Stevie Emerson · Facebook · 05:32

shark tank, but for a one night stand

A 5-minute vertical sketch that runs the full Shark Tank grammar — chyrons, valuations, four-shark deals — through the world's worst pickup pitch.

Posted
August 21st 2025
8 months ago
Duration
05:32
16 beats
Format
Sketch
deadpan-parody
Channel
SE
Stevie Emerson
§ 01 · The Hook

The bait, then the rug-pull.

The title is the whole hook. The first four seconds give you a Shark Tank-style narrator intro and a guy in a plaid shirt holding a vodka cranberry in a bar — you're already laughing before he opens his mouth, because you already know exactly which show this is going to imitate for the next five minutes.

§ 02 · The Beat Sheet

Six beats. One throughline.

00:00 · BEAT 1 · PREMISE
cold open
"Next in the tank is a young man trying to get lucky."
shark tank, but for a one night stand
cold open frame
00:05 · BEAT 2 · PITCH
Max's pitch
"Hi, I'm Max, but you can call me yours. I'm here tonight asking if you wanna go back to my place with me in exchange for free drinks for the rest of the night."
Seeking a baddie to go home with him in exchange for free drinks for the entire night
Max's pitch frame
00:20 · BEAT 3
value-prop pivot
"Have you ever wanted to feel the exhilaration of the honeymoon phase without actually having to get married? Well tonight, you and I can be in love until the sun comes up."
the exhilaration of the honeymoon phase without actually having to get married?
value-prop pivot frame
00:33 · BEAT 4 · VALUATION
samples & first rejection
"Impressive presentation. I have samples. … Look Max, you seem like a nice guy, but let's be real. I am absolutely offended by your valuation."
Also known as Cape Codder — derived from the Massachusetts region known for cranberry production
samples & first rejection frame
00:51 · BEAT 5 · CHYRON MATH
the numbers question
"How were your numbers last year? — Two. — Two? — I went home with two women, yeah."
If Max went out twice a month for a year, then going home with 2 women means he closed at a rate of 8%, which is not good
the numbers question frame
01:07 · BEAT 6 · FIRST OUT
Lauren is out
"I like the product. I just don't like you. … And for that reason, I'm out."
Lauren is out frame
01:26 · BEAT 7 · OFFER 1
Tatianna's brunch offer
"Free drinks not gonna get me out of bed in the morning. But you know what will? Free brunch. … I wanna go somewhere with waffles."
Tatianna's Offer: she will go home with Max if in addition to the drinks, he buys her brunch in the morning
Tatianna's brunch offer frame
01:53 · BEAT 8 · OFFER 2
Krissy's story-post offer
"Krissy, you literally have a boyfriend. — We broke up two weeks ago. … I need to post you and I dancing on my story to make Eric jealous."
Krissy's offer: she will go home with Max if in addition to the drinks and brunch, she can post Max on her story to make her ex jealous
Krissy's story-post offer frame
02:24 · BEAT 9 · COUNTER
Max counters: two at once
"Would the two of you guys maybe consider going in on this deal together?"
Max's counter offer: Tatianna and Krissy both go home with him. In today's market it is very difficult and almost impossible to go home with two women at the same time
Max counters: two at once frame
02:41 · BEAT 10 · LATE ENTRY
Samantha walks in
"Samantha? I thought you weren't coming out with us tonight. — Hair of the dog, babe. … Max, I will give you exactly what you came in here asking for tonight."
Samantha's offer: she will go home with Max in exchange for free drinks for the rest of the night
Samantha walks in frame
03:01 · BEAT 11 · PRESSURE
Lauren's countdown
"I will also give you exactly what you asked for, but I will need the answer when I count down from three."
Lauren's offer: she will go home with Max in exchange for free drinks the entire night, but he needs to answer on the count of 3
Lauren's countdown frame
03:29 · BEAT 12 · STALL
Max stalls, dad on phone
"Do you guys mind if I just step aside really quick to make a call to my partner? … Son, are you really asking for more of Jenny's money? The answer is no."
04:06 · BEAT 13 · ESCALATION
four-shark deal
"All roads lead back to Missus Wonderful. … This has never happened in the tank before. A four shark deal."
04:31 · BEAT 14
final negotiation & bird scooter
"Tatiana, do I have to pay for the Uber as well to brunch? — Yeah. … Would you consider taking a bird scooter? — Legally, I can't. Alright. I'm just gonna have to ask my dad for more money."
05:20 · BEAT 15 · CLOSE
deal closes
"Bottomless mimosas baby. Don't let me down, Max. Thank you guys so much. We're gonna do big things together. Stay cheap."
05:26 · BEAT 16 · BUTTON
sequel-bait button
"Wait a minute. His friend's kinda cute. I've been about this my whole life."
§ 03 · The Joke Engine

