Nuns Are Funny: Difference between revisions

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This could be because "nun" is an [[Inherently Funny Words]], or that their outfits look silly. Of course, the majority of modern nuns ''do not'' wear habits anymore (preferring plain black or grey dresses instead, maybe including the headdress), but...[[Rule of Funny|that's not as funny.]] Also, the ''[[Incredibly Lame Pun|convent]]''ional stereotype of them is that they are very stern, severe and disapproving, thus making them either foils for wackiness going on around them or upping the humor value when they ''do'' [[Nun-Too-Holy|do something wacky]].
This could be because "nun" is an [[Inherently Funny Words]], or that their outfits look silly. Of course, the majority of modern nuns ''do not'' wear habits anymore (preferring plain black or grey dresses instead, maybe including the headdress), but...[[Rule of Funny|that's not as funny.]] Also, the ''[[Incredibly Lame Pun|convent]]''ional stereotype of them is that they are very stern, severe and disapproving, thus making them either foils for wackiness going on around them or upping the humor value when they ''do'' [[Nun-Too-Holy|do something wacky]].


IE, nuns are [[The Comically Serious]]. The only thing more hilarious than nuns would be [[Batman|Bat]][[Shortpacked (Webcomic)|man]] in a nun's habit. (You're picturing it right now aren't you? No doubt you're laughing your arse off).
IE, nuns are [[The Comically Serious]]. The only thing more hilarious than nuns would be [[Batman|Bat]][[Shortpacked|man]] in a nun's habit. (You're picturing it right now aren't you? No doubt you're laughing your arse off).


Yes, this is sometimes [[Truth in Television]]. Like all people, it depends on the nun.
Yes, this is sometimes [[Truth in Television]]. Like all people, it depends on the nun.
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== [[Comics]] ==
== [[Comics]] ==
* And what ''[[Young Justice (Comic Book)|Young Justice]]'' fan can forget the immortal words of Robin on a runaway supercycle: "Oh no! Nuns in a station wagon loaded with high explosives! [http://robintheunlikelykiller.ytmnd.com/ Just my luck!" (Warning: sound)]
* And what ''[[Young Justice (comics)|Young Justice]]'' fan can forget the immortal words of Robin on a runaway supercycle: "Oh no! Nuns in a station wagon loaded with high explosives! [http://robintheunlikelykiller.ytmnd.com/ Just my luck!" (Warning: sound)]


