tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post3952907330112079435..comments2023-11-03T06:02:02.128-07:00Comments on By Ken Levine: Should you keep a joke that only three people in America will get?By Ken Levinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17305293821975250420noreply@blogger.comBlogger41125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-897003901772680292011-11-14T21:30:56.000-08:002011-11-14T21:30:56.000-08:00Some people seem to feel they are superior when th...Some people seem to feel they are superior when they catch an obscure reference or joke. So what? You watch a lot of TV. Nice job.John A Mhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16255154562239005397noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-42687396009849414432011-04-10T09:42:01.644-07:002011-04-10T09:42:01.644-07:00My dear, dear D. McEwen
The big difference is tha...My dear, dear D. McEwen<br /><br />The big difference is that it is currently 2011 and not 2057. A Sheen joke in 45 years, with any luck, will be an obscure reference. If the stars are really on our side it will be 3 years.<br /><br />The Menjou joke would have been topical in 1947. But when it was actually written, about 30 years later, it was an obscure reference that perhaps only a few would have gotten. A "threeper."<br /><br />And of course MURPHY BROWN would have skewered him. That's what they did. My only point was topical references don't play well in syndication. Trust me, I have a Jimmy Carter/rabbit joke floating around on JEFFERSONS reruns that was oh so hilarious at the time, but now causes even me to scratch my head.<br /><br />I don't have big objections to any of the three types of jokes if they work.<br />I was just saying that there are distinct differences between them.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-32103006209075960292011-04-10T09:27:48.968-07:002011-04-10T09:27:48.968-07:00I have a love/hate relationship with 30 Rock becau...I have a love/hate relationship with 30 Rock because I feel most of the jokes go over my head. I really hate it, though, when they don't play by their own rules and seem to dumb down a joke that should be smarter. For instance, there was a plot about Jenna wanting to do a Janice Joplin bio pic, but they couldn't get the rights to her music. So they performed a song called "Gimme Another Piece of Your Lung" which they thought would pass by the notice of the rights holder. Same tune, and same lyrics, except that the word "lung" replaced "heart." Maybe the joke was that some of the characters were too dumb to get that this slight change would clear the song, but the rest of the jokes on the show are otherwise so smart that this bit was out of character.AAllenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04994241172130699272noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-75715027579156641492011-04-09T13:07:03.624-07:002011-04-09T13:07:03.624-07:00What does that post have to do with Nina Myers?What does that post have to do with Nina Myers?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-41953316875852820482011-04-08T15:11:06.298-07:002011-04-08T15:11:06.298-07:00David my darling, that Adolph Monjou joke was as t...David my darling, that Adolph Monjou joke was as topilcal as it could get when Adolphe finished testifying as a friendly witness before HUAC in 1947, denouncing Hollywood as being full of commies. Murphy Brown would have roasted him alive.<br /><br />Is there a cut-off point when a dated topical reference, like Monjou being an in-the-1947 news commie-baiter and Joe McCarthy-booster, and when it becomes an "obscure reference"? I'm not being snarky, I just don't see any difference, let alone a"big" one, an between a Monjou joke in 2011 and a Charlie Sheen joke in 2057.<br /><br />'Cause I have a trunk full of great Nixon jokes I wrote for radio between 1968 and 1974 that are going begging.D. McEwannoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-40575804068505543482011-04-08T11:52:09.001-07:002011-04-08T11:52:09.001-07:00There is a shock website called Lemon Party. It...There is a shock website called Lemon Party. It's a picture of three old men in a threesome.<br /><br />Buck Henry was on 30 Rock as Liz Lemons father, Dick Lemon. At dinner he demanded that he got to pay for everyones meal. He proclaimed, "You can't have a Lemon Party without old Dick!"Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-69700232989025646952011-04-06T09:08:43.396-07:002011-04-06T09:08:43.396-07:00David Lee here. There is a difference--a big one-...David Lee here. There is a difference--a big one--between obscure references (3 per centers) and topical references to pop culture or current events.<br /><br />A joke about Adolf Menjou is an obscure reference that only a few might get. It requires a level knowledge about some subject that the majority may not share.<br /><br />A joke about Charlie Sheen today is a topical reference. It is a time sensitive joke that requires a level of knowledge that most people share.<br /><br />An "in joke" is basically one that only the writers or those close to the show would get, like naming the hooker character <br />after your secretary.<br /><br />On FRASIER we loved a few threepers. On the other hand, we assiduously avoided topical references. Or tried to. Not only because they always seemed a little easy, but because they don't play well, if at all, in syndication. Loved MURPHY BROWN when it was on, but it would be a prime example.