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Wednesday, April 7, 2010
Surprise me!
I saw this commercial the other day. It was one of those that seemed cutely obvious, and I was sure exactly what would happen. And then . . . something else happened.
A huge shock, I know.
But I realized how seldom I'm surprised by something. This commercial was hilarious, to me, not because of how it ended, but because it ended in a way that surprised me. (you don't need any volume to enjoy)
It's funny, right? Is it just me?
It happened again, last night. This time with drama, not comedy. I was watching Criminal Minds, and it was a perfectly progressing mystery. It was wrapped up neatly, I was thoroughly pleased and then . . . I gasped. It was just a tiny thing, right at the end, but it was thrilling. I sat up and took notice.
But the really cool thing I noticed is the important part. Neither of these events was shocking or over the top. Neither was a big stretch of the imagination. A guy's toupe falling off isn't particularly funny, and the scene in Criminal Minds (I don't want to give away the ending!) wasn't really any big thing. They were simply unexpected.
Just by being unexpected, they increased the effect, the humor in the commercial and the thrill in the drama TV show.
Have you come across something unexpected or surprising lately? Did it add to the effect? Got any tips for coming up with the unexpected?
A huge shock, I know.
But I realized how seldom I'm surprised by something. This commercial was hilarious, to me, not because of how it ended, but because it ended in a way that surprised me. (you don't need any volume to enjoy)
It's funny, right? Is it just me?
It happened again, last night. This time with drama, not comedy. I was watching Criminal Minds, and it was a perfectly progressing mystery. It was wrapped up neatly, I was thoroughly pleased and then . . . I gasped. It was just a tiny thing, right at the end, but it was thrilling. I sat up and took notice.
But the really cool thing I noticed is the important part. Neither of these events was shocking or over the top. Neither was a big stretch of the imagination. A guy's toupe falling off isn't particularly funny, and the scene in Criminal Minds (I don't want to give away the ending!) wasn't really any big thing. They were simply unexpected.
Just by being unexpected, they increased the effect, the humor in the commercial and the thrill in the drama TV show.
Have you come across something unexpected or surprising lately? Did it add to the effect? Got any tips for coming up with the unexpected?
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Coxswain's Commentary (Hal)
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38 comments:
Well, Law and Order, Criminal Intent surprised the heck out of me last week. And some this week... But lately?
Most of my surprises haven't been stellar. Not necessarily disasterous, but nothing of particular note.
And actually, right now...I'm OK with that.
I hope to download the newest Jim Butcher book later today...last one blew me away with unexpected drama and surprising humor, so who knows!?
I'm also lacking surprises too. Mine have actually been of the bad kind. The range hood on our stove fell off. (Literally, just fell down off the cabinet when I turned on the light). Took cat to the vet and she's got some sort of fatty liver disease. Husband's computer monitor just broke randomly last night. Nothing fun or amusing but they all took me by surprise.
I think writing surprises can be tricky. There's a fine line between a surprise and making your reader feel like you're trying to trick them, trying too hard.
I was recently watching Gosford Park again. That movie has an interesting twist at the end. The whole movie is basically a comedy and then someone dies. And as the who-dun-it plays out, the motives behind the murder, the themes that emerge from the story, are pretty complex. Very interesting class issues.
This is great. I don't like surprises in real life, so everyone knows not to ever have a surprise party for me. LOL And poor Marn! Those are epic, as if you've pissed off a fairy godmother somewhere!
But I do like those unexpected delightful moments like you're talking about, Hal. I remember laughing out loud when I saw that Old Spice commercial with the guy riding the horse backwards and talking about smelling manly. Or the Kia commercial when the sock monkey is getting a tattoo embroidered on. LOL
Both of those had a sense of playfulness and fun that I found delightful. Not that "nudge nudge wink wink, aren't we so clever?" kind of thing.
Which I guess goes to what Marn was saying -- making it a surprise for your readers, but not like you're trying too hard.
2nd, I only saw bits and pieces of criminal intent, but it shocked the hell outta me too! I'm glad your surprises in life haven't been disastrous.
I haven't read Jim Butcher, but he's on my "must read ASAP" list. Do you like the Dresden series?
This didn't make me laugh, per se, but that doesn't mean much when my idea of brilliant humor is either Blackadder or Talladega Nights. Though I find the sardonic Tampax ad to be HYSTERICAL. "Sometimes I like to spin in a circle, and spin and spin and spin..."
