This creates a persona that is so very human and identifiable… Audiences also enjoy feeling superior to flawed comedians: we know them way better than they know themselves.” (76) They make no attempt to disguise their flaw because they don’t know they have it. “Audiences often love comedians who master the comic flaw – in part because their vulnerability is so out there. Otherwise, the audience will detest the comedian.” (73) It’s there to be laughed at, not taken as a valid, albeit controversial, point of view. The second key is that if the shortcoming is a malicious one like bigotry, it must be clear in the writing that it’s being held up for ridicule. The cheap person doesn’t know he’s cheap, the dumb person doesn’t know he’s dumb, and so on. The comic flaw comedian must not be aware of his or her flaw.
There are two keys to creating this form on stand-up. “When a comedian creates a persona that embodies a shortcoming, this form of stand-up comedy is called the comic flaw. I don’t fit in at all and I find that absolutely hilarious.” (63) Her story way, I’m an oddball, I’m not hiding it. “PHyllis Diller achieved what all great comedians achieve: she found her story. If they feel you’re devastated by your problems, the audience can’t laugh.” (61) “Ultimately, what gives an audience the license to laugh at your problems is a clear signal from you that you’re OK with them. “Comedy has a much higher purpose than being nice. The underlying message of comedy is this: You have problems I have problems. For a glorious moment the comedian lifts our worries off our shoulders and unites us in laughter. And when we hear other people in the room laugh, we know we’re not alone. It enables us to laugh at the struggles and problems we share.
By taking the things we struggle with and worry about, and by ridiculing these things, comedy transforms them from overwhelming to laughable. Comedy is an entertainment hat calls out the bad stuff. Let me be specific.” Adn a lot of life does suck. Comedy looks unblinkingly at life and says, “A lot of this sucks. It is unflinchingly, unapologetically honest. If you like the quotes, buy the book here. Below are the quotes I found most interesting. I recently read “ Mastering Stand-Up: The Complete Guide To Becoming A Successful Comedian” by Stephen Rosenfield (no relation to me, Ben RosenFELD without an “i” – although his publisher did send me a complimentary review copy of this book).
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