Does Joss use too many jokes?

POSTED BY: WarpedBeauty
UPDATED: Friday, February 17, 2006 06:30
VIEWED: 7628
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BARCLAY

Thursday, February 16, 2006 2:39 PM

Joss has only ever made one joke I didn't appreciate. At the end of Serenity, you're going through this emotional roller coaster, the film has left you with a lasting impression, Serenity is sailing off into the black... you're feeling it, you want to savor this moment, then... "What was that?" Completely takes that away. You're not feeling it anymore. It's a joke that has the function of "Ok, we're done, back to the real world" instead of my preferred "Now you go take this into the lobby and have a nice little discussion." I stop Serenity on DVD prior to this quote for this very reason.

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CYBERSNARK

Thursday, February 16, 2006 3:36 PM

I think Joss' use of comedy is just about perfect. Like others have said, it's a tightrope, and Joss does it better than most.

It's something I try to emulate in my own writing; straight comedy is hard. Almost impossible for me, I just don't think in "sitcom" mode. That said, give me something serious, and the funny just tends to happen on its own.

Let's face it, real life is funny, and funny things tend to happen in even the darkest hours. Anyone who says funny things don't happen to them is lying.

Over on Shortpacked ( http://www.shortpacked.com/), Walky once noted that humour is inversely related to the intelligence of the subject. IOW, the smarter someone is, the funnier they tend to make things.

(Like Batman. Batman makes anything funny.)

-----
We applied the cortical electrodes but were unable to get a neural reaction from either patient.

GIXXER

Thursday, February 16, 2006 3:37 PM

No.

KWICKO

Thursday, February 16, 2006 4:43 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by mal4prez:
Part of what got me into Buffy was the many layers of it - great characters and interesting stories, and at the same time Joss poked fun at all the usual 'coming of age' storylines that have been done SO many times. And he made fun of himself, which was really necessary for me. I mean a heavy drama about high school vampires? Come on! But as soon as he ridiculed himself, it kind of gave me permission to take the dramatic parts seriously without feeling stupid about it. And then he came up with episodes like The Body. Holy cow, best dramatic hour of TV ever!

Bingo. You said perfectly what I've been unable to put into words for SOOOOO long. I remember when Buffy came out. I thought (and said), "What a stupid idea for a show." I'd seen the movie, and while it was... okay... I sure as hell didn't see how it merited a series. I figured the series would be just more camp-n-kitsch, with a few lame one-liners thrown into an otherwise dark story.

So when I actually WATCHED Buffy The Series (last summer), imagine my shock. Here was a show that had fun with dark storylines, had great dramatic tension, and still managed to mock both the teen-angsty dramas AND the whole vampire-monster-demon-mythos genre. What hooked me was the wit and the jokes, even in the face of grave (pardon the pun) danger. There are moments that will bring a tear, but there are many more moments that will bring a laugh. And sometimes, just when you're about to cry, you get a joke tossed in that makes everything okay. Hard not to like a show that can do that to ya...

Mike

A baby seal walks into a club...

CITIZEN

Thursday, February 16, 2006 5:02 PM

Theres no such thing as too much humour, remember what happens if you take life too seriously...

More insane ramblings by the people who brought you beeeer milkshakes!
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MALNOURISHED

Thursday, February 16, 2006 5:03 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by Barclay:
Joss has only ever made one joke I didn't appreciate. At the end of Serenity, you're going through this emotional roller coaster, the film has left you with a lasting impression, Serenity is sailing off into the black... you're feeling it, you want to savor this moment, then... "What was that?" Completely takes that away. You're not feeling it anymore. It's a joke that has the function of "Ok, we're done, back to the real world" instead of my preferred "Now you go take this into the lobby and have a nice little discussion." I stop Serenity on DVD prior to this quote for this very reason.

I can see your point. I hadn't seen the series before watching Serenity for the first time, so I didn't think the joke was too much. After getting to know the characters, I began to feel that the joke takes away from the beautifully poignant exchange between Mal and River at the end. This is when you really feel a connection between those characters, and it becomes clear that both of them have changed fundamentally over the course of the movie. On the other hand, I can see the joke in another way; Serenity is flying into the black with bits falling off her, but the crew loves her and she is the one place where they feel at home. So, I guess with that mindset, the joke reminds me just how connected they (crew+ship) all are--they care for each other in spite of their imperfections.

In general, I think that Joss' jokes are right on. It was the humor that drew me in to begin with, and the relationships that made me a real fan.

MAL4PREZ

Thursday, February 16, 2006 5:12 PM

Thanks Kwicko - I actually had this discussion with a fairly serious and down to earth friend of mine way back when Buffy season 3 was on the air. We discovered we were both fans (and a little afraid to admit it at the time - LOL!!) and we had to justify ourselves.

um, cybersnark - I don't get the Batman reference. Are you saying Batman's really smart? I hope you don't mean the movie with Ah-nold as iceman, because... wow, ouch!

m4p

Ask Dr. Science ... he knows more than you do.
"I have a Master's degree ... in science!"

GIXXER

Thursday, February 16, 2006 6:20 PM

"...Theres no such thing as too much humour, remember what happens if you take life too seriously..."

Star Wars Prequels happens.

ASARIAN

Thursday, February 16, 2006 6:52 PM

I Love FireFly primarily because of River. But let's say she weren't in it (*shudder*), then I would certainly love the show for its humor. It's a veritable source of endless jokes, witticism, and puns. And I keep finding myself quoting from it, in speech and writing, all the time; starting with the part where Jayne gets knocked out by a 90 pound girl, cuz I don't think that's ever getting old. :)

Too many jokes? Now THAT is funny!

--
"Mei-mei, everything I have is right here." -- Simon Tam

RHYIANAN

Thursday, February 16, 2006 9:04 PM

I'm not completely sure, but I think that I read somewhere that Joss is a Shakespeare fan. Shakespeare's plays are filled with just the sort of jokes you are objecting to. The dark stuff that just happened is belied by witty banter. The only difference with Shakespeare is that the witty comments are usually made by people that have no idea what just happened. If Joss really is a shakespeare fan, than it makes sense that he would use a similar device in his own writting.

I must say though, that the humor is part of what drew me in. I usually hate American humor, but all of Joss's shows that I have seen are interspersed with just the right blend of witty one-liners and drama.

Wash: Yeah, but psychic? That sounds like science fiction.
Zoe: You live on a spaceship, dear.

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