A sketchlet, any development ideas really appreciated.
TELVISION READER: Now on 4, Professor Richard Dawkins attacks the mysticism and falseness of a ceremony present in everyone's lives - the birthday party.
RICHARD DAWKINS SEEN TRAMPLING THROUGH A CHILD'S BIRTHDAY PARTY, POPPING BALLOONS. HE TREADS ON SOME CAKE, PUSHES A MAGICIAN THROUGH A WINDOW AND KICKS OVER THE STEREO.
RD: There are no fairies at the bottom of the garden! None!
CHILDREN: (CRYING)
Very good but you don't need so much intro it makes the punch to predictable
I like this, feels like a good Viz cartoon. I agree with Sooty here though, you don't need the intro bit IMHO. Could be a nice running gag. Around this time of year, a good one could be Dawkins as Father Christmas, leaving all the children crying in the grotto.
Dressing as a Santa in a grotto and punching kids.
Shooting Carole singers with a double barrelled shotgun.
It's nicely written but it doesn't make sense. Why would Dawkins attack the notion of the birthday party? Perhaps you could re-write it around the tooth fairy.
Actually good point Godot, lots of other pseudo religious events such as Christenings, weddings etc
except the sheer irrationality appeals
so I approve of this sketch
> RD: There are no fairies at the bottom of the garden! None!
He's a scientist, is he not, and scientists never say never (or none), they always leave a last possibility open.
RD: There is no more than a 0.0000001% probability that there are fairies at the bottom of the garden.. So There!
Would you mean if I wrote a riff on this?
Quote: billwill @ December 5 2010, 2:20 PM GMT> RD: There are no fairies at the bottom of the garden! None!
He's a scientist, is he not, and scientists never say never (or none), they always leave a last possibility open.
RD: There is no more than a 0.0000001% probability that there are fairies at the bottom of the garden.. So There!
Like the suggestion, might have rewrite that.
Ishy and Sootyj, yes, I think the intro is un-necessary or unfitting. Did you mean you want to write a riff on this?
Godot, I don't know why I thought he'd attack birthday parties, but birthdays in a way, are kind of irrational. Why celebrate the day somebody got ejected from a warm, comfortable womb? Tooth fairies does sound like it has good potential though.
Quote: billwill @ December 5 2010, 2:20 PM GMTHe's a scientist, is he not, and scientists never say never (or none), they always leave a last possibility open.
You are obviously unfamiliar with Dawkins writings.
Godot speaks sense.
Quote: BardManners @ December 5 2010, 6:28 PM GMTI don't know why I thought he'd attack birthday parties
Well you had a magician there, and that would be just the sort of thing he'd be dead against.
Yeah he appeared (in a puff of smoke) after I first wrote it. I might work on a tooth fairy sketch now.
Quote: Timbo @ December 5 2010, 10:58 PM GMTYou are obviously unfamiliar with Dawkins writings.
In The God Delusion (what a boring tome) he writes (I'm paraphrasing) that although celestial teapots and tooth fairies are almost certainly bogus "we can never absolutely disprove the non-existence of anything". The dullness of the book (forever stating the obvious) sadly isn't improved by listening to Lalla Ward read various passages in the audio version.
Quote: Nogget @ December 6 2010, 7:50 PM GMTWell you had a magician there, and that would be just the sort of thing he'd be dead against.
He's fond of Penn and Teller. But I like the idea of Dawkins attacking a birthday party. Funny because it's silly and illogical. Like having him attack Ziggy Stardust or instant coffee.
RICHARD DAWKINS 2
A LITTLE GIRL IS SEEN EATING AN APPLE IN A BEAUTIFUL RUSTIC KITCHEN. HER MOTHER IS STANDING WASHING DISHES.
LITTLE GIRL: Ow!
MOTHER: What is it?
LITTLE GIRL: One of teeth Mummy! It's come out! I'm scared.
MOTHER: Don't worry. It's just that you're growing up.
LITTLE GIRL: Huh?
MOTHER: Each of your teeth is only temporary. As your dential lamina develops you lose your deciduous teeth.
LITTLE GIRL: Wow like leaves!
MOTHER: And if you put your teeth under your pillow when you go to sleep, something strange will happen. When you wake up...
THE MOTHER'S EYE IS DISTRACTED BY A DARK SHADOW AT THE END OF THE GARDEN. A CRACKED GARDEN GNOME GRINS MALEVOLENTLY. THE SWING IN THE TREE BEGINS TO SWAY. ON THE KITCHEN TABLE, "THE GOD DELUSION," BLOWS OPEN.
LITTLE GIRL: Yes mummy?
MOTHER: Nothing happens. Nothing. There are no fairies at the bottom of the garden.
LITTLE GIRL: Well that's a bit shit then.