# Surprisingly dark moments in comedies **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [February 11, 2023, 11:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/surprisingly-dark-moments-in-comedies/979639 "2023-02-11T23:27:37Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![engineer\_comp\_geek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/engineer_comp_geek/32/504_2.png) [@engineer\_comp\_geek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/engineer_comp_geek)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2023, 6:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/surprisingly-dark-moments-in-comedies/979639/81 "2023-02-16T18:14:07Z")
> [@Miller](#): > > and later on you see one of the nihilists with a bandaged foot. For those that don’t know, the nihilist who sacrifices her toe (for nothing) is Aimee Mann from the band Til Tuesday. Flea of the Red Hot Chili Peppers plays one of the other nihilists. ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2023, 7:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/surprisingly-dark-moments-in-comedies/979639/82 "2023-02-16T19:18:00Z")
I personally wouldn’t desrcibe _Fargo_ (the film) as a comedy, although I can see why it might be described as a “dark comedy” or “black comedy.” (Wikipedia calls it a “black comedy crime film,” while IMDB calls it a crime thriller.) ---
**Author:** ![carrps](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carrps/32/2957_2.png) [@carrps](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carrps)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2023, 7:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/surprisingly-dark-moments-in-comedies/979639/83 "2023-02-16T19:23:36Z")
> [@garygnu](#): > > There are a lot of fish-out-of-water comedies that use being on the run or the like to get to the situation. Then they get found in act three and the movie takes a hard turn to violence. _Sister Act_ and _Kindergarten Cop_ come to mind, i know they’re others. _Something Wild_ is in this category. Once Ray Liotta’s on the scene, the vibe changes completely. ---
**Author:** ![Andy\_L](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c67d28/32.png) [@Andy\_L](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Andy_L)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2023, 3:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/surprisingly-dark-moments-in-comedies/979639/84 "2023-02-17T03:23:09Z")
> [@engineer\_comp\_geek](#): > > Aimee Mann from the band Til Tuesday. “Voices Carry,” right? ---
**Author:** ![nightshadea](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/7ba0ec/32.png) [@nightshadea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nightshadea)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2023, 3:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/surprisingly-dark-moments-in-comedies/979639/85 "2023-02-17T03:35:25Z")
> [@Spice\_Weasel](#): > > I just learned about the _Diff’rent Strokes_ episode where Arnold is groomed by a child molester, so that’s a thing. > > Plus isn’t there an episode of _Facts of Life_ where Tutti almost gets abducted by a pimp? > > What is up with 80s sitcoms? for different strokes : there was also one where kimberely and arnold cant get a cab after xmas shopping and they take a ride from a stranger who had a limo I think and go to his place and kim almost gets raped … And another two part ep where sam the danny cooksey character from the last seasons gets kidnapped by a guy trying to replace a lost child for his wife And yet another one about smoking where duddleys dad has to have a lung operation due to smoking and everything looks ok until the last scene where the dad lights up a cigarette showing he cant give it up … in facts of life … i think it was the first or 2nd episode where blair almost gets raped by her bad boy date and another where this big fashion photographer picks tootie out of al the girls at a big audition only to find out he’s a child pornographer ---
**Author:** ![engineer\_comp\_geek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/engineer_comp_geek/32/504_2.png) [@engineer\_comp\_geek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/engineer_comp_geek)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2023, 5:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/surprisingly-dark-moments-in-comedies/979639/86 "2023-02-17T05:03:29Z")
> [@Andy\_L](#): > > “Voices Carry,” right? Yep, that’s her. ---
**Author:** ![Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba9def/32.png) [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Just_Asking_Questions)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2023, 4:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/surprisingly-dark-moments-in-comedies/979639/87 "2023-02-25T16:18:39Z")
In Trading Places, an otherwise light comedy, the villain henchman Beeks gets hit on the head and knocked out, mouth taped shut, stuffed in a gorilla costume, and placed in a cage with a real highly amorous male gorilla, who is being sent back to Africa. Aside from the “hurp derp gorilla rape is funny!” jokes, even assuming the male gorilla is so stupid that he mistakes a human in a suit for a real female gorilla, and even if he doesn’t rip Beeks limb from limb, Beeks is going to die from thirst before they even get to Africa. Or choke on his own vomit. It really doesn’t fit the film, no matter how bad Beeks is. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2023, 5:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/surprisingly-dark-moments-in-comedies/979639/88 "2023-02-25T17:29:49Z")
