3rd Rock from the Sun

Comedic style

Third Rock uses comedic elements which are strikingly unusual in modern North American television comedy, yet drawn from established sources. Clowning techniques, all with a long pedigree in European theatre, are employed throughout the several seasons of the show. Mime, slapstick, speaking in rhyme and role reversals are employed, giving this science fiction comedy a solid anchoring in more venerable clown traditions, such as the Commedia dell'arte. (One of the show's most famous moments is when Dick's evil twin traps him in an "invisible box" that Dick tests with his hands and finds to be seamless, leading him to the agonized cry, "My God! He's turned me into a mime!") In the well established style of clown parody, the aliens repeatedly ape the behavior patterns, mannerisms and speech style of humans in various walks of life and much humor is derived from their ability to be more like their target human than the original. Relationships between the characters are similarly familiar from theatrical and circus comedy performed in Europe during the past few centuries.

Related Topics:
North America - Clown - Europe - Theatre - Mime - Slapstick - Rhyme - Science fiction - Commedia dell'arte - Invisible box - Circus

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Common sources of humor

• The aliens experiencing human emotions, such as rejection, jealousy, and infatuation, for the first time and reacting in an unduely flamboyant manner.
• The aliens interpreting figures of speech literally.
• The aliens inability to differentiate between what is said and what is meant (missing sarcasm, for instance.)
• The aliens misusing Earth appliances.