Comedy Routine

For this assignment you will experience the challenges and thrills of performance comedy.

A great place to start writing a bit for your comedy routine is to write a fish tale. The exaggerated details of a fish tale are very similar to those of a funny story. Once you have a completed fish tale you can take a look at the details and rewrite them funnier, more absurd. Research existing jokes on your fish tale topic to see if they can be added to your funny story. Before you know it, your crazy adventure story will be a hilarious comedy routine.

For our assignment, you will be allowed to research existing jokes, comedy sketches, and stand up comedy routines. However, you may not copy jokes or bits directly and simply reenact them as if you are an actor reading from a script. Take the existing comedy material you find and make them your own by adding details and making them fit into the flow of your act. If you want the act to sound natural, like a hilarious story, your jokes must work together to build the laughs for your ultimate punchline.

Performance Options

  1. Audio – For this option you will capture an audio recording of your performance. You do not have to share your recording with the class. You do not need to be in class if your recording is played.
  2. Video – For this option you will capture a video recording of your performance. You do not have to play your video for the class. You do not need to be in class if your video is played.
  3. Live – For this option you will perform your act live in front of your classmates.

Assessment

  • Your performance must be at least 60 seconds.
  • Your voice must be clear and audible.
  • Your act must have one main topic.
  1. Be as original as possible.
  2. Be in character and/or sound as natural as possible.
  3. Speak at an appropriate pace using expression.

2015 Comedy Audio Recordings

In the video below, Jerry Seinfeld shares some of his comedy secrets:

How to Write a Joke – According to Jerry Seinfeld

  • Take your time. A good joke develops and improves with editing and revising.
  • Never share your jokes. Save them for your act.
  • Start with something you think is funny and work on that idea until you’ve found every bit of funniness.
  • Write everything down just in case you forget something.
  • Make sure the joke features as many funny words as possible.
  • Your act or big joke should sound like a story. Inside that story are a bunch of related jokes or funny details.
  • Connect your jokes. One joke should flow into the next.
  • The biggest laugh has to be at the end.