by Benn Ray
For years, I've been writing this fantasy book in my head. Not fantasy as in dragons raping maidens in bronze bikinis and in-the-closet barbarians with broadswords that save the day, but fantasy as in, "maybe one day I will write this book even though I know I never will."
My fantasy book is about modern comedy theory. Exciting, no? I haven't even written it and already you're off browsing the home improvement section.
The idea is that I would look at different theories, styles, approaches to comedy and section them off into schools.
For example, you could put the puzzlingly popular Sam Kennison in the Screamo camp. His operating theory was if what you are saying isn't particularly funny, scream it, and people will laugh. There would be the Fat Guy camp where John Belushi would live (amazing feats of slapstick that become more amazing based on the girth of the participant). Chris Farley (another person whose popularity puzzles me) would cross over with Fat Guy and Screamo (Farley wasn't funny - his slapstick was amateur and his dialog delivery loud - and the combination of the 2 wowed clueless fratboys everywhere).
There's Comedy Narrative which would be owned by Bob Newhart, there's Improvisation as manifested by Jonathan Winters, there's Wordplay as mastered by Lenny Bruce and to a lesser extent George Carlin, there's Dadaist which was the terrirtory of Steve Martin in his heyday. Neuroses thy name is Woody Allen. There's Crossdressing as made famous by Milton Berle and Flip Wilson. There's Observational as owned by Jerry Seinfeld. There's Put-On which is Andy Kaufman's domain. There's Men Are From Mars humor of Tim Allen, there's Redneck Humor by Jeff Foxworthy. Etc. All of these have their own schools. Their own devotees. Etc. So I thought it would be an interesting book, a book I would like to read. So maybe one day I'd write it.
Since I'm not a famous comedian, or really even very funny at all, I doubt anyone would buy my book.
But I was recently having an IM conversation with a friend who got me thinking about it again, but in slightly different terms. Not in the realm of theory, but in the realm of Comedy Camps. And I started to break modern comedy into groups of people. This is what I came up with.
KIMMEL CLASS
Members: Jimmy Kimmel, Joe Rogan, The Man Show, Howard Stern, South Park, Jackass.
This tends to be stupid humor that is primarily based on cruelly mocking easy targets for the sake of cheap laughs or, likewise, doing stupid things. This is crass humor for the sake of being crass.
PUBLIC RADIO CLASS
Members: David Sedaris, Sarah Vowell, Garrison Keillor, Amy Sedaris, John Hodgman (sometimes crosses over with Daily Show Class).
Mildly amusing (except Keillor), literate, dry, sometimes it's not even funny at all, but its fans like to force themselves to believe it is.
DAILY SHOW CLASS
Members: John Stewart, Stephen Colbert, Steve Carrell (sometimes crosses over with Cringe Class), Sacha Baron Cohen (sometimes crosses over with Cringe Class), The Corddry brothers, Lewis Black, Ed Helms, Sam Seder, John Hodgman (sometimes crosses over with Public Radio Class).
A progressive view, usually sarcastic, and it tends to point out the hypocrisies of the modern world in all it's unreasonable absurdity.
CRINGE CLASS
Members: Larry David, Ricky Gervais, Sacha Baron Cohen (sometimes crosses over with Daily Show Class), Steve Carrell (sometimes crosses over with Daily Show Class).
This humor is based solely on how uncomfortable it can make the audience. It is perhaps the riskiest form of comedy because when one is too good at it, some audience members can't bear to watch.
SILVERMAN CLASS
Members: Sarah Silverman, Patton Oswalt, David Cross, Mr. Show, Brian Posehn, Zack Galifinakis, Dave Chappelle.
A new breed of young comedians who tend to rely on sarcasm, skit/sketch situations, foul language and have more of an overall punk approach to humor. There seems to be an anger underneath their humor, but it's an anger we all share.
ADULT SWIM CLASS
Members: Frisky Dingo, Aqua Teen Hunger Force, Venture Bros., Homestar Runner, Happy Tree Friends, etc.
Animated humor that tests boundaries and often relies on awakard pauses, unnecessary violence/bloodshed, and a Dadaist approach to the narrative.
Well, that's what I have so far. I'm sure I'm missing a lot, but it's a start.
See, I told you I wasn't funny.