Spoof

[meadowland]

Just thinking that spoof must be one of the biggest things
in writing... esp comedy writing.

A lot of Monty Python is basically spoofs of TV programmes
or national institutions.
Mel Brooks .. Blazing Saddles was a spoof on the western genre
( and probably killed it off )

Spoof in a way is feeding off society , like a paracite

 

[JackLuis]

Just thinking that spoof must be one of the biggest things
in writing... esp comedy writing.

A lot of Monty Python is basically spoofs of TV programmes
or national institutions.
Mel Brooks .. Blazing Saddles was a spoof on the western genre
( and probably killed it off )

Spoof in a way is feeding off society , like a paracite

Around here you might hear a bit of that too, but mostly its "Montie's Python" that get eulogized.

 

[slyc_willie]

The spoof is an artform. SNL used to be very good at spoofing just about everything . . . and then Chase, Belushi, Aykroyd and later, Myers and Carvey jumped off the sinking ship.

The guys of Monty Python were geniuses with the genre. They understood that to do a good spoof, it has to be believable in the context of whatever you're making fun of. Mel Brooks had the same gift. From Blazing Saddles (I disagree that the western genre was dead after that, though: witness Silverado and Unforgiven) to Spaceballs, he showed both an affection for what he was spoofing as well as a gift for intelligent comedy.

Weird Al Yankovic is another great example. When he first came out, he made fun of older songs whose copyright had run out. Then, as he became more popular, it became a mark of honor for many a popular artist to have a Weird Al version of a popular song. The man spoofed everyone from Huey Lewis and Eric Clapton to Michael Jackson and Nirvana . . . and with their full blessing, to boot.

A good spoof is like a good roast (in the comedic sense): It's essentially flattery and shows how big a heart the spoofed/roasted one has.

 

[oggbashan]

BBC spoof 1957

This was a classic April 1st in 1957: BBC TV newscast

The commentator was Richard Dimbebly who was normally a very serious presenter like the US's Walter Cronkite.

Og