I've been watching vice's darkside of comedy. Many moons ago I was a paid performer in an improv group. Not like that holds a candle to anyone in that series career. But I feel like throwing that in as my corporate icebreaker and for fun. More so, to tell that I did value comedy at one point. I've seen a few legend comics on stage.

In general, outside of dark side of comedy, there is this story of stand up comedians spending countless years on the road, grinding, struggling for success. Just like pro wrestling. Traveling from city to city to make no money.

Ruining relationships, doing drugs, all for the price of comedy. Like, as if it is some noble pursuit.

Then, in the series, there is always a stressor, performing multiple times a week, doing many practices for SNL. As if the role of performing comedy is greatly more stressful than teaching, nursing or managing a bunch of morons at Applebee's. Which, leads to more relationship problems and drug usage. All for the powerful virtue of making people laugh, or feeding the drug of the high of getting the laugh.

In general, I feel like the notion of perpetuating saying something edgy or offensive to get an awkward giggle is something that seen as high value at the top level. But when Jim at work looses his job because an employee or hr department doesn't approve of his jokes, he's a loser. But the top, perpetuates the bottom. Edgy comedy perpetuates toxic workplaces.


People also hold a high value of the difficulty of performing comedy. I think I've discussed this before. Bombing on stage, dying on stage. Like as if, the worst thing that can happen in life is not getting a laugh. Definitely worse than having a student in a classroom not receiving your material. It's like the worst thing ever in this type of show. Or any comedy biopic.

But what are they really doing? How hard is it? The audience came to laugh. They don't sit there begrudgingly, arms crossed and opposed to laughing. They came to be entertained. They paid money and are looking forward to it. Even better, they have a two drink minimum. So they are fully prepped to be a willing audience. They are spoon fed to the comedian. It really shouldn't be hard. Definitely not the hardest thing ever, given the circumstances.

And then there is a final value of comedy, the voices of the generation, the spoken of the unspoken, the social movement harbingers. Are they really? Did Carlin, Lenny Bruce and others really make progress for others outside of comedy? Did their words do that much? Or are they held on false pedestals? I feel like this is never examined critically. It is just something that is always said and always accepted. And yes, one fat guy in a little suit, helps the next fat guy in the little suit get over. Even if they self destruct like the last one, it's all good right? They made us laugh, they taught us something about ourselves?!? They made an impact? Did they really? Will they truly be remembered? Will they be like Shakespeare and twain that are remembered? Doubtful, just a part of nothing. Just entertainment. Not what changed the world.

Just some thoughts I've had, loosely jumbled together while waiting for my wife to get prepped for surgery on her knee. Partial replacement.

There's so much variation in what comedy is.
I saw an interview with Steve Martin once and the man was painfully boring, zero off the cuff skills, much like Seinfeld he is very workman-like.

For me, the breath taking talents are the Robin Williams incredibly funny all the time and nearly impossible to interview, I really enjoy Bill Burt on Conan for similar reasons, they are the truly rare talents

Do comics have routines anymore? Seems all I ever see recommended is crowd work.

Comedy was never intended to be a world-changing generator of historical icons. It's light entertainment. Always has been, always will be.

Apr 17, 2024 16:52:24 GMT theend said:

In general, I feel like the notion of perpetuating saying something edgy or offensive to get an awkward giggle is something that seen as high value at the top level.

I thought going for the low hanging fruit offensive joke was considered crass and easy. Of course many people like that style of comedy, and some British comedians make a living on being offensive, but in today's culture especially it's better to be more creative with one's humour.

Apr 17, 2024 16:52:24 GMT theend said:

People also hold a high value of the difficulty of performing comedy. I think I've discussed this before. Bombing on stage, dying on stage. Like as if, the worst thing that can happen in life is not getting a laugh. Definitely worse than having a student in a classroom not receiving your material. It's like the worst thing ever in this type of show. Or any comedy biopic.

But what are they really doing? How hard is it? The audience came to laugh. They don't sit there begrudgingly, arms crossed and opposed to laughing. They came to be entertained. They paid money and are looking forward to it. Even better, they have a two drink minimum. So they are fully prepped to be a willing audience. They are spoon fed to the comedian. It really shouldn't be hard. Definitely not the hardest thing ever, given the circumstances.

Even in a casual setting, telling a joke and not getting a laugh is embarrassing. A failed stand up routine must be a thousands times more shameful. You're failing at your job, your entire purpose of existence.

Your second paragraph reinforces your first. If it's so easy, then failing is even more shameful than failing at something difficult. But I don't believe your theory that comedy should be easy. It strikes me as an incredibly hard thing to do. Not only do you have to write jokes - a LOT of jokes - you have to perform it in the right way, consider your audience, react on the fly if things don't go your way. Obviously the great comedians make it look easy but in my view it's extremely difficult and quite frankly, terrifying.

I consider myself a reasonably funny person, but if someone asks me directly to make them laugh, I wouldn't be able to do so.

Nov 18, 2022 2:32:51 GMT @ness said:

Do comics have routines anymore? Seems all I ever see recommended is crowd work.

Sure they do. The crowd work is what makes the bitesize social media posts because comedians don't want to give away their rehearsed material.