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From: ags@pucc-h (Dave Seaman)
Newsgroups: net.jokes
Subject: Re: More Meta-humor
Message-ID: <2531@pucc-h>
Date: Mon, 16-Dec-85 09:57:54 EST
Article-I.D.: pucc-h.2531
Posted: Mon Dec 16 09:57:54 1985
Date-Received: Tue, 17-Dec-85 04:34:15 EST
References: <8042@ucla-cs.ARPA>
Reply-To: ags@pucc-h.UUCP (Dave Seaman)
Organization: Purdue University Computing Center
Lines: 32

In article <8042@ucla-cs.ARPA> melnick@ucla-cs.UUCP (Alex Melnick) writes:
>Monty Python were cited earlier as champions of meta-humor, but a big influence
>on them and others were The Goons, a '50's British radio show featuring Harry
>Seacombe and Peter Sellers (then an unknown).  

Jack Benny regularly depended on Meta-humor on his radio and TV programs.
Announcer Don Wilson and singer Dennis Day were also characters in the
weekly skit, playing the parts of "Don Wilson, announcer" and "Dennis
Day, singer."  Jack himself played the part of "Jack Benny, star."
I doubt that Jack Benny was the inventor of meta-humor, either.

Monty Python certainly did not invent meta-humor, but I still think they
are the best at it.  Another sample:

Scene:  office of a sleazy insurance agent.  A man has been asking
questions of the agent, when their conversation is interrupted by a
knock at the door.  After several exchanges between the newcomer and
the agent, the first man begins to appear ill-at-ease.  Finally, he
interrupts.

Man:  Excuse me -- do I have any more lines?

Agent:  Well, I dunno, I'll have a look at the script.  [Rummages through
desk drawer, finds rumpled "script," begins turning pages.]  Are you "man?"

Man:  "Man," yes.

Agent:  [Scans a page or two] No, you're all done.

Man: [relieved] Well, I'll be off, then.
-- 
Dave Seaman	  					pur-ee!pucc-h!ags