I ought to know better 
Gladiator (a sketch) Page 2
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Nice one. For a minute though I thought you were going to do the same sketch I wrote a while ago.
CLOSE-UP OF A GLADIATOR'S FACE. HE LOOKS LIKE RUSSELL CROWE.
SOLDIER:
My name is Maximus Decimus Meridius, Commander of the Armies of the North, General of the Felix Legions, loyal servant to the true emperor, Marcus Aurelius. Father to a murdered son and husband to a murdered wife.
CAMERA PULLS BACK TO REVEAL HE'S IN A TATTOOIST'S PARLOUR ABOUT TO HAVE A TATTOO DONE ON HIS ARM.
TATTOOIST:
(CAMPLY) I'll just put "Max", shall I?
I think yours is better though 
Quote: Lee Henman @ November 4 2009, 9:01 PM GMTNice one. For a minute though I thought you were going to do the same sketch I wrote a while ago.
CLOSE-UP OF A GLADIATOR'S FACE. HE LOOKS LIKE RUSSELL CROWE.
SOLDIER:
My name is Maximus Decimus Meridius, Commander of the Armies of the North, General of the Felix Legions, loyal servant to the true emperor, Marcus Aurelius. Father to a murdered son and husband to a murdered wife.CAMERA PULLS BACK TO REVEAL HE'S IN A TATTOOIST'S PARLOUR ABOUT TO HAVE A TATTOO DONE ON HIS ARM.
TATTOOIST:
(CAMPLY) I'll just put "Max", shall I?I think yours is better though
That is great. 
yea it's a good'n Lee
Excellent - a good runner, Lee!
Very good indeed - both the original post and Lee's.
Quote: Roodeye @ November 4 2009, 7:31 PM GMTFor me, the joke is more complex than that, and so both the entirety of his dialogue and the shot of him on the X spot are integral to the sketch.
For me the joke was - end of.
Next!!
Nice one Lee.
Quote: Lee Henman @ November 4 2009, 9:01 PM GMTNice one. For a minute though I thought you were going to do the same sketch I wrote a while ago.
CLOSE-UP OF A GLADIATOR'S FACE. HE LOOKS LIKE RUSSELL CROWE.
SOLDIER:
My name is Maximus Decimus Meridius, Commander of the Armies of the North, General of the Felix Legions, loyal servant to the true emperor, Marcus Aurelius. Father to a murdered son and husband to a murdered wife.CAMERA PULLS BACK TO REVEAL HE'S IN A TATTOOIST'S PARLOUR ABOUT TO HAVE A TATTOO DONE ON HIS ARM.
TATTOOIST:
(CAMPLY) I'll just put "Max", shall I?I think yours is better though
Actually, assuming I can piece together the original sketch from the clues in the thread, the running joke could be that same character and speech done in a number of different situations. Off the top of my head, panning out to have him sitting at a speed dating table and have the woman opposite him staring aghast before answering simply, "Right..." or maybe just pausing for a moment before the bell rings and she gets up and leaves. Or maybe him turning very soft and asking "Too much?". I dunno. I'm sure there's one in there somewhere.
However, I assume the added subtext of the original sketch was a parody of the number of people who go on things like the X-Factor and present a sob story in the hope that it will garner them sympathy votes, which is also valid and doesn't carry through entirely. Though equally, I imagine someone going speed dating might also be happy to take a sympathy vote.
Quote: Ironhide @ November 6 2009, 11:14 PM GMTHowever, I assume the added subtext of the original sketch was a parody of the number of people who go on things like the X-Factor and present a sob story in the hope that it will garner them sympathy votes
That was how I saw it, & I thought it was very funny & clever.
Ironhide it's a verbatim speech from the film Gladiator, the joke is the pull back reveal that he is an X factor contendor.
Did you know scenes from Gladiator were filmed in Bracknell Forest? My brother told me that.
Quote: Marc P @ November 6 2009, 11:30 PM GMTIronhide it's a verbatim speech from the film Gladiator, the joke is the pull back reveal that he is an X factor contendor.
And it works well just on that basis, but the sob story similarities make it even better.
Quote: Steve Sunshine @ November 6 2009, 11:33 PM GMTAnd it works well just on that basis, but the sob story similarities make it even better.
Come on Roodeye has moved on a lot now, he's not pulling on our heartstrings so much anymore.
I think this is not working. Gladiator? Really? Nope.