Best TV Show of
the Week
Just For Laughs
on ABC
By Ally Matteodo
The
hilarious pranks of ABC’s hidden-camera show Just for Laughs caused this program
to be named Best TV Show of the Week. Airing on Sunday, June 28th
at 7:30 p.m. ET with Rick Miller as host, the show’s set-up is simple. An
actor or actress in on a practical joke then preys on unsuspecting passers-by,
or “marks.” The hidden camera captures the citizen’s confusion or distress
before the actors reveal themselves and clue the mark in on the joke. In one
joke in the episode, an actor played a hot dog vendor. The vendor walks away
from the hot dog stand while the customers use the mustard pump. The mustard
pump is purposely broken and mustard pours out unremittingly upon the hot dogs.
In another gag, people dressed up as gorillas sit in a pen at the zoo. As zoo
patrons notice a twenty-dollar bill on the ground they attempt to pick it up,
and the gorilla’s move the bill with a string. The marks then notice the
gorillas and laugh at their outrageous behavior. In another scenario, a girl
encourages citizens walking past to kick a basketball her way. When they do,
the basketball smashes into a glass window, breaking it (once again, a hidden
actor is using a string to manipulate the movement of the basketball). The
pranks are all innocent and bring a smile to everyone’s face once they’re
revealed.
Simple in
structure, Just for Laughs is a welcome respite from the worries of life. It’s
entertaining to watch the actors revel in their professions so much, eking out
as much comedic value as possible from each practical joke. We also identify
with the marks—in one scenario a woman asks strangers to watch her dog for a
couple of minutes while she goes to the restroom. The dog runs off, and the
people chase after the pet in panic: how could they lose a stranger’s dog? It’s
enjoyable to watch the look of relief and amusement wash over their face once
they realize they’re on hidden camera and they’re off the hook. All of the
pranks are accompanied by music without dialogue, which ads to the ingenuity and
simplicity of the entire program. Sometimes it’s nice to sit back, relax, and
just watch people laugh.
Best TV Show
of the Week
The Parents
Television Council -
www.parentstv.org
