1. The Japanese call this poetry
haiku.
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2. Yes, Bobby?
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3. Oh! I was just stretching.
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4. The haiku poem
has five syllables,
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5. then seven, then five...
Bobby?
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6. What?
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7. There's a magnet in the ceiling
and it has my pencil!
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8. And the magnet just released.
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9. And that
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10. is how Jesus taught us
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11. not to borrow things
from people,
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12. then destroy them,
then pass them off as missing.
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13. Now, if all the children
of the flock
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14. will join me on the stairs.
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15. Ohh... there's something wrong
with my eyes today!
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16. Bobby!
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17. Hello, "dere."
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18. I thought I smelled corn,
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19. and this confirms it.
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20. That was not me!
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21. Dang it, Bobby!
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22. This is inappropriate
dinner table behavior.
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23. Now, right now,
I want...
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24. I know.
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25. Go to my room.
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26. Hey, d'you ever wonder
where kids went to
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27. before they had rooms?
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28. I mean, did caveman dads say...
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29. Just go.
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30. Peggy, what are we gonna do
about the boy?
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31. He's cutting up at church,
at school.
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32. Heck, I can't even take him
to the Mega-Lo-Mart
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33. without him trying
to get on the P.A. system.
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34. Hank, you cannot blame Bobby.
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35. He just has no outlet to express
his creativity.
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36. He's a boy; he doesn't need
to be creative.
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37. Our son can make people laugh.
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38. Some call that a gift.
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39. I do as well.
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40. You know, in high school,
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41. we all thought Raul Sanders
was a laugh riot.
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42. Then when he got six months
in juvie
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43. and had a child out of wedlock,
we stopped laughing.
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44. School is not about being
the class clown.
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45. Unless
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46. it's a class full of clowns.
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47. They teach a class in clowning
at Arlen Community College.
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48. A clowning class?
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49. Perfect.
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50. This is just
what Bobby needs.
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51. A supportive place
where he can work out
all his comedy energy.
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52. Huh...
it's not a bad idea.
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53. It's like running your dog
around the park for an hour
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54. to keep him from jumping
all over the furniture.
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55. But Bobby can't
go to college— he's 13.
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56. Sometimes you don't have
to be college years old.
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57. There was a kid
in my history class that was 12.
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58. I liked him.
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59. Whenever I would answer
a question in class,
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60. he would laugh.
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61. I went to his birthday party.
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62. Lie down in your
basket, Ladybird!
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63. Yes!
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64. A class in clowning?
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65. And you're supporting it?
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66. But here's the deal, son:
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67. the shenanigans stay
in clown class—
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68. not at school or church
or anyplace else
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69. that's not appropriate.
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70. Now get some sleep.
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71. Or stay up all night—
whichever makes you funnier.
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72. I think a clown class
is a great idea for Bobby.
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73. You know, I had a picture
of a clown
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74. above my bed
growing up.
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75. I thought it was God
for the longest time.
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76. I've done extermination
for three different Bozos.
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77. Nice guys, but do not get
them started on gay marriage.
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78. Hey!
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79. Hey, we got your ball!
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80. Hey! Ball!
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81. Gentlemen, this kickball
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82. rolled into our lives
for a reason.
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83. You've still got
a wicked curve ball,
Boomhauer.
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84. I'm going to have
to call myself out.
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85. Bill, get ready.
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86. I'm bunting!
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87. I'm going to get you!
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88. Ah, it's as good as I remember.
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89. So I see you're ready for
your, uh, clown class.
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90. Can you lean back
a little?
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91. Your hair is in
my blind spot.
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92. Do you think it works?
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93. I thought about wearing a hat
on top of the hair,
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94. but I couldn't decide
if that was funny or just crazy.
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95. Now, Bobby, go in there
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96. and give everything
you've got.
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97. And if you still feel funny
at the end of class,
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98. stay after for extra credit.
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99. Got it, Dad.
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100. Hi. Bobby Hill,
Tom Landry class clown.
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101. Oh, hi! I am so excited.
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102. This is going to be
so much fun.
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103. Don't you
just love comedy?
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104. Great clowns are not born.