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-41186093190665546192011-04-05T18:01:06.798-07:002011-04-05T18:01:06.798-07:00To me, any joke that will be gotten by more than 3...To me, any joke that will be gotten by more than 3% of the audience is just pandering to mass-tastes. It's whoring. I pride myself in writing only jokes that only three people will get. This is why three people loved my book. <br /><br />My God, Sarah Palin is to the right of Adolph Monjou!<br /><br />Nixon told more lies than Loretta Young introducing her "adopted" daughter.<br /><br />Don't shoot that rat! It's just Elia Kazan writing down names!<br /><br />Mr. Blackwell was about as butch as Ramon Navarro on a good day. I've seen more masculine garments in Liberace's bathroom hamper.<br /><br />George Bush is about as literate as Samuel Goldwyn.<br /><br />It was murder! He fed her a Katherine Hepburn movie ground up in his drink. You could tell by the odor of bitter almonds.<br /><br />Don't get any or most of those jokes? Screw you!<br /><br />Cheers darlings!Tallulah Moreheadhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07416330735326405496noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-22762408103106501202011-04-05T18:00:18.713-07:002011-04-05T18:00:18.713-07:00"My Dinner With Andre"? What about "..."My Dinner With Andre"? What about "My Breakfast With Blassie"? Anyone remember THAT?Johnny Walkerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13302545167970532080noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-26258115712547756732011-04-05T16:41:43.808-07:002011-04-05T16:41:43.808-07:00What does Sarah Clarke and Twilight have to do wit...What does Sarah Clarke and Twilight have to do with each other?Kevin Arbouetnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-11780683751572955342011-04-05T14:50:55.689-07:002011-04-05T14:50:55.689-07:00"Reservoir Dogs"? I thought it was a pa..."Reservoir Dogs"? I thought it was a parody of "My Dinner With Andre." What's that, a one percenter?Buttermilk Skyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07430011403223875192noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-7555839549705927332011-04-05T12:15:24.888-07:002011-04-05T12:15:24.888-07:00It's interesting that the shows cited here tha...It's interesting that the shows cited here that are heavy on the obscure jokes aren't filmed in front of live audiences. 30 ROCK, COMMUNITY, animated shows. Does having a live audience put any pressure on the writers to use broader jokes?Lou H.https://www.blogger.com/profile/17611461956944372901noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-49547545384805480842011-04-05T07:29:05.100-07:002011-04-05T07:29:05.100-07:00Cap'n Bob: Raquel Welch was notorious back in...Cap'n Bob: Raquel Welch was notorious back in the day for always using her own hairdresser and costume designer for every film, with results that often clashed with the overall look of the film. This was most obvious in her occasional period films. I remember a review of THE THREE MUSKETEERS that praised the accuracy with which it captured the period--stating, for example, that Richard Chamberlain looked as if he had just stepped out of a Cavalier painting--with the exception of Welch, who was described as looking as if she were going to a costume party as Bo Peep.Robert Skillnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-50294214067389520392011-04-04T22:35:19.365-07:002011-04-04T22:35:19.365-07:00One of the hallmarks of our daily radio comedy ser...One of the hallmarks of our daily radio comedy service is that it's filled with obscure references. As a pop culture buff, history nut and author of the book "Hollywood Hi-Fi," I have a ridiculous amount of useless information filed away in my brain, and I've got to do something with it. I usually don't base an actual one-liner on a really obscure one, but I might sneak them into a headline or subhead. I always assume that maybe only one out of all our clients will get it, but that one will find it really cool. <br /><br />That happened last month when I worked a hidden reference to the song "Vehicle" into an almanac item on the Ides of March. I heard back from exactly one radio host who caught it, but he thought it was hilarious and was proud of himself for catching it, and that's good enough for me. There are plenty of other more obvious lines for the less informed. <br /><br />BTW, nothing irritates me more than some hipster doofus who rolls his eyes and dismisses someone as old and unhip for knowing something that happened before he was born. I can't stand people who wear ignorance as a badge of honor. I was a James Thurber fan at 10, a silent movie expert by 12, and a World War II buff by 15. I share the same philosophy as the original incarnation of the Credibility Gap: "Ignorance of your culture is NOT considered 'cool.'"Pat Reederhttp://www.comedy-wire.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-67746668104723263322011-04-04T16:17:15.570-07:002011-04-04T16:17:15.570-07:00The thing that's awesome though is when there&...The thing that's awesome though is when there's an obscure reference and you totally get it! I like to think I'm one of the 3% or even higher than that!Lynn MacDonaldhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08680909356053872951noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-55569450697838829262011-04-04T16:17:11.810-07:002011-04-04T16:17:11.810-07:00"Reservoir Dogs" came out almost two dec..."Reservoir Dogs" came out almost two decades ago -- maybe 55-year-olds are the ONLY ones who'll get the reference.