I was recalling recently a series of children’s books revolving around “Incognito Mosquito.” They were an answer to/parody of Encyclopedia Brown-type books, set in an all-insect world. The main character is smart, but is also a total incompetent, and a lot of the framing stories revolve around the narrator’s attempt to expose him for what he is.
Anyway, I was remembering a story in which Incognito got an invitation with the acronym “IINS” (turning out to be “Immediately, If Not Sooner”). He wonders if it’s French for RSVP. I didn’t get the joke 'til years later, when it struck me just how “intelligent” a joke it is, probably over the head of a lot of its supposedly intended readership.
Anyone else come across gags like this in unexpected pop culture areas?
Gee, Leaper, I’m not sure if this is what you mean. But there used to be a private garbage collection company in Ithaca, New York, that had this notice prominently displayed on the back of every truck:
SATISFACTION GUARANTEED OR DOUBLE YOUR GARBAGE BACK!!!
My WAG is Smeghead is referring to the occasional jokes or gags on Sesame Street that would sail over the heads of most kids and are clearly intended for any parents that might be watching. This was often in one of the Muppet skits (Grover, for instance).
I don’t know how funny the show is now, in spite of having a five year old we never watch it in our house. He just never got into it which is probably just as well. My theory is no TV is better than quality TV.
As Laughing Lagomorph said, Sesame Street is (or used to be ) filled with silly little bits that made it funny for the adults, too. It made it nice for kids and parents to watch together.
There was a regular bit, a take-off on Masterpiece Theatre called “Monsterpiece Theatre” with Cookie Monster hosting, but he was called Alastair Cookie (like Alastair Cooke), complete with smoking jacket and English accent, as only the Cookie Monster could do. He’d introduce each ‘show’ just like Alastair Cooke. It was a riot.
Some characters were take-offs on real people: There was an opera-singing flamingo named Placido Flamingo, and a literary-loving bear named Flo Bear.
I remember watching one bit that was a ripoff of “Cannery Row” called “Canary Row” with tons of canaries.
I can’t remember all of them; it’s been years since my kids watched Sesame Street.
My favorite bit of odd Sesame Street humor was a parody of “Born To Run” called “Born to Add”. I thought it was a strange song to choose until they got to the line, “I wanna make one and one make two.”
Although it’s not entirely unexpected for Sesame Street since they do it so often.
From Fairly Oddparents, when his fairy god parents granted him his wish to be invisible:
Timmy: “Cool! I’m transparent!”
Wanda: “You’re ten years old, sweetie. You never were very hard to figure out.”
I love Fairly Oddparent. (SpongeBob, however, is beneith me ).
However I’m trying to think of stuff other than in kid’s show. Like in really bad movies/tv shows. I know I’ve been surprised by something really witty someone slipped in to something stupid. Of course I can’t think of an example now…
Once while I was dressed in a fine suit walking in downtown Cleveland toward an appointment I was approached by a pan-handler who said, “Can you spare some change. My subscription to ‘Business Week’ just ran out.” I laughed so hard I had to give him $5.00 (and to make sure I avoided his corner from then on.)
Hate to use myself as an example, but I’m not getting another chance to tell this story:
When I’m really drunk, I have this nasty habit of finding a notebook, then filling it with babble, warped portraits of my dearest friends, and pictures of cats (sexual innuendo? who knows…).
Anyway, one day I wake up with little memory of the previous night and find one of these beside my bed. I’m flicking through the book page by page. There are a few things that are so quirky they make me laugh. But I’m not expecting anything genuinely funny. Then I come to a page with nothing on except “This page is more wasted than I am” in giant letters. Genius!
Now I know that when my mind can no longer remember things, make sensible decisions or control my body… it can still generate puns!
There was one Monsterpiece Theatre episode called “Twin Beaks,” featuring a mystery about bird with two beaks, which was a spoof of Twin Peaks. The Log Lady was an actual log that was a lady. There is no WAY little kids would get any of that. It was clearly directed at the David Lynch fans who also watch Sesame Street (all 5 of us). I loved 'em for it.
I also remember one bit where Kermit the Frog as the roving reporter went to Cookie Monster’s school to ask all the kid monsters what they wanted to be when they grew up. Cookie Monster said, with this deadpan voice, “I want to be orthodonist!” I think I laughed for 10 minutes at that.
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