Intro to Comedy

Henny Youngman Take My Wife. Please! https://youtu.be/KVGVJGX--o0

Joan Rivers’s Best Lines https://youtu.be/7LQDAOg2SeA

Dick Gregory clip from In Living Black and White https://youtu.be/CzhiAOjf7s4

In this lesson we’ll discuss the importance of pattern, define the rule of 3’s, and analyze some examples of jokes that utilize the rule of 3’s.

By the end of this lesson you’ll be able to write simple jokes incorporating the rule of 3’s.

In today’s lesson we’re going to break down the many ways we play with words, focusing on jokes that involve puns. We’ll define forms of wordplay, focusing primarily on puns. We’ll look at some jokes with pun-based punchlines. We’ll define what a riddle is and then we’ll do a joke writing exercise.

By the end of this lesson you will be able to write your own pun-based jokes.

In this lesson we’ll first define forms of figurative language including similes, metaphors, personification, hyperboles, and litotes that lend themselves to comedy. We’ll then put our joke writing skills to work with a joke writing exercise.

By the end of the lesson you’ll be able to write jokes combining figurative language with the rule of 3’s.

In this lesson we’ll go over 4 tips for writing better jokes. I’ll then give you 3 more joke writing exercises that you can practice on your own.

By the end of this lesson you will be able to cite 4 ways to punch up your jokes and write personification, controversial opinion, and “butcher a famous quote” jokes.

In this lesson we’ll discuss 2 approaches to storytelling in stand-up comedy.

We’ll review the basic elements of story and identify what makes a story engaging. We’ll then go over a list of tips for turning your personal stories into stand-up material.

By the end of this lesson you’ll be able to cite the two ways we tell stories in stand-up comedy, the basic elements of story and what makes them engaging, and you’ll be able to start turning your personal stories into stand-up using the 5 tips I give you at the end.

In this lesson we’re going to discuss why you need to be a good performer and how to work on your performance skills.

By the end of the lesson you’ll be able to cite 4 ways you can continue to work on your performance skills beyond this course.

In this lesson I go over some stand-up vocabulary.

In this lesson we’ll define improv comedy and talk about its origins and development, and why all comedians need improv training.

By the end of this lesson you’ll be able to define what improv comedy is and cite 3 reasons why comedians should study improv.

Here are some improv books you should check out if you're serious about learning more!

Truth in Comedy by Charna Halpern, Del Close, & Kim Johnson

Improvisation for the Theater by Viola Spolin

Impro: Improvisation and Theater by Keith Johnstone

The Upright Citizen’s Brigade Comedy Improvisation Manual by Matt Besser, Ian Roberts, and Matt Walsh

In this lesson we’ll define what Yes And means and look at various examples, both good and bad.

By the end of the lesson you will be able to define what Yes And means.

In this lesson we will go over the other rules of improv comedy and by the end of the lesson you will be able to cite those rules.

In this lesson we will define what game in comedy means and look at examples from sketch comedy. I know, this is the improv section! But everything we’ve discussed in improv applies to sketch as well, and to stand-up as we’ve seen!

By the end of this lesson you will be able to define what game means and how it differs between short-form and long-form improv comedy.

In this lesson we’ll discuss what makes characters funny by defining 5 qualities of comedic characters. We’ll go over ways to find inspiration and a process for creating a character off of a suggestion.

By the end of the lesson you’ll be able to cite the 5 qualities of comedic characters and improvise an original character based off of a dating profile.

In this lesson we will define what a sketch is and identify 5 things your sketch needs to have in order to be a sketch. We will then analyse popular sketches and practice identifying those 5 elements.

By the end of the lesson you will be able to cite the 5 elements you need to write a sketch.

All the sketches mentioned can be found in the Sketch Playlist.

In this section we will dive deeper into sketch comedy by identifying the two primary types of sketches.

By the end of the lesson you will be able to define the role of the Zany One and the Straight Man in a sketch.

In this lesson we will identify the two main categories of sketches and the types they include.

By the end of the lesson you will be able cite the 8 types of character and premise driven sketches.

Sketches mentioned in this lesson can be found in the Sketch Playlist.

In this lesson we will go over how to write a sketch using an outline to draft our ideas.

By the end of the lesson you will be able write a sketch in 2 formats.

In this lesson we will use our improv skills to write character monologues and learn how to do impressions.

By the end of the lesson you will be able to write monologues for original characters and celebrity impressions.

For examples of character monologues and impressions check out the playlist for this lesson.

In this lesson we will discuss the importance of knowing stand-up, improv, and sketch, as well as how they are combined in contemporary comedy.

By the end of this lesson you will be able cite 3 reasons to study stand-up, improv, and sketch and cite examples of types of comedy that combine all 3.

You've completed the course, now run along and go make some comedy! Don't forget to tag me @yourcomedycoach so I can watch your creations!

Also, if you would like to learn how to make memes check out my free course Memes 101 here on Udemy!