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105. They are made right here.
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106. I make clowns.
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107. If you're looking
for an easy "A"... think again.
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108. In fact, some refer to this
class as "Frowns for Clowns."
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109. Ah... I see some of you
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110. are already wearing
your fright wigs.
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111. The wig isn't something
you wear;
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112. it is something you earn.
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113. Do you know why
the shoes wear big
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114. or the nose
be bulbous?
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115. Uh... funny?
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116. Of course, they're funny.
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117. They're hilarious, in fact.
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118. But if you don't know why,
it is pointless.
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119. Can anyone explain
this equation to me?
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120. Can you explain this?
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121. No.
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122. Until you can, dispose
of your costuming.
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123. You are nowhere near funny.
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124. All right, our first lesson,
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125. textbook chapter one:
funny words.
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126. You. Name a body part.
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127. Uh... leg!
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128. Not funny!
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129. And here's why:
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130. no funny letters.
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131. Sacroiliac!
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132. Exactly.
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133. It has
the "K" sound twice,
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134. and the "oi" sound.
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135. Excellent work, Boris.
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136. Boris is taking this class
for the ninth time,
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137. and he is almost a clown.
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138. Someday, and
with your help, sir.
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139. Armpit?
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140. Um... no.
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141. But your attempt is pathetic,
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142. and pathos is one of
the cornerstones of comedy.
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143. John Redcorn.
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144. Joseph.
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145. Uh...
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146. Connie.
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147. Dale, I suppose.
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148. Gih! I'm picked last?
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149. But does your precious Connie
own custom kickball shoes?
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150. Hey, Bobby!
How was your first day?
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151. Do you want to show
us your juggling?
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152. I haven't learned how
to actually juggle,
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153. but I can tell you
why juggling the fragile
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154. is almost as funny
as juggling the intractable.
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155. Oh.
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156. Professor Twilley knows
all about this kind of stuff.
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157. He's gonna help me
reach my comedic potential.
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158. Uh-huh.
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159. According to him,
Adam Sandler isn't funny.
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160. All right, son.
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161. Well, I guess I better
go hit the books.
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162. He didn't make
a single dumb joke.
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163. He was just... regular.
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164. Oh, God, he's doing
a pratfall.
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165. No, wait, that was real.
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166. That actually looks like
a pretty nasty scrape.
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167. Attaboy.
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168. A unicycle with six wheels?
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169. Oh, the number six.
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170. Are you laughing
at or with?
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171. Uh... at?
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172. Wrong.
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173. Oh, Mr. Twilley, that's
why I came here today.
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174. I'm kind of not getting it.
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175. No kidding.
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176. But I've always been
the funny kid.
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177. I do stuff, people laugh.
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178. I thought I was a natural.
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179. Have I been wrong
all these years?
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180. Oh, definitely.
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181. But it's not your fault.
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182. You haven't been
properly trained.
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183. Look at your
flow chart of funny.
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184. Comedy starts with the "Ha,"
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185. which identifies the
situation as comedic.
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186. The "Ha" is followed
by the "Guffaw."
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187. This creates anticipation.
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188. Next, there is the "Aw,"
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189. to condition your
audience for surprise
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190. at the final element,
the "Ha-Ha."
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191. Now does it make sense?
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192. Not really.
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193. But you got to believe me,
I really want to understand.
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194. I want to be
the best clown I can be.
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195. I'm not going to give up
on you yet.
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196. I think what you need is
some supplemental reading
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197. from my personal archives,
including this.
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198. It's a copy
of Steve Allen's
How to Be Funny
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199. that he signed for
ten extra dollars.
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200. I'll start studying these
right away.
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201. Uh, wait.
This one's not in English.
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202. You're welcome.
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203. A kick and a miss
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204. for John "No-Scori"
Red-corin."
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205. I thought we said
no bouncies.
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206. Ow...!
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207. Could you guys
keep it down?
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208. I'm trying to study.
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209. You bet, son.
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210. You're out.
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211. This was my first audition
for Cirque Fantastique.
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212. It seems like just yesterday
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213. I answered to the name
Dodo McGoofGoof.
