History Main / XylophoneGag

* Apparently originated as part of a ''WesternAnimation/PrivateSnafu'' WartimeCartoon where the eponymous bumbling US Army soldier was humorously used to warn real-life [=GIs=] against [[http://youtu.be/wU256cGwMHM?t=2m enemy booby-traps.]]

* Season 11 of ''Series/TheCarolBurnettShow'' featured a recurring sketch with Creator/TimConway as a construction worker trying to murder his [[TheDitz ditzy]] wife, played by Creator/CarolBurnett. One vignette in this series features a variation of this gag, with Tim rigging a piano to explode, and the song of choice being "Pop Goes the Weasel".

* Also played seriously in ''Film/GetSmart''. The protagonists are unable to remotely disarm the nuclear device that KAOS set up to blow up at an orchestra because the computer that controls the bomb was wrecked during the final battle, but then they figure out that the trigger for the bomb is actually the final notes of Beethoven's ninth Symphony. The bomb was equipped with a sound sensor for detecting those notes. They just barely managed to interrupt the song before it finishes. When asked where the bomb is located, Max says "in the piano." He turns out to be right but he admits he was only guessing.

The villain [[MusicalTrigger screws a stick of dynamite to the C on a xylophone]], puts the sheet music [[StandardSnippet (usually "Believe Me, if All Those Endearing Young Charms")]] on the stand, and hides, cackling maniacally. Sure enough, the mark arrives, sees the music, and begins to play... but instead of hitting the high note which would set off the bomb, he hits a flat note (or a sharp note, or a pair of clashing notes). The villain [[CorrectionBait winces (as does the audience; it's a very dissonant note)]], and yells "No, that's all wrong! Try it again!" The Mark does, with the same results. Ultimately, the villain rushes out in frustration, grabs the mallet from The Mark, and says "[[BlunderCorrectingImpulse This is how you do it!]]", then begins to play the piece at great speed. Kaboom!

[[folder:Film]]

[[caption-width-right:320:This is ''not'' going to end well. [[note]] For Daffy.[[/note]]]]

The villain [[MusicalTrigger screws a stick of dynamite to the C on a xylophone]], puts the sheet music [[StandardSnippet (usually "Believe Me, if All Those Endearing Young Charms")]] on the stand, and hides, cackling maniacally. Sure enough, the mark arrives, sees the music, and begins to play... but instead of hitting the high note which would set off the bomb, he hits a flat note (or a sharp note, or a pair of clashing notes). The villain [[CorrectionBait winces (as does the audience; it's a very dissonant note)]], and yells "No, that's all wrong! Try it again!" The Mark does, with the same results. Ultimately, the villain rushes out in frustration, grabs the mallet from The Mark, and says "[[BlunderCorrectingImpulse This is how you do it!]]" Kaboom.

** Played totally straight in an episode where the B-plot is a blatant homage to classic cartoons set in a summer camp for special needs children. Jimmy Vulmer's rival, Nathan, rigs Jimmy's ukulele with explosives. Jimmy, naturally, can't get the "Those Endearing Young Charms" passage right during his solo. (Note that Jimmy is playing "That Honolulu (or 'Tardicaca') Hula Gal" - but the solo section is ''still'' "Those Endearing Young Charms".) Nathan sends his {{mook|s}} Mimsy to try to correct the situation by demanding the solo. Jimmy gives him the ukulele and asks him to do it. Just before Mimsy gets to the explosive part, Nathan runs in and grabs the ukulele from him. Frustrated with Mimsy's incompetence, he yells "If I want something done, I'm going to do it myself!", and without thinking, plays it himself with predictable results.

-->-- '''Daffy Duck''', ''[[WesternAnimation/LooneyTunes Show Biz Bugs]]''

The villain [[MusicalTrigger screws a stick of dynamite to the C on a xylophone]], puts the sheet music [[StandardSnippet (usually "Believe Me, if All Those Endearing Young Charms")]] on the stand, and hides, cackling maniacally. Sure enough, TheMark arrives, sees the music, and begins to play... but instead of hitting the high note which would set off the bomb, he hits a flat note (or a sharp note, or a pair of clashing notes). The villain [[CorrectionBait winces (as does the audience; it's a very dissonant note)]], and yells "No, that's all wrong! Try it again!" The Mark does, with the same results. Ultimately, the villain rushes out in frustration, grabs the mallet from The Mark, and says "[[BlunderCorrectingImpulse This is how you do it!]]" Kaboom.

* Played seriously in ''Film/TheEnglishPatient''. The Indian sapper Kip rushes to stop Katherine playing the piano in a bombed-out house, saying that the retreating German forces have left mines and booby traps everywhere, "and pianos are their favourite hiding places." (presumably because few can resist playing a few keys even if they can't play the piano.) Katherine can barely restrain her amusement as he gingerly examines the piano, but Kip does in fact find a BoobyTrap underneath it.

* Played seriously in ''Film/TheEnglishPatient''. The Indian sapper Kip rushes to stop Katherine playing the piano in a bombed-out house, saying that the retreating German forces have left mines and booby traps everywhere, "...and pianos were their favourite hiding place." Katherine can barely restrain her amusement as he gingerly examines the piano, but he does in fact find a BoobyTrap underneath it.

[[folder:Web Video]]

-->'''Todd:''' (stifles a chuckle) Sorry, I just can't hear to the intro to this song without expecting WesternAnimation/DaffyDuck to blow up.