That's why every year, I buy a poopy.
To show my support for the tropes.
Dead or dying joke tropes Page 2
The best way to get an easy joke is a play on words!! Nothing like a bit of old school http://puns.co.uk/
The one that amazes me (in as much as you see it again and again - and in quite respectable things) is the one where mid-chase the protags/villains get into a lift and the urgent thrashing soundtrack is replaced by lift muzak as they stand and twiddle their thumbs waiting to get to the next floor, where the chase re-commences complete with urgent soundtrack.
Most recent offenders "The Wrong Mans".
I can't believe there isn't someone in the room who doesn't put their hand up and says that they've seen it a dozen times before.
A very noisy room, the protagonist has to raise their voice to be heard, but the background noise suddenly dies as they shout something highly embarrassing.
Character makes his/her point and confidently exits room ...... then retreats out of the broom cupboard and out through the real door.
I do actually still think this is quite funny though if done well, but would never dare put it in a script.
Quote: Lazzard @ 6th November 2013, 1:09 PM GMTThe one that amazes me (in as much as you see it again and again - and in quite respectable things) is the one where mid-chase the protags/villains get into a lift and the urgent thrashing soundtrack is replaced by lift muzak as they stand and twiddle their thumbs waiting to get to the next floor, where the chase re-commences complete with urgent soundtrack.
Most recent offenders "The Wrong Mans".
I can't believe there isn't someone in the room who doesn't put their hand up and says that they've seen it a dozen times before.
I know what you mean! I guess these get used again and again because they work. So it's tempting to keep using them. I think you really have to put a twist on it now to keep it fresh - the same joke conceit but something other than a lift. Or play off it ironically. Or something. Community (one of my favourite ever US shows) is great at playing with story tropes like that.
Quote: Mattytheswan @ 6th November 2013, 4:24 PM GMTCharacter makes his/her point and confidently exits room ...... then retreats out of the broom cupboard and out through the real door.
I do actually still think this is quite funny though if done well, but would never dare put it in a script.
Again it's something that works (there's a joke archetype there of "action that contradict words"). But probably needs something clever done with it, or at least some disguise.
Quote: The Producer @ 1st November 2013, 12:30 PM GMTTrue. 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).
Impressing a producer/commissioner is different to making an audience laugh, I think. Do both and you've got it made...
Quote: Mattytheswan @ 6th November 2013, 4:24 PM GMTCharacter makes his/her point and confidently exits room ...... then retreats out of the broom cupboard and out through the real door.
I do actually still think this is quite funny though if done well, but would never dare put it in a script.
I once had to mediate between a colleague and a member of the public in order to bat off a formal complaint. The venue was my office which at that time was in a very nice old building with lots of original features like heavy ornate doors. Both were hot heads and after laying down some ground rules asked the member of the public to detail her grievance (I had received an outline beforehand).
" I haven't come prepared with any details!" Snapped the lady
" Well how the hell do you expect me to respond" shouted my colleague as he stood up waving his arms around like a demented windmill.
Standing up and mirroring his thrashing she exclaimed "that's it, I'm leaving" before proceeding to open the heavy ornate door and stomp off......in to my storage cupboard.
Believe me, it's funnier in real life than it can ever be on the tele.