And just prior that, _Trading Places_ showed Dan Aykroyd in blackface. I don’t know if this was controversial when the film was released but today it would not be acceptable. ---
**Author:** ![Rilchiam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/2bfe46/32.png) [@Rilchiam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rilchiam)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2023, 7:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/surprisingly-dark-moments-in-comedies/979639/89 "2023-02-25T19:25:06Z")
> [@nightshadea](#): > > in facts of life … this big fashion photographer picks tootie out of al the girls at a big audition only to find out he’s a child pornographer Not quite pornography. He was a High Fashion photographer, and wanted to photograph Tootie implicitly nude, because Art. Like, no naughty bits in the photo, but she would be naked for real in the studio. I think the issue was supposed to be two-fold: not just asking an underage girl to get naked, but the then-current fashion/advertising trend towards appealing to consumers’ inner pervs. I thought at the time, and I still might be right, that the episode was referencing Brooke Shields’ Calvin Klein jeans campaign. “Know what comes between me and my Calvins? Nothing!” Shudder… * * * Anyway, I came in to mention Roseanne. Fifth season, IIRC, we find out that Jackie’s current SO is not just an immature jerk; he’s a violent immature jerk. Darlene: “What happened to Aunt Jackie?” Roseanne: “Well, some say environment, but I think she was born that way.” Darlene: “No, really – her back’s all bruised up.” Cue one of those tense silences from the audience. A well-done two-part episode. ---
**Author:** ![Q.Q.Switcheroo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/q.q.switcheroo/32/5713_2.png) [@Q.Q.Switcheroo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.Q.Switcheroo)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2023, 7:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/surprisingly-dark-moments-in-comedies/979639/90 "2023-02-25T19:59:00Z")
And earlier in the film, his character attempts suicide twice. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2023, 8:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/surprisingly-dark-moments-in-comedies/979639/91 "2023-02-25T20:02:44Z")
Despite all of that, it (_Trading Places_) is still one of my favorite films. ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2023, 8:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/surprisingly-dark-moments-in-comedies/979639/92 "2023-02-25T20:27:38Z")
I caught this a few days ago watching reruns of Dick Van Dyke. Rob and Laura have a new neighbor and set him up with both Sally and Laura’s cousin. He’ll go out with each of them and see how it goes. Both dates went well, and that brings us to here (21:54)… [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/HlkSD6Rdj1g/maxresdefault.jpg "The Dick Van Dyke Show - Season 3, Episode 16 - The Lady and the Tiger and the Lawyer - Full Episode") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HlkSD6Rdj1g) Spoiler, turns out he he hits women. I think they did a decent job of infusing some comedy into a situation that clearly made Rob and Laura uncomfortable. But why even go there on a show like this? ---
**Author:** ![Andy\_L](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c67d28/32.png) [@Andy\_L](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Andy_L)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2023, 9:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/surprisingly-dark-moments-in-comedies/979639/93 "2023-02-25T21:09:38Z")
I should have thought of that one - I’ve mentioned it on the SDMB before > [@Television episodes that wouldn’t fly today](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/television-episodes-that-wouldn-t-fly-today/780312/102): > > Wait until you see the episode in which Rob and Laura try to set up a male friend - Rob sets him up with Sally and Laura with a friend of hers. But the guy, though apparently having a good time with each, never seems to decide between them. The reason why? He’s a wife-beater and his psychiatrist has advised him that he’ll start hitting any woman he gets too seriously about. ---
**Author:** ![salinqmind1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/958977/32.png) [@salinqmind1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/salinqmind1)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2023, 3:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/surprisingly-dark-moments-in-comedies/979639/94 "2023-03-01T15:14:36Z")
Just saw the Seinfeld episode where not only is Kramer amusingly assumed to be a serial killer in L.A. (where scores of women apparently are murdered every week so often it’s just another fact of life, like fender benders) but also in this episode there is a jokey conversation about someone catsitting, starving a cat to death and whether they have to pay for a new one. Vile. … I always defended Seinfeld but re-watching it now (it seems to be popping up on various cable channels lately), I can absolutely see why some people despised it so. ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2023, 7:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/surprisingly-dark-moments-in-comedies/979639/95 "2023-03-01T19:06:57Z")
