The Hidden Tools of Comedy

1. Comedy isn't magic; it's a teachable art based on truth.

The biggest myth about comedy is that it’s magical, unknowable, unteachable.

Demystifying comedy. Contrary to popular belief, comedy is not an innate, unteachable talent. While genius may be born, artistry is learned. Like any craft, comedy involves skills, techniques, and principles that can be studied, practiced, and refined.

Learning the craft. Comics, writers, and performers learn through trial and error, constantly analyzing what works and what doesn't. They pore over their material like scholars, tweaking phrasing, timing, and rhythm. This rigorous deconstruction, far from killing the humor, is essential for improvement.

Truth is the foundation. At its heart, comedy is about telling the truth. It's not merely about being silly or mechanical; it's about revealing something honest about the world and, most importantly, about people. Understanding this fundamental truth is the first step to mastering comedy.

2. Comedy tells the truth about human imperfection.

Comedy helps us live with who we are.

Embracing flaws. While drama often idealizes humanity, comedy finds its power in our imperfections. It highlights our insecurities, awkwardness, fumbling, and uncertainty – qualities that resonate because they are universally human. Comedy sees our flaws, foibles, and failings, and loves us anyway.

The human condition. Knowing we are mortal, we still strive daily to improve our lives, no matter how futile the ultimate outcome. This inherent, often ridiculous, hope in the face of inevitable defeat is the core comic metaphor for the human condition. Comedy reflects this truth, making our struggles bearable by providing perspective.

Shared vulnerability. The comedian is the courageous artist who admits to being human, sharing truths about themselves and others. This act of vulnerability creates connection, as the audience recognizes their own struggles reflected on stage or screen. The essential gesture is a shrug, saying "Hey, you'll live. I've been there."

3. The core is the Ordinary Non-Hero struggling with hope.

Comedy is about an ordinary guy or gal struggling against insurmountable odds without many of the required skills and tools with which to win yet never giving up hope.

The Comic Equation. This formula encapsulates the essence of comedy. It features a relatable, imperfect protagonist (the "ordinary guy or gal," the "Non-Hero") facing overwhelming challenges ("insurmountable odds"). Crucially, this character lacks the necessary abilities to succeed ("without many of the required skills and tools").

The power of hope. Despite their shortcomings and the overwhelming odds, the comic character never abandons hope. Every action, every line, is driven by the belief, however misguided, that it will improve their situation or help them "win." This persistent, often futile, hope is the engine of comic action.

Removing elements. Take away any part of this equation, and the comedy diminishes or disappears. A skilled hero facing odds is drama. A character who gives up hope becomes tragic. The tension between the Non-Hero's limitations and their unwavering hope is where the humor resides.

4. Characters must have permission to pursue their "win."

Comedy gives you the permission to win.

Intentional action. In comedy, characters are driven by their desire to "win," meaning achieving their goal in a given situation. This isn't about being funny; it's about pursuing what they want, limited only by their character and circumstances. This permission allows for illogical or inappropriate actions if the character believes it serves their goal.

Beyond "should." Characters shouldn't act based on what they "should" do or what the writer thinks would be funny. They should act based on what they believe will help them win, even if it makes them look foolish. This focus on the character's intent, rather than the comedic outcome, leads to more organic humor.

Truthful pursuit. Allowing characters to pursue their win truthfully, given their flaws, generates comedy naturally. The humor arises from watching their earnest, often misguided, attempts to solve problems they are ill-equipped to handle. Trusting the character's drive is key.

5. Comedy thrives on the character's lack of skills and "not knowing."

The more skills your character has, the less comic and the more dramatic the character is.

The Non-Hero's limitations. Unlike dramatic heroes who possess the skills to overcome obstacles, comic Non-Heroes lack essential abilities. They are confused, make mistakes, miscalculate, and make poor decisions. This inherent lack of competence is a primary source of humor.

Embracing "not knowing." A key skill for comic characters (and actors playing them) is the ability to "not know." If a character immediately understands everything or reacts appropriately, they become less comic. The humor often lies in the gap between expectation and reality, a gap widened by the character's confusion or delayed realization.

Vulnerability creates connection. Characters who lack skills and knowledge are more vulnerable and relatable. We identify with their struggles and imperfections because they mirror our own. This connection allows the audience to invest emotionally, making the comedic moments more impactful.

6. Characters perceive the world through unique, often flawed, filters.

We don’t see things as they are, we see things as we are.

Subjective reality. Each character views the world through their own unique "World View," a personal filter shaped by their experiences and personality. This subjective perception dictates how they interpret events and interact with others. Comedy often arises from the clash of these different, sometimes absurd, world views.

Metaphorical Relationships. Beyond surface interactions, characters often relate to each other through underlying "Metaphorical Relationships." An adult couple might fight like children, or roommates might behave like an old married couple. These metaphors create illogical but recognizable behavior, generating humor from the juxtaposition of the literal and the perceived relationship.

Frames and focus. Sometimes, an entire scene or sequence can be viewed through a specific "Frame," like a hospital drama or a film noir. This shared understanding (between writer/performer and audience) allows for comedic moments derived from characters behaving inappropriately within that frame, highlighting the absurdity of the situation through contrast.

