People have become comedy snobs. And I'm certainly one of
them.
There are people who love comedy and then there are people
who absorb, study and remember comedy like some people do with the Bible. These
are the people who remember SNL casts from particular years, people who can not
only quote the Simpsons, but can tell you the title of the episode, people who
can repeat entire monologues from their favorite comedians or movies.
A friendly sort, but sometimes a bit snobby. These people can discuss comedic
histories, lineages and theories.
There's the intelligentsia who use complex mental and
creative labor to create a class of culture.
And the literati are the intellectual elite of a society.
The people who specialize in comedy I call the Humorati. They're
the people who elevate some pieces from comedy to hip. They're the people who
loved the The Office when it was on the BBC and have never seen the Steve
Carrell version. They're the people who own the box DVD set of Freaks &
Geeks, but have never seen an Apatow movie. They eschew quotes from Holy Grail
and prefer to quote Life of Brian and Jabberwocky. They loved Zach Galifianakis
years ago and wish he had his own movie. *
The Humorati like their comedy smart, but appreciate the
finer, even subtle, nuances of The Three Stooges.
I'm probably the very worst kind of Humorati. I strongly, vehemently believe that there can be bad improv and improvisers. I think that the phrase "anything for a laugh" is awful and particularly destructive when applied to improvisation. I think that some people should be told that perhaps improvisation is not for them, but the "get-the-check" mentality of most improv schools promotes students without training them at all. I'm a jerk, I know it, and it's because I love improvisation and I like to see good works.
Are you one of the Humorati?
Filed under: Chicago
Tags: bad improv, Humorati, training centers
It's either funny or it's not.
Just like those who have memorized the Bible are no more pious than the guy who's never read it, but volunteers every time someone needs help. Those who know every line of "Its A Mad Mad Mad Mad Mad World" are no funnier than the guy who makes quick jabs about your sister.
You can't study funny.
I have to disagree. Of course you can study funny. It may not make you funnier however. There's a reason every single person ever interviewed by anyone is asked "who are your influences?" We learn from our idols and we improve and update and evolve what they have created. And this applies to comedy as well.
"If I have seen further it is because I have stood on the shoulders of giants." - Sir Isaac Newton, who was hilarious. You see his bit with the apple? Brilliant.
yo can i use your snob image
please