Gabe & Max from HuffPo try to make fun of the “gay bomb” thing, but outside of “scoliosis toast”, I think their whole bit was just off. Here’s why:
Problem 1: Overusing the “invisible” reference – While a “running gag” is a time-honored comedic technique, it really only works when you have enough material between uses for your audience to forget about the gag. That way, when you hit the reference again, they go “Ha! I remember that!” instead of “Oh… THAT again”. Using it four times in a ten item list is sleep-inducing, at best.
Problem 2: Brevity! – Unless you’re in a permalink contest, the key to list humor is brevity, or at least economy of phrasing. Adding endless qualifying phrases is ok ONCE, as a change-up. Using the technique six times in a ten item list bogs down the pace and muddles the timing. It ends up reading like a third-grader’s “What I Did On My Summer Vacation” essay.
Problem 3: Brevity! Brevity! Brevity! – Rather than resorting to the amateurish technique of explaining how the weapons work, try thinking like a professional. Use the NAME of the weapon to tell the joke.
Problem 4: END the piece – Don’t just let your list peter out and then call it a day. Tack on a little bonus joke at the end to wrap it up in style.
Here’s how a REAL web humorist does it:
From the makers of the “gay bomb“, here are the latest technologically advanced weapons the Army is developing to incapacitate terrorists on the battlefield:
* Lambada bullets
* Michael Moore super-weight-gainer bomb
* Hippie smell missile
* Ron Paul loony laser
* Can’t get the chorus from “Hey, Jude” out of my head grenades
* Restless Leg Syndrome rockets
* Satellite-based wedgie weapon
* French courage gas
* Special Olympics mines
* Portable pit o’ ravenous Rosies
* Paris Hilton work ethic ray
* Not-so-fresh feeling cluster bombs
And the most effective hi-tech terrorist-stopper of all:
(see extended entry)
* A f***ing nuke
They won’t be fighting much after that one.
Class dismissed.
Brilliant. You forgot about the Harry Reid Oral Diarrhea Virus.
You asshole. Now I have the chorus from “Hey, Jude” stuck in my head.
Worst list ever! Do you have to have your sense of humor beat out of you when joining the Democrat party? Just curious. And if true, the method is startlingly effective.
Your list rocked Harvey. But it would be better if it were invisible, but only in troll reading form.
Lord, what wankers these HuffPosers be.
Page, I’ll trade you “Hey, Jude” for the Beastie Boys “Intergalatic” that I’ve been humming for the last 24 hours.
Two words…. Richard… Simmons…
Or how about hijacking their airwaves with Wham!
Silly gooses, it’s “HuffPoo”
Lest we forget the ultimate anti terrorist threat a “nuclear bacon bomb”
http://go2self.townhall.com/g/2d8a6d3e-ed14-429b-9b7a-7975a8d9f90c
Speaking of hijacking,anyone here use facebook?if you do theres a contest called “The Great Canadian Wishlist” the democrat underground , the Koz Kids and some other American liberals have been voting for a pro-abortion wish.Can you guys help us out and vote for the “abolish abortion” wish? instructions can be found here http://www.bigbluewave.blogspot.com
I say we just sic Ann Coulter on them. She’s already got the best idea – kill all their leaders and convert the rest to Christianity.
I say we just sic Ann Coulter on them. She’s already got the best idea – kill all their leaders and convert the rest to Christianity.
I say we just sic Ann Coulter on them. She’s already got the best idea – kill all their leaders and convert the rest to Christianity.
No no, Harvey! Extended entry! Extended entry! (edited like you have it, of course) ::shakes bossy woman fist::
The saddest comment on the HuffPoo site was when someone said, “This is the funniest thing I’ve ever read here.” Yeah, tragic, isn’t it?
The Ron Paul Loony Laser is apparently already in use.
And for some reason I can’t help but be amused by the thought of Restless Leg Syndrome rockets.
Good work.
You forgot the biggest bomb: The neverending Inna Godda Da Vida song.
Guys,
Having been there I’d think that a soap bomb would be excellent; they’d kill themselves after realizing how bad they normally smell.
SGT Dave
Livin’ the dream (yeah, right)