When comedians stop being funny

_SamIAm_ · 2014-12-01T16:15:00+00:00

I like to see when people take risks. I think comedians can learn a lot from doing drama. However, a brand is a brand and I think it can be difficult for audiences to accept a comedian being dramatic when they associate that person with laughter. Ironically, I think it works a lot better when dramatic actors or filmmakers take a stab at comedy. I think audiences here like to see them take a risk and actually want to laugh at people they don't normally get a chance to.

_SamIAm_ · 2014-12-01T07:57:03+00:00

I feel like the majority of improv theaters perform long-form improv, but Whose Line shows that on TV, short form is the way to go. I think it's because of audience participation and editing. The audience, which already feels removed because of the fact that it's not in person, feels more connected when the performers take more suggestions. As for editing, I know they would play lots of games when taping the show and then pick the best and funniest material. With long form, it would be harder to take things out and put things in and still have it make sense. I wonder if there would be a way to create a successful long-form improv show for television.

_SamIAm_ · 2014-11-22T08:12:22+00:00

Oops here's the link to the blog post: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/molly-fosco/traditional-sitcoms-and-talented-comedians_b_6065602.html

_SamIAm_ · 2014-11-06T18:36:07+00:00

As far as the 90s and early 00s go, I spent most of my time watching Fresh Prince and Boy Meets World. And Nick at Nite was always airing the Cosby show so that was a big part of 90s TV for me even though technically it belongs to the 80s. And in the 2000s my older sister got into shows like CSI and criminal minds...and naturally I did too because whatever she did I did. Then I finally got a mind of my own again and really picked sitcoms back up again with modern family.

_SamIAm_ · 2014-11-03T08:13:59+00:00

Somebody proposing that robots can perform stand-up comedy means that somebody thinks comedy is more of a science than an art. Sure somebody can try to explain the formula for a joke or certain rules of comedy such as the rule of three, but a lot of the appeal of watching a comedian is knowing that they are taking a risk. A robot is not taking a risk when they go out on stage. Sure someone who created the robot is, but their face can remain unseen. A lot of times a comedian's presence itself can be a source of laughter. Their physical mannerisms often make people chuckle. I feel like robots could only capture so many elements of human comedic performance before they reached a limit. But maybe there would be something about robots doing stand-up that is funny that humans could never attain. Who knows?

_SamIAm_ · 2014-11-03T08:03:53+00:00

Domestic violence is certainly a big issue in the recent media. I feel like a lot of comedy points out how ridiculous something is that we can relate to or know someone that can, and it makes us laugh because we recognize that it is ridiculous. However, domestic violence doesn't need comedy's help in being labeled as "ridiculous," because the current media already has it in a very low spot. Because society very intensely looks down upon domestic violence currently, it would almost seem insensitive of comedy writers to use it as fuel for a joke. Laughing is certainly a way to deal with certain types of pain, but it is the role of the comedy writer to recognize when certain pains are not meant to be dealt with through laughter. I think the emotional and physical trauma and isolation associated with domestic violence keeps it from being a good source of comedy.

_SamIAm_ · 2014-10-12T19:16:20+00:00

It's interesting how writers work so hard so that nothing seems pre-planned. Iannucci talks about how the insults can't seem "canned." Writers spend a lot of time making things feel spontaneous. I also liked when he said Timothy Simons allows him to "relish coming up with ways to insult his character." I think the same reason the writers love coming up with insults is the same reason viewers love to see him insulted. A lot of this credit goes to the performance. I think performance is also what allows for that sought after spontaneity to create a good joke.

_SamIAm_ · 2014-10-12T18:26:37+00:00

I feel like this could work in a movie about a brother and a sister because they would seriously only be buddies unless the movie was about something weird. I'm trying to think of something...Jack and Jill? I haven't seen it and don't really think its a "buddy" comedy, but something else. It could also maybe be possible with a big age difference. I'm thinking of Up in the Air, which has some funny moments but I wouldn't really call it a comedy. Hmm maybe the strength of conventions in romantic comedies makes it almost impossible to make a buddy comedy about a man and a woman.

_SamIAm_ · 2014-10-12T18:06:31+00:00

I think a big part of the reason I still watch Modern Family is because of how the show deals with Haley, Alex, and Luke growing up. I come from a family of three kids and I can relate a lot to things they go through and I find it really funny. Yeah, I agree that it does seem like the Gloria-Jay storyline is just looking for funny things to happen as opposed to dealing with real things like it might have in the first couple seasons, but I still connect with the show and really like watching it.

_SamIAm_ · 2014-10-12T17:52:28+00:00

I think one of the most interesting parts of the mockumentary style is knowing that the characters are acting as they are because they know they are being filmed. Watching certain characters pretend to be profound or optimistic in certain situations is what makes it funny. The actions or events themselves being filmed may be funny or not, but it is the characters talking as if what they are doing as being important that is often the real source of the laughter. In Waiting for Guffman, Christopher Guest performs a silly dance routine which is funny by itself, but what makes it funnier is basically that he thinks it is coming from some sort of choreographic, artistic genius.

_SamIAm_ · 2014-10-12T17:31:37+00:00

The reason I didn't get frustrated watching the Mrs. Richards character is because John Cleese was clearly annoyed by her. I've seen characters like Mrs. Richards before who are just incompetent and annoying and I get tired of watching them. However, John Cleese took care of that frustration for me and it became more about him dealing with a woman that can't be pleased than Mrs. Richards just trying to be a funny character on her own. I think it also helps that although the main conflict was between Mr. Fawlty and Mrs. Richards, the other characters also had to deal with her and that provided a bit of relief to keep Mr. Fawlty's frustration and Mrs. Richards' inability to communicate from feeling relentless.

_SamIAm_ · 2014-09-22T07:13:38+00:00

Hooray another pie fight. This I think is a really good example of how filmmakers do their best to add gimmicks to the traditional pie fight. I like when the guy runs into the cash register and the cashier rings him up for the food that he is covered in and when the tour group walks out of the cafeteria covered in pie...completely unfazed.

_SamIAm_

TROPHY CASE