Does a sketch need a 'punchline'? Page 2

Quote: Tursiops @ July 31 2013, 11:34 AM BST

The best line is almost always early in the sketch - it is the point where the premise of the sketch, the twist on the mundane and everyday, is revealed to the audience.

View original

Not sure if I agree with that - assuming you're classing best line as funniest line. Cook and Moore's 'One Legged Tarzan' sketch, The Two Ronnies 'Four Candles' sketch, Fast Show's 'Vegetable Game' sketch, Fry and Laurie's 'Punak The Destroyer' sketch all have their best line either half way through or as the punchline.

Quote: Ben @ August 18 2013, 10:22 AM BST

Not sure if I agree with that - assuming you're classing best line as funniest line. Cook and Moore's 'One Legged Tarzan' sketch, The Two Ronnies 'Four Candles' sketch, Fast Show's 'Vegetable Game' sketch, Fry and Laurie's 'Punak The Destroyer' sketch all have their best line either half way through or as the punchline.

View original

Not sure I agree on 'Four candles', I would say the big laugh comes on the initial confusion.

On 'One Legged Tarzan', the initial hilarity comes from the premise; the line you mean -and it is a great line - is the icing on the cake, ; which is I guess the real point I was making, you need a premise that is funny within a few lines, rather just setting up a punch.

If a gag depends on the punch to be funny, then the sketch format is probably not the one to use.

Quote: Tursiops @ August 18 2013, 10:32 AM BST

you need a premise that is funny within a few lines, rather just setting up a punch.

View original

Ah, yes, I wholeheartedly agree with this.

I used to think sketches were simple. I don't so much anymore, I mean a sketch can be completely bland and normal till the punch. But then the punch is the killer, but the intro even if not funny needs to be engaging.
Sometimes you can start with a massive idea and then just build from it.
Like one legged tarzan or the dead parrot.
I think the trick is to hold the interest and then twist the expectation, once or maybe twice with out breaking the flow.