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214. Ooh, here's where I do
"the pantomime
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215. of the wrong greeting"
entirely in gibberish.
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216. Gwata galumpus.
Ig skalko menifista.
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217. Ha! Yes!
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218. All right, we have established
this is funny.
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219. But why?
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220. It's funny because
it follows Aristotle's dictum:
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221. it delights—
note the gallivanting,
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222. and teaches—
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223. the bear chases you
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224. since you poked him.
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225. And it follows the
"ha, guffaw, aw, ha-ha" formula.
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226. Congratulations, Bobby.
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227. You have just proven
why I am funny.
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228. I think you're ready
for character work.
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229. Really?
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230. Yes, we'll begin your study
of Commedia Dell'Arte.
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231. Classic clowning.
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232. Humph! I had to take
this class six times
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233. before I got to do that.
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234. Hey, Bobby.
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235. So what's college like?
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236. Is it true the library
is open all night?
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237. It's brutal.
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238. Today I have to come up with
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239. a "Commedia Dell'Arte-style
character."
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240. Wow.
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241. Mild deception is
the lowest form of tomfoolery.
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242. But people will think
he farted.
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243. Joseph,
after taking this class,
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244. I realize
that that isn't funny,
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245. and I also realize
that you are not funny.
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246. Aw, man!
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247. But, Connie,
you are hilarious.
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248. Really?
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249. Yes.
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250. In Algebra this morning,
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251. you said Clark Peters
is as dumb as a dog.
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252. But what you were
really saying
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253. is that a dog is
as smart as a boy—
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254. wonderful!
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255. Uh... yeah.
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256. Hmm.
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257. I am a dog as smart as a boy.
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258. A precocious trickster am I.
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259. They call me Tartuffe
the Spry Wonder Dog.
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260. Magnificently absurd.
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261. The comedic requirements
are all there:
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262. intention communication,
inopportunity,
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263. non-naturalism, prancing.
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264. It has the energy
of Jacques Callot
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265. and the élan of Waylon Flowers
and Madam.
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266. Yes!
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267. Don't blot my bacon, Mom,
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268. I'm celebrating.
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269. You got it.
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270. I sit at the table,
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271. yet my proper position
is by your feet.
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272. What manner
of scamp am I?
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273. I really don't understand
what is happening.
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274. Now, cut that out...
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275. whatever that is you're doing.
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276. Sorry, Dad.
I'm just excited.
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277. See, I was starting to
think I wasn't funny.
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278. But then my teacher
helped me
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279. come up with this
great new character.
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280. Uh-huh, that's fine;
just keep it in class.
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281. Up to now, you've done
a pretty good job
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282. of not being funny around here.
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283. So just keep it up.
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284. Okay, Dad.
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285. Pass the ketchup.
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286. Regular ketchup,
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287. or one that weighs
10,000 pounds?
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288. Regular.
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289. Excusez-moi?
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290. If you're here to nominate me
for an American Clowning Award,
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291. the petition is right here.
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292. Oh, hello, Bobby.
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293. Professor, my school
talent show is coming up.
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294. Do you think I should
perform a sketch
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295. as Tartuffe
the Spry Wonder Dog?
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296. Bobby, that's an idea
and three-quarters!
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297. It's moments like this that
are so much more rewarding
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298. than winning an American
Clowning Award.
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299. Now, who will be attending
this "talent show"?
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300. Everyone in the school
will be there,
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301. since we get out of class
for it.
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302. Even the janitors get to come.
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303. I have always wanted to bring
classic clowning
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304. to the children of Arlen.
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305. The janitorial staff
will be a bonus.
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306. Now, we must find
the perfect costume
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307. for Tartuffe.
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308. Eh. Doesn't wow me.
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309. Good eye, Bobby!
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310. You, of course,
need something bolder.
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311. What about this?
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312. And these?
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313. Perfect!
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314. The middle school
will be agog.
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315. I'm going to be the most
popular kid in school.
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316. I don't know what they do.
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317. Ask him.
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318. Hey, you're in clown school.
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319. Do something funny now.
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320. Off the top of my head—
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321. there are 17 things
I could do with this
globe that are funny,
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322. and two that aren't.
