I don't know which of the writers who was behind this sketch, but it wouldn't surprise me if it was John Finnemore. His radio series The John Finnemore's Souvenir Programme is full of sketches that take common narratives and twist them to give a more realistic yet hitherto unnoticed take
Not Telling Well, Gervais can be pretty derivative - but considering the year Deep Space 9 is set in, Garak probably stole it from some old holotapes of Ricky.
The story was brilliantly parodied in just a few words by the amazing Dr. House. "Doesn't matter how many times the kid screams wolf, his mother is always going to come running."
House is wrong. Ever had a serious issue as a kid? You’re waiting at least a week or two for a doctor because your own mother will insist you’re fine and don’t one
Barrister Mitchell arguing various fables, myths, fairytales, children's stories, Santa/Tooth Fairy/Easter Bunny, nursery rhymes etc should be a whole series!! Or Barrister Mitchell of any kind. Someone make this show, please!
Yeah, in the actual story he was just a boy watching sheep, with a general instruction to call for help should he need it, such as in the event of a wolf turning up. I mean, as hilarious as this Mitchell and Webb skit is, and it might be my favourite one, don't therefore assume that the story they're satirising had the plotholes without actually rereading the story first.
This defence really only works for the scenario when the kid is appointed a wolf watcher. In another versions of the story, the kid is not in charge of anything and people rush out to help the kid not the flock of sheep.
elucidate Insurance fraud. The brother dies in a wildlife "accident" involving a wild, south american jungle panther. In a bathroom. In Dorset. In England.
I wish Mitchell as a barrister were an actual series. More legal comedy than legal drama, of course, but just to see his unflaggingly passionate outbursts of logical ranting in the setting of a courtroom would be hilarious. Just ... generally more Mitchellian TV. I need more.
Some years ago I saw a comedy act in London and they did a sketch I'd never seen before about the quote 'In the land of the blind, the man with one eye is king', talking about why a one-eyed man would make a terrible king in a land of blind people. They did a few other sketches I'd seen and heard from Mitchell and Webb, and the one-eyed-king one had exactly the same type of humour and I thought it was written by the same people. Do Mitchell and Webb have a sketch, either video or audio, about a one-eyed-king in the land of the blind? I've never seen or heard it done by them.
noun, plural parodies, verb parodied, parodying. a humorous or satirical imitation of a serious piece of literature or writing: his hilarious parody of Hamlet's soliloquy. So i suppose the question is what do YOU think parody means?
David Mitchell makes a great point :D That's a very big, endangering responsibility to place on a young boy, and negligent on the part of the shepherd to ignore a) the sound of a wolf and b) any cries for help
This - to me - is Mitchell and Webb at it's best.
Taking old conventions/stories and turning them COMPLETELY on their heads.
I don't know which of the writers who was behind this sketch, but it wouldn't surprise me if it was John Finnemore. His radio series The John Finnemore's Souvenir Programme is full of sketches that take common narratives and twist them to give a more realistic yet hitherto unnoticed take
My favourite of this type is the Good Samaritan sketch. I cannot listen to that bible verse the same way any more.
Agree with Stephen. A definite "Finnemore Feel" to it.
*Its* best. Not "it's" best. I'm afraid David will have to shoot you now.
"Old enough to fight a wolf. Too young for a gun."
I think the real moral is "don't leave important things in the hands of those who you know can't be trusted".
more the shepherd than the kid
Sounds all so true these day.
According to a plain, simple tailor I once knew, the moral is actually "never tell the same lie twice."
"An accomplished mimic of animal massacres, was he?"
Ricky Gervais always says the moral of the story is "don't tell the same lie twice".
+Matthew J (no1laff) That was Garrak from Star Trek: Deep Space Nine
tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Recap/StarTrekDeepSpaceNineS03E20ImprobableCause
that was my first thought upon hearing the tale for the first time at age 7..
Not Telling Well, Gervais can be pretty derivative - but considering the year Deep Space 9 is set in, Garak probably stole it from some old holotapes of Ricky.
Ricky Gervais didn't come up with it. Garak in Star Trek: Deep Space 9 said it first after hearing the story.
The story was brilliantly parodied in just a few words by the amazing Dr. House.
"Doesn't matter how many times the kid screams wolf, his mother is always going to come running."
House is wrong. Ever had a serious issue as a kid? You’re waiting at least a week or two for a doctor because your own mother will insist you’re fine and don’t one
What you describe is a bad parent.
@@DeathnoteBB I'm sorry your mom didn't take the greatest care of you. :/
@@rae8323 Yeah obviously.
