Discussion Main / PlayedForLaughs

Several examples included complaining about how something wasn't funny, so this is documenting those that were changed.

Original

• Forgetful Jones from Sesame Street is played purely for comedic value (and has a trope named for him). but all his supposedly funny mistakes show all the signs of advanced dementia. What person thought that would be a great concept for a Butt-Monkey character on a kids show?
  • This is probably why he hasn't been seen in new episodes that much since the 90s, and lots of research about Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease (and some of those kids being taken care of by grandparents with those afflictions) coming in. His puppeteer's death in 1992 probably also factored into his disappearance.

changed version

• Forgetful Jones from Sesame Street is played purely for comedic value (and has a trope named for him). He hasn't been seen in new episodes that much since the 90s, likely because of research about Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease (and some of those kids being taken care of by grandparents with those afflictions) coming in. His puppeteer's death in 1992 probably also factored into his disappearance.

Original

• On a similar vein, much of Victorious' humor comes from jokes that imply mental instability, death, parental abandonment, etc. In real life, this would be horrifying, and it's not too funny when they make jokes about it anyway.

changed

• Much of the humor in Victorious comes from jokes that imply mental instability, death, parental abandonment, etc.

original

• The infamous "Yelling At Cats" video is Exactly What It Says on the Tin. It's intended to be humorous, but most people do not think screaming verbal abuse at animals is at all funny.

changed

• The infamous "Yelling At Cats" video is Exactly What It Says on the Tin.

It seems the difference between this and a Parodied Trope is subtle, and a bit of a blurry line as well. I'd guess the main key here is that this particular play on a trope involves playing it (mostly) straight, but highlighting some of the more comedic aspects of it or having it done in such a way that you can't help but laugh, even when you shouldn't. For instance, a parody on say...Yandere, would be cranking the Ax-Crazy Clingy Jealous Girl Up To Eleven in ways you simply cannot take seriously, whereas if it's Played for Laughs, she'll do some more "standard issue" yandere things (ie: kidnapping object of affection, Murder the Hypotenuse, etc.), but in a context or manner that comes off as Black Comedy, but without having to exaggerate it.