this may or may not be a familiar name to you john mulaney if not he’s a
to you john mulaney if not he’s a
to you john mulaney if not he’s a stand-up comedian and I will never
stand-up comedian and I will never
stand-up comedian and I will never forget the first time I heard his work
forget the first time I heard his work
forget the first time I heard his work my friend and I were shooting pool my
my friend and I were shooting pool my
my friend and I were shooting pool my right hand pressed down against the red
right hand pressed down against the red
right hand pressed down against the red fuzzy table supporting the stick in my
fuzzy table supporting the stick in my
fuzzy table supporting the stick in my left and presumably to distract me my
left and presumably to distract me my
left and presumably to distract me my friend starts reciting this bit that I
friend starts reciting this bit that I
friend starts reciting this bit that I later learned is from one of mulaney’s
later learned is from one of mulaney’s
later learned is from one of mulaney’s albums and I tried to focus and I shot
albums and I tried to focus and I shot
albums and I tried to focus and I shot and I missed terribly and I laughed
and I missed terribly and I laughed
and I missed terribly and I laughed until my entire body hurt I was 13 years
until my entire body hurt I was 13 years
until my entire body hurt I was 13 years old and I don’t think I’d ever heard
old and I don’t think I’d ever heard
old and I don’t think I’d ever heard good comedy before and in that moment I
good comedy before and in that moment I
good comedy before and in that moment I learned that laughter is the best
learned that laughter is the best
learned that laughter is the best feeling in the world and now between
feeling in the world and now between
feeling in the world and now between podcasts and stand-up and my wonderful
podcasts and stand-up and my wonderful
podcasts and stand-up and my wonderful friends I listen to hours upon hours of
friends I listen to hours upon hours of
friends I listen to hours upon hours of comedy a week and between creating my
comedy a week and between creating my
comedy a week and between creating my own podcasts writing and subjecting
own podcasts writing and subjecting
own podcasts writing and subjecting those around me to hit or miss witty
those around me to hit or miss witty
those around me to hit or miss witty remarks I spend hours doing comedy every
remarks I spend hours doing comedy every
remarks I spend hours doing comedy every week comedy is very important to me it
week comedy is very important to me it
week comedy is very important to me it breaks the ice really well it makes me
breaks the ice really well it makes me
breaks the ice really well it makes me smile more importantly it makes other
smile more importantly it makes other
smile more importantly it makes other people smile comedy can be used to
people smile comedy can be used to
people smile comedy can be used to articulate a point really well satire
articulate a point really well satire
articulate a point really well satire like the onion is a wonderful example of
like the onion is a wonderful example of
like the onion is a wonderful example of that jokes are a great defense mechanism
that jokes are a great defense mechanism
that jokes are a great defense mechanism to my second-grade teacher had a whole
to my second-grade teacher had a whole
to my second-grade teacher had a whole lesson about combating bullies with
lesson about combating bullies with
lesson about combating bullies with confidence and wit and I’ve learned in
confidence and wit and I’ve learned in
confidence and wit and I’ve learned in my own time that comedy can fight
my own time that comedy can fight
my own time that comedy can fight against physical or emotional hurt
against physical or emotional hurt
against physical or emotional hurt caused by pretty much anything comedy
caused by pretty much anything comedy
caused by pretty much anything comedy has helped me when I’ve struggled with
has helped me when I’ve struggled with
has helped me when I’ve struggled with depression and it helps me deal with my
depression and it helps me deal with my
depression and it helps me deal with my anxiety every day if you pay attention
anxiety every day if you pay attention
anxiety every day if you pay attention you’ll notice a lot of professional
you’ll notice a lot of professional
you’ll notice a lot of professional comedians are sad
so understanding comedy will allow you
so understanding comedy will allow you to find more things to laugh with and at
to find more things to laugh with and at
to find more things to laugh with and at than you ever thought possible and I
than you ever thought possible and I
than you ever thought possible and I guess if you understand comedy you will
guess if you understand comedy you will
guess if you understand comedy you will smile more understanding comedy and how
smile more understanding comedy and how
smile more understanding comedy and how its structured will also make you more
its structured will also make you more
its structured will also make you more able to construct it and therefore more
able to construct it and therefore more
able to construct it and therefore more able to bring happiness into the lives
able to bring happiness into the lives
able to bring happiness into the lives of the people you love now if you don’t
of the people you love now if you don’t
of the people you love now if you don’t like understanding things because you
like understanding things because you
like understanding things because you think it makes them less fun I request
think it makes them less fun I request
think it makes them less fun I request that you respectfully please plug your
that you respectfully please plug your
that you respectfully please plug your ears close your eyes and shout loudly
ears close your eyes and shout loudly
ears close your eyes and shout loudly and incoherently for the remainder of
and incoherently for the remainder of
and incoherently for the remainder of the talk thank you for not doing that
the talk thank you for not doing that
the talk thank you for not doing that let’s move on so comedy at its most
let’s move on so comedy at its most
let’s move on so comedy at its most basic boils down to the subversion of
basic boils down to the subversion of
