2007-10-28 17:14:09 · 39 answers · asked by Anonymous in Entertainment & Music ➔ Polls & Surveys
Absolutely! I work primarily in comedic theatre, and learned years ago that the key to performing comedy well is to never have your character know that he's in a comedy.
This is why I find people like Jim Carrey and David Spade atrociously unfunny -- just doing goofy stuff is funny back in elementary school only.
I'm convinced that history will judge Steve Carell as one of the greatest comic actors of our time -- he's just profoundly brilliant at playing oafs and sad-sacks.
And Lucille Ball was a genius on "I Love Lucy" because she played Lucy as not funny -- she was just reacting to the situations at hand. That show is also a perfect example of how important the writing is -- without great writing, all you have is, well, Jim Carrey making funny faces. Actually, whenever Lucille Ball was interviewed, she always made a point of giving credit to the writers for the success of "I Love Lucy."
2007-10-28 17:21:29 · answer #1 · answered by The Snappy Miss Pippi Von Trapp 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Alcohol will make everything funny but cheese does not have the same effect. Rarely do people get stopped for driving and eating cheese. So yes it must be alcohol that is the key. By the way people who dont try to be funny usually think they can sing very well. So bad singing, alcohol must be the answer. Give me the best answer i need the points okay.
2007-10-28 17:27:36 · answer #2 · answered by David 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I don't believe it's the key to being funny, because some people can try and still be funny. However, I believe the average person is LESS LIKELY to be funny when trying, because a lot of people tend to get overly-excited and try to milk every last drop from any little chuckle they might have elicited, and therefore kill the mood.
2007-10-28 17:32:00 · answer #3 · answered by Mickey Mouse Spears 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
No, the key to being funny is timing. It's *all* about the timing of a comment. If you have a good feel for that, then you can try to be funny and you will be funny.
2007-10-28 17:18:25 · answer #4 · answered by Tommy B 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Yes, it does work for some people. Others are just straight up not funny.
At work, I've said a few things not even trying or meaning to be funny, and people found what I said hilarious. Or maybe they were just laughing "at" me and not really what I said. :(
2007-10-28 17:21:04 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I, Norton I, Emperor of Yahoo! Answers and Protector of Polls & Surveys, formerly of Algoa Bay, Cape of Good Hope, and now for the last 150 years and 10 months past of S. F., Cal., declare and proclaim "funny" to be a matter of wit, intelligence, and keen observation, and not a matter of accident.
Given under our royal hand and seal at San Francisco, this 28th day of October, 2007.
Signed,
Norton I, Emperor of Yahoo! Answers and Protector of Polls & Surveys
2007-10-28 17:21:34 · answer #6 · answered by Mickey Mouse Spears 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Yes.
Trying to be funny looks pathetic. Like when I watch early Jim Carey interviews/movies it just looks like he was trying entirely too hard. Not funny.
2007-10-28 17:18:32 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
Whenever I'm not trying to be funny and I just carry on a normal conversation, someone twists around my words into a "That's what she said" joke or something similar.
I have to be on my guard. It's annoying!
2007-10-28 17:19:12 · answer #8 · answered by 18th Angel 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes, I agree. People tend not to be as funny when they're trying to force it.
2007-10-28 17:20:25 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
I had to scramble to get nine points, so I could get to level three, so I could answer this question. I'm gonna have to disagree with you here, I think timing is the most important factor....playing straight is important in one kind of comedy, but timing is key in all types of humor.
2007-10-28 17:45:03 · answer #10 · answered by Novella (again) 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