It was one of the writers of the Simpsons who said.
That it's secret was every one and everything had a back story.
Even if they were only on for a few seconds.
Again though I think this would be funnier if it sounded more like real train announcements.
Maybe
The train manager will be inspecting all tickets.
Unless you've got a big dog or have been drinking.
Quote: Timbo @ November 16 2008, 10:33 PM GMTDon't all those examples have a backstory, or, more to the point, an internal logic?
Even a throwaway needs an internal logic, otherwise listeners will look for the illogicality to be resolved in the punch.
What I do not get from the sketch is whether the announcer is sneering at the customers or ranting about the service.
Really? If that's the case people wouldn't watch Big Train.
"Why is he assassinating a swan?!?"
"Hang on, surely no one would have a fear of spoons?"
It's a bit of observational comedy put into a silly sketch, it's not The Office.
Seefacts, I am not sure you understand the difference between internal logic and making sense.
Quote: Timbo @ November 16 2008, 10:42 PM GMTSeefacts, I am not sure you understand the difference between internal logic and making sense.
Well, why don't you explain - and thus deconstruct a bit of whimsy.
I prefer to leave whimsy in tact.
Quote: Timbo @ November 16 2008, 10:42 PM GMTSeefacts, I am not sure you understand the difference between internal logic and making sense.
Okay, how's this then?
TRAIN MANAGER:
(OVER SPEAKER) Good afternoon ladies and gentlemen, this is your train manager speaking. Just before I start, I'd like to point out that I'm a very disillusioned National Rail employee, and therefore this next piece of monologue will demonstrate my chagrin at the aforementioned (albeit imaginary) company, and its treatment of its passengers. I hope this will clarify any confusion you may or may not have as to the motivation or logic of the following rhetoric;
Thank you for travelling with National Rail. First Class accommodation is available at the front of the train, but there's no way you can afford that, so you might as well get used to this poxy living Hell that is standard class... etc etc
Quote: Griff @ November 16 2008, 11:54 PM GMTJust before I start, I'd like to point out that I'm a very disillusioned National Rail employee, and therefore this next piece of dialogue will demonstrate my chagrin at the aforementioned (albeit imaginary) company, and its treatment of its passengers. I hope this will clarify any confusion you may or may not have as to the motivation or logic of the following rhetoric
That would actually make me laugh if I heard that at the start of a sketch.
Better, but I think a character/action grid for the train manager might help.
Quote: Timbo @ November 17 2008, 12:04 AM GMTBetter, but I think a character/action grid for the train manager might help.
Damn you Timbo you made me laugh there.
The titanic gag and, particularly, the 'standard-issue sweaty fat man' made me laugh out loud, so I thought it was quite funny.
I can kind of see what people are saying. Maybe it's the end of the first paragraph: the train manager calls the passengers ('clients') scum, so the tone of it should probably be a bit more vituperative. Sort of 'you've brought this on yourselves', rather than 'this is how it is'. That would bring a bit of a different angle to it and perhaps seem less like a 'rant'.
Dan
Quote: Seefacts @ November 16 2008, 10:38 PM GMT"Hang on, surely no one would have a fear of spoons?"
I don't know. That one seemed fairly logical to me.
I thought Lee's sketch was good. I suppose it is a bit confusing why the announcer would be slagging the service off, but I didn't notice that til people started pointing it out. I still think it works. If you wanted to get completely logical, then you would need to have a reveal at the end as to why he is so pissed off.
I disagree things, especially in sketches, have to be logical to work. Very often it's the fact that it is illogical that helps make it funny.
Agreed sketches need some sort of inherent logic around which to base the comedy.
e.g. Parrot sketch is very much about customer complaints.
A rail way announcing it's shitness in it's own snide way is a good logical base.
One of those threads where the comments are funnier than the sketch I think. Not that there's anything inherently wrong with the sketch - it's just that Timbo, Seefacts, Lee himself and even Sootyj have come up with something far more interesting in their collaboration.
And once more Bussell like a god upon Olympus passes judgement upon us human ants.