basic boils down to the subversion of expectations like when I just said
expectations like when I just said
expectations like when I just said please respectfully make a scene and
please respectfully make a scene and
please respectfully make a scene and some of you laughed because your
some of you laughed because your
some of you laughed because your expectations were subverted they were
expectations were subverted they were
expectations were subverted they were not destroyed or fulfilled you were
not destroyed or fulfilled you were
not destroyed or fulfilled you were surprised but not confused surprises the
surprised but not confused surprises the
surprised but not confused surprises the reason people laugh now all of comedy
reason people laugh now all of comedy
reason people laugh now all of comedy happens within a context and there are
happens within a context and there are
happens within a context and there are two types of comedy reactive and active
two types of comedy reactive and active
two types of comedy reactive and active and in both types of comedy the laughter
and in both types of comedy the laughter
and in both types of comedy the laughter comes from a response to an agreed upon
comes from a response to an agreed upon
comes from a response to an agreed upon context that subverts the expectations
context that subverts the expectations
context that subverts the expectations of the audience so in reactive comedy
of the audience so in reactive comedy
of the audience so in reactive comedy the context is simply your surroundings
the context is simply your surroundings
the context is simply your surroundings including the people the place and the
including the people the place and the
including the people the place and the situation you’re in and the joke often
situation you’re in and the joke often
situation you’re in and the joke often comes in the form of a witty remark
comes in the form of a witty remark
comes in the form of a witty remark regarding something within the context
regarding something within the context
regarding something within the context so most of the jokes you hear on a daily
so most of the jokes you hear on a daily
so most of the jokes you hear on a daily basis are reactive let’s look at a
basis are reactive let’s look at a
basis are reactive let’s look at a reactive joke
so I knocked over a desk in class today
so I knocked over a desk in class today because I am a clumsy boy and my teacher
because I am a clumsy boy and my teacher
because I am a clumsy boy and my teacher sort of jokingly upset she looks at me
sort of jokingly upset she looks at me
sort of jokingly upset she looks at me and she points and she yells 40 slaps
and she points and she yells 40 slaps
and she points and she yells 40 slaps with a wet noodle and without missing a
with a wet noodle and without missing a
with a wet noodle and without missing a beat I reply I eat pasta for lunch
beat I reply I eat pasta for lunch
beat I reply I eat pasta for lunch that actually happened so let’s look at
that actually happened so let’s look at
that actually happened so let’s look at the components of this joke first of all
the components of this joke first of all
the components of this joke first of all it’s witty which means the speed of
it’s witty which means the speed of
it’s witty which means the speed of response was immediate and that it’s
response was immediate and that it’s
response was immediate and that it’s insightful it provides the insight that
insightful it provides the insight that
insightful it provides the insight that not only can I handle these slaps I’ll
not only can I handle these slaps I’ll
not only can I handle these slaps I’ll enjoy them the context
enjoy them the context
enjoy them the context was me the context was me in class at
was me the context was me in class at
was me the context was me in class at school it was happening in real-time the
school it was happening in real-time the
school it was happening in real-time the content of the joke was connected to
content of the joke was connected to
content of the joke was connected to multiple things within the context the
multiple things within the context the
multiple things within the context the more things the content of a joke is
more things the content of a joke is
more things the content of a joke is adjacent to within the context the
adjacent to within the context the
adjacent to within the context the funnier the joke will be the word pasta
funnier the joke will be the word pasta
funnier the joke will be the word pasta was adjacent to the word noodle the idea
was adjacent to the word noodle the idea
was adjacent to the word noodle the idea of punishment was connected to my
of punishment was connected to my
of punishment was connected to my ability to handle that punishment and
ability to handle that punishment and
ability to handle that punishment and the joke plays on the fact that the
the joke plays on the fact that the
the joke plays on the fact that the teacher is in charge by explaining that
teacher is in charge by explaining that
teacher is in charge by explaining that I the student have the upper hand that’s
I the student have the upper hand that’s
I the student have the upper hand that’s a solid witty response in active comedy
a solid witty response in active comedy
a solid witty response in active comedy active jokes are just reactive jokes
active jokes are just reactive jokes
active jokes are just reactive jokes made to a agreed-upon
made to a agreed-upon
made to a agreed-upon fictional context often referred to as
fictional context often referred to as
fictional context often referred to as the setup this is what stand-up comedy
the setup this is what stand-up comedy
the setup this is what stand-up comedy is so let’s look at a stand-up bit I was
is so let’s look at a stand-up bit I was
is so let’s look at a stand-up bit I was at the golf club last night having a
at the golf club last night having a
at the golf club last night having a wonderful full course meal it was
wonderful full course meal it was
wonderful full course meal it was delicious
delicious
delicious it’s actually kind of funny now that I
it’s actually kind of funny now that I
it’s actually kind of funny now that I think about it but they call it a golf
think about it but they call it a golf
think about it but they call it a golf club because it’s like the name of the
