Sarcasm in sketch comedy?

September 19, 2015 1:43 PM

I'm half remembering a comedy sketch, or possibly part of a sitcom but can't remember who it is or the final punchline! The set up is that person A is being increasingly sarcastic but person b doesn't recognise it as such and takes what they are saying as a straight answer. Im pretty sure it's British and Google has turned up a Monty Python sketch or the Big Bang theory (neither of which is what I'm remembering) Thanks Metafilter!
posted by threetwentytwo to Media & Arts (13 answers total)

Key and Peele Text Message Confusion?
posted by lilnublet at 1:45 PM on September 19, 2015 [2 favorites]

The Kids in the Hall, "Bad Straight Man"?
posted by holborne at 1:51 PM on September 19, 2015 [5 favorites]

Mary Whitehouse Experience - Sarcastic Ray
posted by bifter at 2:00 PM on September 19, 2015

Kids in the Hall Sarcastic Guy at a Party ?
posted by NoraCharles at 2:20 PM on September 19, 2015 [4 favorites]

Your description immediately made me think of A Bit of Fry & Laurie, but I couldn't tell you which sketch it was.
posted by conkystconk at 3:01 PM on September 19, 2015 [2 favorites]

There is also a Mr. Show with Bob and David sketch where David Cross plays a man who writes sarcastic letters to people, who are unable to tell that's he being sarcastic.
posted by UrineSoakedRube at 3:12 PM on September 19, 2015 [2 favorites]

It's this Kids in the Hall sketch.
posted by a strong female character at 3:23 PM on September 19, 2015 [2 favorites]

No chance it's the SNL sketch with Chevy Chase straight-man interviewing Richard Pryor with increasingly racist word association?
posted by GhostintheMachine at 3:52 PM on September 19, 2015

This is roughly half the jokes in the Vicar of Dibley, particularly any scene with David Horton.
posted by Diagonalize at 4:33 PM on September 19, 2015

Reminds me of this sketch from That Mitchell and Webb Look. I'm right and the rest of you are wrong!!!1!!!
posted by mskyle at 6:27 PM on September 19, 2015 [1 favorite]

Best answer: On TVTropes, there's a section called Sarcasm-Blind. Under Live-Action TV, someone describes this SNL sketch:

On a sketch hosted by Kevin Spacey he played the "inventor" of sarcasm. He said things like "I love this party" meaning he hated it, but no-one got it because no-one else knew of sarcasm. Until they all understood he was being ironic, became extremely hurt, and burned him at the stake.

I couldn't find video but I found the transcript, and the sketch is set in medieval England, so everyone has the British accents you remembered. Maybe that's it?

If not, since you said it might have been from a sitcom and not a sketch, TVTropes also listed this scene from Father Ted that sounds like it fits the bill:

Mrs. Doyle: Shall I make the beds in the spare room?
Father Jessup: No, we'll sleep outside, in a ditch!
Mrs. Doyle: OK so... would you like a cup of tea?
Father Jessup: No, We want to die of thirst.
Mrs. Doyle: (baffled) OK so...
Father Ted: (quietly) Mrs. Doyle, I think Father Jessup might have been being a bit... sarcastic...
Mrs. Doyle: Really? Were you being sarcastic, Father Jessup?
Father Jessup: No, we'd like to die of thirst!
Father Ted: (quietly) Mrs. Doyle, I know it's a bit confusing, but the trick is to do the opposite of what Father Jessup says.
Mrs. Doyle: (very uncertain) So, you really... do... want a cup of tea?
Father Jessup: (exasperated) Yes! (reaches out for the cup)
Mrs. Doyle: (takes the cup away, looking very pleased with herself)

posted by brianrobot at 8:40 PM on September 19, 2015 [1 favorite]

Best answer: That Father Ted episode is "Kicking Bishop Brennan Up The Arse" and I'm sure that's what you're thinking of.
posted by tinkletown at 1:37 AM on September 20, 2015 [1 favorite]

Response by poster: Yep, it was Father Ted. Thanks everyone, you'd have thought having watched that show countless times on Sundays for more than ten years, I'd have remembered it!
posted by threetwentytwo at 6:31 AM on September 28, 2015