Thursday, October 07, 2010
Not funny
Last night I was watching 'game show bloopers' on Youtube for a few laughs.
One episode of the Newlywed Game, about 1975 judging from the fashions, featured a question that wasn't especially funny to begin with, and is just plain tragic when seen from a modern perspective.
Bob Eubanks asked the couples:
"Name one object in your house that was made in a foreign country."
The (mildly) funny part occurred when one wife mentioned a painting in their living room that came from Africa. The husband revealed that he had bought the painting on a trip to Tijuana, so it was really Mexican. I guess the humor arose from the typical purpose of a trip to Tijuana.
Think: One foreign object in your house was a valid assumption in 1975. Foreign-ness was so unusual and salient that Eubanks could assume the couples would know which objects are foreign.
The question would have to be completely reversed today.
"Name one object in your house that was made in America."
Most young couples (if they're honest and knowledgeable) would be unable to name anything except food.
= = = = =
(This is the clip; the question starts at about 3:20.) ¶ 8:09 AM
One episode of the Newlywed Game, about 1975 judging from the fashions, featured a question that wasn't especially funny to begin with, and is just plain tragic when seen from a modern perspective.
Bob Eubanks asked the couples:
"Name one object in your house that was made in a foreign country."
The (mildly) funny part occurred when one wife mentioned a painting in their living room that came from Africa. The husband revealed that he had bought the painting on a trip to Tijuana, so it was really Mexican. I guess the humor arose from the typical purpose of a trip to Tijuana.
Think: One foreign object in your house was a valid assumption in 1975. Foreign-ness was so unusual and salient that Eubanks could assume the couples would know which objects are foreign.
The question would have to be completely reversed today.
"Name one object in your house that was made in America."
Most young couples (if they're honest and knowledgeable) would be unable to name anything except food.
= = = = =
(This is the clip; the question starts at about 3:20.) ¶ 8:09 AM
