HomeCookbooksMexican CookbooksThe Everything Guide to Comedy Writing: From stand-up to sketch - all you need to succeed in the world of comedy (Everything (Language & Writing)) |
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7 of 8 found the following review helpful:
 A very helpful guide to comedy and other writing and self-promotion Oct 14, 2009
By Jerry Saperstein
I spotted this book somewhere and figured "why not"?
I was skeptical that comedy writing could be taught through a book.
I was wrong. Mike Bent does an excellent job of it.
Bent says he started performing at a comedy club when he was 16. He now teaches courses in "writing sketch and standup comedy" at Boston's Emerson College. His website suggests that he specializes these days in comedy and magic for children.
His book is surprisingly helpful, progressing in a step-by-step fashion from a cursory discussion of what is "comedy" to detailed instructions on the value of keeping notebooks, setting up the audience for a punch line, the use of surprise, the magic number (there is one, really, according to Bent and his argument is convincing) and onward. He examines the use of lists and questions. He poses an interesting point - what can't you begin with the words "what if"? A number of chapters are devoted to the various forms of comedy: stand-up (performing and writing for others), parody and satire, sitcoms and movies. Bent then covers comedy venues. This becomes a lead in to, in my opinion, one of the most interesting chapters in the book: using YouTube and other online resources as a comedy performance venue.
Like everyone else in the world, I've watched funny bits on YouTube. What didn't fully hit me was just how massive YouTube exposure could be: a fellow named Judson Laipply's "Evolution of Dance" routine has been viewed more than 100 million times. That is incredible. Apparently this success has helped drive Laipply's motivational speaking business. Bent does an excellent job of explaining how to use YouTube, MySpace and other sites for exposure.
The one aspect of the book I could have done without were the interviews with comedians in almost every chapter. In my opinion, they added little to the content of the book. Perhaps - and it is pure speculation on my part - Bent didn't think his own writing could carry the load. He was wrong on that, if that's what he thought: Mike Bent has turned in a very well done on the basics of writing and performing comedy. I don't anticipate becoming a comedy performer in my old age, but consider the book to be worthwhile for its insights into comedy writing. It is really solid in that regard - and the chapter on YouTube is an eye-opener for anyone seeking to promote themselves.
Overall, for aspiring comedians and anyone who has to face the public, a fine book.
Jerry
6 of 7 found the following review helpful:
The best guide to comedy writing yet. Sep 08, 2009
By Willard P.
During my career as a professional magician, I spent a lot of time performing and writing comedy magic. When I first started, I had barely any idea of how to do it. If you are a magician and you are in that position, or if you are a comedy magician who doesn't get enough laughter, you really need this book. It covers standup comedy, sketch comedy, and all other types of comedy as well.
My experience has been that most comedy magic is a combination of sketch and standup comedy, in which the magician is only one character and his audience volunteers are the other.
Some magicians hate written scripts. They think it is too limiting and/or restricting. Mike tells you how to get around that.
I'd give it 10 stars if there were that many available.
Bill Palmer
3 of 3 found the following review helpful:
 Good for observational comedy Dec 31, 2010
By Sally Holloway, Author: Joke Writing (Serious Guide to)
I think if you want to write observational stand-up comedy this book is not a bad way to start. It has lists of things for you to write in your note book when you are say, in a waiting room (which is the example he uses), lots of questions for you to ask about any situation, and lists of things for you to contrast. It doesn't tell you how to write jokes, (the author doesn't believe you can teach people to be funny) but it does try and guide you in how to look at things differently. Hence the observational nature of the material you might produce. I think it might have started out as a book about stand-up rather than writing comedy because there chapters on becoming a stand-up and even on dealing with hecklers, and interviews with stand-ups in every chapter, yet only one chapter on writing sit-coms and one on movies - that both bizarrely include interviews with stand-ups with nothing to do with the rest of the chapter. It is a tad general but like I said, if you want to write observational comedy it has an interesting approach.
1 of 1 found the following review helpful:
Brainstorming is NOT a new concept! Dec 26, 2010
By Houndog
This book says on page 6.`It's impossible to teach someone to be funny. It just can't be done.' Instead the author assumes you must have some funny bones and doesn't really attempt to get down the nuts and bolts of comic writing. He tells the reader to brainstorm, to make lists ask questions but never takes it further to the specifics of turning anything into humour. I did like some of the questions and lists but I think a lot of readers would need more encouragement. He also pads the book out with chapters on styles of stand-up and sketches etc which are really just discussion with only a paragraph at the end telling the reader to brainstorm ideas. If you want to write a sitcom, search `sitcom' on this website, same for `joke writing', same for `sketches'and see what else is out there. This book might be okay for the general reader to whom brainstorming is a new concept and comedy has just landed from another planet. But others might need something more specific.
Truly terrific Nov 21, 2011
By Thomas R. Hurley
I haven't yet finished this little gem, but I just can't wait to recommend it to anyone who is even remotely looking to get into comedy writing or performing.
How can you make someone proficient in being funny? Well, first you have to have the right mindset, meaning you have to be a little crazy in how you view things that happen around you. I have always been that way, and this book gets down to the nitty-gritty on how you can polish your viewpoint to make it shine for others. Really practical advice in abundance, and interviews with very successful comedians and writers make the book surprisingly useful. When I finish it, I am going to go right back to the beginning and re-read it.
It's the only book I have read in years that actually makes me laugh out loud. Buy it--you'll love it!
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