I'm trying to think of things I've read lately that surprised me or was a clever twist. The only thing I can think of is when CASTLE did that two parter, and I was all shocked they blew the HELL out of that building where Beckett was at--and then at the beginning of part 2, you realized she jumped into her bathtub and didn't get a scratch on her. And then I was like, WTF? COME ON! I mean, not that I wanted her dead, but the scene in the new Indiana Jones movie where he climbs into a fridge before a nuclear blast and is launched into the desert was more believable than that!
This week with reading, I've not been finding anything I've really liked lately. I read The Comeback Kiss, which was okay, but I skimmed the last third of it just to get done with it. Now I've started a historical, which at least starts funny, but frankly if I woke up, tied to a bed, not knowing where I was or what had happened, I don't think I could be that calm. She was a bit too...blase about the whole thing, so I'm not sure what to think yet. But I'll give it a few more chapters before I give up entirely.
Oh Marn! Those are NOT good surprises! What a mess!
There's definitely a fine line between surprises and tricking. I think the kind of surprises I'm talking about aren't so much the shocking twists as much as whatever is coming next is not what you expected.
I was reading this book the other week, and nothing surprised me. It was a good book, a good plot, but there was no . . . well, it went exactly as I thought it was going to go. You know what I mean? (hopefully! lol!)
I like it when something happens that I never saw coming. Just something little to make my eyes pop open and me say, "Ohhh."
Donna - no surprise parties for you - got it! LOL!
"Unexpected delightful moments" - yes, that's EXACTLY what I'm trying to describe. And you did it in three word. Nice :)
You're very right, though. There's a fine line between "look at me, aren't I clever?" and making your reader roll their eyes, and thrilling your readers with something a little unexpected.
Hellie, I LOVE that commercial! Twirl while wearing white gauze, no less! I was a little disappointed in that scene of Castle as well. Rob and I assumed (after the first episode) that the bomb was in the bathroom, and because she left the bathroom to answer Castle's phone call, she would survive (as in, maybe she'd gone to the back of the apartment to answer the phone and the front had blown . . . something).
But she went BACK into the bathroom?? So she would have been find had she never left the bathroom? It was just bizarre (though I didn't believe the survive-a-nuclear-bomb-in-a-frdige-rolling-down-a-hill scene in Indy either ;) )
I remember being shocked by the Castle explosion, trying to think of every possible way they could get her out of that. I never thought about the bathtub option! But I let them get away with it, because I like the characters so much. :)
The Nuclear Fridge scene annoyed most people, I think, I did laugh--it was one of the funniest scenes to me. What annoyed me was the aliens. All I could think when they revealed themselves was "For God's sake, Spielberg, can't you make ONE movie without a freaking alien reference in it?" (Yes, I realize Lucas helped or wrote it...but you can't tell me Spielberg didn't influence that!)
I yawned through so much of that Indy travesty, I mean movie, that I don't even REMEMBER the nuclear fridge scene! And now it seems people use that as the updated "jump the shark" reference. LOL Figures that I miss a cultural milestone!
I've had two surprises/unexpected things that struck me recently and both were pleasant surprises. Excuse the upcoming long post.
The first is small, but really stayed with me. I was watching Chuck - I love that show and it's exactly the kind of suspense/humor I want to write - and this episode was goign along, kinda cute, but nothing spectacular. Then it happened. This little tiny extra part in a scene. I literally laughed out loud, went to tell my chuck loving co-worker about it, and still remember it and laugh 2 days later.
What was it? A simple little extra - after hitting a man over the head with a stick, the bumbling sidekick talks to Chuck for a minute, then gets this thougthful look on his face. He then pokes the unconcious bad guy with the stick - like a little kid poking at something dead! He looked up and said something like "yeah, he's out". That little tiny addition to the scene made all the difference. You coudl tell the character was trying to act brave, but was still nervous. Perfect.
The 2nd surprise was amazing and it has sparked an idea for a book. When I was little, my mother loved to crochet but only made a handful of things because she worked all the time and we didn't have much money. But, I can fondly remember talking to her while she worked on projects. None of those projects were things for me, always gifts for others.
My mother passed away 2 years ago. This birthday (2tomorrow) I will be the same age my mom was when she had me. Seems weird. Even weirder? Last week I got a package from my cousin. Her mother had passed away about 6 months ago. In cleaning out her closet she found a shaw my mother had made for her mom. She thought I would like to have it. No mention of my birthday, nothing. Just out of the blue.
