NJ Reject 1. Sanctions against Libya

I have been taking advice, Honest. Much shorter sketches this week and no impressions.

MILESAfter the UN announced that it was imposing sanctions on the Libyan regime we at newsjack decided we wanted to investigate further so joining me in the studio tonight is UN spokesperson Sheila Oz, Good evening Sheila

SHIELAG'day Miles

MILESYes. Sheila we have been told that the UN are imposing significant sanctions against Col Gadaffi and what is left of his Libyan regime

SHIELA Yes Miles they are indeed, At the UN we are taking the situation in Libya very seriously and have voted that each country should independently decide on which sanctions to individually impose to help bring this situation to an end

MILESIm glad to hear it. I assume all UN nations are starting with an embargo on Arms?

SHIELA Well, we would like to but we can't do that, you have to remember the economic climate in the western world at the moment. We need to sell arms in order to buy Oil and there are already so many weapons in Libya that stopping a few more from getting in won't make a difference anyway

MILESSo there is no embargo on arms then?

SHIELA No. At the UN we have decided that each country should place sanctions on items they think will hurt Gadaffi the most

MILESCan you give us an example?

SHIELA Of course, glad to. America has decided that they will no longer provide Gadaffi and his Evil regime with squeaky stress relief toys

MILESStress Relief Toys?

SHIELA Yes. The American government believes that if Gadaffi cannot relieve his stress then he will crack quicker, bringing this conflict to a speedier end and not just that, thinking on the same lines the Chinese have stopped sending powdered Monkey Testicles

MILESI'm sorry?

SHIELA Powdered Monkey Testicles. Gadaffi uses them as a herbal sleep aid

MILESOh?

SHIELA My home country Australia have stopped sending Barbeques to Libya

MILESWhy?

SHIELA It is rumoured that Gadaffi loves a beach party and what good is a party at the beach without a barbie eh? Hit him where it hurts

MILESSo what has Britain stopped exporting to Libya

SHIELAColin Firth

MILESI now see your point, what would life be without him? Sheila Oz, Goodnight.

It's very Newsjack so the tone feels right and the idea is good. It's just not funny *enough*, I would say. Certainly needs a bigger ending.

Dan

Thanks Dan. I will keep working at it.

Like the idea, but you just need to get there quicker. On the webchat the other day, they talked of writing a great intro (for Miles). Try and make sure that the intro has a laugh to carry it into the sketch and you'll be in a better position to get it on. Also, remember, he's the star, give him good lines.

The same with the rest, although your opening is thorough - it's acurate and gets the point across - it needs to have gags from the opening line. Your premise for the sketch doesn't hit home until about line ten. By then the audience may be getting restless.

Keep at it. I haven't had anything on this series yet but if you keep going until the last episode, again you stand more chance getting on.