<br /><br />(They're certainly the only ones who can remember why Chevy Chase was ever famous.)BigTednoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-6686012849627592742011-04-04T15:03:20.281-07:002011-04-04T15:03:20.281-07:00Yeah, MASH hair styles were about as fifties as Be...Yeah, MASH hair styles were about as fifties as Beatle moptops. Reminds me of Raquel Welch's styled locks in One Million B.C. In fact, I always thought actors who didn't try to look right for their movie's time frame were lazy and/or vain.Cap'n Bobhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11783977137812876489noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-35276848793620110292011-04-04T14:32:01.017-07:002011-04-04T14:32:01.017-07:00This “Hollywood Squares” Twiggy joke always makes ...This “Hollywood Squares” Twiggy joke always makes me laugh: <br /> <br />Peter Marshall (to Paul Lynde): Paul, Twiggy recently said that her bust size grown by one inch. How many inches is it now?<br /><br />Paul Lynde: One.chalmersnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-44709597841671608692011-04-04T14:19:36.976-07:002011-04-04T14:19:36.976-07:00And can't forgot the old "Bullwinkle Show...And can't forgot the old "Bullwinkle Show" or "Rocky & Bullwinkle" [or whatever title they decided to call it]. Bullwinkle always had a few good zingers that obviously were meant for the older teens and adult viewers of the show that wouldn't have registered at all with the younger set.YEKIMIhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01921751875397071034noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-67356608146075611152011-04-04T14:14:33.614-07:002011-04-04T14:14:33.614-07:00Reading about the DVD show, Carl Reiner always pre...Reading about the DVD show, Carl Reiner always preached not to put contemporary references in. (Though they did deviate from that rule a few times, "the Redcoats (Beatles) are coming" episode being maybe the most obvious example.bensonnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-84210975783796115532011-04-04T13:25:34.712-07:002011-04-04T13:25:34.712-07:00If you’re writing a spec it’s easier with an exist...<i>If you’re writing a spec it’s easier with an existing show. By watching astutely you can determine the level of their references. A Charlie Sheen joke might work on 30 ROCK but I wouldn’t do one on MIKE & MOLLY.</i><br /><br />I'd figure Chuck Lorre's probably filled MIKE & MOLLY with Charlie Sheen jokes all by himself for next season by now.Johnnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-43171199528782843232011-04-04T12:47:33.882-07:002011-04-04T12:47:33.882-07:00This reminds me of an old Simpsons episode where M...This reminds me of an old Simpsons episode where Marge compares Grampa to Judge Reinhold. Her mom says she has no idea who that is.<br /><br />I don't know anything about Judge Reinhold. Oddly enough, I always laugh at that joke.<br /><br />There was an even more recent obscure joke on the same show. A very obscure Star Wars reference, where Homer brings up tertiary Star Wars character. Only a real Star Wars geek (myself included) would get it.Eduardo Jencarellihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14393598179614372710noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-39476480076152614762011-04-04T12:26:45.723-07:002011-04-04T12:26:45.723-07:00Thanks for this. It gives me a category for one of...Thanks for this. It gives me a category for one of my favorites from Frasier. As I recollect Niles and Frasier were discussing some philosophical point and one of them capped the discussion with, "Well, enough Schop talk!"<br /><br />On the Simpsons and the Great Escape, I have never felt older than when as a senior lawyer we were hosting summer interns and discussion turned to the Ayn Rand episode and one of the baby's tossing a ball to Maggie as she was sent to the cooler (timeout) "just like Steve McQueen." To which one of the interns responded "Steve who?"Stevenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-18742278110958232662011-04-04T12:13:52.138-07:002011-04-04T12:13:52.138-07:00Fox ran a Simpsons episode from 1992 last night Li...Fox ran a Simpsons episode from 1992 last night <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lisa's_First_Word" rel="nofollow">Lisa's First Word</a>. At one point they show a young Homer bragging that he had already started a college fund for Lisa at <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Savings_and_loan_crisis#Lincoln_Savings_and_Loan" rel="nofollow">Lincoln Savings</a>. I thought even in 1992 that would have been pretty obscure and these days you'd have to be fairly old to get the joke. It made me wonder how funny "The Simpsons" will be in 50 years versus the way "The Dick Van Dyke Show" holds up after 50 years. It seems like the early sit-coms relied on more universal and physical comedy.l.a.guynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-44159927557160925872011-04-04T11:28:42.210-07:002011-04-04T11:28:42.210-07:00Is there a danger with 3%er jokes that they will r...Is there a danger with 3%er jokes that they will replace the original in the cultural norm? For example, the brilliant 3rd season episode where Maggie escapes the Ayn Rand pre-school is probably now much more famous than the movie (The Great Escape) that it spoofed. <br />Airplane is infinitely better known than the original Flight Into Danger that it was based on.<br />Young Frankenstein is probably more popular than the originals. I'm sure half the references in that film went over my head.RockGolfnoreply@blogger.com