Which joke ideas/tropes do you think are now dead (or dying) and should *never* appear in a new script except when using them with dreadful and obvious irony?
The ones I can think of are: (some of these may be long dead and buried)
"Put your hands up and step away from the " (unless in an actual action spoof and even then...)
"Is that an in your pocket or are you just [Y]?"
"Talk to the hand etc"
"And then I got off the bus..."
Any jokes dissing unfashionable bands from too long ago become very unfunny. Recent examples are Badults, making fun of Coldplay; and also The Ginge, The Geordie And The Geek, still doing it with James Blunt.
You mean I can never get off the bus? I'm stuck on the bus forever! But my friends will miss me, but they'll all be stuck on other buses.
You're a monster David Salisbury.
Another is the "You'd never see me there/doing that"
Cut to that person there/doing that.
"Oh no you didn't..."
Well quite clearly they did. You just saw/heard them doing it.
It's the Macaulay Culkin face from the Home Alone posters in verbal form, and should carry a death sentence.
Don't you hate it when comedians start with don't you hate it then, and then ironically reference that statement, I wish they were all raped, especially the ones who make unfunny ironic jokes about it, I mean it's just shock humour like leaving a pile of dead babies under the Christmas tree. It's reminesent of the works of famous dead, socialist, feminist philosopher, who isn't funny but this is my way of showing I'm smarter than you and this comedy is relevant.
"PULLS OUT A BANJO"
Oh my mans a paedo
He wears a peados hat
He pulls down his trousers
In a Haitian refugees flat
Because banjos and poetry are not hilarous
Anything by Ray Cooney?
Or saying 'Anything by Ray Cooney'
Quote: The Producer @ October 29 2013, 1:20 PM GMTAnother is the "You'd never see me there/doing that"
Cut to that person there/doing that.
Eeeeuuurgh....yes, that. I can't stand that.
But I am appalled by David Salisbury - "And then I got off the bus" will NEVER get old! 
Every joke trope could be seen as dying, since no joke is as funny after the first time.
Every joke trope could be seen as dying, since no* joke is as funny after the first time.
*apart from those which rely on repetition.
The trick is find new twist or way upping the anti. For instance turning up in fancy dress for a party that is not a fancy dress party is an ancient and tired trope (see for instance Brigit Jones Diary, but John Sullivan found a way to make it work in OFAH.
I don't think you should ever make a joke about dying troops.
Quote: Nogget @ October 30 2013, 9:25 AM GMTEvery joke trope could be seen as dying, since no joke is as funny after the first time.
Every joke trope could be seen as dying, since no* joke is as funny after the first time.
*apart from those which rely on repetition.
I liked it better the first time.
Quote: The Producer @ October 29 2013, 1:20 PM GMTAnother is the "You'd never see me there/doing that"
Cut to that person there/doing that.
Gilligan cuts were around before most of us were and will still be around when we're gone. They're brilliant the first time you see one and so-so thereafter, so surely the trick is to work out who your audience are and get there first. So, Gilligan cuts - good if you're writing for CCBC or BBC Three, naff in 'In the Thick of It'.
Quote: Bomsh @ October 31 2013, 2:11 PM GMTI liked it better the first time.
Gilligan cuts were around before most of us were and will still be around when we're gone. They're brilliant the first time you see one and so-so thereafter, so surely the trick is to work out who your audience are and get there first. So, Gilligan cuts - good if you're writing for CCBC or BBC Three, naff in 'In the Thick of It'.
True. I was coming at this from the perspective of impressing a producer/industry person with a script. With the "right" audience, all of the things in this thread would still get a big laugh. I've been to several big shows/recordings where the biggest laugh was from a terrible cliched joke (from a writer perspective).
Quote: The Producer @ November 1 2013, 12:30 PM GMTI've been to several big shows/recordings where the biggest laugh was from a terrible cliched joke (from a writer perspective).
Maybe there is something to be said for writing what you think is funny and what you think an audience with similar humour will find finny, probably easier than setting out to impress a producer or fellow writers.
Quote: Chappers @ October 30 2013, 9:58 PM GMTI don't think you should ever make a joke about dying troops.
Quite right. We should support our tropes. They're out there dying for us.