Friday, September 16, 2011

Swim



6 comments:

Old Fort Howard Guy said...

The little girl with the duck always brings a smile to my face...she reminds me of someone specific, but I just can't come up with the name. Keep up the great work here and over at Hope n'Change, Stilton!

Stilton Jarlsberg said...

@Old Fort Howard Guy- Duck Girl isn't modeled on anyone, but her quiet creepiness and generally threatening aura reminds me a little of Billy Mumy's character in the Twilight Zone episode "The Good Life," which I consider the scariest one ever.

By the way, anyone who wants to see a good "creepy kid" movie should also check out the original (1956) "The Bad Seed." You'll never turn your back on a sweet little girl again.

Pete(Detroit) said...

Agreed, Stilt- one of the best TZ's ever. Which is why the Simpson's version was so hysterical..

Pete(Detroit) said...

Not sure why 'stroke patient' is expected to be funny, tho. Quadriplegic (Bob) would be funny. Someone HAVING a stroke (or a seizure?), would be funny. But someone recovering from a stroke? Maybe they can use hydrotherapy? Dunno, not a Dr nor do I play one on the interwebs, but just don't quite get the point...

Stilton Jarlsberg said...

@Pete(Detroit)- Actually, you're focusing too much on the patient and sort of missing the joke. The "set up" is that Mr. Duck can't swim, and the assumption is that he doesn't know how, or has some physical limitation that keeps him from swimming. So the ol' switcheroo is that he "can't swim" because the hydrotherapy tub is occupied.

Isn't it amazing how jokes get funnier when you laboriously explain them?

By the way, I never saw the Simpson's version of that TZ episode, but now I'll be looking for it!

Pete(Detroit) said...

Well, didn't expect him to 'swim' actually, but more like kinda float, and paddle a bit...

I think it was a segment for one of the Halloween 'treehouse of horrors' things...

Yes, segment 2, "Bart's Nightmare"
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Treehouse_of_Horror_II