Louis CK Refines the Art of Comedy

By Dan Friedman January 18, 2017

We know that Louis CK is very funny, with a scathing take on contemporary society. But Nerdwriter1’s seven minute YouTube analysis explains that CK’s technique has three major pillars.

First. However spontaneous he sounds, CK has meticulously planned every word. As a matter of survival, comedians need clear premises. If the audience doesn’t know what comedians are talking about, it isn’t going to laugh at the punchline.

Second. CK uses every word. Punchlines are the biggest surprises, but there are laughs in, for example, judicious use of over-dramatic adjectives in the premise. His 6-year-old daughter will lose at monopoly. But saying she will “inevitably” lose “every” game is as clear — and funnier.

Third. CK stays in the moment, as taught him by Sir Jerry Seinfeld. If the audience is enjoying his anger, he stays angry. If they are enjoying his sadness, he stays sad. If they are enjoying his malevolent paternal glee at crushing his daughter in Monopoly, he stays malevolently paternally gleeful.

Dan Friedman is the executive editor and comedy correspondent for the Forward. Follow him on Twitter, @danfriedmanme

Dan Friedman is the former executive editor and whisky correspondent of the Forward, and is the author of a book about Tears for Fears, the ’80s emo rock band.

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