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"I had thought - I had been told - that a 'funny' thing is a thing of a goodness. It isn't. Not ever is it funny to the person it happens to. Like that sheriff without his pants. The goodness is in the laughing itself. I grok it is a bravery... and a sharing... against pain and sorrow and defeat."
- Valentine Michael Smith
(Robert Heinlein,
Stranger in a Strange Land) |
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Eye of the Beholder
They say beauty is in the eye of the beholder, though anyone who's played Dungeons and Dragons knows that's a bunch of orc crap. And you won't even get that joke if you're not a D&D geek, most likely. Whatever the truth about beauty, it's a sure bet that comedy is in the eye - or ear, and often the nose - of the audience. Nose? Yep! I mean, hey, hasn't some clever turn of phrase ever made whatever you were drinking go out your nose? Yeah, that's what I mean. Now that's comedy.
But, for instance, one time my wife was laughing her head off over some video she'd seen on something called the internet. It was a purportedly comedy skit involving someone who was just snuggling down for a massage, eagerly awaiting strong hands kneading her sore muscles - when the door opens and in walks this masseuse with no arms.
This, apparently, was what made my wife hoarse with laughter. I was like, "What's so funny?" Because, honestly, I didn't get it. Since when is physical disability amusing? (This is coming from a guy who makes up "guy with no arms and no legs" jokes. You know, like, "What do you call a guy with no arms and no legs in a swimming pool?" "Bob." Okay, I didn't make that one up, but I did make up "What do you call a guy with no arms and no legs in a hole?" "Phil." But I digress.)
Well, since then, I've come to realize what other people find funny in that particular video - but by then, of course, it was too late to laugh at it. It, like much of comedy, is all about the unexpected and the incongruous, and can't really be explained and still be funny.
Which is why I nearly blew my drink out my nose when I saw last week's Comedy newsletter, penned by my wonderful and illustrious colleague, katherine76. In it, she gave us her list of the top 20 Comedy movies, including, in my not-so-humble opinion, some real side-splitters like Mallrats and Caddyshack. But she also included The 40 Year Old Virgin, which is easily the most decidedly UNfunny movie of all time. I mean, I could tell it was trying to be a comedy, but there was nothing at all funny about it. It even implied that there was something, somehow, wrong with a guy in his forties who played video games! I mean, that can't be right!
That's not my GameBoy. I'm, um, holding it for a friend.
But, okay, I've met a lot of people who thought that it was funny. Then again, I met a lot of people who don't think the TV series 24 is a comedy (look, how many times can Jack Bauer save the world before it becomes a parody? And the guy can't even pronounce "nuclear.")
The point is, not everyone's going to laugh at your jokes, not all the time. Unless it's your spouse, who's pretty much obligated to. (When your spouse stops laughing at your jokes, make sure you have a lawyer on retainer.) What can you do about it? At the time, not much. Once someone decides you're not funny, it takes a lot of work to get back on the laugh track. It can be done, but a good dose of humility and self-effacing humor is essential, humility being pretty easy to fake when you're humiliated. It helps to recapture the audience if you have a duck handy and contrive to trip over it.
While there's nothing worse than stony silence following what you thought was the funniest joke ever, don't take it personally - maybe you just need a different audience.
Or, maybe, it's Just Not Funny. |
I thought the following items were funny, but read 'em and decide for yourself:
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Last month, I wrote about lists, emphasizing that it's important to always include a duck.
⭐Princette♥PengthuluWrites  : *giggles* Aww, come on, Waltzy, don't DO that to the penguin! I want six things, darnit, not unexpected numerical switches on me!  And instead of a duck, you should always mention a penguin. 
Ah, but, Pengy, dear, the unexpected is the heart and soul of comedy. And I don't have to mention penguins, because I can count on you to do so! 
Mavis Moog  : Following your advice;
 Donald
Peking
Bombay
Daffy
A L'Orange
Now that quacks me up.
RufusTFirefly : I usually am quite fond of the newsletter but must admit, I'm a little baffled by this one. Your letter makes it very clear that you're not a fan of lists (though I disagree). I assumed the rest of the newsletter would be about lists and have items which would somehow involve a list. Instead, we get six weak ways to make a list funny and then a bunch of items which have nothing to do with the topic. The items are all fine in their own right, but the newsletter as a whole, lacked direction.
Whoa, tough crowd. Hope this was more to your liking - if not, hey, there's always next week!
pooja_sr hey Robert,
Thanks for the er....enlightening newsletter. I like your first suggestion but I don't wear shoes, anyway.
What don't you write in your next newsletter about how J.Lo had twins while all she had to do for that was eat spinach?
Well, thanks for writing and keep writing.
:))))Pooja.
I like J.Lo's twins. Oh, wait, you meant babies - nevermind!
Thanks for the feedback and until next time...
LAUGH ON! |
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Comedy: June 04, 2008 Issue [#2428]
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