Over at the Artful Writer, they've got a list of terms up which are excellent, but are a bit more specifically film -- and film comedy -- oriented. An interesting difference in meaning through context is "schmuck bait".
In David Zucker's list - Schmuck Bait: A twist ending that makes the audience feel cheated, such as the old "It-Was-All-A-Dream".
But because of the serial nature of television, Schmuck Bait has a distinctly different meaning. As submitted by Ron Anderson, for TV -- Schmuck Bait: When the promos for a show tease an outcome which will obviously never happen. Example: "Will Ross leave Rachel forever and move to Paris?" Obviously the actor isn't going to leave the show so it's "schmuck bait".
This term doesn't just refer to the promos. When coming up with dilemmas and storylines, a threat to characters which we'd obviously never let happen -- and only a viewer who had no idea how television works would fall for -- is called Schmuck Bait. So not only is the above example promo Schmuck Bait, but during the writing of the episode, this may well have occured:
"Then, at the end of the first act, Ross gets on the plane, maybe never coming back!"
"Come on, that's schmuck bait."
We'll add our TV version to our list, with a nod to the inimitable Mr. Zucker.
"Schmuck Bait:" A threatened plot twist/outcome in a TV show which will obviously never happen. Example: "Will Ross leave Rachel forever and move to Paris?" Obviously the actor isn't going to leave the show so it's "schmuck bait".
They also have "Gilding the Lily", but I prefer the way I learned it (and again, probably more of a TV variation) ...
"Gilding the Matzah": Over-writing a joke, so it's no longer funny.
Also, used in every sitcom room I'm aware of:
"laying pipe": writing and delivering the onerous dialogue which provids backstory and the plot facts needed to support the weight of the funny (or interesting). Exposition, kids, and it ain't fun.
Example: "Geesh, all Dougie's doing this scene is laying pipe. Couldn't we give him a joke?"
One always strives to lay pipe in an interesting way, or "hide the pipe" in an otherwise entertaining sequence. Such a two-for one is a pleasant flourish signifying your professional ability, like a nice chip shot.
28 comments:
"Gilding the Matzah?" I love it. See, there's some funny Jewish writers in Hollywood. Very apropos to this week, too, as Passover begins this weekend.
As a retired sitcom writer's assistant, I'm glad to see "laying pipe" get its due. We had writers who were pipe specialists - people who could lay, hide and remove pipe while keeping the script intact. The term was bandied about so much, it's part of my personal lexicon - though not in a dirty way.
How much of a loser does it make me that I feel compelled to remind you that *Rachel* was the one who was about to move to Paris, not Ross. Ross almost moved to *London*. Geeze!
I am fascinated by the difference between AW's "Eating Your Young" and the meaning I learned for "Killing Your Babies/Darlings." (Going through your script and taking out all of the scenes or bits you love, but that don't serve the story.)
Who would have thought there was such a vast gap between killing and eating?
Or possibly, killing your offspring is dramatic, but eating them is funny.
The Jossverse gives me a different definition for schmuck bait, and I quote from a FAQ:
Well, schmuck bait is a term which often appears in the shooting scripts, defined thusly by BtVS writer Steven DeKnight, "'Schmuck bait' is a term, I believe, used when we roll out a classic horror gonna get'cha moment. Usually used when a trap is about to be sprung by the Big Nasties. Our hero is the Schmuck, the trap is the bait, hence 'Schmuck Bait.' Schmuck Bait Arms is something of a shout-out to our patron saint, Tim Minear, who used the term in a Cordy-Skilosh scene in "Epiphany."
Good post.
I was searching the internet for cheap internet phone service (Voip) and found a company called Via Talk. They are cheaper and just as good as Vonage.
They are now offering 1 year phone service Free when you purchase 1 year – for a limited time. Check it out at Via Talk
FREE Business Advertising Tips The Most Powerful Internet Classified Advertising Methods On The Web! "TOP" Rated Money Making Website! A Must See!!!
The Internet Marketing Genius, Carael Knight
Information powers our world. The more information you have, the more money you make. It used to be you had to go to an expensive business school or spend years becoming a doctor or lawyer to have valuable information people would pay big money for.