I can remember my mother making that shaw. It was such an unexpected surprise to get this part of my mother right before my birthday. I feel like she's hugging me through that shaw and it's amazing. A huge, unexpected surprise that is making a big impact.
I'll be wearing that shaw when I start writing the story it inspired. :)
Awww, I *LOVE* the shawl story!!!
I love the shawl story too! I think those are cosmic reorganizational tools, making sure things are where they are supposed to be. :)
And the little detail in Chuck -- that's perfect. I haven't watched the show yet, but I think I'd love it. And those little things that show character like that are fun, and endearing.
Like one time on Castle when Ryan and Esposito are squeeing about something, and Becket says, "Did you braid each other's hair last night and debate about which Jonas brother was the cutest?" And without missing a beat they both answer, "Nick. Totally." LOL
*LOL* I love Ryan and Esposito. *LOL* Just for the reasons Donna said. *LOL* I love those little quips. *LOL*
Oh, what a beautiful surprise! And such a wonderful story! I hope the writing it inspired goes smoothly :)
I adore Chuck too, and that scene was awesome. Hilarious. Ryan and Esposito are so freakin adorable. It's the perfect contrast to Beckett (necessarily) being so bad-ass.
First off, great blog! Though that commercial didn't make me laugh. Sorry. LOL! Maybe because I've eaten at Joe's and it's awful.
Marn - Those are bad BAD surprises. It just fell right off? Holy crap. Maybe Mother Nature is trying to throw things at you to prepare for the juggling you're about to commence. And look how well you're handling it all. You're totally ready!
The shawl story is making me teary! Though I was a bit watery already because my brother put together of pictures of kiddo from when she was under a year old. Turned them into a video set to "You Are My Sunshine" and some of the pics include my beloved dog, Dozer. Damn, I'm getting watery just typing this!
I ADORE Castle and Ryan and Esposito make the show. LOL! In the 2nd parter, when they wanted the sex details from Castle and he kept saying there were no details. Ryans wrote on his notepad, "Witness refuses to cooperate." LOL! Loved it when they finally met his girlfriend. That was so sweet.
Now, I have to think about the actual blog topic. I'll be back.
Aww, Ter, that sounds wonderful! Your brother's so sweet for putting that together. And you're a mom -- you have an excuse to get teary over pics of your kids.
The commercial didn't make me bust out laughing, so much as I was just expecting the guy's hair to go straight up as well, and I kind of rolled my eyes at how lame that was. And then when it didn't happen, and something unexpected happened instead, it made it a little funnier and a little less lame than I'd originally assumed *g*
You are right, I was waiting for his hair to go all curly. LOL! And I'd seen it before too.
This is terrible, but I think it was Dozer who made me cry. I miss him so much. He's the only thing I had to leave behind when I left, and they let him get sick and die a couple years ago without even taking him to the vet. I hadn't even laid eyes on him since 2004.
Okay, I have to stop now.
oh that's terrible. I can't even imagine. I'm so tied to my dog, the thought of someone else purposely not giving her the care she needed--yeah, no wonder you're all teary!
Well, the direction this blog went was a surprise!
Scuttlebut, that is great. Like finding pennies from heaven at your feet. I love those little gifts from the beyond. I swear, my beagle has been out in the yard whispering to Bonnie, "You should get a biscuit everytime you go back in. Make them give you a biscuit. Sit and wait for it. Guilt, girl, you have to use guilt."
We did not start Bonnie off with these expectations and Archie has been dead for nearly 10 years. But guess what? Now Bonnie sits and waits for a biscuit after being outside.
I just know it's Archie's plan.
And yup, I love the Dresden Files.
And I figured they were gonna use the bathtub to save Beckett the moment I saw it was one of those big cast iron ones...
Seriously did NOT mean to bring down the room. Blame it on my brother!
I was happily surprised last night when the judges saved Michael on American Idol. I mean, I was sure they would. But for a second there, I was nervous.
I recently had the unbelievable chance to read Jennifer Crusie's next book (not due out until later this year) and there are some great twists and turns and surprises in that one. I'm sure someone will read it and say, "I SO knew that was coming. It was SO obvious." [And that person will like be Hellie.]
But I didn't see it coming and I loved it. Just when you think it's all over. Not quite. LOL!
What bothered me about the Beckett blow up thing was that they didn't even injure her. I mean, at least make her stay the night in the hospital. A little bandage on the hand? That's all? Really?
She was back to perfect almost immediately, that's what I couldn't believe. At least singe the woman's hair, for pete's sake.
