British Comedy Guide

Kids Comedy 2.

Heres another running sketch character for the sketch show aimed at and played by age bracket 9 - 11 year olds.

R U 18. sketch one

The main character is either a boy or girl (Sam aged around 10) who relishes the opportunity to fool people into thinking he is over 18. (Always to his/her own detriment)

Location : on a bus back seat.

Sam rushes to the back seat of the bus to join Billie, Sam can hardly hide the excitement. Sam sits next to Billie giggling.

Sam : Yes, yes,

Billie : (excited too) What ? What is it ?

Sam : Just managed to get on paying as an adult. Wooohooo, Oh yes !

Billie : But you're only ten!

Sam : I know… heh heh ..Reeeeesult !

Billie sighs and shakes his/her head.

RU 18. sketch two

Sam is queing to enter 'Funworld' (Maybe a guy in a colourful costume stood by a sign saying Funworld etc with a money collection apron on.)

Man : (as a happy child skips into Funworld) Thankyou and have a nice day at Funworld, themepark, the only park that allows anyone under 14 in Freeeeeee !
(Sam approaches) In you go Sonny.

Sam : How much please?

Man : (Laughing) Oh no no no, all kids are Freeeeeeeeeeeeee !

Sam : What about adults ?

Man : Oh they have to pay.

Sam : Rightio, how much ? (delving into pockets)

Man : No, kids are free. Only adults pay.

Sam : tut tut. OK how much is it then?

Man : Er a fiver. But…

Sam : Here you go.

Man : Look you've got it wrong, how old are you.

Sam : Twenty eight.

Man : Twenty eight ? You're not twenty eight.

Sam : OK OK I'm thirty five.

Man : You're ten if you're a day.

Sam : I look young for my age.

Man : But it's free, you can get in free.

Sam : But us poor old adults have to pay eh? Here you go. (he stuffs a fiver into the mans hand)

(The man stands flabbergasted as Sam walks in)

Sam : Heh heh! Reeeeeeeesult !

END

The idea has bags of comedic potential as it taps into every child's desire to get into activities deemed suitable only for people older than he/she is. Your idea of getting Sam into 'adult' situations that no other child would want to be in will certainly get laughs from 9 - 11 year-olds (and from 12 - 100 year-olds too).

The snag is that the two sketches above are essentially the same sketch set in two different locations. Either has potential on its own but neither is overly funny once you've seen the other.

To my mind, the first one has the better potential but its impact is reduced by 'telling' the audience what's happened rather than 'showing' them.

Once the theme has been established by one or two other sketches wherein Sam tries to be treated as an adult . .

How about showing Sam standing behind Billie at a bus stop?

Then cut to them both arriving at the back seat of the bus at which point we go:

SAM;
How much did you pay?

BILLIE:
Fifty pee.

(SAM HOLDS UP HIS OWN TICKET)

SAM (ECSTATIC):
A pound! Reeeeesult !!

ENDS

I liked this sketch and the idea of the lengths the child would go to to be believed as older, and the sense of 'wow' when an adult actually believes them.
I could see more potential situations like...the boy sitting at a table in a members only gentlemens club, and the conversation that might take place, with the kid taking on a grown up subject like politics for instance, or the boy seen fighting his way through rush hour traffic in the morning, spending 8 hours at work and then fighting his way home again, and how pleased he would be with himself saying 'see, Im really 35, and I want to do that again tomm and every day for years...why won't anyone let me??'...
Just some random ideas! I think my ten year old would enjoy Kids comedy type humour, as it gives the kids a chance to take charge for a change.

Share this page