club because it’s like the name of the
club because it’s like the name of the thing that you do the game with it would
thing that you do the game with it would
thing that you do the game with it would be like going to a baseball bat and
be like going to a baseball bat and
be like going to a baseball bat and anyway I digress
anyway I digress
anyway I digress so I was at the golf club having this
so I was at the golf club having this
so I was at the golf club having this wonderful full course meal and then when
wonderful full course meal and then when
wonderful full course meal and then when I finished the end I noticed like the
I finished the end I noticed like the
I finished the end I noticed like the whole waitstaff is standing around and
whole waitstaff is standing around and
whole waitstaff is standing around and they’re staring at me they’re giving me
they’re staring at me they’re giving me
they’re staring at me they’re giving me the stink-eye they’re clearly very upset
the stink-eye they’re clearly very upset
the stink-eye they’re clearly very upset and it took me a second to realize what
and it took me a second to realize what
and it took me a second to realize what they were mad about I’d eaten the thing
they were mad about I’d eaten the thing
they were mad about I’d eaten the thing that they play golf on all 18 holes the
that they play golf on all 18 holes the
that they play golf on all 18 holes the whole course let’s look at the
whole course let’s look at the
whole course let’s look at the components of this joke
components of this joke
components of this joke so first of all I built the context it
so first of all I built the context it
so first of all I built the context it didn’t really happen
didn’t really happen
didn’t really happen and but I guess the context was me in
and but I guess the context was me in
and but I guess the context was me in the golf club having dinner simple
the golf club having dinner simple
the golf club having dinner simple enough and then the content subverted
enough and then the content subverted
enough and then the content subverted your expectations multiple times all
your expectations multiple times all
your expectations multiple times all within the context of the Senate first
within the context of the Senate first
within the context of the Senate first the idea that a golf club is called is
the idea that a golf club is called is
the idea that a golf club is called is called a golf club is kind of funny
called a golf club is kind of funny
called a golf club is kind of funny second the fact that I interrupted the
second the fact that I interrupted the
second the fact that I interrupted the joke to comment on such a trivial thing
joke to comment on such a trivial thing
joke to comment on such a trivial thing is kind of unexpected in its own right
is kind of unexpected in its own right
is kind of unexpected in its own right third I used the idea of a baseball bat
third I used the idea of a baseball bat
third I used the idea of a baseball bat to highlight the IROC the irony not the
to highlight the IROC the irony not the
to highlight the IROC the irony not the but that that screw up was a joke it was
but that that screw up was a joke it was
but that that screw up was a joke it was it was further who’s for the bed so I
it was further who’s for the bed so I
it was further who’s for the bed so I used the idea of a baseball bat to
used the idea of a baseball bat to
used the idea of a baseball bat to highlight the irony of a golf club and
highlight the irony of a golf club and
highlight the irony of a golf club and fourth I subverted your expectations one
fourth I subverted your expectations one
fourth I subverted your expectations one last time the main course of the joke if
last time the main course of the joke if
last time the main course of the joke if you will by changing the meaning of full
you will by changing the meaning of full
you will by changing the meaning of full course meal and none of those ideas were
course meal and none of those ideas were
course meal and none of those ideas were the next logical progression of thought
the next logical progression of thought
the next logical progression of thought but none of them were completely
but none of them were completely
but none of them were completely unrealistic within the context of the
unrealistic within the context of the
unrealistic within the context of the setup they were all surprising so
setup they were all surprising so
setup they were all surprising so theoretically they were all funny now
theoretically they were all funny now
theoretically they were all funny now sorry hold on just a sec one quick thing
sorry hold on just a sec one quick thing
sorry hold on just a sec one quick thing so this is the part where I wanted to
so this is the part where I wanted to
so this is the part where I wanted to take off my shirt and just have black
take off my shirt and just have black
take off my shirt and just have black tape covering my nipples and stand here
tape covering my nipples and stand here
tape covering my nipples and stand here and that would have been completely
and that would have been completely
and that would have been completely socially inappropriate it would have
socially inappropriate it would have
socially inappropriate it would have been very unexpected it would have been
been very unexpected it would have been
been very unexpected it would have been surprising and you would have laughed
surprising and you would have laughed
surprising and you would have laughed and that in a nutshell is how physical
and that in a nutshell is how physical
and that in a nutshell is how physical and cringe comedy works
that that wasn’t a joke that’s actually
that that wasn’t a joke that’s actually how it works because it’s inappropriate
how it works because it’s inappropriate
how it works because it’s inappropriate and therefore unexpected and that’s all
and therefore unexpected and that’s all
and therefore unexpected and that’s all I got go home write some jokes take off
I got go home write some jokes take off
I got go home write some jokes take off your shirt and bring happiness into the
your shirt and bring happiness into the
your shirt and bring happiness into the lives of many thank you
”
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