# Comedic story with descriptions of types of statements, rather than dialog **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [August 23, 2011, 8:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/comedic-story-with-descriptions-of-types-of-statements-rather-than-dialog/593818 "2011-08-23T20:46:35Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 11\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Unauthorized\_Cinnamon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/bc8723/32.png) [@Unauthorized\_Cinnamon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Unauthorized_Cinnamon)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2011, 8:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/comedic-story-with-descriptions-of-types-of-statements-rather-than-dialog/593818/1 "2011-08-23T20:46:35Z")
I once heard the tail end of a radio skit using this setup. It’s easier to give examples than to describe it: A: “Innocuous greeting.” B: “Perfunctory response.” A: “Observation about weather.” B: “Polite chuckle.” A: “Hamfisted flirtation.” B: “Cool retort.” and so on. Anyway, I was wondering if this has a name, and if y’all know of any examples on the internets. (I was thinking of starting a game of this regarding the earthquake on my Facebook page, but I don’t know if anyone would follow.) ---
**Author:** ![gaffa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e68b1a/32.png) [@gaffa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gaffa)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2011, 8:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/comedic-story-with-descriptions-of-types-of-statements-rather-than-dialog/593818/2 "2011-08-23T20:51:17Z")
> [@Unauthorized\_Cinnamon](#): > > I once heard the tail end of a radio skit using this setup. It’s easier to give examples than to describe it: > > A: “Innocuous greeting.” > B: “Perfunctory response.” > A: “Observation about weather.” > B: “Polite chuckle.” > A: “Hamfisted flirtation.” > B: “Cool retort.” > > and so on. Anyway, I was wondering if this has a name, and if y’all know of any examples on the internets. (I was thinking of starting a game of this regarding the earthquake on my Facebook page, but I don’t know if anyone would follow.) It was a meme here a few years ago. ---
**Author:** ![KneadToKnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kneadtoknow/32/3999_2.png) [@KneadToKnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KneadToKnow)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2011, 8:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/comedic-story-with-descriptions-of-types-of-statements-rather-than-dialog/593818/3 "2011-08-23T20:51:48Z")
It’s from a _This American Life_ episode. [del]Searching.[/del] ETA: [20 Acts in 60 Minutes, episode 241](http://www.thisamericanlife.org/radio-archives/episode/241/20-acts-in-60-minutes). The only part I can ever remember is “devastating scatological implications.” ---
**Author:** ![KneadToKnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kneadtoknow/32/3999_2.png) [@KneadToKnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KneadToKnow)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2011, 8:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/comedic-story-with-descriptions-of-types-of-statements-rather-than-dialog/593818/4 "2011-08-23T20:57:23Z")
Found a [transcript](http://www.ldc.upenn.edu/myl/llog/RSPlay1.html). I don’t think it’s complete. ---
**Author:** ![Unauthorized\_Cinnamon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/bc8723/32.png) [@Unauthorized\_Cinnamon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Unauthorized_Cinnamon)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2011, 9:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/comedic-story-with-descriptions-of-types-of-statements-rather-than-dialog/593818/5 "2011-08-23T21:11:08Z")
Awesome, thanks! I’m sure TAL is what I heard. Might have to buy that one. ---
**Author:** ![Mama\_Zappa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/71e660/32.png) [@Mama\_Zappa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mama_Zappa)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2011, 9:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/comedic-story-with-descriptions-of-types-of-statements-rather-than-dialog/593818/6 "2011-08-23T21:26:32Z")
Meta-something? [Suggested theme music](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KBSq7SOTVJg) :). ---
**Author:** ![Grumman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/43a26b/32.png) [@Grumman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grumman)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2011, 10:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/comedic-story-with-descriptions-of-types-of-statements-rather-than-dialog/593818/7 "2011-08-23T22:19:21Z")
Not quite what you’re asking for, but Bioware’s had a few characters that preface their comments with such descriptions (HK-47 from KotOR and the Elcor from Mass Effect). ---
**Author:** ![gaffa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e68b1a/32.png) [@gaffa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gaffa)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2011, 5:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/comedic-story-with-descriptions-of-types-of-statements-rather-than-dialog/593818/8 "2011-08-24T05:28:53Z")
[Found the thread.](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=554862&page=2) ---
**Author:** ![Pitchmeister](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pitchmeister/32/3459_2.png) [@Pitchmeister](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pitchmeister)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2011, 10:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/comedic-story-with-descriptions-of-types-of-statements-rather-than-dialog/593818/9 "2011-08-24T10:22:28Z")
[Here’s another one.](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=553826) And, off-board, the [trailer for every Oscar-winning movie ever.](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rbhrz1-4hN4) ---
**Author:** ![Sam\_A.Robrin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sam_a.robrin/32/14497_2.png) [@Sam\_A.Robrin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sam_A.Robrin)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2011, 2:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/comedic-story-with-descriptions-of-types-of-statements-rather-than-dialog/593818/10 "2011-08-25T02:34:21Z")
> [@Pitchmeister](#): > > And, off-board, the [trailer for every Oscar-winning movie ever.](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rbhrz1-4hN4) Thank you. I looked for that, but couldn’t find it. (I’m only sorry they didn’t include an “Oxygen cannula incorrectly situated, as usual” mention…) ---
**Author:** ![Becky2844](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/91b2a8/32.png) [@Becky2844](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Becky2844)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2011, 7:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/comedic-story-with-descriptions-of-types-of-statements-rather-than-dialog/593818/11 "2011-08-27T07:11:50Z")
Wellll, I believe they used to do this in vaudeville, in blackface, with the “questioner” being Mr. Interlocator. Maybe if you looked that up it would state the type of humor it is.