Alligator Eats iTunes

We've just completed our fifth week of podcasting with episode 15 of
"THE ALLIGATOR - I Might Be A Croc, I Don't Know - SHOW."

This podcast features our friend, Alligator, in skits from an imaginary swamp. Alligator spouts thought-provoking nonsense, and eats almost anything he can get his jaws around. He's no dummy, though: In the midst of his babble you'll likely hear references to science, math, technology, and arcane vocabulary, as well as thinly veiled commentary on contemporary topics. Alligator is always coming up with new theories and inventions, which may amuse and will definitely confound you. Sometimes surreal, often thoughtful, and full of improvisation.

On the off chance that you might actually listen to more than one of our shows, please be advised that listening to Alligator is like eating hot peppers: You don't want to consume too many at one time!
These podcasts are usually less than 10 minutes.

Our shows are now avaiable on iTunes -- for free, of course:

Our most popular episode, so far, based on number of downloads:

Breathatarian:
Alligator tries out a new diet: air...

Three of my own favourites:

1. Out of Swamp Experience:
It isn't just an "out-of-body-experience when Alligator has an out-of-swamp experience...

2. Book of Truth:
Have you ever wondered how ultimate truths are derived? Then just listen to this episode:

3. The Green Cheese Conspiracy:
Alligator reveals that the moon actually IS made of green cheese!

Thanks for listening. Be sure to drop by our swamp for dinner as soon as possible...

The Alligator Show

You owe me 7 minutes of my life.

Atleast Suzy Cocktail had wank candy.

dr_sardonicus (You R me presumes!)

Ain't it ironic how your sardonic comment cost your life even more minutes?

No it gave me a calming sense of calm.

By the way if you want some tips (I know this isn't critique).

1 Self referential humour only works in small doses.
2 If you keep "telling" the audience what you are doing they won't engage.
3 In a serial situation you still need at least some baseline reality to play against.
4 Try writing a few gags (even if none conventionally structured) gives you more energy to work with.

I'm sure this is the wrong forum. I know it's not posted for a critique, but what else can one do once it's been listened to? It's not for me. I just found it annoying.

This is a croc of shit. Now hit me with one of those Wildean retorts you used on Sooty.

sootyj

Thanks for taking the time to provide some constructive criticism. I will definitely study your comments for the future. Frankly, some of it is over my head, but I'll make a real effort to grok it all. Really.

I wasn't familiar with the term "self referential humour", but I Wikipediaed it. Still confused a bit, but would Rodney Dangerfield be an example of a comedian who successfully used a lot of self referential humour?

We've been performing these sorts of skits for family and friends for years, and were urged by several people to go public with them. Perhaps they'd had a few too many beers when they offered their advice. Or maybe we had too many when we obliged them.

So far, I have to say, we get either very positive reviews, or extremely negative. At least we're getting strong reactions.

We do plan a scripted intro to the whole premise, which obviously can't be re-introduced in each short episode, but will ride at the top of our feed.

Rob H
Anyway, it's a lot of fun, and people have become so jaded it's even difficult to annoy them these days. So that's something.

Self referential is when you keep referring to what you're doing.

e/g/ "I'm gonna go upto this door and knock on it and the guy will like say "who's there?" and then I'll say "I dunna p." and it'll be wild cos he'll think he shat himself."

N.B. if you can't make your friends laugh you going nowhere. But the next trick is making strangers laugh and that is way harder.

You could've started with Talk to the hand. If you could write jokes.

sootyj,

I find your explanation of "self-referential humour" to be more understandable, but here's what Wikipedia has to say:

"Self-referential humour or self-reflexive humour is a type of comedic expression that-either directed toward some other subject, or openly directed toward itself-intentionally alludes to the very person who is expressing the humour in a comedic fashion, or to some specific aspect of that same comedic expression. Self-referential humour expressed discreetly and surrealistically is a form of bathos. In general, self-referential humour often uses hypocrisy, oxymoron, or paradox to create a contradictory or otherwise absurd situation that is humourous to the audience."

"Self-referential humour is sometimes combined with breaking the fourth wall to explicitly make the reference directly to the audience, or make self-reference to an element of the medium that the characters shouldn't be aware of."

Again, thanks for the input.

Quote: Godot Taxis @ May 4 2010, 7:00 PM BST

You could've started with Talk to the hand. If you could write jokes.

View original

I always preffer talk to the gland.

Quote: Godot Taxis @ May 4 2010, 7:00 PM BST

You could've started with Talk to the hand. If you could write jokes.

View original

Godot Taxis,

Maybe I should write a joke about what you are obviously doing with your own hand all the time. Nahhh. Why don't you take some lessons on how to write English correctly instead of self-gratifying yourself so much?

Thanks for the useless feedback.

<3

Quote: Dolittle @ May 9 2010, 8:59 PM BST

sootyj,

I find your explanation of "self-referential humour" to be more understandable, but here's what Wikipedia has to say:

"Self-referential humour or self-reflexive humour is a type of comedic expression that-either directed toward some other subject, or openly directed toward itself-intentionally alludes to the very person who is expressing the humour in a comedic fashion, or to some specific aspect of that same comedic expression. Self-referential humour expressed discreetly and surrealistically is a form of bathos. In general, self-referential humour often uses hypocrisy, oxymoron, or paradox to create a contradictory or otherwise absurd situation that is humourous to the audience."

"Self-referential humour is sometimes combined with breaking the fourth wall to explicitly make the reference directly to the audience, or make self-reference to an element of the medium that the characters shouldn't be aware of."

Again, thanks for the input.

View original

Erm that's exactly what I said. Which makes me wander if you understand all that you read.

I even gave you a little example that reflected on why I found your show not so amusing.

You're not one of those types who think you can persuade others to find them funny? Cos that's like dragging a dead dog around on it's lead. Because you're sure your vet is an ignorant asshole.

Quote: Godot Taxis @ May 3 2010, 11:49 PM BST

This is a croc of shit. Now hit me with one of those Wildean retorts you used on Sooty.

View original

Godot Taxis,

You're right: "I might BE a Croc." Maybe you should give us one more try, because we have an episode dedicated to people like you who troll forums. It's called "The Plunger Head People." You should listen to it while sitting on your little, white porcelain throne. And then just unclog the bowl with the plunger head on the top of your neck.

Quote: sootyj @ May 9 2010, 9:11 PM BST

Erm that's exactly what I said. Which makes me wander if you understand all that you read.

I even gave you a little example that reflected on why I found your show not so amusing.

View original

I just found yours more succinct.

Quote: Dolittle @ May 9 2010, 9:10 PM BST

Godot Taxis,

Maybe I should write a joke about what you are obviously doing with your own hand all the time. Nahhh. Why don't you take some lessons on how to write English correctly instead of self-gratifying yourself so much?

Thanks for the useless feedback.

<3

View original

Give up wanking to take English lessons? You don't want much do you? I've choked more chickens than Colonel Saunders. I'm in too deep to give it up now.

No feedback is truly useless. You make the mistake a lot of amateurs make - blame the audience when they don't laugh. It's your fault if they don't laugh, not theirs. Get some better material, split your pants - but don't blame the audience.