]

wikipeda article below
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fourth_wall

[highplainsdem]

1. It's something that's often mentioned in reviews/articles when films and TV shows like Magnum break

the fourth wall.

https://www.indiewire.com/features/general/before-house-of-cards-10-tv-characters-fond-of-breaking-the-fourth-wall-41384/

Thomas Magnum, “Magnum, P.I.” (1980-1988)

The Skipper used to look to the camera whenever his first mate did something ridiculous on “Gilligan’s Island,” and George Reeves used to wink at the audience at the end of episodes of “Adventures of Superman,” but no one acknowledged the camera like Tom Selleck on “Magnum, P.I.” Playing Oahu private detective Thomas Magnum, Selleck’s signature move was to deliver a smirk to the audience that seemed intended as a self-acknowledgment of his mustachioed existence — of course, people are following along at home. John Hillerman’s Jonathan Quayle Higgins III also got some glances to the camera, but they were more of the “can you believe this guy?” variety.

I'd run across the term before Tom Selleck played Magnum, but I don't think I ever saw it mentioned as often as I did then.

[grumpyduck]

2. Groucho Marx used to do it too in his movies.