posted
I'm gonna do something dangerous...analyze and explain something humerous - more for myself since I like analyzing stuff - and cuz analyzing humor is very risky. But that should not be a deterrant. There seems to be a stigma against trying to figure out how humour works.
Let me know if you agree. Also, would like to know why or why it isn't humorous to you - if you dare to analyze yourself. it's guaranteed not to make it funnier. But might help in writing humor once it gets into the subconcious. --
The humor of this piece partly comes from the audience identifying with Brian - his self-doubt about being an official 'writer' when he hasn't progressed on his novel in several years - and Stewie calling direct attention to i by using a mocking sarcastic tone.
The other part of the humor comes from Stewie's desire to torment Brian and actually going through with it. Stuff people dont do cuz their civil, polite, etc. Stewie doesn;t modulate his behavior based on consequences - and some people feel trapped by civility which may feel like not speaking one's mind or being false. So they admire Stewies for speaking his mind without regard. But let's face it, there are also some people who get pleasure from hurting others - probably because they themselves were hurt somehow.
So the audience's laughter reflects some who empathize with Brian's torment and other who have desires to punish and be cruel (to deserving people only of course!)
If you dont finding it funny you probably never had doubts about being a professional writer and just can't empathize with Brian - or you never have wanted to punish someone only to restrain yourself out of courtesy, politeness, civility, etc.
I think i've beaten the humour of out it completely now. Any care to continue beating the dead horse?
quote:If you dont finding it funny you probably never had doubts about being a professional writer and just can't empathize with Brian - or you never have wanted to punish someone only to restrain yourself out of courtesy, politeness, civility, etc.
Good hypothesis. Unfortunately, it's not true. Doubts and I hang out a lot together, and I'm a vindictive b**** leashed by experience and covered by enough fluff to please people.
For me, the comedy failed because of Brian's complete lack of a reaction and the minimal sarcasm in Stewie's voice. I expected an eye twitch, sneer, head hang, or something from Brian to show his emotion, but Stewie might as well have been talking to a brick wall, which is only funny if the talker expresses his or her own insecurities. In addition, I couldn't tell if Stewie was straining to make Brian feel better or if he was taunting the dog.
In other words, I couldn't perceive enough emotion to identify with. The clip of Brian's comeback is more entertaining, because I can perceive Brian's spite and Stewie's frustration.
posted
My problem is probably more with the characters. Since I don't watch the show, I don't know whether Brian's novel attempts are serious, frivolous, or non-existant and Stewie's just making stuff up. So it falls flat, simply because to me the joke doesn't stand on its own. I certainly 'get' the sarcasm and Brian's lack of reaction, but not being familiar with the characters means I don't know if I'm getting the right joke, and that unravels the entire set-up.
To illustrate the point (badly), the book I'm currently reading, The Cruel Sea has a bit of humour splashed into its otherwise dry and dreary first hundred pages about the tedium of life at sea. When one character delivered the dialogue "Well perhaps you have a bun in the oven," I laughed aloud while in line at the bus stand. Why? Because the previous several pages had set the joke up, and the story had shaped the characters so that in context, the line was funny.
I'd guess that in context of the full episode, stewie's tirade at Brian would be funnier, but in the fragmentary few seconds availed by a youtubery attention span, the context and buildup is lost, and the joke, such that it is, becomes an in joke.
posted
I never understand why people find shows like this funny. And I don't just mean funny as in the ha-ha funny, or the faux-pas funny. I mean the split-your-side-snort-sprite-out-your-nose funny that makes-your-best-friend-look-like-an-idiot kind of funny. I have watched an episode or two of Family Guy (had to. aforementioned best friend was my roommate and a complete TV addict in college). Not once have I ever laughed.
Then again, I equate this sort of humor to Seinfeld, and I've never laughed at that show either. Stupid humor to me is not humor.
To each their own. They can keep their Seinfelds and Family Guys and whatever if I can keep my episodes of Castle.
Speaking of humor that lots of people seem to love, but doesn't work for me: I started reading the Terry Pratchett novel that's based on MACBETH, and after noticing several times where I could point to this or that sentence or turn of phrase or bit of writing and think, "That's supposed to be funny," without feeling the least bit amused, I stopped reading.
I cant say I find all of family guy funny - there are times when it falls flat. But there are enough times that make me laugh, that I still watch it. The best things I love are Peter's non sequiturs, Brian's soapbox on things wrong with society but always falling into his hypocrisy each time, Stewie's nonsweetness and sometime psychopatic schemes mixed in with his needs as a child, and the general discomfortness everyone feels when getting into awkward situations (a la seinfeld). In fact the whole show seems to be about all the kinds of trauma one can experience. If it wasn't funny, it'd pretty horrific. I point to season one of The office that crossed that line so often, I swore I'd never watch that season again. I literally squirmed in my seat, it felt so uncomfortable....
I can't say anything about Castle. Never watched it. partly because I miss Firefly. But I gather it has gentler humor - like The Mentalist - which I love. (Or Monk, or Psyche, which also has very gentle humor). Even Burn Notice, which is violent, doesn't cross into crude humor. I think USA is specializing in a class-entertaiment, sort of anti-FOX really...
But let me ask - has anyone tried writing humor - don't be shy now!
Also has anyone thought about writing movie or tv scripts?
posted
I write moments of comedy in my current novel-in-progress. The novel would be unbearably dark without these moments, in my opinion. They usually accompany a moment of bonding between characters, so even if readers don't laugh, the attempted comedy still serves a purpose.
I've thought about writing a script for screen but haven't tried.
posted
Some people that have read my stuff say the stories have their moments of comedy. But the comedy may be more unintentional than anything else.
I think Seinfeld and The Office are genius. However, I do understand why others may not feel the same way about them. Especially The Office (and especially the original British series).
I'm not much into screwball comedy since I tend to like my comedy as a result of character interaction--though I do have an irrational desire to watch Will Ferrell in just about anything.
I've also written three screenplays. That and $97,660 will get me a college education.
posted
I have written a comedy novel. (Well, co wrote.) But I'm pretty sure I wrote it wrong, but people laugh when they read it. They also laugh when I quote it to them. I say I wrote it wrong because we wrote it to amuse ourselves. We were laughing at the keyboard instead of trying to get a laugh out of they keyboard. It's kind of Hitchiker's Guide style.
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posted
I've sprinkled humor through my stories, but I don't think I have the chops to be a humorous writer. Every now and again I can get a good zing in, but that's about it.
quote:I think USA is specializing in a class-entertaiment, sort of anti-FOX really...
Perhaps. It certainly does seem that way. Fox tends to aim more towards shock-value of entertainment. But then, USA has always been a more family-friendly network.
quote:I can't say anything about Castle. Never watched it. partly because I miss Firefly.
They pay homage to Firefly a few times over the course of the series. The Castle writers are obviously fans.
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There is a "Castle" novel out there called "Heat Wave". The show refers to it significantly, especially during this second season. It is almost 100% in character and was ghostwritten by the series star, Rick Castle. Even the dedication is in character. When asked about who wrote it, the president of USA insisted it was written by Castle.
posted
Wow. I never thought the book was any kind of awesome, but man, OSC really rips it apart. I enjoyed it well enough when I started mentally replacing the book's characters with the show's.
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