The ask stacks.

What's compounding through this sketch isn't severity, it's contingencies. Max's offer (himself, free drinks) stays exactly the same from beat one to beat fifteen. The sharks' demands just keep accumulating on top of each other — every offer the panel makes is the previous offer plus one more humiliating add-on.

Max's pitchTatiannaKrissySamanthaCombined
Free drinks all nightyesyesyesyesyes
+ Brunch with wafflesyesyesyes
+ Story post to make ex jealousyesyes
+ Pay for the Uber to brunchyes
+ Answer on a 3-2-1 countdownyes (Lauren's rider)

The pattern lets Stevie write 5+ minutes of sketch with a one-line premise. He never has to invent new comedy — he just adds one more bullet to a list the viewer is already laughing at, and the comedy compounds because each new contingency makes Max's whole position more pathetic.

§ 04 · The Script

Word for word.

Next in the tank is a young man trying to get lucky. Hey, hot stuff. Did it hurt? Did what hurt? When you fell from heaven. Nice. Hi. I'm Max, but you can call me yours. I'm here tonight asking if you wanna go back to my place with me in exchange free drinks for the rest of the night. Hot Stuff, have you ever wanted to feel the exhilaration of the honeymoon phase without actually having to get married? Well tonight, you and I can be in love until the sun comes up. So Hot Stuff, what do you say? You wanna out of here? Impressive presentation. I have samples. And what is this? That's gonna be your classic vodka cranberry. It's good? Thank you. Yeah. That's actually our best seller. It's all done in house. Look, Max. You seem like a nice guy, but let's be real. I am absolutely offended by your valuation. Three drinks for a night? What type of girl do you think I am? You can get any drink on the menu, make it a double, triple Yeah. How were your numbers last year? Two. Two? I went home with two women. Yeah. Before you tear apart my business model, I just wanna say I had a very serious girlfriend for like eight What is proprietary about this deal? What is to stop me from going over to the next man with a credit card? Nothing. See, I like the product. I just don't like you. Before you go out, I just want For that reason, I'm out. Alright. Thank you for your time. I actually disagree with Lauren here. I don't think your numbers are too bad considering you're a six. You know, but it's been a while for me, so I'll consider this deal. The only problem is free drinks, not gonna get me out of bed in the morning. But you know what, Will? Free brunch. Can I ask where? I wanna go somewhere with waffles. I do know there's actually a very good rooftop brunch over at Vicky's. I'll do that deal right now. Chrissy, you literally have a boyfriend. We broke up two weeks ago. Woah. Which is why I'm adding one more contingency to my deal. And he's supposed you and I dancing on my story to make Eric Jones. Oh. Woah. Don't let her walk all over you like that, Max. You're asking a lot, girl. I am a little hesitant just because I think I actually know your ex and like that just wouldn't be very cool of me. Rule number one in business, Max. You gotta leave your feelings out of it. That is a greedy offer. You're out, Lauren. So I take it. You also wanna do the rooftop brunch at Vicky's? You know what? No. I just want the free drinks and the story post. Would the two you guys maybe considered going in on this deal together and we can all No. Yeah. It doesn't hurt to ask. Right? Come on, Dave. Drop the Ego Max. You're on thin ice. I just wanna say, like, if you guys knew, like, how much blood, sweat, and tears went into I wanna make an offer. Samantha? I thought you weren't coming out with us tonight, hair and the dog babe. It's a tank. Anything can happen. You guys are taking advantage of this poor fella. He's a six for crying out loud. Does everyone have to