. . . . . "A blackout gag is a kind of joke in broad, rapid-fire slapstick comedy. The term is derived from burlesque and vaudeville, when the lights were quickly turned off after the punchline of a joke to accentuate it and/or allow for audience laughter. It may use a shock value to define the joke, and may not be initially noticeable to all viewers if it is a very fast joke. It is distinguished from an iris shot, frequently used in the silent film era, where a black circle closes to end a scene."@en . . . . . . "Blackout gag"@en . . "1069438163"^^ . . . "16164694"^^ . . . . "982"^^ . . . "A blackout gag is a kind of joke in broad, rapid-fire slapstick comedy. The term is derived from burlesque and vaudeville, when the lights were quickly turned off after the punchline of a joke to accentuate it and/or allow for audience laughter. It may use a shock value to define the joke, and may not be initially noticeable to all viewers if it is a very fast joke. It is distinguished from an iris shot, frequently used in the silent film era, where a black circle closes to end a scene. The term \"blackout gag\" can also apply to fast-paced television or film comedy, such as Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In, where there may not literally be a blackout, but a quick cut to the next gag."@en . . . .