I am not entirely sure that the concept works in this sketch, so I would really appreciate any comments or advice.
Also I have a nagging doubt at the back of my mind about its originality, so anyone know of anything similar? Or is it just one of those ideas that seems so obvious it feels like it must have been done before?
Thanks.
The Last Laugh
INTRO. It is the year of our Lord Bieber 2828 and mankind has finally ran out of jokes. I'm serious, this is no laughing matter.
SALLY. Hello Sally Vortex here reporting from the scene of the last joke that will ever be told. I'm standing outside the hyper tube in the London Borough of Sheffield. It was here at 8.37 this morning that two friends accidentally met and a short conversation took place. It was at the end of this that one was heard to ask the other if he had had 'a haircut'. His friend replied 'no why is it bleeding' passers-by reported this was accompanied with a slight gesture where the friend touched his hair and pretended to look for blood on his fingers. Both men smiled briefly and then they parted and went their separate ways.
MIKE. Hello Sally, Mike here in the studio. Did the men know that they were telling the last ever joke?
SALLY. No Mike, this was only confirmed later by the 'Ministry of walks' as of course it will now be known. They confirmed just a little while ago to me that every permutation possible of every funny joke ever thought of had in fact now been used.
MIKE. How are people reacting on the streets to the news?
SALLY. Well the people of Sheffield appear to be behaving completely normally, though there are already rumours that Liverpool is rapidly turning into a ghost town as people there realise they will have to get a proper job now that banter is no longer available.
MIKE. Of course we all knew this day was coming.
SALLY. Yes Mike, ever since the University of Leicester carried out the Human Jokenome project to identify every possible joke variant back in the 21st century.
MIKE. And I believe Leicester was chosen as it had itself been declared a joke free zone as long ago as the late 1990's
SALLY. That is correct Mike. When the project discovered just how few jokes were left to be discovered joke rationing was brought in from 2012 onwards, particularly in what were referred to at the time as 'Sit Coms'.
MIKE. Ah I think I have heard of those, wasn't there one called 'Mrs Browns Boys'?
SALLY. No Mike, that was a drama/documentary.
MIKE. I can see behind you people are starting to leave tributes.
SALLY. Yes Mike, I can see several dozen squirty flowers and red noses already being laid. Hang on, I am getting a telepathic message from the Ministry. They are saying that it is with immense sadness they have to officially announce that there will be no new jokes ever. They are asking people to keep calm and to pull together at this time of great trial and finally that they regret very much indeed that the last joke ever to be told was such a bummer.
MIKE. Thank you Sally. That's it then no more jokes ever... Hang on, news just in... Michael McIntyre's hologram has just confirmed that he will still be going ahead with his tour as planned...
