MCCM 1: Kitchen Emergency

I shoved this in the Skit Comp, but wouldn't mind more feedback.

Ta

Dan

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Kitchen Emergency
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JOCASTA, IN AN APRON, RUSHES INTO THE KITCHEN IN A STATE OF PANIC. SHE RUSHES AROUND OPENING DRAWERS AND THROWING THINGS OUT, THEN REPEATING WITH THE CUPBOARDS.

JOCASTA:
Where is it? Where? Argh!

SHE STANDS AND PUTS HER HANDS ON HER HEAD.

JOCASTA:
(HOLLERS) Ruuuuuuu-peeeeeeeeeeeeeert!

RUPERT RUSHES IN AND SLIDES TO A HALT.

RUPERT:
What?! What on Earth's the matter, dearest!?

JOCASTA:
I can't find the avocado slicer!

RUPERT:
(AGHAST) What?!

JOCASTA:
It's nowhere to be found!

RUPERT:
But the chicken sandwiches will be ruined!

JOCASTA:
(IN TEARS) I know!

BOTH PUT HANDS ON HEADS

RUPERT:
What are we going to *do*!?

F/X:TRUMPET FANFARE

A MAN IN A SUIT, WEARING A CAPE AND UNDERPANTS OVER HIS TROUSERS LANDS IN THE KITCHEN WITH HIS HANDS ON HIPS. HE IS UNBEARABLY SMUG.

JOCASTA:
Wh-who are you?

MCCM:
(HEROIC) Why, I'm Middle-Class Crisis Man! (BEAT) Averting the meaningless fears of the upwardly mobile from their largely unimportant problems!

JOCASTA/RUPERT:
Thank goodness!

MCCM PULLS OUT AN AVOCADO SLICER FROM HIS BACK POCKET AND HOLDS IT HEROICALLY ALOFT.

F/X:ANGELS CHORUS

MCCM:
Here you go. This will allow you to finish the sandwiches for the buffet without having to schedule in an unexpected trip to Waitrose.

JOCASTA/RUPERT:
Thank you, Middle-Class Crisis Man!

MCCM:
Just doing my duty! (HE SALUTES) Now, if you'll excuse me; a BMW needs a bit of a push in Guildford!

HE RAISES HIS FIST AND SWOOPS OFF.

F/XWOOPING

END

(Follow-ups: No Seat On Tube Rough Injustice)

The idea's a very funny one, it's written well & would make a good runner IMO.

Funny you should say that, as there are two more already! I'll post, depending on critical acclaim!

Dan

Good sketch Dan! I'm probably wrong but haven't you put up one like this before? Something to do with middle-class people having really insignificant problems and blowing them out of proportion?

The only bit that struck me as a little weak was this:

Quote: swerytd @ September 17 2009, 2:56 PM BST

MCCM PULLS OUT AN AVOCADO SLICER FROM HIS BACK POCKET AND HOLDS IT HEROICALLY ALOFT.

View original

This seems a little too obviously contrived for the benefit of the joke. MCCM has no 'character' as such because of this—he seemed more like an errandboy who just does your shopping at Waitrose for you. ("Ocadoman"?)

Perhaps he could wear some kind of tool-belt loaded with pointless middle-class implements? Or maybe he can find it, hidden behind some equally pretentious middle-class kitchen implement, using his superpowers. There's an opportunity here for a bit more characterisation and humour, even if it's just a visual gag. It wouldn't take much.

Otherwise, it's pretty much perfect. Good pacing.

Really enjoyed this Dan. Very, very Mitchell & Webb. Nice one.

Cheers all, for comments.

I quite enjoy this character, to be honest, and think there's quite a lot of scope in it.

Quote: The Giggle-o @ September 17 2009, 9:55 PM BST

Good sketch Dan! I'm probably wrong but haven't you put up one like this before? Something to do with middle-class people having really insignificant problems and blowing them out of proportion?

View original

Thanks. It's kind of my specialism...
<looks to massive pile of middle-class related sketches. Sets light to them>

Stimarco,
It's kind of an introductory sketch. His character will (hopefully!) come out a bit more in subsequent sketches. Obviously, have to be careful I don't just repeat the same joke lots of times and he ends up in Waitrose. Unless, of course, that does end up *being* the joke!

Cheers again, people!

Dan

I liked this alot but a little bit too much introduction and some more examples of his powers would help.

But great stuff.

N.B. when I did superhero sketches some one suggested to me, giving them a regular name but irregular powers.

e.g. Captain misunderstood should be called Captain Zap, he just so happens to be misunderstood.

Liked this sketch Dan

I wonder whether the BMW push is actually too much of a real problem to work effectivley as the last line, needs to be more trivial. Someone stuck on 3 down on the Guardian crossword perhaps?

Or unable to choose an olive oil?

Quote: sootyj @ September 18 2009, 10:04 AM BST

Or unable to choose an olive oil?

View original

Precisely. Mind you, I have that problem myself. When are you supposed to know which oil to use? Keeps me awake at night >_<

Didn't Catherine Tate have that character/family who over-dramatised middle-class "crises"? Well-written though.

It's why I have a wrist band with WWNU on it.

Quote: Tim Walker @ September 18 2009, 10:09 AM BST

Didn't Catherine Tate have that character/family who over-dramatised middle-class "crises"? Well-written though.

View original

Did she? Is this where it all falls down cos I never watched The Catherine Tate Show?

Bum...

Dan

Oh really. I've seen you through your window with your Tate DVD box set and pen and paper at the ready