Blog Post #3

People just want to laugh, and people laugh at things that are funny, but what makes something funny?

You could divide "funny" into two categories: Intentional Funniness and Unintentional Funniness.

Intentional Funniness is comedy performance, or joke telling.  Unintentional Funniness is everything else.  A few examples of "Unintentional Funniness" would be:

Situational humor: A gentleman is deep in conversation with the beautiful woman he is attempting to romance, unaware of the fact that there is a very noticeable dablet of cream cheese frosting hanging from his lip

Visual humor: Children being chased by a goat wearing a tutu

Get the idea?  They're not jokes, but they're funny.  Anyway, now we can talk about

What makes jokes funny:

I will preface this section by saying that everything I learned comes from my own life experience, and also Judy Carter's book, The Comedy Bible.

Joke Structure:

Attitude + Topic + Premise + Act-out + Mix + Act-out

It's not a math problem.  Notice that there are five "plus signs" and no "equals sign".  That would be a stupid math problem.  If you are a mathematician and you know that in some obscure way this really could be a math problem, then I stand corrected.  You people are weirder than I previously thought.

Joke structure is best seen in stand-up comedy, but all types of comedy, including improv scenes and sitcom plots follow this joke structure too.  Here it is broken down even further into two parts:

Attitude + Topic + Premise = The Setup (Serious)

Act-out + Mix + Act-out = The Funny (Funny)

The Setup (Serious)

-Comprised of the first three parts of a joke: Attitude + Topic + Premise = The Setup.

-Not the funniest part of a joke, but the most important

-Must capture the audience's attention at the beginning.

In a very mathematician-like move, I'm going to start with the second step:

Topic:

-The audience must know what you are talking about, otherwise they won't care.  Real, sincere, and authentic topics are ones that you as a comedian are passionate about AND that others can relate to.

Attitude:

-Gives the joke energy and direction.  Anything without attitude is just literary.
-How do you feel about the topic?  Is it weird?  Scary?  Hard?  Stupid?

-Keep the attitude going throughout the whole joke.

Premise:

-Your point of view on the topic.  An insightful observation.

-Your premise must be TRUE!  Be genuine.

We're halfway through our dissection of a joke!  So far you've learned how to be serious.  Next blog post we'll go over The Funny part of a joke.

Blog Post #2

People Just Want to Laugh

Recently I performed at a small comedy venue in Holland, Michigan.  Being the second comic on, I had an act to follow.  Since I'm an eager learner, I wanted to listen to the comedian before me. Instead, I was in the bathroom when the show started and got locked outside.

I got to see the show anyway; I stood in the lobby and peered through the crack between the doors. I listened as this comic began his show by talking about things that can't be mentioned in a family blog.  He continued to spew smut and got more offensive as his set went on. He didn't get one laugh.

It's sad that he bombed because no matter who you're performing for, as a comedian you always know that people just want to laugh!  You don't need to tell dirty jokes to be a comedian.

Comedians say what the rest of the world is thinking.  Comedy should be edgy, comedy should do things that are taboo, and comedy should be challenging.  Those aren't the building blocks of a joke, however.  They are a by-product.  Jerry Seinfeld says that "Behind every joke there is some truth."

Good comedians are edgy, challenging, and ignore taboo with a purpose.  That purpose is to tell the truth.  Your premise has to be genuine, using humor as a redemptive tool for whatever situation it is you're riffing on.

A lot of comedians curse excessively and speak offensively because they think they're being real.  They're being real jerks.  Instead of shooting for shock value, comedy should aim to tell the truth.  That in itself is shocking enough.

Taylor University wins 'Best Midwest College in the Galaxy'

By Ronnie Willmarth, 9/16/11

UPLAND, INDIANA

In the first year of the award’s history, Taylor University won the prestigious title of Best Midwest College in the Galaxy. "This is a high honor for Taylor University," said President Eugene Habecker. "We are grateful to God, who, by the way, created the galaxy."

Although most liberal scholars would disagree with Habecker's statement, they cannot deny Taylor University's track record in winning awards. U.S. News & World Report has awarded Taylor University the title of “Best Midwest College” (on earth) four years in a row. The university has been recognized by The Princeton Review as “a wicked sweet college,” and this summer Taylor was ranked 213th overall by Forbes.com, receiving $10 in prize money.

The university released a promotional poster to announce the award, the headline of which read, “It’s not an award.  It’s a tradition.”  The error was published by an unnamed employee in the University Marketing office who did not know that it was in fact an award, and not a tradition.

“Taylor’s retention rates are high, the foreign studies programs are unbelievable, and their dining commons serve some darn good soft serve ice cream,” said expert college analyst Hubert Spankle. “My favorite flavor is Twist.”

The “Best Midwest College in the Galaxy” award was conceived by NASA scientists after they noticed the intense competition between colleges on different planets in Milky Way. “We wanted to decide which one was the best one, and also hopefully keep our jobs a little longer” said Elmer Stanelace, Director of NASA Space Education.

A team from NASA took guided tours of every college in the galaxy and rated them on academics, residence life, and the boringness of the tour. “Taylor won the tour category simply because the guides were forced to walk around backwards the whole time,” said Stanelace, chuckling. “It was hilarious when that one kid fell off the curb.”

Ballots were distributed to each planet and a vote was taken. Planets with water received three votes, gaseous planets received two votes, and planets being sucked into black holes received a sympathy fruit and muffin basket. The voting committee never heard back from planets without oxygen.

“This here award is fancier than a three-legged frog dancing in vanilla pudding, dadgummit!” said President Emeritus Jay Kesler, smiling as he held up the plaque.

The award is likely to attract more foreign students to Taylor through the Go to a Different Planet studies program. “We’re especially excited to bring in kids from Neptune,” said President Eugene Habecker. “They have a great work ethic despite living on a giant ball of ice.” The university has yet to send out application forms, although they have received inquiries from extra terrestrial students wanting to obtain “earth dollars”.

Returning students are worried that the university might increase tuition after receiving the intergalactic award. “Whatever,” said junior Tom Weingartner. “It was already expensive.”

When asked whether Taylor University will be participating in next month’s “Best College in the Universe” pageant, Admissions Director Amy Barnett said the school refused an invitation because the competition will feature a dance number.

The title of “Best Midwest College in the Galaxy” is one of 72 awards that Taylor has won since the beginning of this week, and it could be the most prestigious honor to date. “I’ll definitely make some room in the trophy case for this one,” said Habecker.

Blog Post #1

Introduction

My name is Ronnie Willmarth, I was 20 when I wrote this, and I go to Taylor University.

Welcome to my blog.  You probably noticed that I like to write flowery and descriptive post titles.  You've also noticed that I have big ears, although you can only see one of them in the picture.

"A look at comedy from the inside" means that I will examine comedy as an art form; documenting my thoughts, sharing my epiphanies, and giving you real-life accounts related to my travels and work as a comedian.  I will do all of this from the left side of your screen while staring intently at whatever is behind you.  You can't see them, but my fingers are swiftly typing up my next blog post.