Accidental Eavesdropping
One or more characters accidentally overhear someone else's conversations, usually by picking up their phone calls on their phone, radio, baby monitor, etc. or through an air vent or similar.
3rd Rock from the Sun
Appearances
- The Dick Van Dyke Show: Season 3, episode 5, "All About Eavesdropping" (1963). Rob and Laura get a baby monitor, which picks up the Helpers' conversations through their baby monitor next door.
- My Favorite Martian: Season 2, episode 5, "Dial M for Martin" (1964). When a cut telephone wire hits Martin, his head begins to function as a telephone, picking up the neighbors' conversations.
- The Munsters: Season 1, episode 4, "Rock-a-bye Munster" (1964). Grandpa fixes the TV with war surplus radar parts, which causes it to show footage from inside the house, so Herman hears Lily talking to Marilyn talking about a boy Marilyn babysits coming to stay with them, but Herman thinks they're talking about Lily having a baby.