Learn how to be a swap up comedian first! I have reverse-engineered 25 popular jokes and explained why they make audiences laugh. Each tutorial below allows you explore the style of a different comedian and challenges you to do some writing in their style. Complete all the tutorials and then integrate what you've learned into your own writing!
Click on any comedian below to get started.
To put this bit together, we can imagine that he asked himself three questions:
1. Where did you grow up?
You have to understand, as a kid growing up in [Irvine, California]…
2. What three things happened when you were a child that led you to pursue your career?
Where I would [sit in my room and listen to records of Steve Martin, and the original Saturday Night Live cast, or stay up late and watch Johnny Carson on The Tonight Show to see what comedians he would have on].
3. What is the most absurd thing you can imagine doing as a career, given your passion?
I had one dream. One singular focus even at the earliest age. I can remember wanting to do one thing, and one thing only. [Sell insurance].
Why the joke is funny:
This is a wonderful example of a subverted assumption. Will masterfully builds up an expectation. He gives a few examples of how he grew up, passionate about comedy. Then he uses repetition to keep building. He says he had one dream. He only wanted to do one thing. At this point, the logical and expected conclusion is for him to say that he always wanted to be a comedian, which would not be funny. So, instead of that, all Will has to do is subvert that assumption and break that expectation by saying that he wanted to be something absurdly different. Will said that he always dreamed of…selling insurance. When we are surprised by this type of unexpected absurdity, we tend to laugh.
Swap Up Comedy Example:
You have to understand, as a kid growing up in Chicago…
Where I would go to see shows at Second City, sneak downstairs late at night to watch Letterman, or constantly observe my father, who would make people laugh everywhere he went.
I had one dream. One singular focus even at the earliest age. I can remember wanting to do one thing, and one thing only. I wanted to be a public high school teacher. And quit after 2 years.
Now it’s your turn! Answer the questions and plug in your ideas to see if the joke makes you and others laugh.
1. Where did you grow up?
You have to understand, as a kid growing up in [YOUR ANSWER]…
2. What three things happened when you were a child that led you to pursue your career?
Where I would [YOUR ANSWER].
3. What is the most absurd thing you can imagine doing as a career, given your passion?
I had one dream. One singular focus even at the earliest age. I can remember wanting to do one thing, and one thing only. [YOUR ANSWER].
To put this bit together, we can imagine that he asked himself three questions.
1. What are some creatures in a place that don’t have the capacity to understand social issues, doing something auditory and normal for them, but annoying to others?
Anyway, I was [on a plane and there was these two babies and they were crying the whole time, crying the whole flight] and that happens a lot. I don’t think they knew each other, they were just [crying].
2. What is a way to find out why something annoying is happening?
I’ve seen this [on so many flights] and I started to wonder, is there a reason for this? Is there an actual reason why [babies] – so I looked it up. Turns out there’s an actual reason why [babies cry on airplanes] and it’s because…
3. What is a social issue?
… they’re upset [that gay people are getting married]. They’re like really upset. Like inconsolably upset.
Why the joke is funny:
In the third segment of the bit, he says that he started to wonder if there was a reason why babies cry on airplanes, so he looked it up. This creates an expectation that he's going to share something real and research-based. To break that expectation, all he needs to do is say something absurd instead of something real. He concludes that babies are crying because of gay marriage. That breaks the expectation and creates a delightful surprise for the audience. When we are surprised by unexpected absurdity, we tend to laugh.
Swap Up Comedy Example:
Anyway, I was walking through my neighborhood and there were these dogs and they were humping the whole time, humping in the neighborhood, and that happens a lot. I don’t think they knew each other, they were just humping.
I’ve seen this in so many neighborhoods and I started to wonder, is there a reason for this? Is there an actual reason why dogs – so I looked it up. Turns out there’s an actual reason why dogs hump in neighborhoods, and it’s because…
…they’re upset about Roe v. Wade. They’re like really upset. Like inconsolably upset..
Now it’s your turn! Answer the questions and plug in your ideas to see if the joke makes you laugh.
1. What are some creatures in a place that don’t have the capacity to understand social issues, doing something auditory and normal for them, but annoying to others?
Anyway, I was [YOUR ANSWER] and that happens a lot. I don’t think they knew each other, they were just [YOUR ANSWER].
2. What is a way to find out why something annoying is happening?
I’ve seen this [YOUR ANSWER] and I started to wonder, is there a reason for this? Is there an actual reason why [YOUR ANSWER] – so I looked it up. Turns out there’s an actual reason why [YOUR ANSWER] and it’s because…
3. What is a social issue?
… they’re upset [YOUR ANSWER]. They’re like really upset. Like inconsolably upset.
To put this bit together, we can imagine that he asked himself three questions.
1. What is an absurd and unhealthy New Year’s Resolution?
This year has flown by. I don’t want to brag, but I’ve kept my New Year's resolution. I’ve done it. I’ve [had pasta every day this year]. Thank you.
2. When is the most absurd time to practice that resolution?
I tell ya, it wasn't easy. It wasn’t easy. There were some [nights when I was like, “Oh my gosh, it’s 11:30 and I haven’t eaten pasta]…
3. What’s an absurd way you can require someone to help with your resolution?
[I have to wake my wife up and have her make me some].”
Why the joke is funny:
Jim starts off with a broken expectation. He says that he does not want brag, which creates the expectation that he is going to say something positive worth bragging about. Then he says that he has kept his New Year’s resolution, which further makes us think he is talking about something positive. Now all he needs to do is present an absurd new years resolution. He says that his resolution was to eat pasta every day. Then he acts out an absurd time to eat pasta, 11:30pm…and suggests that he wakes his wife up to make him pasta in the middle of the night, which is also absurd. When we are surprised by unexpected absurdity, we tend to laugh.
Swap Up Comedy Example:
This year has flown by. I don’t want to brag, but I’ve kept my New Year's resolution. I’ve done it. I’ve kept myself to 3 alcoholic drinks per morning. Thank you.
I tell ya, it wasn't easy. It wasn’t easy. There were some days when I woke up and was like, “Yikes, it’s 10am and I’m starting to feel my feelings…
So I text my kids and ask them to come inside from playing and make me a Moscow mule…or a Mai Tai. I’m not picky.
Now it’s your turn! Answer the questions and plug in your ideas to see if the joke makes you laugh.
1. What is an absurd and unhealthy New Year’s Resolution?
This year has flown by. I don’t want to brag, but I’ve kept my New Year's resolution. I’ve done it. I’ve [YOUR ANSWER]. Thank you.
2. When is the most absurd time to practice that resolution?
I tell ya, it wasn't easy. It wasn’t easy. There were some [YOUR ANSWER]…
3. What’s an absurd way you can require someone to help with your resolution?
[YOUR ANSWER].”
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