British Comedy Guide

The Show What You Wrote - Cyborg Sketch

A few years back I did a podcast thing with Bussell and Stott. One Sketch was about a cyborg. I've decided to rewrite it a bit for The Show What You Wrote - it's the sci-fi theme. Any suggestions on how to improve it? Is it worth submitting?

FX: Doorbell / Door Opens

Man:
Hello?

Cyborg: I AM CYNTADO! DEADLIEST CYBORG ASSASSIN OF THE 25TH CENTURY! I DEMAND
YOU TAKE ME TO YOUR LEADER!

Man:
Sorry, mate, I've got the Grand Prix on. Could you come back later and... OH MY GOD! My dahlias! You've trampled all over my dahlias!

Cyborg:
THEY HAD TO PAY FOR MANKIND'S FUTURE MISTAKES!

Man:
But it's the Village Garden competition tomorrow! Wait, did Marcus put you up to this?!

Cyborg:
CYNTADO WAS SENT BY THE CHIEF INTERGALACTIC CYBORG!

Man:
This is nearly as bad as last year! You know what he did, don't you?!

Cyborg:
NO!

Man:
He trained his cat to do its business in my daffodils!

Cyborg:
CYNTADO GROWS WEARY! YOU MUST COMPLY WITH MY-

Man:
And he buys all that plastic rubbish from Homebase! He thinks he's untouchable! He's living in a fantasy world! I mean, come on: Gnomes?!

Cyborg:
CYNTADO MUST DESTROY YOU, MR PRESIDENT!

Man:
President? I'm not the president!

Cyborg:
WHERE IS THE PRESIDENT?!

Man:
I don't know. Washington?

Cyborg:
CYNTADO IS SORRY FOR BOTHERING YOU! MUST GO TO WASHINGTON!

Man:
Wait! Wait! I've just remembered, President Marcus is staying in No. 5 across the road. That one there. With all the gnomes.

Cyborg:
CYNTADO THANKS YOU!

Man:
Make sure you get the vice president too. Little tabby cat fella.

Cyborg: AFFIRMATIVE!

F/X CYBORG STOMPING OFF.

Man: (CALLS) Darling, I've just going down Homebase to get some Dahlias!

F/X LASER GUN FIRING. A CAT SCREECHES.

ENDS

Ha, we recorded an audio version of that, didn't we?

Yes, with little Sammy. But I wrote her role out in this version. Sorry, Sammy.

Yeah, it's pretty good. Keep it as is. Would like to hear your recorded version.

I just did a Google and found it squirrelled away on Rickettseseses YouTube...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eQaOmdLVpsQ

It seems to be a Bencentric collection of the stuff we recorded back when people had already said a collective "f**k you" to radio comedy.

It's pretty good but the cyborg like the one in the other sketch doesn't sound very cyborgy. I'd go for a well known cyborg archetype like the Borg or a Terminator and copy their style. Also I think the guy being threatened could be more insouciante.

As soon as I read the "taught my cat to shit on my lanw" I instantly thought the follow up was
"how do you event train a cat?"

Quote: David Bussell @ March 9 2013, 6:55 PM GMT

I just did a Google and found it squirrelled away on Rickettseseses YouTube...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eQaOmdLVpsQ

It seems to be a Bencentric collection of the stuff we recorded back when people had already said a collective "f**k you" to radio comedy.

He kinda sounds like a robot Jimmy Savile. The sketch is good, is that Sam Han's voice?

I really liked the Cat sketch.

I forgot I did that. I am acting up a storm in that sketch.

Quote: Lee @ March 9 2013, 7:23 PM GMT

He kinda sounds like a robot Jimmy Savile.

Do I have your permission to use that quote on my CV?

Quote: Lee @ March 9 2013, 7:23 PM GMT

is that Sam Han's voice?

You're quite right, yes.

Quote: Matthew Stott @ March 9 2013, 7:34 PM GMT

I forgot I did that. I am acting up a storm in that sketch.

It is, without a doubt, your finest performance.

Quote: David Bussell @ March 9 2013, 7:50 PM GMT

Do I have your permission to use that quote on my CV?

You're quite right, yes.

Only if I can use that?

The bit I liked the best was the "Dad, it's for you" line. Which you've cut out. Laughing out loud

Quote: gappy @ March 11 2013, 9:28 AM GMT

The bit I liked the best was the "Dad, it's for you" line. Which you've cut out. Laughing out loud

I took the little girl character out of this rewrite as I thought it took a bit longer to get to the point with her in it.

I can fully understand that, it's definitely the logical approach, but I think I just liked her more than the actual sketch; I laughed when she got the century wrong, too, and had to be corrected. Laughing out loud

The rest of it...well, from me, no criticisms, but no laughs either. Harmless and efficient little sketch.

Thanks, Gappy. I'll see what else I can come up with. This one maybe isn't strong enough.

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