Sarcasm: Express opposite feelings.
Sarcasm is “the use of words that mean the opposite of what the speaker really thinks in order to insult, show irritation, or be funny.”
You: “Wow, Mike, thanks for taking the time to copy and paste a definition you found online. What an impressive display of effort.”
Me: “Thank you SO much for saying that. I’m impressed that someone like you can actually read.”
Get the picture?
In comedy writing, sarcasm is another classic way to demonstrate your Comedy Lens by using some passive-aggressive commentary. The laughs come when your audience “gets” that you actually mean the opposite of what you’ve said.
Practice using sarcasm to answer the “How BLANK is it?” question in the humor blueprint by making a statement about the setup that is the complete opposite of how you actually feel. Then say it like you reeeeally mean it.
That’s sarcasm, and it’s soooo difficult to figure out.
Sarcasm Example:
Here’s veteran comedian Sebastian Maniscalco acting out a strict mother’s sarcastic response to napping.
Sebastian Maniscalco – No Napping
There was no napping growing up. Once you were up you were up.
Not like today where the kid’s like, “I’m gonna go take a nap.”
And the mother’s like, “That’s okay, Justin, go take a nap. You’ve been up for two hours now; you’re probably exhausted. So go upstairs, lay down, refresh, and come back down when you’re good and ready to operate your day.”
Here’s that same bit loaded into the Humor Blueprint:
Sebastian Maniscalco’s Comedy Lens: Old-school Italian in a new package.
Bit Name: No Napping
Premise: There was no napping growing up. Once you were up you were up.
Setup (apply Comedy Lens—Old-school Italian in a new package): Not like today . . .
(Norm: We were better for it; we get more work done; we respect your time.)
Violate the norm: (How NOT LIKE TODAY is it?)
Jokes:
- where the kid’s like, “I’m gonna go take a nap.” (exaggeration, different perspective, sarcasm, impersonation)
- And the mother’s like, “That’s okay, Justin, go take a nap. You’ve been up for two hours now; you’re probably exhausted. So go upstairs, lay down, refresh, and come back down when you’re good and ready to operate your day.” (exaggeration, different perspective, sarcasm, impersonation)
It’s clear by Sebastian’s hilarious use of sarcasm that naps are frowned upon in his world.
NEXT UP: SIMILE (making dynamic comparisons to get laughs)
This content was lifted directly from Book Two of the Funny Muscle series :
Fine-Tuning Your Funny Muscle: How to Practice Creating Laughs Like a Pro
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