All a game

A MUM IS TELLING HER TEENAGE SON OFF.

MUM
You can't play those nasty video games anymore, they're 18 certificate and you're only 17.

SON
Oh mum, all my mates play them, it's not fair I hate you.

A MAN WALKS ON

MAN
You're right that's not fair. How do you fancy, playing violent games all day? Shooting bad guys in a post apocalyptic warzone?

SON
Course yes please.

MAN
Then join the British army today.

SON
Can I hit Arabs with brooms, and shove them in river?

MAN
You don't tell the UN, and I won't either.

I like this as it's rather topical.

One thought is that rather than it being the kids mom, he could be at schoool and it's his teacher. This way you can get in two topical points; Gordon Brown's recent attack on video games and their content, and also the recent uproar by teachers regarding the Army visiting schools and alledgedly painting a rose tinted view of army life to the pupils to try and increase recruitment.

Also, the line about hitting Arabs with brooms could be a little stronger - perhaps link it to video games and suggest a plasma rifle or infinite ammo rocket launcher.

Over all though I liked this sketch.

Def.

Thanks, and you're dead bang right about setting it in a school.

Though the broom thing, was about an actual incident.

Though the broom thing, was about an actual incident.

My bad. In that case, Brooms it is!

Def.

I think man should be uniformed brigadeer type.

The sad part is that it doesn't feel like you're doing anything but regurgitating the facts. The last recruitment ad I saw had a soldier piloting a recon device using an X-Box controller.

I like it (esp the Broom bit). Do you need the 'mum' bit. Couldn't the recruiter work as both devices - establishing that the kid likes to play games so you think the sketch is going to be about Age Restrictions for games and then twisting in to the British army thing.

Second David's point. Unfortunately this could run as a British Army ad.

Sootyj are you known as prolific?

That's kinda the point of a Topical skit, its presenting the news from another angle. In this case pious objection to violent video games, and disinterest in the army agressively pursuing teenagers to join up. The US army actually has a MORPG about being in the army. Topical doesn't always have to be clever sometimes life is so ridiculous all you can do is jsut report straight back what happens.

Haven't you heard about the dangers of sooty emissions?

D'accord. It was a lament - rather than a criticism. And perhaps should not be in critique then. javascript:add_emoticon('')

Haven't quite got the hang of those yet.

Quote: sootyj @ March 27, 2008, 12:25 PM

Topical doesn't always have to be clever. Sometimes life is so ridiculous all you can do is just report straight back what happens.

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I agree, that's exactly what I was saying. What I forgot to do was critique the sketch though. I enjoyed it. For once I even got the topical reference about the broom stick.

Sentiment appreciated, and thanks for feedback.

Reminds of how Tom Learer gave up as a satirist when Kissinger got the Nobel Peace Prize.

As there was no more work for satirists.

It's a simple enough sketch and I liked the results, Can;t build on anything anyones said.

So I won't...