20 Comedy Dos And Don’ts From Movie And TV Greats
![20 Comedy Dos And Don’ts From Movie And TV Greats](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/9/0/8/866908_320x180.jpg)
Writing comedy is an art form. And a science. And has recipes, like cooking. Okay, it’s a lot of things while being its own thing, too. There are several ways to do it right and millions of ways to do it correctly. Every one of us reading this, whether you’re just a lover of comedy or a budding participant in its creation, has at one point wanted to ask our favorite film and television funny people this question: How do you write your jokes?
Many reporters have asked this question and have gotten a ton of answers. After all, it’s hard to get funny people to shut up about anything at all, much less getting them to shut up about “the craft.” But if you get past the vanity aspect of funny people talking about how being funny works even though the concept of funny is 99.999999% subjective, you can find some tips that you might be able to apply for your next set of jokes for an open mic, a draft of a script, a short story, or that one PowerPoint presentation you have to do at work even though you’re not management (and never want to be management).
Here are some joke-writing tips from some of the most prominent pros that have written and performed on TV or film.
Steve Martin
![Comedy-Writing Advice Remember that you're a thought machine. Steve Martin, comedian and writer of The Jerk, Only Murders in the Building, etc. You have a thousand, a million thoughts a day. Just learn to observe them a little bit, and say, 'Oh, is that an idea I could use. CRACKED.COM](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/8/2/0/866820.jpg)
Jerry Seinfeld
![Comedy-Writing Advice is songwriting. Jerry Seinfeld, stand-up comedian and star of Seinfeld In order to keep a joke tight, shave off words and even count syllables to make sure the flow is brief and potent, much like when writing lyrics to fit the melody of a song. CRACKED.COM](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/8/2/3/866823.jpg)
Patton Oswalt
![Comedy-Writing Advice Have a moment of discovery. Patton Oswalt, stand-up comedian, writer, Ratatouille, etc Telling someone what you think can be a comedic sermon, but telling someone what you used to think then followed by what you realize now can open up jokes from two perspectives, revealing growth and extending your bits. CRACKED.COM](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/8/2/1/866821.jpg)
Mindy Kaling
![Comedy-Writing Advice Have thick skin. Mindy Kaling, writer of The Office, The Sex Lives of College Girls, etc. I have a thick skin, which comes from being a not-really-skinny, dark-skinned Indian woman. I haven't fit in every place, and so I'm kind of used to resistance. Get used to resistance and let it fuel you. CRACKED.COM](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/8/1/8/866818.jpg)
Conan O'Brien
![Comedy-Writing Advice Prepare like crazy so you can wing it. Conan O'Brien, writer and late night talk show host Do the research and work to stick to the plan, but don't be afraid to venture out of it. There could be some extra funny out there that didn't show itself before, or that could only be mined within the current circumstances. CRACKED.COM](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/8/0/8/866808.jpg)
John Swartzwelder
![Comedy-Writing Advice Writing is very hard and rewriting is comparatively easy and rather fun. John Swartzwelder, writer on The Simpsons Swartzwelder recommends just powering through a first draft without worrying about perfection, so you can easily punch up and refine your second draft now that the harder framework is done. CRACKED.COM](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/8/2/5/866825.jpg)
The Good Place
![Comedy-Writing Advice MADE EAS Sometimes you just lean into the absurdity. The Good Place writers' room The episode Jeremy Bearimy and the bizarre signature was born out of writer Rae Sanni attempting to get showrunner Mike Schurr to explain how time works on the show. Не couldn't make sense of it, so they made it nonsensical. CRACKED.COM](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/8/2/2/866822.jpg)
Liz Meriwether
![Comedy-Writing Advice Ideate specific details. Liz Meriwether, writer/creator of New Girl To punch up jokes, dialogue, or scenarios, it's recommended to get into further detail andmaybe get unusual. Hank eats a giant hamburger is a funny image, but Hank eats a nine-patty cheeseburger with pickled onions, chipotle ketchup, and marshmallow fluff hits different. CRACKED.COM](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/8/1/7/866817.jpg)
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Norman Lear
