British Comedy Guide

News style one-liners

Here's a couple of one-liners I came up with, tell me what you think.

"Rumours suggesting that well known actor and comedian John Cleese had died were denied by former colluge Micheal Palin, who clams that mr Cleese is not dead - he's just pining for the fjords."

"Local police have conducted a search for Top Gear presenter Jeremy Clarkson who had recently disapeared. They say that the first place they'll start the search will be up Clarkson's own ass."

Well, what do you think?

hmmmm....not great. agree 2nd is better but its hardly an observasion its just a fact.

Quote: cluvss @ January 24 2011, 6:11 PM GMT

hmmmm....not great. agree 2nd is better but its hardly an observasion its just a fact.

What do you mean an observation?

Quote: His Own Devices @ January 24 2011, 6:37 PM GMT

What do you mean an observation?

sorry didnt mean observation, I just ment the joke is based on common fact.

I don't mean to be negative but are these "news style" one-liners about fictitious news stories, or have I missed something?

If they are about news stories you've made up then I fail to see the point of them unless you can adapt them in some way to make more generic (i.e. non-topical) gags.

Quote: Tony Cowards @ January 24 2011, 7:03 PM GMT

I don't mean to be negative but are these "news style" one-liners about fictitious news stories, or have I missed something?

If they are about news stories you've made up then I fail to see the point of them unless you can adapt them in some way to make more generic (i.e. non-topical) gags.

This. There hasn't been a rumour that Cleese has died and Clarkson hasn't gone missing, so your set-ups cause confusion rather than comfort.

I actually was trying to do joke newstories similar to what they did on the Two Ronnies and Not the Nine O'Clock News. They weren't meant to be based on real events. My fault realy, I proberbly should have explained that earlier.

Ah... in which case...

I seem to recall the Ronnies gags were largely about fictional characters but I think there were some about celebs - Raquel Welch et al. I guess the trick is how you introduce them and make the audience feel happy with the conceit.

Both jokes are terrible; comedy licence revoked.

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