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323. Wow.
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324. But... you'll have to wait
until the talent show,
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325. like everyone else.
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326. Everyone play deep—
this guy swings a big leg!
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327. The ball was wet.
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328. I-It wasn't my fault.
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329. There was nothing
anyone could've done.
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330. Well, balls come and balls go,
when you think about it.
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331. Well, I guess that's it.
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332. I've got to get
to work anyway.
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333. I am so excited.
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334. Is my plume straight?
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335. Your plume is
delightfully askew.
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336. Now, will your father
be attending the
performance today?
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337. No. Dad doesn't think I'm funny.
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338. Historically, clown fathers
haven't been very supportive.
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339. It is up to I and you to break
the cycle of indifference.
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340. Strickland Propane.
Hank speaking.
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341. Mr. Hill,
this is Professor Twilley,
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342. Bobby's clownology teacher.
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343. Professor? You can actually
become a professor in that?
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344. Yes. Any more questions?
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345. Uh, no.
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346. Good, because
you are about to miss
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347. your boy's shining moment.
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348. Bobby, or shall I say
Monsieur Tartuffe
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349. the Spry Wonder Dog,
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350. is about to entertain
the entire student body.
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351. Bobby, practice your flouncing.
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352. Flouncier...
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353. Flouncier!
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354. Pip pip! Pip pip!
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355. You've stepped in lava.
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356. Now you're moving
through pudding.
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357. Bobby, you're up next.
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358. Wonderful!
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359. A seat in
the front row, please.
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360. Excuse me, sir.
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361. Do you have a ticket?
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362. No.
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363. I just have to give something
to my son, Bobby Hill.
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364. It's urgent.
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365. Sir, if you don't have
a ticket,
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366. I can't allow you to...
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367. Did he just run
in my hallway?
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368. You stay here.
I'll be right back.
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369. What am I doing?
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370. Go! Fight! Landry!
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371. Go! Go!
Fight! Fight!
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372. Bobby?
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373. Dad!
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374. You made it!
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375. I went by the house
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376. and brought you some
of your gag toys.
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377. I got your rubber chicken,
your... fake hand.
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378. Take 'em out there with you.
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379. You've got to do
your old stuff.
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380. So you think I'm funny?
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381. No, Bobby, I don't,
but according to the notes
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382. your teachers send home,
your classmates do.
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383. Look, this guy's
got you thinking
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384. this jester crap is funny.
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385. It's not funny, it's just weird.
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386. And they'll think it's weird.
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387. And you still have four years
of high school
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388. with these kids.
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389. They'll find
another class clown,
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390. and you'll just be that
creepy kid in the bodysuit
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391. who ruined the talent show.
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392. No thanks, Dad.
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393. I'm a real clown now.
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394. I don't need to rely
on cheap props.
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395. Next up, the comedy stylings
of Bobby Hill.
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396. Huh?
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397. And now, Tartuffe
the Spry Wonder Dog
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398. upsets a ladies' tea ceremony
and is severely beaten.
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399. Oh, God.
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400. Of course I'd like some tea—
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401. as long as it's not going
to scald me.
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402. Ow!
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403. It scalds.
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404. Perfect.
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405. Don't be afraid of the silence.
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406. Uh...
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407. Certainly, Madam,
I would like a beating.
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408. Wait. Did I say "like"?
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409. I meant to say "not like."
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410. You're getting a reaction,
Bobby.
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411. They're booing you, son.
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412. You are almost at the Ha-Ha!
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413. The Ha-Ha, Bobby! The Ha-Ha!
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414. They look pretty creeped out—
I can see it from here.
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415. Oh, my God. What is that?
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416. Excuse me, ladies, I had
a few too many beans today.
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417. Oh!
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418. There goes my bean sandwich!
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419. What? What could possibly
be funny about fart noises?
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420. Bobby! You don't want
these kinds of laughs!
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421. This laughter is ill-informed!
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422. This was Principal Moss
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423. five minutes ago.
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424. Oh! The old
"pencil in the can" bit.
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425. Always funny.
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426. Don't know why.
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427. I thought I smelled corn,
and this confirms it.
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