How to Kill in Comedy: Find your Comedic Character, use 20 great Joke Formulas, Slay the Audience by steve north

Author:steve north [north, steve]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9780983126157
Publisher: BFE Press
Published: 2020-03-30T23:00:00+00:00

Remember, you have to act bewildered that something came over you, like your behavior was controlled by some outside force—not you.

CHAPTER 18

List of Three

If you’ve ever heard that comedy comes in “threes,” that’s because three is a magic number for many comedy pieces. Oftentimes, the setup will be followed by three punchlines. When a comedian gives funny reasons why he/she doesn’t date anymore, or why he/she hates banks, the list tends to consist of three punchlines, with the strongest said last. Of course, there’s no ironclad rule saying there have to be three punchlines. It just works out that way a lot.

The list-of-three formula, however, almost always needs three items because the first two are merely setups for the third—the punchline. The first two items on the list are solely for the purpose of misdirection—to lull the audience into thinking that the third item will also be normal.

“I usually do the same thing every morning … brush my teeth, put on my clothes, feed the hostages …”

When performing a list-of-three joke, you must say everything casually, matter-of-fact, as if nothing is a big deal. It’s a little difficult to remain deadpan, but especially the punchline has to be said casually, no matter how bizarre it may sound. Try saying the hostage joke out loud, and when you get to the hostages part, say it like you’re aware it’s funny or strange. Notice the punchline doesn’t sound funny. Now say it all the same—casually and straight-faced. Hear the difference?

Another thing: the third item on the list—the punchline—has to be really shocking. You can’t be kinda’ funny. “I usually do the same thing every morning … brush my teeth, put on my clothes, put on my clown outfit …” Clown outfit is sort of funny. But maybe I really am a clown, and I’m just getting ready for work. Remember the sound sort of funny gets in a club? A hundred people smiling. No noise, no laughs.

Also, make the first two items on the list of three simple and rhythmical. They’re only there to set up the punchline. Compare the line “brush my teeth, put on my clothes, free the hostages” to “use my teeth-whitener with mouthwash, leave a message for my girlfriend that I’m going to the bank, and free the hostages.” Like Shakespeare said, “Brevity is the soul of wit.” Concise is funnier.

And, for God’s sake, don’t mix a joke into the list. “I usually do the same thing every morning … brush my teeth, put on my clothes and then realize that once again the Paleo Diet only works for dinosaurs, then I feed the hostages …”

You can tag on another punchline after the third item—never before it. In fact, you should try to add another punchline after the third item, provided you can come up with any new surprises.

“I usually do the same thing every morning … brush my teeth, put on my clothes, feed the hostages, check the ropes, resend the blackmail notices …”

“Work is such a

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