OpenTube

What is a 'slapstick'?

Words Unravelled

82,798 views

Rob and Jess are guffawing their way through a world of comedic words.
🎭 What does 'comedy' literally mean?
🤡 Who should you hit with a 'slapstick'?
🥄 What was a spoof? (It's not a type of spoon)
These questions answered, and many many more, in this hilarious edition of Words Unravelled.

👕 OUR MERCH 👚
US SHOP: https://wordsunravelledshop.myspreads...
EU/UK SHOP: https://wordsunravelledshop.myspreads...

👂LISTEN: https://podfollow.com/words-unravelle...
or search for "Words Unravelled" wherever you get your podcasts.

==LINKS==
Rob's YouTube channel: robwords
Jess' Useless Etymology blog: https://uselessetymology.com/
Rob on X: x.com/robwordsyt
Jess on TikTok: tiktok.com/@jesszafarris

#etymology #wordfacts #English

20 Comments

@ewmlloyd 4 months ago

40:18: ...then there's the joke told in the Soviet Union where their postal service had to determine why the latest postage stamp commemorating Josef Stalin wasn't staying on the envelope. Turns out people were spitting on the wrong side of the stamp.

@andrewwalker5891 4 months ago

Surely "jest" is what happens to Rob when Jess makes him blush, as in "Rob's been jessed again"

@sourisvoleur4854 4 months ago

I would love to hear how you two came to be working together on this show. Did somebody introduce you? Did one of you make an overture to the other that you'd like to work together? Inquiring minds would love to know!

@joshellyson 4 months ago

As ever, love the "unraveling" of where our language is drawn from. But equally wonderful is the obvious and honest joy you two derive from exploring the origins. Thanks for the joy.

@ookami38 4 months ago

Me, dozing off at work. Jess "we need one of those screaming goats" AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH! okay I'm awake.

@Dean_Batha 4 months ago

A stand-up episode.

@chunga668 4 months ago

"Wiping his mouth so you'll come and kiss him" omg, rofl! Jess at her absolute best!

@daigreatcoat44 4 months ago

Nabokov wrote "Satire is a lesson, parody is a game".

@mrpandabites 4 months ago

Rob's horrified expression as Jess tells the horse's bridle joke is priceless 🤣

@blazeandcyrus 4 months ago

Love this channel so much, thank you!

@George1966ism 4 months ago (edited)

Even more amusing than always. I love Jess' jokes. I am sure she has a bucket full of them.

@BenjiG-dp2jg 4 months ago (edited)

7:44 So anytime i sense filler material in a comic’s routine i can rightfully yell, “THIS IS A FARCE!”???

@JLPelath 4 months ago

Maybe my favorite channel on YouTube. Love me some Rob and Jess!

@JamaicanMeMoist 4 months ago

Rob's reaction to the dirty joke @ 26:25, and Jess's giddiness at telling the punchline, sums your personalities quite succinctly. Made me chuckle!

@Dadio68 4 months ago

Did they skip over the character Scaramouche? He does a very, very frightening fandango.

@Frankvonlsd32 4 months ago

In the words of one fictitious Army chaplain, jocularity!!!! Father Mulcahy (MASH)

@Vim-Wolf 4 months ago

In relation to how prevalent pantomime is in the UK.

I’m a regular at stand up comedy, I don’t normally heckle but sometime I can’t help myself especially if it looks like it’s been set up.

So the comedian is speaking ill of the support act. The support act walks across the back of the stage and flicks the V’s.

Me: “He’s behind you!” in the classic pantomime style.
Gary, the comedian: “This isn’t a pantomime you know.”
Me, and several others, in pantomime style: “Oh yes it is!”

@mikek3979 4 months ago

You are both naturally funny - makes this episode’s content perfect!

@karphin1 4 months ago

Always fun to watch you two spar and parry words, expressions, sayings, etc. Makes me smile too, and that is no bad thing! 😊

@K42U 4 months ago (edited)

Japanese has a traditional form of comedy called a "Rakugo". Written as 落語, it literally means "story with a fall". As opposed to modern comedy acts with the narrator standing up (thus, "stand-up comedy"), rakugo is a sit-down comedy. More specifically, the narrator is sitting down in a seiza position. Their only main props are a paper fan and a small cloth. The performer is called a 「落語家」"rakugoka". The story usually involves two or more characters.