Funny No More Essays - Fiction, Wile E. Coyote And The Road Runner

Funny No More Funny No More It's 6:OOam on a Saturday morning; do you know where your children are? Well, if they are anything like we used to be, they are probably sitting down to watch the weekend cartoons. Yeah, you remember, the one time during the whole week when you got up before the sun came out and ate a big bowl of sugar coated garbage just so you could watch Wyle E. Coyote practically kill himself trying to catch the ever illusive Road Runner. We've all seen him try and inevitably fail at this task, but we get a good laugh at his expense. And isn't that the point; to laugh at something so ridiculous that it almost hurts? Well, according to Kirsten Dockendorff's essay, The Road to Acme Looniversity (pg.232-234) the laughter should end and Wyle E. Coyote should succeed in killing the Road Runner. Not only would this kill a cartoon legend, but the entire chemistry in which we see between the Road Runner and Wyle E. would no longer exist. And this would be a crime because one of the best cartoons ever mad e would no longer be funny. In this essay by Dockendorf, it is suggested that Wyle E. succeed in capturing the Road Runner by first hiring an assassin so he can rest easily knowing a professional was at work. Now, it doesn't take a rocket scientist to realize that this idea would more then likely work. But, that defeats the entire purpose of the humor in the first place. As kids, we sat down to watch the show because we knew he would fail; that's what makes it funny! Also, an assassination of the bird would mean no more cartoon. Sure, I think that once in all of our lives we wanted to see Wyle E. catch the bird, but not indefinitely. The killing of the bird means the killing of the show. When was the last time you ever saw a classic cartoon character die anyway? It just doesn't happen! No, an assassin would be no good for the show. If the Road Runner is to get caught, it McDonald 2 will have to be done by Wyle E. and one of his many great ideas. There just is no other way! The next way in Dockendorff's essay for Wyle E. Coyote to succeed is almost as bad as the first idea. It is suggested that he enlist the help of his friends(Elmer Fudd, Sylvester, Taz, and Yosemite Sam) to come up with a plan that will succeed in the Road Runner's Capture. Now, as an avid viewer of the show, I will admit that such a collaboration would be rather funny to see. But, only because NONE of these guys have ever succeeded in capturing there enemies! The whole plan mentioned in the essay suggests not only the capture of the Road Runner, but breaking it's legs and then shooting it. Where's the humor in that? Cartoons are funny because it's mindless violence and stupidity that keeps the characters going. They always recover from any accident, so where would the humor be in the actual demise of one of these characters. Again, this idea will not work. Finally, it is suggested that Wyle E. use reliable equipment in order to catch the Road Runner. Now I'm sorry, but this simply cannot happen!!! More then half the shows humor is to see what new and innovated way Wyle E. is going to attempt the Road Runner's capture. It's very amusing to sit down and watch everything that he tries either blow up, run out of fuel, inflict serious pain on himself, or fall apart. No matter what he uses, it either doesn't work or it over works. And I think that you will agree that this helps make the show funny. Yes, a reliable product would probably mean the capture of the Road Runner. But, that means that we would no longer see Wyle E. do a swan dive off of a 1,000 ft. cliff. His classic move would be no more! Again, where's the humor in that? Dockendorff's essay closes up by saying, Regardless of the method Wyle E. chooses, one thing is clear: the bird must die!