Two Guys walk into a Script! Comedy Writing: From Jokes to Scripts

ABOUT THE WEBINAR The F Word – We will begin with Freud’s theory that comedy is based on hostility. Jokes without it are clever, but not funny. If you call a group of people over and say you have a great joke and then present them with a pun, chances are at least one of them will punch you. Understanding the role of hostility in comedy is essential, particularly for jokes used in scripts. Joke Switching – The Greeks wrote, “There’s nothing new under the sun,” without ever seeing a sitcom. But they were so right. Here’s a simple example of a switched joke: Original Joke – Two lawyers are sitting in a bar when an attractive women walks in. One says, “I’d love to screw her. The other one says, “Out of what?” Switched Joke - Two agents are sitting in a bar when an attractive women walks in. One says, “I’d love to screw her. The other one says, “Out of what?” Clearly, this joke can be repurposed for any occupation that is known to have dubious ethics from a politician to a plumber. This jok