I heard Frank Skinner saying recently that if he went into therapy and "sorted all of his stuff out " he wouldn't be funny anymore. Further that comedy relied upon negative feelings such as Anxiety, depression, neurosis, addiction etc etc.
It seems true that most great comics were living on the edge a lot..Peter Cook, Spike Milligan, John Cleese, Tony Hancock, Tommy Cooper, Kenneth Williams etc
Any views please. Does good comedy writing rely somewhat on feelings of discontentment ?.
Possibly, but then a lot of comedians are fat: Kay, Gervais, Frost, French, Wood, Lucas... So maybe over-eating is the key?
Quote: Godot Taxis @ July 12, 2007, 4:32 AMPossibly, but then a lot of comedians are fat: Kay, Gervais, Frost, French, Wood, Lucas... So maybe over-eating is the key?
How on earth could you forget Brand? Joan that is!
I'm not sure if I go with all that 'tears of a clown' stuff. Some comedians may, indeed, draw on the negative aspects of life and it may even be true that most comedy exists because of those aspects... but I don't think you have to actually be depressed etc. to properly observe the world around you and create something funny from those observations.
Dave Chapmans funny, and I imagine him to be fat.
I think that a lot of comedians will draw on negative aspects in their humour. It's a human trait to laugh at other peoples misfortune. I'm not saying we all do this, but isn' it funny if some trips in the street, or if a waitress drops a load of plates..... isn't it?......eh? 
Anyway, I think in the same way, comedians will draw on material that will have the audience laughing at the comedians misfotune, problems they have in their lives. probably a lot of the time because they can relate to it, everyone has a screw loose somewhere.
Wibble.
"D'ja ever clap when a waitress falls and drops a tray of glasses?"
GJ, it's called schadenfreude. (German, lent to English as there is no direct translation. Hyggelig!) Happiness at the misfortune of others. ("Happiness at the misfortune of others? That IS German!")
Boy, those Germans have a word for everything!
Richard Pryor, Bill Hicks and in modern day Russell Brand as well all use to/use negative things that effect their lives to be funny.
Its true all the comedians I have met are dysfunctional in some way which makes me dysfunctional aswell. Doh!
Yeah I agree with this. In a lot of ways comedy is a defense mechanism and also a social weapon if your lacking in charisma for example. Comediens like Jack Dee use misery and grumpiness to devastating effect.
Quote: Godot Taxis @ July 12, 2007, 4:32 AMPossibly, but then a lot of comedians are fat: Kay, Gervais, Frost, French, Wood, Lucas... So maybe over-eating is the key?
Oh no... 
Ignore it, it didn't happen! 
Can we think of any happy comedians...?
Noel Fielding maybe. Unless he has a secret depressive disorder.
Actually Ricky Gervais seems very content.
The only happy comedians are the dead ones 
Quote: Ginger Jesus @ July 12, 2007, 8:43 AMDave Chapmans funny, and I imagine him to be fat.
Now then - are you taking the piss?
'Er indoors thinks I'm fat (I typed fart there) but I'm "only" about 14 stone - 36 inch "waist" - as if you really cared!
I think we're about the same Davey boy. Okay, I'm 15 stone, but I am 6.5", so doubt we could fit into each others jeans... not that I'd want to... that is to say you probably have nice jeans it's just... look I feel I've let this spiral out of control here.
Lets just say I could be slimmer, but I'm kinda fond of my "Paunch 911".
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