NJ: PM's Weather Machine

Here's a Newsjack failure for this week.

Dan

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PM's Weather Machine
======================
F/X: KNOCK

AIDE:
Prime Minister?

F/X: DOOR CREAKING OPEN INTO LARGE, ECHOEY ROOM. RUMBLING, BEEPING NOISES.

AIDE:
Prime Minister?

GORDON:
Mwahaha! With my magnificent weather machine, I shall make it snow continuously until the election! Hu-Hu-Hur!

AIDE:
Sorry, Prime Minister?

GORDON:
Don't you see? When the weather is like this, it's all the press and public care about!

AIDE:
I'm not sure I'm with you...

GORDON:
They're not complaining about *me*, Carol!

AIDE:
Oh, I see...

GORDON:
Now, let's drift in Buckinghamshire...

F/X: CLICKING OF A DIAL, WHIRRING INCREASES TO LOUD VOLUME

GORDON (CNT'D):
(SHOUTS) And turn the temperature down a bit more in Scotland!

F/X: CLICKING OF BUTTONS. BEEPING NOISE BECOMES URGENTLY FREQUENT

GORDON:
(SHOUTS) What was it you came in for?

AIDE:
(SHOUTS) Erm, nothing, Prime Minister...

GORDON:
(SHOUTS) Nonsense, Carol! I'm in the best mood I've been in since... well, *ever*! What was it?

AIDE:
(SHOUTS) Well, Prime... (SIGHS) If you'll allow me!

F/X: BEEPING AND WHIRRING NOISES SUBSIDE TO PREVIOUS LEVELS

AIDE:
It's the public, Prime Minister. They're blaming you for the weather...

GORDON:
(PAUSE) How do they know, Carol! (BLUBS) How. Do. They. Know?

END

Quote: swerytd @ January 14 2010, 8:52 AM GMT

AIDE:
(SHOUTS) Erm, nothing, Prime Minister...

GORDON:
(SHOUTS) Nonsense, Carol! I'm in the best mood I've been in since... well, *ever*! What was it?

View original

Is Gordon meant to be mishearing the aide here? If so, I'd have put [MISHEARING]before GB;s line as isn't entirely clear why his line isn't connected to what the aide is saying.

That aside thought it was very much 'Newsjack', no real consolation for this week but you're hitting the right notes thusfar, so hopefully just a matter of time until you pick the rigght topic for them to use something of yours.

All the best for future Newsjacks.

I really liked the idea of Gordon Brown going the Super-Villain route and I think this sketch would have been a lot of fun. Definitely could imagine it on the show.

There might have been a few more opps. for jokes, e.g:

This lines:
"Now, let's drift in Buckinghamshire"... Could have squeezed in something like him turning down the weather in Cameron's constituency, make the bastard shivver.

This line:
"Carol! I'm in the best mood I've been in since... well, *ever*!"
Felt a bit obvious. Maybe a dig at Tony or David. "...Since Cameron had his Bike nicked"?

Good luck!

Liked it.

But would it be better if when he's told he's being accused by the public of causing the weather problems he flatly denies it?

You could even have an argument ensuing between Gordon and his aide as he pleads ignorance and she points out that he is actually sitting at the weather machine. After all, every politician denies everything, even when they're caught red-handed.

It felt like a good punchline in search of a sketch I'm afraid. Mind you, my sketches this week were so dire I wouldn't dare put them up.

Cheers people.

Giggle-o -- I thought it was clear. It's obviously not. Must try harder

Badge -- good punchline!? I thought it was the weakest bit! One man's toffee is another man's tofu, I suppose... It was a news-lite week I thought. Very difficult to find the right (or any-)thing.

Cheers again

Dan