7. Emotion in comedy comes from honest reaction to the situation.

Active Emotion is the idea that the emotion that is created by simply being in the situation is the exact right emotion to be having.

Truthful feeling. Contrary to the idea that comedy requires exaggerated or "funny" emotions, the most effective comic performances stem from genuine reactions. The feelings that naturally arise from the character's circumstances – frustration, confusion, triumph, embarrassment – are the correct emotional beats to play.

Beyond acting. Actors don't need to "act" funny or invent emotions. By simply reacting honestly as a human being within the given situation, they will generate the appropriate emotional response for the character. This "Active Emotion" grounds the comedy in reality, making even absurd situations relatable.

Avoiding exaggeration. Pushing for a pre-planned "funny" reaction or relying on parenthetical emotional cues in scripts can lead to inauthentic performances. Trusting the actor's truthful response to the moment, however small, is more effective than forcing an exaggerated display that distances the audience.

8. The comic dynamic is watching someone struggle with another's obliviousness.

comedy was watching somebody watch somebody do something silly.

Straight Line/Wavy Line. This dynamic replaces the traditional "straight man/comic" model. The "Straight Line" is the character who is oblivious to a problem, often creating or exacerbating it. The "Wavy Line" is the character who sees the problem and struggles with it, but lacks the skills to solve it.

Focus, not character type. Straight Line/Wavy Line is a focusing device that shifts moment-to-moment. The Wavy Line captures our emotional attention because they are our representative, grappling with the absurdity. The Straight Line's obliviousness provides the necessary friction for the Wavy Line's struggle.

Dialogue and reaction. The Wavy Line's dialogue is often simple, direct, and reactive ("What?"). Their struggle is expressed through their reactions – confusion, frustration, bewilderment. The comedy comes from watching their genuine human response to the Straight Line's irrationality or blindness.

9. Archetypal characters and relationships drive comic action.

Character creates plot.

Ancient roots. Western comedy draws heavily on archetypal characters and relationships dating back to Greek New Comedy and refined in Commedia dell'Arte. These stock types (lecherous old men, tricky servants, dim lovers) provide a recognizable shorthand for audiences and generate predictable, yet endlessly adaptable, dynamics.

Commedia's influence. Commedia dell'Arte, an actor-centric, improvisational form, demonstrated how character types drive plot, action, and movement. Given a scenario, the specific archetypes involved dictate how the story unfolds through their inherent traits and status dynamics.

Status and conflict. Relationships in comedy are often defined by status – who is smarter, more powerful, the leader, the follower. The negotiation and conflict inherent in these status dynamics, like master/servant or husband/wife, propel the narrative forward, just as they did in Renaissance Italy.

10. A strong premise is the single "lie" that sparks truthful story.

A Comic Premise is a lie that imagines an impossible or improbable world that could never happen, but what would happen next?

The creative spark. A good comic premise is the initial, fantastical "lie" that ignites the imagination. It sets up an impossible or improbable situation (e.g., a boy turns into a man, a day repeats) from which the rest of the story must logically and truthfully unfold.

Story generation. A strong premise acts as an engine, generating potential scenes, characters, and conflicts. It should immediately suggest "what happens next" in a way that feels both absurd and compelling, making the writing process feel less like invention and more like discovery.

Truth after the lie. Once the premise is established, the narrative must adhere to its own internal logic and character truth. No more arbitrary lies or convenient plot devices are needed. All subsequent actions and events must flow honestly and organically from the initial premise and the characters within it.

11. Jokes and gags must serve character and story.

Comedy is not the interruption of the narrative for yucks. Comedy is what occurs as characters go through the narrative.

Integrated humor. Jokes and gags should not stop the story's momentum merely for a laugh. They must serve the narrative by furthering the action, defining character, or offering a unique perspective on the world. Humor arises naturally from characters navigating the plot, not from forced comedic interruptions.

Character-driven jokes. Effective jokes in narrative comedy are rooted in character. They reflect the specific voice, world view, and limitations of the person speaking or acting. A joke that works for one character might fall flat for another, highlighting the importance of understanding individual comedic personas.

Compression and perspective. Good jokes are compressed, giving the audience just enough information to participate in completing the thought. They often rely on presenting a unique perspective on a familiar idea, creating a moment of recognition and surprise that triggers laughter.

12. Comedy requires collaboration and audience focus.

Unless everyone on the team is dedicated to creating the same comic moment, and helps the audience focus on that moment, the comic moment will be diminished or lost.

Team effort. Comedy, whether on stage or screen, is a collaborative art form. Writers, actors, directors, and even the audience must work together to create and focus the comedic moment. Distractions, whether from a performer seeking individual attention or inconsistent character choices, can derail the humor.

Audience as co-creator. Comedy uniquely requires a specific physiological response (laughter) from a large group. This necessitates a shared focus, guided by the performers and the camera (in film/TV). The audience participates by recognizing the truth in the characters' struggles and reacting to the absurdity.

Rewriting and refinement. The process of creating comedy involves constant rewriting and testing, often with an audience. This feedback loop is crucial for refining timing, character beats, and ensuring that the intended comedic moments land effectively. It's a continuous process of adjustment based on observed human reaction.

Last updated: May 11, 2025