This story- I sometimes try to recreate the good update type jokes with current stories, but taint so good at it. Anyone wanna show me how its done? Story picked as I thought it would one the current show or Tina Fey might use.
I’m not sure what you’re asking exactly.
I’m trying to understand the process of how on shows such as Leno, Letterman, etc- in their monologue they will usually take an odd but supposedly true story from the current news, as in the link in the OP, present or phrase it in a certain way (Leno- have you seen this, heard bout this) but on SNL, usually much more creatively, and then make up a punchline for it. I specified SNL, as I think they’re consistently good at it, unlike the aformentioned two riffing on Paris Hilton or whatever topic du jour there is. Just trying to see if I can glean a bit of understanding on how to come up with this type gag.
First, they tell the real story, then follow up with, “While cardboard is served on the street in China, here in the U.S. it is most often delivered.” The Domino’s Pizza logo is shown.
Like this?:
"A Chinese news reporter uncovered a scandal this week involving food vendors in Beijing. According to the report, the vendors were filling steamed pork buns with chemically treated cardboard and pork fat and selling them to unwary customers. The Chinese government immediately shut the vendors down, stating that the use of such ingredients is unacceptable and will be dealt with swiftly and severely.
In a related story, McDonalds has announced the immediate discontinuation of its McRib sandwich at its Beijing and Shanghai restaurants…"
Another way to work it is revealing just part of the story as reported, or modifiying it, and then ‘revealing’ some additional information, as if it wasn’t part of the story but they’d heard it themselves that might be considered pertinent to complete the joke.
“…It seems some of the pork buns were sold with up to 60% cardboard. Many were surprised to hear that they’d been eating flavored cardboard, and not pork.” (aside) “The other 40% - rat intestines.”
Tina Fey/SNL seemed to do this occasionally, as does David Letterman (but usually with something more funny).
I’m trying to work “Korea-gated” into a joke somehow … but failing.
Did you make this up yourself? because it’s quite clever.
This is good. May I ask your thought process when coming up with this type gag, or is it just automatic?
That’s a great joke- I don’t think there could be a better one than that. A news roundup written by a team of Dopers would probably be very amusing.
…cut to Amy Poehler making a goofy face, and slowly turning her chin to the side.
For an obvious joke. . .
tell the real story, then say, "of course when you’re finished, you want to eat cardboard an hour later. "
Or on Bill Maher. . .
Chinese prostitutes mistakenly took to the streets when they heard that local authorities outlawed eating box.
Like most jokes, I didn’t strictly write it from scratch. I based it on a joke someone else told (Maybe on The Tonight Show? Probably back in the 80s.) about how Domino’s had taken advantage of modern technology by instituting fax delivery of pizzas. “And yet, they still taste just like cardboard!”