Was in Hell, sorry, Hull last night to see Mitchell and Webb at the City Hall, with my friend Mel. It seemed like Hell actually because the christmas lights were being switched on, and the city centre was packed.Anyway, I had never actually heard of this comedy duo, so there were a few scetches when the crowd whooped and cheered that I didn't get. On the whole, I thought they were pretty good. There were some lame moments, but I probably just didn't 'get it' - I am getting older you know, so Im not quite as 'hip' as I used to be :-)
However, comedy these days seems to be based around the one liner catch phrase, and the short sketch, which I think show like 'The Fast Show' have a lot to answer for!
Take a look at 'Little Britain' for example. As much as it still makes me laugh, I often wonder how long catch phrases like 'yeah, I know' can be funny for? Every Andy and Lou sketch falls into this formula:
1. Lou wants Andy to do something
2. Andy take the opposite view
3. Lou turns his back
4. Andy gets out of his wheel chair and does something amusing
5. Andy sits back in the chair and the status quo is returned.
Its getting to the point were it actually writes itself...Messrs Lucas and Walliams must be laughing all the way to the bank! Good on 'em.
The catch phrase show could also be a sign of our times too. In this time of short attention spans, the political sound bite and the fast food culture, people can't be bothered with the comedy drama and having to invest time and thought into their entertainment. Anyone got an thoughts on this?
Maybe I should think of some amusing catch phrases and write a sketch show?
On a different note...my roof trusses turned up today - whoo hoo!
See...short attention span :-)
5 comments:
M&W are new and cool I have to say. I have only just come across them but much of what you pick out about catch phrases is valid with them. The trick is to stop them and move onto something new before people get bored of it.
Remember the Simpsons episode (that has managed to stay fresh) where Bart coins the catch phrase "I didn't do it". And he is catapulted into stardom and everyone thinks it's hilarious that he says "I didn't do it". But then one day, they just don't. And Krusty kindly takes Bart by the shoulder and leads him down the corridor and says, "Don't worry about it kid, you're just finished that's all" and boots him out. And that's pretty much the size of it.
Funny you should mention that simpsons episoide...I was going to write about it in that post!
What poor sods did you get to help with the trusses then?
I duped Mr Traill and Mr Kitchen - aka 'The Hungry Hippo's' with the promise of pizza. Ha! Suckers!
well, i cant comment on the duo cos ive never heard of them but you say it was the night of the switch on, with the comedy geniuses (to me, to you) the chuckle brothers. thats proof that a catchphrase can endure time.............not. and on the simpsons, did you see the episode where homer taught bart the one phrase that would serve him well in life.....it was like that when i got here.
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