David Letterman’s “Top Ten List” has become an institution. There is even a book collecting the best of them. So how can we use this when using humor?
A numbered list gives you a framework to hang your comments upon and is also a way to join several pieces of what might be unrelated material. Each entry needs to be relatively short. These are usually spoken, so the idea needs to be easily understood. In our favor, the topic of the list itself creates the context for the comments, adding to their understanding and usually adding to the humor.
First you need a theme, and then you find items to back it up. Ten is not a magic number, it can be three or five or any number you chose.
Here is a list I threw together – probably not appropriate if you are speaking to Democratic diehards, but it is an illustration of what you can do. It relies on the audience knowing a little bit about Barack Obama, and also being slightly familiar with “Boy Bands” like Nsync, The Back Street Boys, New Kids On The Block, The Monkees and BoyzIImen.
Why Barack Obama is the Boy Band of Politics
The parallels are eerie:
1. Boy bands have to be attractive: Obama is a well dressed, handsome man.
2. They have to sound good: Obama is a great orator.
3. Simple ideas, are preferred: First Love/Lost Love and Obama’s Hope & Change
4. They usually have an older, veteran manager/assistant: Obama now has Joe Biden
5. They seem to appear from out of nowhere and shoot into the stratoshere: Obama went from junior senator to major ticket presidential nominee in one jump.
6. Their past can be “fluid” but it is immaterial to the throngs that love them: Compare the careers of: Robbie van Winkle (Vanilla Ice) to Barry (Barack) Obama. And sometimes they write books about their version of their past: Ice by Ice: The Vanilla Ice Story in His Own Words
7. They create rabid fans who personally identify with their idol. Like this from from Obama Girl.
8. They seem to be on the cover of every magazine you see.
9. When they go “off book” or lose the teleprompter, trouble ensues: See this.
10. And finally, they prefer reassuring messages that are easily understood and take us back to a simpler time: Bob the Builder said it first: Yes We Can!
Next: I have an idea about John McCain and Captain Kangaroo, but it needs work.
Your comments are always appreciated.
on Oct 6th, 2008 at 2:29 pm
I thought you were going to reference Lance Bass and Obama somewhere in there….good to see you didn’t touch that with a 10-foot pole.
on Oct 6th, 2008 at 3:19 pm
LOL – Thanks Matt. That made my day.
on Oct 7th, 2008 at 6:30 am
Looking at your post strictly from the visual viewpoint, it sure appears easy on the eye and invites one to keep going down the list. This is good because:
#1 We all want our readers to keep reading.
#2 All site reviewers I’ve read emphasis reducing clutter and increasing whitespace.
#3 Creating lists makes even unorganized people like me look efficient.
Thanks Dan!
on Oct 7th, 2008 at 7:57 am
Thanks Bill. I know I tend to scan longer posts. White space really can help with readability.
on Oct 7th, 2008 at 9:43 pm
This post and that list is so good that I now think of you as a Bad Boy. Keep it up and Yes We Can!
peace,
mike
livelife365
on Oct 8th, 2008 at 3:13 am
Nice (true) list. I’ve stumbled and forwarded a stumble request to a couple friends.
on Oct 8th, 2008 at 7:47 am
Mike & Richard
Both sides are taking this far too seriously, sure, sure the world might end if the wrong person is elected… but has anyone ever considered that maybe neither one of these guys is the right guy? If only Harold Stassen was still alive…
on Oct 8th, 2008 at 2:01 pm
I can’t wait to read about McCain and the Captain!
on Oct 8th, 2008 at 4:50 pm
Yeah, Laura, I can’t either.
on Oct 9th, 2008 at 9:33 am
Another thing to about him not being with Lance Bass is that he is not a republican senator.
on Oct 10th, 2008 at 2:51 pm
Well, hey there!
I’ve seen you around Humor Bloggers and thought I’d come see what you were up to. I like what I see. Plus, you are from Texas and so am I.
Eve
on Oct 10th, 2008 at 3:08 pm
Well daggonit welcome to a fellow Texan!
Thanks for stopping by.
I’ve visited your site as well. I’ve done that rubber band thing with my face!