Quote: Aaron @ December 16 2008, 8:21 PM GMT. . . ?
0:49...
Crap comedy observations you hate Page 2
Disturbingly, that's more or less what I was imagining. :/
Then maybe you got's the flava!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b3-TonEGQqM
Not sure if this counts an observsation, but if it is a crap one.
Quote: David Bussell @ December 16 2008, 8:34 PM GMTThen maybe you got's the flava!
That is about as likely as the Pope having never fingered a choirboy.
But comedy would never work if every joke, comedy sketch and observation was held up to scrutiny. We may as well give up if we thought everything we wrote was closely analysed, no?
Quote: oldcowgrazing @ December 16 2008, 9:25 PM GMTBut comedy would never work if every joke, comedy sketch and observation was held up to scrutiny. We may as well give up if we thought everything we wrote was closely analysed, no?
No. I think comedy is better if you do tear apart every assumption, every line, and check that it actually makes sense and means something.
You can get laughs from the simple rhythm or phrasing of a gag, but I'm much more impressed if the content also stands up to close analysis. Harder to do, sure; certainly far from necessary -- but more satisfying.
Also, don't you just hate it when you know that there's a hackneyed comedy observation you heard that has always been a personal bugbear, and you know it would be great to add to this thread, but can't remember what it was you're thinking of? You know that feeling? What's that about?
I HATE it in sitcoms when the phone rings and the character picks it up and instead of going "Hello?" like all normal people, they go "Hello, Stephen Bainbridge." (Especially if they're not called Stephen Bainbridge). Or sometimes they pick the phone up and go "452644". NOBODY does that in real life!!
My biggest pet hate though isn't just in comedy, it happens in all TV fiction. It's where one character is plainly trying to impart a very important piece of information to another character, who isn't listening because they're much to busy doing the housework or whatever. This is a device to build tension until the big revelation in the scene but I f**king hate it with a passion because it's so bloody unrealistic. And nobody's more guilty of it than the EastEnders writers.
Fry and Laurie did a brilliant sketch about that very thing but I'm buggered if I can find it.
YOu know the type of thing though...
PHIL:
Mum, I've got something to tell you...
PEGGY:
(INTERRUPTING) Here son, hold this washing will you, I'm rushed off mmy feet I am.
PHIL:
What? oh, sure...look Mum, I really need to tell you some...
PEGGY:
(INTERRUPTING) I mean I've not had chance to sit down all day, if it's not one thing it's another.
PHIL:
Yeah...Mum, I really need to tell you this. I've been to the doctors and he says I've got canc...
PEGGY:
(INTERRUPTING) I mean like I was saying to Dot earlier on, a woman's work is never done...
etc etc etc
Quote: Mike Greybloke @ December 16 2008, 9:41 PM GMTNo. I think comedy is better if you do tear apart every assumption, every line, and check that it actually makes sense and means something.
You can get laughs from the simple rhythm or phrasing of a gag, but I'm much more impressed if the content also stands up to close analysis. Harder to do, sure; certainly far from necessary -- but more satisfying.
Also, don't you just hate it when you know that there's a hackneyed comedy observation you heard that has always been a personal bugbear, and you know it would be great to add to this thread, but can't remember what it was you're thinking of? You know that feeling? What's that about?
I understand what you're saying but some of the comments on here are nit-picking. Like that ball of cheese observation that Sooty mentioned: Everyone knows that if you arrived at a party, it wouldn't just be a ball of cheese on offer. The observer is exaggerating a situation whereby they've kept their belly empty only to arrive at the part and the host is serving only nibbles. That's funny to me.
Don't get me wrong I agree with you about making sure that it actually makes sense etc but on closer inspection everything can be picked apart. I think to a greater extent it boils down to personal experiences and buttons i.e subjective.
Quote: Lee Henman @ December 16 2008, 9:51 PM GMTI HATE it in sitcoms when the phone rings and the character picks it up and instead of going "Hello?" like all normal people, they go "Hello, Stephen Bainbridge." (Especially if they're not called Stephen Bainbridge). Or sometimes they pick the phone up and go "452644". NOBODY does that in real life!!
Uh oh you've just reminded me of my bug bear and it's not just in comedy either. Why is it that when someone dials a number they don't wait for the [dialled number] to ring? There should be a 5 seconds count after the number has been dialled, and then say "hello.."
My dad says his number when he picks up the phone!
He is MENTAL.
Quote: zooo @ December 16 2008, 9:56 PM GMTMy dad says his number when he picks up the phone!
He is MENTAL.
My mum does that. I think it's a generational thing. I've told her to stop doing it in case it's cold callers etc.
I've never really thought about them like that. If it's funny I laugh if it's not I don't. I do agree with Lee though, I hate that interruption of the big revelation thing.
Quote: Mike Greybloke @ December 16 2008, 9:41 PM GMTHarder to do, sure; certainly far from necessary -- but more satisfying.
Only if you're a writer.
Quote: zooo @ December 16 2008, 9:56 PM GMTMy dad says his number when he picks up the phone!
He is MENTAL.
Umm.
Quote: oldcowgrazing @ December 16 2008, 9:56 PM GMTI understand what you're saying but some of the comments on here are nit-picking. Like that ball of cheese observation that Sooty mentioned: Everyone knows that if you arrived at a party, it wouldn't just be a ball of cheese on offer. The observer is exaggerating a situation whereby they've kept their belly empty only to arrive at the part and the host is serving only nibbles. That's funny to me.
There's nothing wrong with exaggeration. I was just responding to your other comment in which you said something like "comedy never works when held up to scrutiny". Because "never" is an awfully strong word, and I'm a pedant.
Don't know what kind of parties Sooty goes to, though. Edam parties? Weird.
Quote: Aaron @ December 16 2008, 10:19 PM GMTUmm.
That could be either an 'Umm yes that is rather weird.' Or an 'Umm I do that and it's perfectly normal'.
I'm guessing the former. 