@@em.1633 Thanks
"Never tell the same lie twice." --Garak
Barrister Mitchell arguing various fables, myths, fairytales, children's stories, Santa/Tooth Fairy/Easter Bunny, nursery rhymes etc should be a whole series!! Or Barrister Mitchell of any kind. Someone make this show, please!
Widmark I would fucking love that.
It’s amazing how much of the flaws of the plot are overlooked: I barely thought about it like this until listening to this video!
To be fair, I'm pretty sure the story takes place in an area where wolves are more common and a time when giving him a gun wasn't an option.
And also, in the actual story, he wasn't appointed as a watchman.
Yeah, in the actual story he was just a boy watching sheep, with a general instruction to call for help should he need it, such as in the event of a wolf turning up.
I mean, as hilarious as this Mitchell and Webb skit is, and it might be my favourite one, don't therefore assume that the story they're satirising had the plotholes without actually rereading the story first.
the original boy who cried wolf was based in the ancient balkans, not 21st century dorset
Widmark it’s a bit of comedy, Christ. You guys must be fun at parties
This defence really only works for the scenario when the kid is appointed a wolf watcher. In another versions of the story, the kid is not in charge of anything and people rush out to help the kid not the flock of sheep.
2:11 - is probably my favourite part in a (imo) wonderful skit/sketch.
This is gold. Thank you for cheering us up with clean, funny, well executed humor.
Clever lad! Charming story.
😀
you had me at "blunderbuss"
Steve Rotters that musical is under rated
"A Jaguar got in 'is bathroom" hahahaha.
Rob Fraser I didn't get that bit :(
elucidate Insurance fraud. The brother dies in a wildlife "accident" involving a wild, south american jungle panther. In a bathroom. In Dorset. In England.
Thank you, TvTropes!
I like. thank tv tropes for bringing me here.
I love imagining Mitchell in a barrister wig.
I wish Mitchell as a barrister were an actual series. More legal comedy than legal drama, of course, but just to see his unflaggingly passionate outbursts of logical ranting in the setting of a courtroom would be hilarious. Just ... generally more Mitchellian TV. I need more.
Watch at 0.5x speed to know what David Mitchell and Robert Webb would sound like if they were drunken cyborgs.
Strange, but hilariously true.
This is hilarious!
Mitchell makes a good point though, why would you leave a 12 year old boy to call for a wolf, your putting his life at risk.
Probably because (a, you don't have anyone else available, and (b, actually 90% of the job just involves making sure the sheep don't wander off.
I don't remember him being appointed as a watchman in the versions of the story I heard as a kid.
Back when the story was conceived most children were expected to work as soon as they were able to.
"A jaguar got in his bathroom." Cf. "The Brazilian Cat" by A.C. Doyle, which was also the inspir'n for the polar bears on "Lost".
Brought here by TVTropes
Genious
1:57 utility 🤣🤣🤣
Some years ago I saw a comedy act in London and they did a sketch I'd never seen before about the quote 'In the land of the blind, the man with one eye is king', talking about why a one-eyed man would make a terrible king in a land of blind people. They did a few other sketches I'd seen and heard from Mitchell and Webb, and the one-eyed-king one had exactly the same type of humour and I thought it was written by the same people. Do Mitchell and Webb have a sketch, either video or audio, about a one-eyed-king in the land of the blind? I've never seen or heard it done by them.
Not to my knowledge, although most of Mitchell and Webb's material was written by a fairly broad team. It could be one of them was involved.
I've seen part of a stand up show by Andrew O'Neill about that? Could be borrowed/ altered from that
playingforbritain I don't remember the names of the people doing it. Do you have a link to the sketch by Andrew O'Neill?
Quote is taken from The Country of the Blind, an HG Wells short story...
Conway79 HG Wells did a short story about it called the country of the blind
Where is Speedo when you need him
Haha, that's brilliant! xD
I feel like the main writer of this was John Finnemore.
Omg thank u TV Tropes! :D
I thought so too
noun, plural parodies, verb parodied, parodying.
a humorous or satirical imitation of a serious piece of literature or writing: his hilarious parody of Hamlet's soliloquy.
So i suppose the question is what do YOU think parody means?
David Mitchell makes a great point :D That's a very big, endangering responsibility to place on a young boy, and negligent on the part of the shepherd to ignore a) the sound of a wolf and b) any cries for help
I saw this video linked in an r/askreddit question "Lawyers of Reddit, which fictional villain would you have the easiest time defending?"
Never tell the same lie twice.
Garak
This is made of ALL the win!
You can’t just ask a witness a yes or no question
YAYDORSET! :D
what on earth do you think parody means
I fucking hate that story. Thanks for parodying it.