tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post116072699481226442..comments2023-11-03T06:02:02.128-07:00Comments on By Ken Levine: Don't stab the frogBy Ken Levinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17305293821975250420noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-1161210781517865262006-10-18T15:33:00.000-07:002006-10-18T15:33:00.000-07:00At one time I did standup comedy, and I had come u...At one time I did standup comedy, and I had come up with a new routine. On open mic night, when those of us who were good enough to get the occasional weekend gig would get paid to do a double long set so that the audience didn't feel upset or angry, I did it for the other comics. They all laughed except for one.<BR/><BR/>So I went up on stage and I added the set of jokes to my routine. The reason I'm not posting them here is because they were obviously NOT funny. NOBODY laughed. Just terrible.<BR/><BR/>That night I learned the most important lesson I learned in two years of doing standup. I don't know what's funny. I think I'm funny, and, for a time, was able to convince some booking agents that I was funny. There is no relationship between being funny and knowing what's funny.<BR/><BR/>And, of course, other funny people are a terrible gauge of what's funny, too. So I'm beginning to believe that the writer's room is just not that useful. But readthroughs are.<BR/><BR/>But then, I don't write for others. So I don't know what I'm talking about.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-1160964615654348682006-10-15T19:10:00.000-07:002006-10-15T19:10:00.000-07:00Hmm... the only way to tell if something is funny ...Hmm... the only way to tell if something is funny is to have an audience?<BR/><BR/>Okay... try conducting your next read-thru in an insane asylum.<BR/><BR/>No, Ken... I mean an *ACTUAL* insane asylum.<BR/><BR/>You know... one with doctors and nurses and... like Nurse Ratchet.<BR/><BR/>Although, you won't get me near one unless the nurses are named Hoolihan or Brancuzzi.<BR/><BR/>And let's not go into British humor. That's a horse of an entirely different wheelbase.Dwaconhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07544514023626682777noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-1160963454711616232006-10-15T18:50:00.000-07:002006-10-15T18:50:00.000-07:00You a very smart individual....and I only needed t...You a very smart individual.<BR/><BR/><BR/><BR/><BR/>...and I only needed to stab a frog once to know I never want to do it again.JUST MEhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15663723046451628228noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-1160952208534073262006-10-15T15:43:00.000-07:002006-10-15T15:43:00.000-07:00For me, "stabbing the frog" means something comple...For me, "stabbing the frog" means something completely different. I like your meaning, though.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-1160901585797753532006-10-15T01:39:00.000-07:002006-10-15T01:39:00.000-07:00Weren't there many "Bar Wars" episodes? Or mayb...Weren't there many "Bar Wars" episodes? Or maybe I'm confusing that with the Janet Eldridge episodes, I know there were a few of those with the same title.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com