I'm working on a joke

[Fritzo]

"PBS recently started to try to promote art and literature a bit more to kids. For instance, they're mixing up the children's programming a bit with new shows like 'Dante Alighieri presents: Where in the Hell Is Carmen Sandiego?' "

I love the concept of this joke, but it doesn't seem to flow smoothly enough, plus I'm afraid a lot of people that never got past "Dick and Jane" in school may not get it.

 

[Leros]

Replace Dante Alighieri with somebody people know and you might be good.

 

[JJChicken]

Originally posted by: Leros
Replace Dante Alighieri with somebody people know and you might be good.

Al Gore?

 

[iRONic]

Originally posted by: Fritzo
"PBS recently started to try to promote art and literature a bit more to kids. For instance, they're mixing up the children's programming a bit with new shows like 'Dante Alighieri presents: Where in the Hell Is Carmen Sandiego?' "

I love the concept of this joke, but it doesn't seem to flow smoothly enough, plus I'm afraid a lot of people that never got past "Dick and Jane" in school may not get it.

Shouldn't you be working?

 

[Balt]

Is this for stand-up? You need to seem more casual in the way you deliver it.

PBS has recently started promoting more art and literature in their programming for children. Yeah, they're mixing it up a bit with new shows like 'Dante Alighieri presents: Where in the Hell Is Carmen Sandiego?'

 

[CKent]

I understand it, but it still isn't funny, and I don't think presentation can help.

 

[Oceandevi]

Originally posted by: Fritzo
"PBS recently started to try to promote art and literature a bit more to kids. For instance, they're mixing up the children's programming a bit with new shows like 'Dante Alighieri presents: Where in the Hell Is Carmen Sandiego? And dragons.' "

I love the concept of this joke, but it doesn't seem to flow smoothly enough, plus I'm afraid a lot of people that never got past "Dick and Jane" in school may not get it.

Fixed

 

[oiprocs]

What's Dick and Jane?

 

[DangerAardvark]

Just say Dante. More people are familiar with just the first name.

Is this for a speech or something? Cause the whole concept of it isn't really funny enough to be an independent joke. It could be a clever aside, but if you told this, I think it would bomb.

 

[Fritzo]

Originally posted by: Leros
Replace Dante Alighieri with somebody people know and you might be good.

It doesn't work without Dante- You know---the guy that went through the levels of hell?

 

[Fritzo]

Originally posted by: DangerAardvark
Just say Dante. More people are familiar with just the first name.

Is this for a speech or something? Cause the whole concept of it isn't really funny enough to be an independent joke. It could be a clever aside, but if you told this, I think it would bomb.

It's for a monologue type thing. I tried it on a couple of co-workers a few minutes ago, and they all liked it. It just needs polished a bit.

 

[SilentRunning]

"PBS recently started to try to promote art and literature a bit more to kids. For instance, they're mixing up the children's programming a bit with new shows like 'Woody Allen presents: Where in the World are Mia Farrow's Daughters?' "

 

[MartyMcFly3]

Originally posted by: Fritzo

Originally posted by: DangerAardvark
Just say Dante. More people are familiar with just the first name.

Is this for a speech or something? Cause the whole concept of it isn't really funny enough to be an independent joke. It could be a clever aside, but if you told this, I think it would bomb.

It's for a monologue type thing. I tried it on a couple of co-workers a few minutes ago, and they all liked it. It just needs polished a bit.

Your coworkers measure their toes... Is that really the demographic you are going for?

 

[Fritzo]

Originally posted by: MartyMcFly3

Originally posted by: Fritzo

Originally posted by: DangerAardvark
Just say Dante. More people are familiar with just the first name.

Is this for a speech or something? Cause the whole concept of it isn't really funny enough to be an independent joke. It could be a clever aside, but if you told this, I think it would bomb.

It's for a monologue type thing. I tried it on a couple of co-workers a few minutes ago, and they all liked it. It just needs polished a bit.

Your coworkers measure their toes... Is that really the demographic you are going for?

These are the other co-workers in the server area, not the phone monkeys

 

[alkemyst]

just you presenting it will be enough of a joke .

In reality many would probably miss Carmen Sandiego too in a mixed bag group.

 

[Fenixgoon]

i liked the joke

 

[dighn]

Originally posted by: alkemyst
just you presenting it will be enough of a joke .

In reality many would probably miss Carmen Sandiego too in a mixed bag group.

I recognized neither names.

 

[TuxDave]

<--- Doesn't get the joke.

 

[Skunkwourk]

Originally posted by: Balt
Is this for stand-up? You need to seem more casual in the way you deliver it.

PBS has recently started promoting more art and literature in their programming for children. Yeah, they're mixing it up a bit with new shows like 'Dante Alighieri presents: Where in the Hell Is Carmen Sandiego?'

much better.

If its for stand up you can also open with asking if anyone watches PBS anymore, and rant a bit on how you used to watch PBS, how boring it is or how kids have short attention spans or something like that. The majority of the population won't get this joke though.

 

[Fritzo]

Originally posted by: Eghck

Originally posted by: Balt
Is this for stand-up? You need to seem more casual in the way you deliver it.

PBS has recently started promoting more art and literature in their programming for children. Yeah, they're mixing it up a bit with new shows like 'Dante Alighieri presents: Where in the Hell Is Carmen Sandiego?'

much better.

If its for stand up you can also open with asking if anyone watches PBS anymore, and rant a bit on how you used to watch PBS, how boring it is or how kids have short attention spans or something like that. The majority of the population won't get this joke though.

Yeah...when I tell it it comes out more like above. If Dennis Miller can get away with his material, I think I could get away with this. I'll dumb down the rest of the stuff just in case heh.

 

[conehead433]

Make it really, really long and have the punchline "Better Nate than lever".

 

[Squisher]

To tell that you're going to need a setup:

Remember having to read Dante's Inferno in school? He put all the chicks he screwed into Heaven and all the stuck up chicks in Hell. Well, if he was doing the programing over at PBS.......


But, this particular example destroys the punchline. Not, that I think that joke is all that strong.

 

[Corporate Thug]

how about "PBS is promoting" rather than "PBS recently started to try to promote"

 

[UberNeuman]

"PBS recently started promoting art and literature a bit more to kids - they're mixing up the children's programming a bit with new shows like 'Dante's " Where in the Hell Is Carmen Sandiego?" and "Elmo's: The Unbearable Lightness of Being." The highlight is going to be a production of "Romeo and Juilet," starring Bert and Ernie... It would have starred Big Bird and Barney - but nobody can tell what sex Big Bird is....