Topical Comedy Page 2

The trouble with topical comedy is that it's written too soon after the event to make it funny. I've never enjoyed it and don't write it (certainly not sketches). The great thing about 'Spitting Image' was that it worked as topical comedy because it was essentially a comedy soap with a load of funny puppets. There were some great satirical gags but not solely based on what the news reports were. Most topical comedy is funny is a 'oh, isn't that clever?' way, and a very good stand-up is better at catching the zeitgeist than a topical news sketch, which generally are contrived. There's not enough care taken in crafting sketches thesedays.

Wow, I thought everyone liked topical comedy... clearly not!

I love it - there's something about it being almost-live which makes it all the better IMHO. I can't say what that is though. It's definitely of the moment stuff... Dead Ringers, The Now Show aren't nearly as funny a week later, but at the time they make me laugh hard.

Quote: Leevil @ March 11, 2008, 3:20 PM

Yeah, I couldn't devote my style to it. But it's nice as the writer to knock out a good gag and in the case of us amateurs, get it performed.

I'd much rather have something timeless, original and something everyone can enjoy (without compromising the material).

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I'm the same, I cannot write topical sketches very well (I will post what I mean in critique sometime) I can set up what the issue is with the character but I can't seem to do anything but state the obvious therefore making it unfunny.

And I must admit I don't mind a bit of topical especially in the old stand up to keep it fresh, but the downside is I have to keep updating it.

Quote: sootyj @ March 11, 2008, 6:13 PM

Damn Nuts, you hate what I aspire to. Kinda like hearing that the guy who shags, the fit presenter off Blue Peter, wishes he could just work on the Sunken Garden.

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I don't hate it any more, but it wasn't my chosen direction and I guess I wasn't good at it when I started so wasn't keen then. Since then I've got two different sketch show ideas and I'm spending 90% of my writing time doing topical ones for the credits and route in.

My first love has always been sitcom and film screenplays but I understand that sketches are a good, quick way of showing people you have an idea about what people might find funny.

Obviously people like Mr Bussell have another route by performing in their own clips.

Quote: Hennell @ March 11, 2008, 5:43 PM

I've always liked 'good' topical comedy. The fact it has to be written in a certain time frame and the topics are 'forced' upon the writer, can really show the inventiveness of some writers.

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I agree with this; just like the creativity of a poet can (oddly perhaps) be released through metric restraints, syllable counts, etc., of certain forms (e.g. sonnet), working to tight time restrictions on set topics can be quite liberating.

Writing topical stuff is, I think, a demonstrable show of one's dedication, hard work and "jobbing" attitude. We can't all be ivory-tower creatives. Also, when writing topical stuff, the inspiration is the news, so it's "easy" to write when other projects are stalling - the muse is sat there, in the headlines.

I don't really mind creating something that's 'stale' a week later - and to be honest, I don't think the good stuff is. I get the Private Eye annuals and read them at Christmas; the stuff's still funny, and reminds you of what's happened that year.

Theatre is "of the moment" and if it makes people laugh that night, what's the problem? I think it makes it special; transient.

I really enjoy the challenge of writing topical material.

Quote: roscoff @ March 11, 2008, 6:32 PM

Edit: I know there's youtube but no-ones actually paid to see your stuff on there.

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Oh yes they are ! There's a massive massive audience on Youtube/ the internet and plenty of examples of people making money producing viral content. (weebls/ rathergood.com etc) And that's not to mention the american sites. directors like gary benson from mediocre films are now pitching feature films in hollywood having first plied their trade on youtube. it's a great breeding ground for new talent.

most of the big production companies have entered the online game with varying success - warner - comedybox.com for example. they're crying out for original, funny content. it's small fry at the moment - around £1,000 to produce an animation/ video whatever. but if you look at the shift in advertising revenue from broadcast to the internet your jaw would drop. Can't remember the exact figures !

sure it's an ego boost getting broadcast credits, but don't think that TV is the be and end all.