== [[Film]] ==
== [[Film]] ==
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** Its sequel ''Where Angels Go, Trouble Follows'' addresses the trope when Sister George says she doesn't want to be patronized as a "darling little nun" who's "just like a real person." While both movies draw humor from nuns doing things in their bulky habits, the second one ends with the sisters changing to a modified version.
** Its sequel ''Where Angels Go, Trouble Follows'' addresses the trope when Sister George says she doesn't want to be patronized as a "darling little nun" who's "just like a real person." While both movies draw humor from nuns doing things in their bulky habits, the second one ends with the sisters changing to a modified version.
* The obscure film ''Greaser's Palace'' has a nun played by a man by no reason.
* The obscure film ''Greaser's Palace'' has a nun played by a man by no reason.
* ''[[Mystery Science Theater 3000 (TV)|Mystery Science Theater 3000]]'' has Mike & The Bots doing humorous dialogue for the nuns waiting for a bus in ''[[Soultaker (Film)|Soultaker]]''.
* ''[[Mystery Science Theater 3000]]'' has Mike & The Bots doing humorous dialogue for the nuns waiting for a bus in ''[[Soultaker]]''.
** Even better is their treatment of ''[[Girls Town|Girls' Town]]'', a 1950s movie about a reform school run by nuns, which is about an hour and a half straight of this trope. Such as when the sisters break up a fight: "Paul Anka's beefy security nuns step in!" Although actually, the movie itself contains a few examples of the trope to start with, such as the nun who gleefully advocates severe asskickings for delinquents.
** Even better is their treatment of ''[[Girls Town]]'', a 1950s movie about a reform school run by nuns, which is about an hour and a half straight of this trope. Such as when the sisters break up a fight: "Paul Anka's beefy security nuns step in!" Although actually, the movie itself contains a few examples of the trope to start with, such as the nun who gleefully advocates severe asskickings for delinquents.
* ''[[The Blues Brothers]]'', mostly for its parody of [[Nuns Are Spooky]], and their habit of referring to her as "the Penguin" all the time.
* ''[[The Blues Brothers]]'', mostly for its parody of [[Nuns Are Spooky]], and their habit of referring to her as "the Penguin" all the time.
* ''[[Running Scared]]'' - Billy Crystal and Gregory Hines play cops who arrest a priest and a nun who they think are smuggling drugs from Columbia. After they find out they aren't, the nun hits one of them with a ruler.
* ''[[Running Scared]]'' - Billy Crystal and Gregory Hines play cops who arrest a priest and a nun who they think are smuggling drugs from Columbia. After they find out they aren't, the nun hits one of them with a ruler.
* ''[[The Princess Diaries]]'': Bystander calling the police on a cell phone? Whatever. Nun calling the police on a cell phone, getting put on hold, and letting out an exasperated "Oh for the love of God"? [[Hilarity Ensues]]!
* ''[[The Princess Diaries]]'': Bystander calling the police on a cell phone? Whatever. Nun calling the police on a cell phone, getting put on hold, and letting out an exasperated "Oh for the love of God"? [[Hilarity Ensues]]!
* ''[[Short Circuit (Film)|Short Circuit]]'': "What if it goes and melts down a busload of nuns? How would you like to write the headline on that?" "'Nun Soup'?"
* ''[[Short Circuit]]'': "What if it goes and melts down a busload of nuns? How would you like to write the headline on that?" "'Nun Soup'?"
* The Le Gendarme series of French films had several eccentric nuns on motorcycles aiding the eponymous policeman.
* The Le Gendarme series of French films had several eccentric nuns on motorcycles aiding the eponymous policeman.
* The British film ''[[Nuns On the Run]]'' cranks the zany up to 11 by having two men crossdress as nuns to escape criminals.
* The British film ''[[Nuns on the Run]]'' cranks the zany up to 11 by having two men crossdress as nuns to escape criminals.
* In the original version of ''[[Bedazzled]]'', The Devil tricks Stanley into using his final wish to be transformed into a nun.
* In the original version of ''[[Bedazzled]]'', The Devil tricks Stanley into using his final wish to be transformed into a nun.
* ''[[Airplane! (Film)|Airplane!]]'' has a gag where a nun is seeing reading the magazine "Boy's Life", followed immediately by a boy reading "Nun's Life", with a cover featuring a nun riding a surfboard.
* ''[[Airplane!]]'' has a gag where a nun is seeing reading the magazine "Boy's Life", followed immediately by a boy reading "Nun's Life", with a cover featuring a nun riding a surfboard.


