Blackout gag explained
A blackout gag is a kind of joke in broad, rapid-fire slapstick comedy. The term is derived from burlesque and vaudeville, when the lights were quickly turned off after the punchline of a joke to accentuate it and encourage audience laughter. It may use a shock value to define the joke, and may not be initially noticeable to all viewers if it is a very fast joke.
"A blackout gag and a moment's silence provide the transition to the next scene"[1]
It is distinguished from an iris shot, frequently used in the silent film era, where a black circle closes to end a scene.
The term blackout gag can also apply to fast-paced television or film comedy, such as Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In, where there may not literally be a blackout, but a quick cut to the next gag.[2]
See also
References
- Book: Salda . Michael N. . Arthurian Animation: A Study of Cartoon Camelots on Film and Television . 31 July 2013 . McFarland . 978-0-7864-7468-4 . en . ... A blackout gag and a moment's silence provide the transition to the next scene: a pile of scrap armor that fills the screen as Freleng and Pierce recall Twain's grotesque "The Battle of ....
- News: Shull . Richard K. . Richard K. Shull . Williams Was Mainstay Of 'Chiefs' . 6 August 2023 . Ocala Star-Banner . November 30, 1991 . Ocala, Florida . en . Recently I saw him on TV in a blackout gag. Pizza deliveryman asked. "Who had anchovies and who had plain?" Herve stepped forward and declared, "De plen! De plen!".
External links
- http://comedyforanimators.com/2019/02/19/blackout-gags/
- https://animatedviews.com/2007/droopy-theatrical-collection/
