Observational Humor — Case Study #41
Here’s another Observational Humor monologue which is presented in the Reverse Question format.
THE SET-UP (What was said and what happened at the meeting before the monologue was delivered.)
1. A speaker said you could tell a carnivore from a herbivore by looking at their teeth.
2. Our Area Governor, Karen Lewison, was present at the meeting. The joke is that she attends meetings only when we’re serving cake.
3. A speaker joked about almost falling off a 57-story building under construction.
4. Frank was wearing a cast and walking with crutches a few months ago because he broke his foot playing Frisbee Golf.
5. A speaker said she sprained her ankle playing miniature golf.
6. A speaker said she was weird because she liked to read the dictionary.
7. A speaker said he was so nervous speaking in public that he was afraid he might wet his pants on a conference call.
8. Ryan Mulligan, our meeting emcee, was asked how old he was. The answer was twenty three.
9. I received my DTM award 29 years ago.
THE MONOLOGUE
Tonight I’m going to answer your most burning questions. I’ll give you the answer first and then read your question:
A: By looking at her teeth when she smiles.
Q: How can you tell that Karen Lewison is a cake eater?
(Compared to an herbivore and a carnivore, I’m not sure what a cake eater’s teeth would look like. But the line worked.)
A: A great speech.
Q: What would you have if you fell off the 57th floor?
(A very big laugh.)
A: Frank breaking his foot playing Frisbee golf.
Q: What is weirder than spraining your ankle playing miniature golf?
But less weird than reading the dictionary.
(Good joke on an incident familiar to most of the audience. And a good topper using a callback.)
A: Depends.
Q: What is the key to a good conference call?
(A bit of a subtle joke playing with the double meaning of the word Depends.)
A: I received my DTM.
Q: Name something that happened six years before Ryan Mulligan was born.
(An age joke…poking fun at myself.)
September 2nd, 2009 at 7:04 pm
You are becoming a philosopher! Good stuff-I’m printing it for my spouse……..da dum….
Was in Las Vegas recently and hoped to attend your Toastmaster’s meeting. I’d like to see you do an observational monologe in person, but my trip didn’t coincide with your meeting day. I attended another Toastmaster’s meeting which was OK, but no one greeted me–not one handshake; I was hurt. I tried to tell myself that it must not be the custom in their club. At the end of the meeting one person gave me a “glad to have you.” But when I got back to my own club I was able to share how important it is to keep on welcoming visitors with a warm handshake and greeting.