3 Random Trigger Happy TV Moments Starring Dom Joly A comedy article
by Daniel R Deakin | 11/04/2009 12:53 AM | 1460 views
Here in the UK (ZUG is now truly international, like ring doughnuts or the fear of genital herpes), we had a TV program called Trigger Happy TV, which was about a British comedian named Dom Joly pulling pranks (also known as "practical jokes," or "bloody kids" in the UK). His victims were the unwitting docile public, and here are three of his finest moments.
1. Never Trust A Stranger And Beware Of Spies on Park Benches
In the first clip, Joly pulls a couple of minor, but still funny pranks. He also goes for the two sides of pranking: subtle and overt. Can you guess which one is not so subtle?
Notice the typical English reserve of the gentleman suffering a case of mistaken identity. In some countries, Joly would have been pounced upon with the police in hot pursuit. But in the UK, we don't like making a scene: "I'm sorry sir, I think you have the wrong spy. I'm actually waiting for a call from the CIA about their next extraordinary rendition flight." Note the red fox just strolling past nonchalantly in the background: a touch of genius.
2. Traffic Warden Brings A Spot Of Fascism To The Streets of London
Everyone hates traffic wardens (parking enforcement officers). You are never going to be happy to see one hovering around your car. Joly taps into the national hatred psyche of the British public and creates a character who has let power gone to his head. For those that don't know, parking on double yellow lines in the UK is like calling Chuck Norris a communist loving flower arranger ... you only do it if you're stupid.
This shows another side of the British mentality: we can feel oppressed by any irritating person who is wearing the uniform of authority. The street cleaner, already with enough to do clearing up gum and fast food wrappers, has to tolerate this tin-pot dictator. If Paris Hilton put on a headteacher's gown and claimed British citizenship we'd make her the Prime Minister.
3. British Police Considered Most Alert In The World
This last clip has 3 pranks in it, but for me you can't beat the first few seconds. The second prank is Joly with his big annoying cellphone, which was a huge hit in the UK and his most famous prank. The third prank has him tormenting some poor old park visitor with, of course, the uniform of oppression. But the first and brief prank just makes me smile, for his pure cheek.
This is why British police don't carry guns. The headlines would have been "Prankster Shot 5 Times by Police, Judge Rules Mitigating Circumstances". You can almost hear what would have been said in court: "The suspect had 'thief' written all over him M'lud, and he was probably a terrorist too, cos he looked a bit that way." "Fair enough officer, you served your country well today."
I actually have nothing against the British police. They have a sense of humour and are a credit to the nation. Can you imagine if Joly had carried out this prank in Saudi Arabia? Talk show hosts would introduce him, "Please give a big hand to my next guest Dom Joly ... because he got his cut off in Saudi Arabia!" Bada boom!
I loved the surrealism of some of the sketches. He was comedy gold on Channel 4. He seemed to lose it once the BBC waved their chequebook under his nose.
He went to school with Osama Bin Laden. You would have thought he would have helped out an old school pal with those videos.
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