MassMedia: Entertainment: How to Write a Joke (W11-P4) Fa16

“A good joke idea is raw potential and can be used in an almost unlimited number of contexts” (Sankey). Jokes can be used in stand-up comedy, commercials, cartoons, radio shows, a humor column in a newspaper/blog, TV sitcoms, etc. Jokes are the heart of comedy writing.

What is a joke?

• A funny story.
• Typically has two parts, the setup and then the punchline.
• May have an additional part, a tag, which is an additional funny line that follows the punchline.

The Setup:

• Sometimes called a premise.
• “A set-up is the information the comic gives to the crowd to establish an initial subject, context and perspective.”
• Compare this to the Setup in a 3 act film.
• Henny Youngman’s old joke
• The setup: “Women are crazy today.”

The Punchline:

• “the final information the comic gives to the crowd; it alters the meaning of already given information in a surprising fashion.”
• Compare punchlines to plot points.
• Henny Youngman’s old joke
• The punchline: “Take my wife………please”

Do you spot the setups and punchlines in the following Bud Light commercials? Spot the tags in some? Don't need to watch them all, just a few will do.  Watch responsibly.

Bud Light commercials deserve some ideological criticism?

Now, let's take a look at the joke structure in a situation comedy.  Just check out the first minute or so. How many jokes in the first minute?  Wonder how many jokes in a typical sitcom?  Could you write for a sitcom? Can you write a joke?



What do your recall about the show?  What was it about?  Who were some of the key characters?
Now, let's take a look at scene from one of the episodes and look specifically at the series of set-ups and punchlines in this comedy.

Share this post with others. See the Twitter, Facebook and other buttons below.
Please follow, add, friend or subscribe to help support this blog.
See more about me at my web site WilliamHartPhD.com.