3 days ago
7.29.2009
A few things I've learned about comedy in recent weeks
I recently finished the book Generation Kill, by Evan Wright. It's a fantastic account of the first wave of Marines to enter Iraq during the most recent Iraq War, and it really opened my eyes in a way a book hasn't done in quite some time.
That being said, I had had enough with civilian casualties and firefights, so I turned my emphasis to comedy. All comedy, all the time.
Here are a few lessons I've learned:
Mary Louise Parker is the greatest combination of humor and sexiness today.
(Photo via Esquire)
Her character in Weeds (which I'm physically watching as I write this) is brash and funny, without being over the top.
Lesson: Restraint. It's important.
Conan O'Brian is the funniest man alive, and has been for quite some time.
This video is well worth your eight minutes.
Lesson: You can't teach innate talent.
Comedy writing is difficult
After Generation Kill, I picked up Mike Sacks' new book And Here's the Kicker, a collection of interviews with the top comedy writers of the past five decades. Everyone from Harold Ramis (Animal House, Caddyshack) to Bob Odenkirk (Mr. Show) to Buck Henry (The Graduate) is included, and they all reach relatively similar conclusions: comedy writing is not as easy as people think it is.
Lesson: Just buy the book.
Sports Night is the second funniest show to ever get canceled too soon (behind Arrested Development of course)
Brash, intelligent, and quick, it's basically a funny version of The West Wing. Which makes sense since they were both created by Aaron Sorkin. One of the first (and maybe the only on network television?) half-hour dramadies.
Lesson: I don't have a lesson for this one but I had to keep the pattern going.
What about you? Any lessons?
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this post i won't mind seeing 50 times on facebook, because i have an enormous crush on mary louise parker.
ReplyDeleteThe word "butt" is always funny. And, by all accounts, hard "k" sounds.
ReplyDeleteI share because I care.
Weeds is great, especially when you have the DVDs and can watch as many in a row as you can fit into a school night and still be able to function the next day.
ReplyDeleteI totally agree that Arrested Development was cancelled WAY WAY WAY too soon. I have all those DVDs too...great humor. Jason Bateman is wonderful.
Right, by definition you can't teach anything that is innate.
ReplyDeleteThe show sports night and will & Grace came on the air around the same time. The whole family was sitting around watching TV one night, my dad wanted to watch Sports Night, the sisters and Mom wanted Will & Grace....We watched Will & Grace and it was a hit with the family and that was that. My Dad is also a fan of the show Reba.
ReplyDeleteis there anyone who doesn't have a crush on mary louise parker?
ReplyDeleteBright lights are needed for high energy comedy to match the mood. If someone wants to tell a joke or make something funny it has to be unexpected, and the unexpected part has to be said fast.
ReplyDeleteTake this joke for example:
"I had a girlfriend who I loved very much but she was anorexic. I encouraged her to eat trying my best to help her. Then she gained a lotta weight and I broke up with her."
Also look at the Saturday Night Live skits. There is a building action where somekind of action is isolated and taken over the top as the skit progresses.
I have analyzed comedy for a while now but have never actually taken any classes on it. I look forward to my class Pursuasion this semester and maybe comedy will be in that communications class.
I know pretty much nothing about Weeds but it's on my Netflix queue and may be moving up the list. looking forward to discussing it.
ReplyDeleteA joke isn't funny if everyone gets it.
ReplyDelete100% agree about Sports Night
ReplyDelete