But I didn’t see it coming and I loved it. Just when you think it’s all over. Not quite. LOL!
Nice! That's totally the kidn of book I adore!
Chance - nice call on Castle - you were right on!
Great blog, Hal.
Like Donna, I'm not overly fond of being surprised myself (someone can tell my DH anytime!), although I have gotten used to it over the years (see comment in the parenthesis). Probably the loss of control and that I usually hyperventilate and/or start a really ugly crying jag. It is just not pretty.
I love surprises in my reading, though. The last one I remember vividly is one that Hellie talks about all the time. Spoilerish****
It is in What I Did For Love by SEP. The H/H are in a sexual toy/lingerie shop and are ushered into adjoining rooms to try on their items. As the scene goes along I think this is going to be the first sex scene and I totally expect for them to open the doors clad in their erotic attire. Instead they agree to open the door on 1-2-3 and are both still fully clothed. To which Bram says something like "You really need to work on your trust issues" It was a surprise and then a Laugh Out Loud funny moment for me.
Another thing the SEP does quite often is surprises us with the characters she creates. You start out thinking they are complete asses or b$%^ches and by the end of the book you are so totally surprised that you love this person now... Sugar Beth anyone! Ain't She Sweet is full of surprises for me. I don't know how many times during that book I said "Whoa I didn't see that coming!"
What keeps surprising me week after week on American Idol is that Tim is still there!
I know, Irish! But honestly, he has gotten better. Not good enough to be on the show, but better. LOL! I do love that Simon has given up trying to insult him and gotten a sense of humor about the whole thing.
I love the total shock on HIS face every time someone else is voted off. It's hilarious! Even he knows he shouldn't have made it this far.
It is in What I Did For Love by SEP. The H/H are in a sexual toy/lingerie shop and are ushered into adjoining rooms to try on their items. As the scene goes along I think this is going to be the first sex scene and I totally expect for them to open the doors clad in their erotic attire. Instead they agree to open the door on 1-2-3 and are both still fully clothed. To which Bram says something like “You really need to work on your trust issues” It was a surprise and then a Laugh Out Loud funny moment for me.
I totally agree about this scene! That was a surprise and HYSTERICAL. "You need to work on your trust issues." was one of the best lines. *LOL* I'm so glad I bought that book.
She has another hilarious scene like that in Lady Be Good. I definitely didn't see it coming and I was in bed reading with my daughter next to me asleep. I bust out laughing and woke her up! Those are the best types of surprises.
I do want to say the one surprise I can do without is the secret baby. Really, just let that one go. LOL!
I do feel kind of proud of myself when I call the surprise right before it happens. Like in the season finale of White Collar. Kiddo and I were watching, and a split second before it happened, I went, "The plane is going to blow." And it did!
I don't want to figure it out right away, but I like when I figure it out right before.
Irish -- yes!! I adored that scene! That's exactly what I'm talking about. Those scenes where you think you know exactly where it's going and just the smallest surprise can be perfect.
Every semester at school, all writers have to read the same book to discuss (so one semester it's sci-fi, one it's horror, one it's romance, etc...) and this coming semester the book is Ain't She Sweet. I adore that book, and Sugar Beth, but I cannot wait to see the reaction of the guys who write sci-fi :)
Ter - I hate the secret baby too. That's definitely a trend I could stand to see gone.
I love that too, during TVs and movies. The hubs pulled off a major one the other day -- I can't remember now what show, but he said what he thought was going to happen, and it was so absurd I was laughing at him, and then, of course, it happened.
I know, right? I can't wait *g*
You have to report back with all the hillarity that will be involved in that class reading Ain't She Sweet. LOL!
I'm gonna venture to say the guys will love her more in the beginning than in the end. Just because that's how it seems to work in my life. LOL!
I just read Ain't She Sweet, because somehow I missed it the first time around, and I really liked Sugar Beth. I wasn't sure at first if I was going to like the hero. . .so he turned out to be a bit of a surprise. LOL
My other good surprise today was remembering how good Tr*der J*e's Belgian Chocolate Pudding is. YUM! Creamy deliciousness -- and I can count it as a source of calcium, so it's a health food! LOL
I have never been in a TJ's, but there's one not far from my house. I keep meaning to check that out. Now, even more reason to go.
I loved Colin. (That was his name, right?) Liked him right away. LOL! Sugar Beth took some warming up. Mostly because I knew too many girls like her in HS.
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