keep saying that? Max, I will give you exactly what you came in here asking for tonight. My offer's way better, Max. Save your money on brunch. Waffles, buddy. Alright. I'm back in. Woah. Oh, my. Come on. This is wild. I've dreamt about this my whole life. The more I talk to you, the more I realize why I got into this business. I love helping out struggling entrepreneurs like yourself. He's a charity case, isn't he? I will also give you exactly what you asked for, but I will need the answer when I count down from three. Oh my god. Three. Yay or nay Max? Look at me Max too. Save your brunch money, Max. Waffles. One. Little slices of ham. Okay. My answer is, do you guys mind if I just step aside really quick to make a call to my partner? I'm out. I'm also out. What? You're playing with fire, bro. You're getting a big head, Max. Don't belittle him. He's already kinda little. Oof. What are they? Five nine? Let him make his little call. It'll only last one minute. He better last longer than that. Nice. I don't get paid until tomorrow night. He's got all his hair. Yeah. So the drinks was fine, but the brunch payment, it it might not go through. Then you can get the waffle. Son, are you really asking for more of Jenny's money? The answer is no. I am not sending you any more money. Yeah. He would definitely go for it. Okay. After speaking with my strategic partner on this Hold on, Max. While you were gone, we came up with something. All roads lead back to missus wonderful. But my offer has changed. I'm for the girls now. I will only go home with you if you agree to this deal. This has never happened in the tank before. A four shark deal. Here's our deal. You're going to buy the free drinks for me. At which point, I am going to post you on my story to make my ex jealous. And then tomorrow morning, you'll Uber and meet me at Vicky's rooftop and buy me said waffles. And finally, I am going to go home with you. Sound fair enough? This is your last chance. It is a fair offer. No. I know. It's a it's a very fair offer. I just literally might not have enough money in my account to pull off brunch. Tatiana, do I have to pay for the Uber as well to brunch? Yeah. Max, don't lose this deal. Would you consider taking a bird scooter? Oh my god. Legally, I can't. Alright. I'm just gonna have to ask my dad for more money. Done. Bottomless the most is baby. Don't let me down, Max. Thank you guys so much. We're gonna do big things together. Stay cheap. Wait a minute. His friend's kinda cute. I've been about this my whole life. — full transcript · sketch · 16 beats
§ 05 · For Joe

Steal the format.

Killing Excuses playbook

Borrow a TV format with a strong grammar, run a tiny embarrassing transaction through it, and let the format-respect do the comedy.

  • Pick a reality-TV template with a known rhythm — Shark Tank, House Hunters, The Bachelor, Hell's Kitchen, Below Deck.
  • Apply it to the smallest possible stakes — a kid picking a babysitter, a husband choosing tonight's game, a creator deciding which platform to post on.
  • Build a 3–5 person ensemble where each character gets exactly ONE trait that drives their offer (the value-add, the revenge poster, the hungover late-arrival, the Mr. Wonderful).
  • Stack contingencies, don't escalate severity. Each beat adds one bullet to a list the viewer is already laughing at.
  • Spend the budget on chyrons. The format-respect IS the joke — Sony-Pictures-Television font, cultural-context glosses, math overlays.
  • End on a callback button that re-loads the premise for a sequel. Don't wink, don't laugh-track — just say the line and cut.
  • For Killing Excuses: write a Joe-Lee-vs-Joe-Lavery beat where Joe Lavery's rebuttals don't refute the last excuse, they ADD a new contingency on top of it. Same compounding engine, dialogue version.
§ 06 · Frame Gallery

Visual rhythm.