> [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](#): > > It really doesn’t fit the film, no matter how bad Beeks is. The whole third act of that movie really falls apart, which is a shame, because it’s so good up to that point. But everything about their plot to steal the orange juice report is just stupid. It takes a relatively grounded story, and turns it into an SNL sketch. Small credit that Beeks pretty much instantly sees through it, but the fact that any of the protagonists thought the plan would work just makes them look like idiots. It’s a shame, because there’s enough stuff set up earlier in the film to make a really good heist scene at the end. Like, Beeks is on a train with a raucous NYE party. Instead of having Jamie Lee Curtis disguise herself as the girl from the Swiss Miss hot chocolate box, have her go on the train as a prostitute, of which there are likely plenty on the train, and have her “accidentally” run into Beeks, and remember him from when he bribed her to hit on Dan Aykroid’s character at the beginning of the film. Or instead of the dumb gorilla rape joke, when they need some muscle to subdue Beeks after he figures out the scam, bring back the big dudes that Eddie Murphy invited to his party when he first got rich. It not only brings back something that had been introduced earlier in the movie, but also completes an Arc for Murphy’s character from street hustler, to sell out, to reconnecting with his roots as someone outside the privileged wealth power structure, and using those connections to undermine the status quo. Man, I’d love a remake of this movie. It’d be hard to find adequate replacements for the original cast, but the story deserves better treatment Also, _Stripes_ should have cut the whole thing with the armored Winnebago, and ended with them passing boot camp on their own. ---
**Author:** ![Andy\_L](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c67d28/32.png) [@Andy\_L](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Andy_L)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2023, 7:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/surprisingly-dark-moments-in-comedies/979639/96 "2023-03-01T19:09:13Z")
> [@Miller](#): > > Also, _Stripes_ should have cut the whole thing with the armored Winnebago, and ended with them passing boot camp on their own Yeah, Stripes manged to have its own disappointing sequel as its third act. ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2023, 7:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/surprisingly-dark-moments-in-comedies/979639/97 "2023-03-01T19:19:10Z")
There are a lot of movies where the first half is better than the second. _Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid_, _Full Metal Jacket_, and _The Princess Bride_ among them. ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2023, 7:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/surprisingly-dark-moments-in-comedies/979639/98 "2023-03-01T19:24:50Z")
“First half is better,” isn’t really what I’m talking about, though. The first half of _The Princess Bride_ is better than the second half, but the second half doesn’t _suck_, it’s just fails to maintain the high standards of the previous parts of the movie. Same with your other examples. The third act of _Stripes_ and _Trading Places_ aren’t just not as good. They’re actively terrible, and feel like they come from completely different movies. ---
**Author:** ![Shoeless](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shoeless/32/7099_2.png) [@Shoeless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shoeless)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2023, 7:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/surprisingly-dark-moments-in-comedies/979639/99 "2023-03-01T19:28:32Z")
There is also the scene where Kramer is talking to the old lady who tells him a story about when she was an actress back in the old days, and was in a Three Stooges short where they kidnapped a baby and the baby died and they all wound up on Death Row and were executed… ---
**Author:** ![WOOKINPANUBv.2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wookinpanubv.2/32/3260_2.png) [@WOOKINPANUBv.2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WOOKINPANUBv.2)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2023, 7:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/surprisingly-dark-moments-in-comedies/979639/100 "2023-03-01T19:28:36Z")
> [@Miller](#): > > Or instead of the dumb gorilla rape joke, when they need some muscle to subdue Beeks after he figures out the scam, bring back the big dudes that Eddie Murphy invited to his party when he first got rich. It not only brings back something that had been introduced earlier in the movie, but also completes an Arc for Murphy’s character from street hustler, to sell out, to reconnecting with his roots as someone outside the privileged wealth power structure, and using those connections to undermine the status quo. [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/EEcXp8_I8CY/hqdefault.jpg "Yeah - Trading Places") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EEcXp8_I8CY) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/surprisingly-dark-moments-in-comedies/979639.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/surprisingly-dark-moments-in-comedies/979639.md?page=6)