đ Your joke writing challenge topic for today is Aging Agonies.
Master the Art of Late-Night Comedy: Unpacking the Science of Setup and Punchline!
Great to have you here, comedy enthusiasts! You’re about to get a fun, informative dive into the fascinating world of late-night joke writing. We’re going to demystify the science behind those chuckles and giggles, focusing on some pretty funny examples from the House of Mouse. Hang tight, here’s your friendly and thorough breakdown:
- Comedy as a science: As much as it may seem like magic, there’s a method to the madness of comedy. It’s not all about divine inspiration; there’s actually a fairly mathematical process to it. Our favorite late-night show writers have to deliver a plethora of jokes every single day, and they have a robust algorithm to do it.
- Understanding Comedy Theory 101: For ages, thinkers have been examining the triggers that make us laugh. For this explanation, we’re going to look at two key principles: surprise and juxtaposition. We laugh when something unexpected happens (hello, punchline!), and we chuckle when two seemingly different things share a hidden similarity.
- The Setup: Choose a story that’s got two elements that can grab your audience’s attention. In our example, the setup is Disney creating a Trump robot – interesting, topical, and it’s got a lot of elements to play with.
- The Punchline: This is where you create a surprising link between the setup elements. To do this, try free-associating a list of words and phrases that come to mind for each topic. Then, find two items that connect logically and activate your audience’s laughter triggers. The key here is to make it surprising and slightly absurd – like having Trump deport a fictional character like Aladdin.
- Construction: Now that you have your joke components, it’s about crafting the path from your setup to the punchline. A handy trick is asking Who/What/Where/Why/When/How questions about your setup, like, “What did robot Trump do in Disney World?” It’s an easy way to direct your audience’s thoughts and set them up for the hilarious twist.
- Finding your angle: Now, here’s how every show finds its unique spin – just make your list of free-associated words and phrases long enough! With a broad enough list, you’re bound to find an original angle. Take our second joke for instance, where Jeff Sessions debuts at the Country Bear Jamboree. It’s a different, amusing take on the same Disney/Trump setup.
- It’s not that hard, after all!: The secret is out! The magic of late-night comedy writing lies in a simple, repeatable process. And, as you can see, it’s not as daunting as it seems. No wonder Jimmy Fallon can’t stop smiling!
So, there you have it, folks! Your cheat sheet for understanding the clever craft of late-night comedy writing. Happy laughing (and writing)!
LEADERBOARD
Did you earn yourself a spot on the leaderboard?
Look at the chart below to find out!
Rank | Name | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suzanne Linfante | 30/30 |
| 2 | Carla Ulbrich | 30/30 |
| 3 | Julie | 30/30 |
| 4 | Jade | 30/30 |
| 5 | Jane Joan Costagliola | 30/30 |
| 6 | Alan Salzbank | 30/30 |
| 7 | Jennifer B | 30/30 |
| 8 | Jorja | 30/30 |
| 9 | Robert | 30/30 |
| 10 | Zygy | 30/30 |
