British Comedy Guide

Challenged - Gavin's suggestion

Here's a couple of sketches I've just come up with from a theme suggestion from Gavin. (it was to make myself get back into sketch writing).

This one is an animation:

INT - DANCE STUDIO - DAY

A sweaty dance instructor, Gavin, is pulling some Jacko-style moves.

GAVIN
And turn two, three, four….

Frustrated he stops mid move.

GAVIN
Come on! I want to see more rhythm. Move your shoulders more!

He looks up at a clock on the wall.

GAVIN
Right. Now let's see what the competition is up to.

Gavin switches on a TV in the corner of the studio and flicks through the channels. He stops as a cheap and gaudy title sequence fills the screen - TURKEYS GOT TALENT.

GAVIN
This is it. They're going to love you.

He turns to his student - a large manky looking bear.

They both watch the TV screen.

A variety of turkeys troop across a stage, skate-boarding, performing back flips, forming a turkey pyramid. A single turkey gobbles a song in the foreground.

Gavin and the bear look downcast and Gavin switches the set off.

GAVIN
That wasn't quite what I thought the show would be.

The bear looks sad.

Bear
And I haven't worked since the Hoffmeister ads.

ENDS

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INT- STUDIO - DAY

A row of judges, including Bulgaria's answer to Simon Cowell, sit facing a stage. They nod and wince as they watch the act which is accompanied by hideous accordian music.

It ends.

PRESENTER (O/S)

(BULGARIAN ACCENT) So Simon what did you think?

SIMON
You look lifeless, bored, distressed even. There's no soul, you look dead behind the eyes. Your appearance is frankly shocking and you can't really call that dancing.
(PAUSE)
The Bulgarian people will love you!

Two large brown bears, wearing chains around their neck, stand on the stage, looking despondent. Their trainer stands beside them wearing an accordian.

SIMON
You're through to the next round!

The bears brighten up and high five each other. They exit the stage happily, a spring in their step, with their trainer.

TRAINER
(BULGARIAN ACCENT) See? The cattle prod was worth it.

ENDS

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Note: I don't think there are any dancing bears any longer in Bulgaria - not sure about Turkey. There's still loads in India apparently, so the last sketch could be set there.

Hi Dolly. These are good. Preferred the second one. Pretty much anything with bears in works for me.

Hi Dolly nice to see you in critque. You should come here more often.

Really like the last one.

On the first one I didn't get the Turkey as a country referance until your note at the end. - maybe try to clear that up.

I was confused at the start I thought the theme was "Challanged!" but that's because I'm thick.

I think there is a slight problem with both these sketches in that you are asking the audience to fill in the gaps a bit too much.To be honest I did not get the first one until bigfella explained it. Though that could be me being slow today.

I am pretty sure that Ursari dancing bears can still be found in Bulgaria, though it probably contravenes EU legislation. I would spell out the punch by tweaking the final line to: "See all the hard work was worth it. And the cattle prod".

Anyway I assume these were just written as a bit of fun. Unless you include animal wrangling among your many talents.

Yeah I think the second one works better too.

Timbo - Yes, they're just for fun. I haven't written a sketch for a while and just making myself write one in 20 minutes or less. :)

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