Fireman? Page 4

Quote: SlagA @ July 8, 2007, 11:52 AM

Just watched the Big Train sketch (very good too) but you need to help me see the difference.

In that sketch a man who speaks English pretends he can't. In this sketch, a man who is a fireman pretends he isn't.

In the Big Train sketch, no reason is given as to why he pretends he can't speak English but why is it given as an example to support the idea that the fireman also needs a reason?

More light please.

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It's not the exposition, or lack of, that is the issue for me.

An Englishman speaking English whilst pretending he can't is absurdly funny - it's the action - we know he can speak English because he's speaking it.

In Paul's sketch we know he's a fireman, first due to his attire and then the reveal (the 'phew') at the end. That in itself is not funny so the joke hinges on a fireman pretending not be a fireman as being funny. I'm afraid that for me is just random.

It's been interesting reading what others thought of this sketch. As for me, well, I thought it was concise, funny, wry and sardonic. Excellent.

Has anybody learned anything useful from this dicussion?

For me, it has been reaffirmed that comedy is subjective, that some people can find a sketch funny and others not.

The interesting thing for me now would be some specifics by those who don't find the sketch funny as to what needs to be added or amended to make it funny for them.

I.E. exactly what words/actions would you put in to make it funny?

Examples please?

SCENE. EXT. STREET. DAY.

A FIREMAN is walking down the street when a WOMAN runs up to him.

WOMAN
Oh thank goodness, my house is on fire can you please help me?

FIREMAN
I'd love to but err I'm not a fireman, I'm going to a fancy dress party.

WOMAN
Oh right, ok sorry.

FIREMAN walks off. Camera pans back to reveal the fireman wearing a dress.

END

apologies in advance......

I've already added my opinions on what I think would make this sketch funnier. People disagreed with me, that's cool.

I'm going to leave it there now as I don't really like getting into long discussions as they tend to go round in circles. But it's been interesting chatting.

Quote: Nick Rivers @ July 9, 2007, 1:04 PM

SCENE. EXT. STREET. DAY.

A FIREMAN is walking down the street when a WOMAN runs up to him.

WOMAN
Oh thank goodness, my house is on fire can you please help me?

FIREMAN
I'd love to but err I'm not a fireman, I'm going to a fancy dress party.

WOMAN
Oh right, ok sorry.

FIREMAN walks off. Camera pans back to reveal the fireman wearing a dress.

END

apologies in advance......

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Tumbleweed... lone bell ringing in the distance... etc.

Quote: ShoePie @ July 9, 2007, 2:10 PM

I've already added my opinions on what I think would make this sketch funnier. People disagreed with me, that's cool.

I'm going to leave it there now as I don't really like getting into long discussions as they tend to go round in circles. But it's been interesting chatting.

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Ok mate fair enough!!

One of your ideas was to show more clearly that he was being lazy and that he could (for example) be seen reading a newspaper so...

A FIREMAN is sat engrossed in a newspaper when a WOMAN runs up to him.

WOMAN
Oh thank goodness, my house is on fire can you please help me?

FIREMAN
I'd love to but err I'm not a fireman, I'm going to a fancy dress party.

WOMAN
Oh right, ok sorry.

FIREMAN Continues reading newspaper.

FIREMAN
Phew!

I like that, it certainly doesn't change the gag but perhaps it does make it a bit more obvious to those who couldn't see the original gag clearly?

Any thoughts anybody?

ShoePie, agreed re: good debate.

But just being in the minority doesn't invalidate your points or make them less value than any one else's. So don't feel that it's about votes or comedy-by-democracy because that's never the case - apart from Shoot the Writers, and there the Slaggs got hung drawn, and quartered, minced then buried at sea just to make sure the public had gotten rid of us. So what do I know (apart from how to irritate the crap out 10,000 viewers)?

I don't think you're wrong, I don't think anyone is wrong (or right ) because if there was a wrong and a right in comedy then every comedy would be a sure-fire hit produced by scientific formulae that optimised laugh per minute. But it just doesn't happen because no one has the answer to the impossible question: what is funny?

Quote: Frankie Rage @ July 9, 2007, 2:33 PM

Ok mate fair enough!!

One of your ideas was to show more clearly that he was being lazy and that he could (for example) be seen reading a newspaper so...

A FIREMAN is sat engrossed in a newspaper when a WOMAN runs up to him.

WOMAN
Oh thank goodness, my house is on fire can you please help me?

FIREMAN
I'd love to but err I'm not a fireman, I'm going to a fancy dress party.

WOMAN
Oh right, ok sorry.

FIREMAN Continues reading newspaper.

FIREMAN
Phew!

I like that, it certainly doesn't change the gag but perhaps it does make it a bit more obvious to those who couldn't see the original gag clearly?

Any thoughts anybody?

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Hmmm... stop trying to change the original sketch?

no one has the answer to the impossible question: what is funny?
[/quote]

I do - a fat man falling down some steps into a big trifle!

Quote: Darren Goldsmith @ July 9, 2007, 2:44 PM

Hmmm... stop trying to change the original sketch?

View original

This doesn't change it very much, it retains the original gag and perhaps is a better set-up than having the fireman walking down the street?

The original gag is fine for me, I've said so all along... I'm trying to explore if a change could make it more universally funny...

If you don't want to debate this one fine! Nae problem, Jimmy!

Quote: Fred Peters @ July 9, 2007, 3:01 PM

no one has the answer to the impossible question: what is funny?

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I do - a fat man falling down some steps into a big trifle!
[/quote]

As a fat man with a severe allergy to trifle-based products and/or ingredients I have just had a fit simply thinking about your post, so no... not funny!

I think that it is funny. I wouldn't say it was side-splitting but it raised a smile.

Now a fat man with a severed nut allergy falling into a big trifle and then fitting his man boobs off.. that is funny

I posted the sketch because as WJFK said its not going to have you laughing hard, I know its not amazing I personally think it can be improved and you guys have put forward some good ideas... cheers!

We done finding out why we think this sketch is crap/ok yet by the way?

Quote: Fred Peters @ July 9, 2007, 3:41 PM

Now a fat man with a severed nut allergy falling into a big trifle and then fitting his man boobs off.. that is funny

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mmm that's not me, by the way, my nut allergy isn't "severed" ... there are other bits hanging off, but not that...

Quote: paul watson @ July 9, 2007, 4:06 PM

I posted the sketch because as WJFK said its not going to have you laughing hard, I know its not amazing I personally think it can be improved and you guys have put forward some good ideas... cheers!

We done finding out why we think this sketch is crap/ok yet by the way?

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Yeah this horse has been flogged to death... they don't like backing down on here do they mate? Only joshing, of course...

Frankie xxx