![Comedy-Writing Advice Scrape the barrel of your experience. That's what's gonna feed us. Norman Lear, creator of All In the Family, The Jeffersons, etc. This was Lear's edict to the writers for all of his sitcoms. Your life and your family can be great resources for stories and bits. GRACKED.COM](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/8/1/5/866815.jpg)
Issa Rae
![Comedy-Writing Advice Don't be afraid to learn as you go. Issa Rae, writer/star of Insecure With Awkward Black Girl specifically, we would release the episodes every month... So I had time to see audience feedback, and sometimes there would be critiques... I was able to use that as feedback to incorporate into the next episode. CRACKED.COM](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/8/1/9/866819.jpg)
Dan Harmon
![Comedy-Writing Advice ВЕСА TED BY LM T&T VAL PRE Comedy is tragedy followed by a third act. Dan Harmon, creator of Community and Rick and Morty Harmon notes that the first joke a baby learns is peek-a-boo. The child is scared of being abandoned, but the big reveal is that they were never alone. Find a relatable fear and make a case why it is silly to be scared of it. LM CRACKED.COM VAI](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/8/0/9/866809.jpg)
Gary Gulman
![Comedy-Writing Advice Mine your obsessions. Gary Gulman, finalist on Last Comic Standing Writing from your vast knowledge of an atypical subject or hobby you enjoy can provide some original compelling material that makes you unique. Anyone can write about dating, but only a few could do a tight five on geocaching. CRACKED.COM](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/8/1/1/866811.jpg)
Susan Harris
![Comedy-Writing Advice Silly is not funny. Susan Harris, writer/creator of The Golden Girls Sure, silly things can be fun but they run thin and get tired over time. Harris encourages comedy writers, Write what is difficult for you - even painful. Trust that it will come out funny. CRACKED.COM](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/8/1/4/866814.jpg)
Tina Fey
![Comedy-Writing Advice Be expressive. Tina Fey, writer/performer on SNL, creator of 30 Rock Sometimes you can sell a joke and make it punch harder with a facial expression or movement. It doesn't always need to be big or bombastic. Even a small twitch or smirk can have a huge impact. CRACKED.COM](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/8/0/7/866807.jpg)
Jerrod Carmichael
![Comedy-Writing Advice Write from a place of honesty - not necessarily from real life. Jerrod Carmichael, stand-up comedian and actor, he Carmichael Show, Rothaniel When you talk about truth in stand-up, a lot of people take it to mean that crazy co-worker you have. No, it means being honest with your sense of humor, your emotion, your intention. CRACKED.COM](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/8/1/6/866816.jpg)
George Carlin
![Comedy-Writing Advice Write everything down. George Carlin, stand-up comedian/writer Write all your ideas down and classify them. Any idea. If you don't think you can use it now, if it seems useful, put it down on paper. (Or laptop, or phone, etc.) CRACKED.COM](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/8/1/0/866810.jpg)
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Eddie Brill
![Comedy-Writing Advice It's never 'you suck,' it's 'we suck.'ii Eddie Brill, warm-up comedian for The Late Show with David Letterman If you're writing jokes to shame behaviors, aim them in a way that blames humanity rather than getting it taken as a sermon to the audience. CRACKED.COM](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/8/0/5/866805.jpg)
Judd Apatow
![Comedy-Writing Advice Start with the punchline. Judd Apatow, BXW comedian and director Judd Apatow Build a story around that punchline and think of five ways to approach it. This not only helps your short bit go further, but also brainstorm other punchlines and bits that could feed into it. CRACKED.COM](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/8/0/6/866806.jpg)
Mel Brooks
![Comedy-Writing Advice There were plenty, plenty of jokes I should have just exploded with and said, 'maybe that's a bit too much for the kids' or whatever. Mel Brooks, director/writer of Blazing Saddles, Young Frankenstein, etc. The jokes you don't tell could haunt you. You never know if something is bad until you try it. CRACKED.COM](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/8/1/2/866812.jpg)
Tina Fey
![Comedy-Writing Advice Improve every joke you can until the last possible second, and then you have to let it go. Tina Fey, writer/performer on SNL, creator of 30 Rock You can't be that kid standing at the top of the waterslide, overthinking it...You have to let people see what you wrote. CRACKED.COM](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/8/1/3/866813.jpg)