The Comedy is in the Details
Why Specifics are Funny
You may have heard of the “Rule of 3” in comedy writing. The idea of doing 3 call backs to the same joke, usually growing in absurdity as each reference progresses. But there’s another great tool to have in your tool belt as a comedy writer, and that is writing for specifics. And I thought I’d go into that comedy writing tool here coming out of “Richard Diamond, Private Detective” and our running joke involving Cheetos.
When I say “specifics” it is just that. Having a very specific reference. Madison isn’t just eating a snack, she’s eating Cheetos. That’s how the joke lands. On something the audience is universally familiar with. Yes, she could just be eating “potato chips” and everyone would get it. But by saying “Cheetos,” the audience quickly fills in the blanks with something they instantly can visualize from their own life experiences. We see the bright orange color, we recognize that bag rustle, we know her fingers are turning orange and we’re tasting them along with her. And that very specific item from the audience’s life is far more funny than just saying “a bag of potato chips.” “Potato chips” could be anything. The audience will leave the image half finished, putting the gist of it in their mind’s eye, and moving on. But if I maybe said, “Pringles potato chips” there is now that instant visual of the red tube container, the perfectly shaped chips, maybe duck lips? Maybe “can’t stop eatin’ ’em”? and so on.
Why does that help in Audio Drama? We’re here to create a picture with nothing but sound. So help your audience along and give them a specific reference to something they can immediately relate to and visualize. That goes for all kinds of things. Our year long journey referencing Ryan Reynolds is part of it, too. When Madison describes stalking Ryan Reynolds at Whole Foods. BAM! Two specifics in one reference. First, as the audience, you’re envisioning specifically Ryan Reynolds walking around a grocery store, and now I have told you it is a “Whole Foods” grocery store, so you can fill out the picture knowing from personal experience the unique look and feel of Whole Foods versus a larger grocery chain. And that’s a funny image to have those two specifics together so when we add Madison stalking him… the image is complete.
Yes, some specifics can fall flat if they are so specific your audience doesn’t know what you’re referring to. In Richard Diamond, for example, Canary says to Madison (with an upset stomach from too many Cheetos) to “Take another swig of that Alka-Seltzer, Madison.” It was suggested to me to change the line to reference “Bromo-Seltzer” which was another type of seltzer-relief from that era. However, this was a “throw away” joke that is just quickly said and not focused on. I needed the audience to instantly identify “Alka-Seltzer,” relying on their life experiences to know what it is and why it’s used. If I’d used Bromo-Seltzer, while it was used back then alongside Alka-Seltzer, the product was ONLY unique to that era and couldn’t give a modern audience listening to this today any point of reference. They might have figured it out from context, but this is a one-and-done joke! Hit it with the comedy and move on. Don’t ask them to break down the joke to understand it! So going with a well known specific, in this case, works best.
However, if you want to give your niche audience a very unique reference only they would get, that can be funny, too. As long as the scene doesn’t hinge on your entire audience knowing what you are referencing. Or, if you can paint the picture around the reference so people who may not get that very specific reference can still can find the moment funny, even better. You’re giving an “Easter Egg” to that smaller audience, but everyone can still laugh at it. I’ll go to Madison in “Wonder Woman.” When Queen Hippolyta laments her daughter having dated “that mortal Steve Trevor” and Madison says, in an alluring voice, “I dunno, gimme some of that sexy Lyle Waggoner” the specific is referencing the actor who played Trevor in the 70’s TV series. Does everybody know that’s his name or even remember it? No. But HOW Madison said it still pays off the joke for those who don’t know, while giving an extra something to the fans of the Linda Carter series. And I like to think it’s additionally funny that Madison doesn’t go to the newest actor, Chris Pine (a modern sexy Trevor to be sure) but instead finds the 70’s Waggnor more tasty.
Now you can listen to Madison, other comedy audio dramas, comedians’ stand-up routines and mainstream comedies, and identify the specific references, understanding that those were put there intentionally. Keep it in mind the next time you write. Definitely a great tool to strengthen your comedy writing!
