Very abbreviated. Groucho Marx was doing it on stage in the 1920s (and in the later film versions of those plays), and, even if you restrict it to TV, George Burns did it in the 1950s.
Burns was way ahead of his time in this sort of meta-reference: if he wanted to spy on what Gracie was doing, he'd turn on his own tv show. When they replaced the actor who played the next-door neighbor, they didn't hide it: "The other guy wanted too much money, so now this guy is playing our next-door neighbor."
Love the use of the device in High Fidelity; the whole "freeze" thing rarely works well for me, so I like when the scene is continuing as the breaking is happening.
However, there's an interesting use of the freeze and then stepping out of the story as if it was a painting in Pirates of Silicon Valley (I think I set this right so it'll play right before that scene):
How can you do a compilation of fourth-wall breaking and not include "It's Garry Shandling's Show." Hell, even the opening theme of that show broke the fourth wall.
You could certainly see your enthusiasm in the article you write. The world hopes for more passionate writers like you who aren't afraid to mention how they believe. All the time follow your heart.
Very abbreviated. Groucho Marx was doing it on stage in the 1920s (and in the later film versions of those plays), and, even if you restrict it to TV, George Burns did it in the 1950s.
ReplyDeleteBurns was way ahead of his time in this sort of meta-reference: if he wanted to spy on what Gracie was doing, he'd turn on his own tv show. When they replaced the actor who played the next-door neighbor, they didn't hide it: "The other guy wanted too much money, so now this guy is playing our next-door neighbor."
Love the use of the device in High Fidelity; the whole "freeze" thing rarely works well for me, so I like when the scene is continuing as the breaking is happening.
ReplyDeleteHowever, there's an interesting use of the freeze and then stepping out of the story as if it was a painting in Pirates of Silicon Valley (I think I set this right so it'll play right before that scene):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=TWyLOKjlAKA#t=2877s" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="100" height="100
How can you do a compilation of fourth-wall breaking and not include "It's Garry Shandling's Show." Hell, even the opening theme of that show broke the fourth wall.
ReplyDeleteAnd how can you do this without showing a single clip of Moonlighting? There's time for Zach frickin' Morris, but not David Addison?
ReplyDeleteThat new Showtime show really sucked
ReplyDeleteThank you for watching it for me. I was tempted by Kristen Bell and Jean-Ralphio, but now I don't have to.
ReplyDeleteWhither Hope and Crosby?
ReplyDeleteOr Bugs Bunny. "Ain't I a stinker?"
ReplyDeleteIs it breaking the fourth wall when the wall starts out as broken?
ReplyDeleteHi there, I log on to your blogs like every week.
ReplyDeleteYour story-telling style is awesome, keep doing what you're doing!
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You could certainly see your enthusiasm in the article you write.
ReplyDeleteThe world hopes for more passionate writers like you
who aren't afraid to mention how they believe. All the time follow your heart.
My site - vertical jump programs