Daily Dialogue theme next week: Callback

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The Daily Dialogue theme for next week: Callback. The term is one used in stand-up comedy. Here is the Wikipedia entry:

A callback, in terms of comedy, is a joke which refers to one previously told in the set. The second joke is often presented in a different context than the one which was used in the initial joke. Callbacks are usually used at or near the end of a set, as the aim is to create the biggest laugh at the end of a comic set. The main principle behind the callback is to make the audience feel a sense of familiarity with the subject matter, as well as with the comedian. It helps to create audience rapport. When the second joke is told, it induces a feeling similar to that of being told a personal or in-joke.

An associated bit is “running gag”:

A running gag, or running joke, is a literary device that takes the form of an amusing joke or a comical reference and appears repeatedly throughout a work of literature or other form of storytelling.

In The Pirates of the Caribbean series, the word “parlay” is called back multiple times, not only in The Curse of the Black Pearl, but if memory serves correct, in all of the movies.

Our challenge this week: To come up with 7 great examples of a callback. Feel free to expand it to a running gag. By the way, the line doesn’t have to be humorous witness this callback line from Casablanca:

If you have any suggestions, click Write a response and post your recommendations there.

What to do:

• Copy/paste dialogue from IMDb Quotes or some other transcript source.
• Copy/paste the URL of an accompanying video from YouTube or some other video source.
• Any trivia about the movie which you think would be of interest to readers, we always welcome that.

I’d also ask you to think about why the dialogue is notable. Is there anything about the dialogue which provides some takeaway related to the craft of writing? If so, feel free to share your Dialogue On Dialogue.

Consecutive days of Daily Dialogue posts: 3,845.

Be a part of the proud Daily Dialogue tradition, post a suggestion in a RESPONSE, and have your name emblazoned on a blog post which will forever hold a hallowed spot in the Go Into The Story archives!

Upcoming schedule of themes:

December 3-December 9: Coach
December 10-December 16: Profession of Love [Mark Furney]
December 17-December 23: Warning [Lois Bernard]
December 24-December 30: Gift

If you have any suggestions for Daily Dialogue themes, please post them in a RESPONSE and I’ll be happy to consider them for the series.

Be sure to post your ideas for this week’s theme: Callback.

Continued thanks to all of you Daily Dialogue devotees, and your suggested dialogue and dialogue themes. Grateful for your ongoing support!