British Comedy Guide

Captain Pedantic 1

Part of a runner...

INT. BANK – DAY

A ROBBER WITH A SAWN-OFF SHOTGUN YELLS AT A TELLER.

ROBBER:
Fill the f**king bag! Go, go, go!

PANICKING, THE TELLER STUFFS THE BAG WITH WADS OF CASH.

ROBBER:
And those notes had better be inconsequential!

THERE'S A FLARE OF VICTORY MUSIC AND A COSTUMED SUPERHERO, CAPTAIN PEDANTIC (A LETTER ‘P' ON HIS CHEST) SWOOPS IN.

CAPTAIN PEDANTIC:
I think you mean "non sequential", sir.

ROBBER:
You're right, I do! Thank you, Captain Pedantic!

CAPTAIN PEDANTIC:
Any time!

CAPTAIN PEDANTIC UPS AND AWAYS. THE ROBBER AND THE TELLER LAUGH A WHILE. THEN THE ROBBER UNLOADS HIS SHOTGUN.

Not sure about this mate. Didn't do anything for me, script level its a bit uh bland it'd have to acted like a mother f**ker but it could be funny.

This is odd. Odd because it's so short, but halfway through I was thinking 'I don't like this', then by the end I was laughing and thinking 'Yes, that would make a really good runner'. So, there you go.

Its got potential, will need to see the other ones.

Griff Aaron is captain Pedantic you must be his overly molestered side kick.

And I liked the sketch, looking forward to reading the next one!

Looking at both of these he's not really pedantic, more pointing out easily word pronounciation errors.

I'd day you'd get further with stuff that would annoy pedants, e.g. words with similar meanings.

Such

as Inconsequential and sequential notes.

Followed by a description of the diference.

or nobody move,

does that involve the person stuffing the money?

Nice.

I think Captain Pedantic should say something more superhero-ey than 'Any time' though.

And if you're going to write a sketch about a pedantic superhero, you should probably spell 'be' correctly in the bank robber's second line...

Quote: Gavin @ November 20 2008, 12:57 PM GMT

Not sure about this mate. Didn't do anything for me, script level its a bit uh bland it'd have to acted like a mother f**ker but it could be funny.

Cheers. Hopefully it will work better as part of a whole.

Quote: Matthew Stott @ November 20 2008, 1:02 PM GMT

This is odd. Odd because it's so short, but halfway through I was thinking 'I don't like this', then by the end I was laughing and thinking 'Yes, that would make a really good runner'. So, there you go.

That's quite a journey for a one page sketch!

Quote: Griff @ November 20 2008, 1:08 PM GMT

I am, of course, Captain Pedantic in my real life. It drives people mad. I can't help myself. But just occasionally it reaps rewards.

I was in a meeting once with an absolute c**t of a manager, and every time anybody raised any objections to his catastrophic plan, he dismissed it as nitpicking. "I'm fed up with your pedanticness" he said crossly at one point. I waited for a couple of seconds and then piped up with "Do you mean pedantry?" I know it's wrong to be pleased with yourself but it might be my favourite thing I've ever said.

Anyway, the sketch. I like the idea of bringing pedantry into tense, inappropriate situations, but I'm not sure a roaming superhero is the best way to do it. (But I did laugh at the payoff where they both chuckle before the robber blows the guy away.) What other job would it be disastrous to have a nitpicking pedant in? Maybe a hostage negotiator?

That's a great story. Similarly, I once corrected someone who called me a pendant.

I see your point about the hostage negotiator thing but having the Captain as a superhero not only gives me the option to drop him into any situation I like, it also gives me an opportunity to wear ladies tights.

Quote: Paul W @ November 20 2008, 1:10 PM GMT

Griff Aaron is captain Pedantic you must be his overly molestered side kick.

And I liked the sketch, looking forward to reading the next one!

Cheers, bud face.

Quote: sootyj @ November 20 2008, 1:21 PM GMT

Looking at both of these he's not really pedantic, more pointing out easily word pronounciation errors.

I'd day you'd get further with stuff that would annoy pedants, e.g. words with similar meanings.

Such

as Inconsequential and sequential notes.

Followed by a description of the diference.

or nobody move,

does that involve the person stuffing the money?

Adding a line where he explains the difference might work. Or it might end up being padding. I'll give it a try.

Quote: Afinkawan @ November 20 2008, 1:23 PM GMT

Nice.

I think Captain Pedantic should say something more superhero-ey than 'Any time' though.

And if you're going to write a sketch about a pedantic superhero, you should probably spell 'be' correctly in the bank robber's second line...

Said in the proper cheeseball, thumbs up way I think it will work.

Crivens, you're right about that typo!

Infact he's more Captain

"The idiotic word substitution errors that Sootyj makes so frequnetly. and frankly I don't even care if he's dyslexic cos this is just taking the piss. I mean can't social services buy him some pink glasses or a spelling dog for the thick or something."

I'm sending that one to Stan Lee at Marvel comics.

Quote: Griff @ November 20 2008, 1:36 PM GMT

Thinking more about this (nearly always a bad idea) the thing that seems odd to me about this sketch (and the follow-up) is that the characters just accept the existence of Captain Pedantic, as if they're used to him popping up every five minutes.

How about that idea the the victim being robbed thinks "ah hooray a superhero has come to rescue me" and then of course disappointment soon follows when he discovers the superhero has only come to correct a misused word?

Personally, i don't like that. I think you're over-thinking the idea. Why shouldn't they accept his existence and know who he is? Most of the funny is their jolly acceptance, laughter, then, as with the second sketch, getting a bullet in the head.

This is a debate I find myself in quite a lot - whether or not leaving logic holes in a sketch is acceptable. Personally, I have no problem with it - it allows the viewer an opportunity to fill in the gaps and come to their own conclusions (which are often funnier than mine). To me, a little mystery is no bad thing.

What I have a problem with aren't logic holes but logic betrayals - whem a character does something at odds with their personality or an event occurs that goes against the rules of the universe you've established.

Quote: David Bussell @ November 20 2008, 1:46 PM GMT

This is a debate I find myself in quite a lot - whether or not leaving logic holes in a sketch is acceptable.

People knowing who he is isn't really a logic hole though, is it? Why wouldn't people know who he is?

Quote: Matthew Stott @ November 20 2008, 1:48 PM GMT

People knowing who he is isn't really a logic hole though, is it? Why wouldn't people know who he is?

Well yes, maybe I'm using a bad example to espouce my point. Well spotted, Stott.

Mmmmmmm, Spotted Stott....

It's a good, funny, and highly-silly character that wouldn't be out of place on a kid's sketch show like "I'm Sorry I've Lost My Head".

Nowt wrong with it at all.

Quote: David Bussell @ November 20 2008, 2:00 PM GMT

Well yes, maybe I'm using a bad example to espouce my point. Well spotted, Stott.

Mmmmmmm, Spotted Stott....

*espouse

Whistling nnocently

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