SKETCH COMEDY

WHAT IS FUNNY: 

Some of the best moments in comedy history have come from sketch comedy. Think of your favorite Saturday Night Live skit. Whether you think it’s better now, the early 2000’s, the ‘90’s, the 1980’s, or the OG casts of the ‘70’s. Whatever you think is best, you have to recognize that this is a quintessential sketch comedy showcase.

Basically, sketch comedy features short, self-contained scenes packed with places, characters, and humor. These scenes, typically lasting under 10 minutes and can focus on anything from everyday situations to absurd parodies.

Sketch comedy has roots in ancient Greece and Rome, but the modern form we recognize today emerged from vaudeville and burlesque performances in the 19th and early 20th centuries. Television's golden age saw sketch comedy explode in popularity, with shows like "Saturday Night Live" becoming comedic institutions.

How Do They Do It?

Sketch comedy relies on a toolbox of comedic techniques. Here are a few:

• Characters: Over-the-top personalities or parodies of real-life people can be a recipe for laughs [3].

• Heightened Situations: Taking ordinary scenarios and pushing them to extremes is a classic sketch comedy trick [3].

• Wordplay and Puns: A well-timed pun or clever wordplay can elevate a sketch [3].