== [[Literature]] ==
== [[Literature]] ==
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* ''[[The Flying Nun]]''
* ''[[The Flying Nun]]''
* ''[[Monty Python's Flying Circus]]'' loves funny nuns: one sketch has the nuns and monks playing football.
* ''[[Monty Python's Flying Circus]]'' loves funny nuns: one sketch has the nuns and monks playing football.
* The 1960's ''[[Batman (TV)|Batman]]'' combines Batman with Nuns for great [[Hilarity Ensues|hilarity]].
* The 1960's ''[[Batman (TV series)|Batman]]'' combines Batman with Nuns for great [[Hilarity Ensues|hilarity]].
* The "bowling nuns", [[Perky Goth|Abby's]] bowling team in [[NCIS]].
* The "bowling nuns", [[Perky Goth|Abby's]] bowling team in [[NCIS]].
** By which is meant, Abby is the only member of the team who isn't a member of the cloth. It's not the team name. They're actual nuns.
** By which is meant, Abby is the only member of the team who isn't a member of the cloth. It's not the team name. They're actual nuns.
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* ''[[The Suite Life of Zack and Cody]]'' has London and Mady go to a Catholic School. The nuns there always wear their hats, even when hiking through the woods in tracksuit or coaching the volleyball team.
* ''[[The Suite Life of Zack and Cody]]'' has London and Mady go to a Catholic School. The nuns there always wear their hats, even when hiking through the woods in tracksuit or coaching the volleyball team.
* [[Buffy the Vampire Slayer|Buffy]] saved a nun from a vampire. Then she got to try on her wimple.
* [[Buffy the Vampire Slayer|Buffy]] saved a nun from a vampire. Then she got to try on her wimple.
* The nuns who show up in the first-season ''[[House (TV)|House]]'' episode "Damned If You Do" are treated as sympathetic but very quirky characters, and end up producing some pretty funny moments (like when we catch them watching wide-eyed a hunky-looking surfer on the hospital room TV, and hurriedly explain to the team that they were just looking for the remote that controlled the bed...).
* The nuns who show up in the first-season ''[[House (TV series)|House]]'' episode "Damned If You Do" are treated as sympathetic but very quirky characters, and end up producing some pretty funny moments (like when we catch them watching wide-eyed a hunky-looking surfer on the hospital room TV, and hurriedly explain to the team that they were just looking for the remote that controlled the bed...).
* The comedy show ''Four on the Floor'' has the videogame "Karate Nuns", which is [[Exactly What It Says On the Tin]].
* The comedy show ''Four on the Floor'' has the videogame "Karate Nuns", which is [[Exactly What It Says on the Tin]].
** Also, the skit "Mr. Canoe Head vs. The Kung Fu Nun".
** Also, the skit "Mr. Canoe Head vs. The Kung Fu Nun".
* "Plan Z"'s [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YEzK2w2kHB8 Tennis-playing Nun]
* "Plan Z"'s [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YEzK2w2kHB8 Tennis-playing Nun]
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== [[Western Animation]] ==
== [[Western Animation]] ==
* A episode of ''[[Dexters Laboratory]]'' had a rather eccentric nun as one of the potential replacements for Dee Dee.
* A episode of ''[[Dexter's Laboratory]]'' had a rather eccentric nun as one of the potential replacements for Dee Dee.
** Because Dexter wasn't clear enough in his ad for a "Spastic Sister".
** Because Dexter wasn't clear enough in his ad for a "Spastic Sister".
* Throughout the entirety of ''[[A Goofy Movie]]'', [[Running Gag|Goofy and Max keep on bumping into the same four nuns]] at various escalatingly unexpected times, including during [[Crowd Song|an impromptu musical number on the highway]], at a monster truck rally [[Like a Fish Takes To Water|that they seem to be very excited about]], and finally [[Serial Escalation|a huge rock concert]] [[Fridge Brilliance|which we must assume is the entire reason they were on the road in the first place]].
* Throughout the entirety of ''[[A Goofy Movie]]'', [[Running Gag|Goofy and Max keep on bumping into the same four nuns]] at various escalatingly unexpected times, including during [[Crowd Song|an impromptu musical number on the highway]], at a monster truck rally [[Like a Fish Takes to Water|that they seem to be very excited about]], and finally [[Serial Escalation|a huge rock concert]] [[Fridge Brilliance|which we must assume is the entire reason they were on the road in the first place]].
* The ''[[Family Guy]]'' episode "When You Wish Upon A Weinstien" has a gaggle of nuns go out, [[Church Militant]] style when they (somehow) detect Peter, a Catholic, entering a synagogue.
* The ''[[Family Guy]]'' episode "When You Wish Upon A Weinstien" has a gaggle of nuns go out, [[Church Militant]] style when they (somehow) detect Peter, a Catholic, entering a synagogue.
** In a later [[Cutaway Gag]] involving ''The Sound of Music'', during the scene where the Von Trapp family escapes from the Nazis, one of the nuns mentions that she's sinned, and takes out Rolf's severed head.
** In a later [[Cutaway Gag]] involving ''The Sound of Music'', during the scene where the Von Trapp family escapes from the Nazis, one of the nuns mentions that she's sinned, and takes out Rolf's severed head.
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