  Comedy
This week: Edited by: Mavis Moog  
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| Comedy is a difficult genre in which to excell. This week I try to learn some tips from the experts. |
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I was enthralled by an interview with Larry David by Ricky Gervais on Channel 4, in Britain, last week. It was a conversation between two masters of comedy-verité. Both men use cringe-making truth as a basis for their comedy and it was a treat to see them discussing the nitty gritty of the writing process.
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The two masters of real-life comedy.
Larry David and Ricky Gervais.
Larry David, co-writer of Seinfeld, and writer and star of Curb your Enthusiasm is notoriously difficult to tie down for interviews. He only agreed to be interviewed for Channel 4 when he heard that Gervais would be the host. Ricky Gervais wrote and starred in two major TV comedy hits, The Office and Extras.
As I watched the two men discussing the terrible interview techniques of the average journalist, I howled with laughter. Gervais took on the character of a note-jotting philistine, as he pretended not to listen to answers and nod in a patronisingly encouraging way while David attempted to pour out his creative heart. They also discussed the use of bad language as a shock technique in their writing, and how they gathered material for their shows.
David told Gervais that he carried a notebook, in which he jotted down his daily observations. The notes would then be used to form the basis for his hilarious sketches. The secret of the success of these men's humour is that it is entirely truthful.
The complicated power-struggle involved when people seat themselves in a car formed the basis of one of David's scenes in Curb your Enthusiasm. The driver insisting that Larry sits in the front with him, when another front-seat passenger gets out, and Larry demanding to know why it is important to the driver where he sits, is comedy gold.
Another scene, centred on the polite conventions of dining. Larry is with a friend in a restaurant. Larry's food arrives first and he asks his companion if it is OK for him to start his meal. The friend asks him to wait, because his own meal will be arriving in a moment and as Larry's food is salad, it's not going to get cold if he waits a while. Larry's anger builds to a crescendo as he asks his companion why it matters to him whether he begins to eat or not. The ensuing argument is both painfully accurate and belly-laugh-inducing.
As I watched these examples of brilliant comedy, I thought to myself, Why didn't I think of that? I'm sure we've all bridled when we we are expected to behave in an illogical but conventional manner. Yet only Larry David had his notebook by his side, and was able to capture the moment, exaggerate it, and turn it to pure genius.
My lesson from this is to try to keep more notes. No matter how tiny the thought, if it strikes you, get it down.
I have a word of warning though. One evening, a few years ago, I was spending some time in the company of a woman who was in the habit of making the most outrageous malapropism. I could not resist getting out my diary and jotting them down, as she spoke. She was clearly intrigued by my frequent scribbling, but tried to ignore it. Eventually, she asked me what I was doing. Obviously, I lied, and told her that I was adding things to my shopping list, as they came to my mind. Too late, I realised that this was a tactless response which left my companion feeling very bruised. "Does my conversation bore you so much that you are planning your trip to Tescos rather than listen to me?" she wailed.
Oops, I 'd killed the golden goose. She stormed off to drop her pearls of language-misuse on someone else's ears. |
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Thank you for all your jokes and comments
Remember, 1000 GPs are awarded for each joke used here.
Barmymoo
My ultimate joke has to be one that I was told by a friend, who then looked flabbergasted as everyone in earshot collapsed laughing. It went as follows.
A duck walks into a bar and says "D'you have any grapes?".
"No," said the barman. The duck walks out.
The next day, a duck walks into a bar.
"Do you have any grapes?" he asks.
"No!" said the barman. "Stop asking that!"
The third day, a duck walks into a bar.
"Do you have any grapes?" he asks.
"No I do NOT!" the barman yells. "If you ask that once more I'll nail your flippers to the floor!"
The next day, a duck walks into a bar.
"Do you have any nails?" he asks.
"No," says the barman.
"Do you have any grapes?"
 I have heard one similar involving a rabbit and carrots. It made me laugh and I repeated it to anyone who would listen for days. Thanks for resurrecting it. 1000 GPs are on their way to you. - MM
windac
Excellent NL Mavis... and not just because you highlighted a poem of mine (although what a thrill it was to see!)
You've made me giggle, think about my own bio block (which is really rather drab), and highlighted some great reading material.
Thanks, and keep up the good work!!!
Silver is 2 to the 5th Power
A piece of rope walks into a bar and sits down. The bartender takes one look at him and says "sorry, we don't serve rope here." The rope says "fine" and leaves. When he gets outside, the rope ties himself into a knot, and unravels his ends, then he walks back in. The bartender says "hey, aren't you that rope that was just in here?" And the rope says "no, I'm a frayed knot."
*groan* Anyone born yesterday might not know this one, so thanks for giving them a chance to enjoy a giggle. 1000 GPs are on the way to you - MM
Chewie Kittie
I've altered this joke slightly to make it E. I hope you don't mind, Chewie Kittie . - MM
Little Johnny went up to the teacher and told her, "I know a joke about a word that starts with this letter." and he wrote a letter down, "and ends with these three letters." and again, he scribbled some letters on a piece of paper.
"Johnny! We don't allow that kind of language here at school! Go to the principal's office at once!"
"Well, Johnny, what are you doing here this week?"
"I'm not sure, sir. I was trying to tell Mrs. Jones a joke about a firetruck."
 It's a good one, and I'd not heard it. So 1000 gps for you - MM.
schipperke
Mavis:
Your picks this week are 'spot on' (picked that one up from my Irish friends).
Great newsletter!
Actually, Spot-On is the brand name of a flea and tick treatment for dogs and cats, here in England  . Thanks for your continued support. - MM
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Comedy: January 11, 2006 Issue [#815]
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