13 April 2012
I hate weak observational humour. If your joke plays well to grandmothers, 5 year old kids, conservative religious suburbanites and liberal-minded city folk, don't be proud. You hedged your bets and settled for a polite chuckle from everyone instead of an unforgettable, belly-shaking, tears-in-the-eyes gut laugh from a few. Your joke is beige wallpaper. It's elevator music. Have some ambition. Don't ask me 'did you ever notice' and make me some milk-weak quip about how one sock goes missing in the dryer. Tell me something I never noticed - or something that no one ever should notice, but you did. Blow my socks off. Have character. Not just anyone should be able to tell your joke. It should take your skill, your wording, your timing. Do you want to make 12 people go "ha ha ha...cute" or do you want to make 2 people convulse and wet their pants with laughter?
Thoughts On Comedy • Opuss № I