Comedic performances - Topics

The best comedic performances look effortless and that effortlessness takes years Table reads are where sketches live or die Sketch shows built entire careers out of a single catchphrase The roastee laughing hardest at their own jokes defeats the purpose Laugh tracks ruin natural comedic timing in sitcoms Silent skits prove you never needed dialogue in the first place Deadpan delivery is an underrated comedic skill Why do some comedians light up on stage but fall flat on screen Great timing in comedy is really great listening Why do the best stand-up sets feel like conversations rather than performances Comic actors who make their co-stars funnier are the real MVPs of any ensemble What separates a comedian who acts from an actor who does comedy A funny script can still die with the wrong performer Improv training makes every comedic performance better Comedic timing is the one skill you cannot teach Jimmy Fallon gets more mileage out of a bad impression than most impressionists get out of a good one Playing it straight is often funnier than playing for laughs The three-minute set teaches you more than any comedy course Stage comedy versus screen comedy: completely different muscles Killing at an open mic is worth a hundred rehearsals in your bedroom Physical comedy deserves the same respect as dramatic acting Celebrity impressionists who sound exactly like the person but never say anything funny Crowd work separates great stand-ups from good joke writers