Not anymore. Today ANYONE can use FREE classified ads to sell information demanded daily by MILLIONS of people. Think about it. These days when somebody wants to know how to do something, they GO ONLINE and look for INFORMATION to tell them how to do it.
My name is Carael Knight. I started Major Enterprise about seven years ago with a vision and a plan.
The vision was to show people how to start, run, and operate their own profitable online business. Now that led me to create the plan, which was the process of carrying out the vision!
Click Here for more information:
The Internet Marketing Genius, Carael Knight
Anyone looking for a great home business opportunity needs to check out a recently launched program called the Global Abundance Program or GAP. We are having tremendous success with this program. You can check out the program at http://www.globalabundanceprogram.com/GlobalHBRC/ In addition, we also provide a guarantee of success with this program for member of our FREE website called the Global Home Business Resource Center . You can check out this website at http://www.globalhbrc.com
勃起 不全＝インポ＝勃起機能低下＝包茎手術でお悩みのあなたのために「安心・安全」を求めるファンに長年支持され続けている漢方系勃起薬・精力剤 『威龍 』をご紹介しております。">
吉原 ソープ今までの吉原にはまったくない、新しいコンセプト吉原 ソープのお店です。お客様に提供するのは、究極の癒しと吉原 ソープです。今まで吉原 ソープに縁の無かったお客様のニーズにお応えします。
横浜デリヘル 横浜 横浜デリヘルのホームページへようこそ。横浜、川崎、藤沢、横須賀、鎌倉、逗子、大和デリバリーヘルスー致します。当店は無店舗型風俗店（出張風俗・ デリヘル・デリバリーヘルス風俗）です
包茎手術 包茎や男の悩み相談なら大阪梅田中央クリニックにお任せください。当クリニックでは、包茎手術をはじめ男性の悩み、包茎手術や性病治療など安心してご相談いただけます。お気軽にお問い合わせください
熟女好き、お母さんフェチの方必見。熟女徹底的にお母さんの日常にこだわったアダルトサイトであなたの欲望を叶えます熟女, フェチ, 動画, 熟女,お母さん
勃起薬http://www.nightlifepartner.com勃起薬勃起 不全,勃起薬,勃起,勃起 不全勃起機能低下,インポ,精力剤 ,カマグラ,勃起薬,MAX,精力剤
男性下着 のことならプロパガンダ。他にも男性下着 、ビキニ、男性下着 、トランクスからセクシー系まで。男性下着 のことならお任せください。"
利用料完全無料の出会い系
サイト。男性も女性も出会いたい人はセンターに決まり。安全対策も万全。出会い系サイトトラブル対処法！ 大人なら引っかかりたくない出会い系サイトのトラブル対処法を紹介します。大人の出会い系サイト。出会い系サイトのトラブル対処法い希望者が集まるサイト。エッチなユーザー多数なので気軽な出会いを求めている人にオススメ。
横浜デリヘル横浜デリヘル 横浜サンタのホームページへようこそ。横浜、川崎、藤沢、横須賀、鎌倉、逗子、大和へデリバリー致します。横浜デリヘル店は無店舗型風俗店（出張風俗・デリヘル・デリバリー風俗）です横浜デリヘル横浜デリヘル 横浜サンタのホームページへようこそ。横浜、川崎、藤沢、横須賀、鎌倉、逗子、大和へデリバリー致します。横浜デリヘル店は無店舗型風俗店（出張風俗・デリヘル・デリバリー風俗）です
зеленый лазер
электрошокер
товары мини камеры
товары народного потребления
A great deal of effective info for me!
This was a fantastic article. Really loved reading your we blog post. The information was very informative and helpful...
This was a fantastic article. Really loved reading your we blog post. The information was very informative and helpful...
This was a fantastic article. Really loved reading your we blog post. The information was very informative and helpful...
This was a fantastic article. Really loved reading your we blog post. The information was very informative and helpful...
This was a fantastic article. Really loved reading your we blog post. The information was very informative and helpful...
This was a fantastic article. Really loved reading your we blog post. The information was very informative and helpful...
This was a fantastic article. Really loved reading your we blog post. The information was very informative and helpful...
This was a fantastic article. Really loved reading your we blog post. The information was very informative and helpful...
Post a Comment