Poll: Need Help for Term Paper: Interjections in Stand Up Comedy

[Rinji]

Hi guys,

I study English Studies in Heidelberg, Germany and I have to write a term paper for one course.

Since I've noticed that some of you are quite fond of many stand up comedians, and since I have to write a term paper about interjections in stand up comedy, I thought I could use your help.

I want to know what role you think interjections play in stand up comedy. To those of you who don't know what interjections are... they are basically words that don't have a substancial meaning except expressing your emotion or your reaction in a situation, like:

greetings like "hello", "hey", "howdy"

farewell-words like "goodbye", "see you later", "farewell"

"reactional sounds" like "wow","hmmm","ow" etc.

curse words like "fucking (as in "I hate this fucking table!")", "the fuck/hell/heck etc." (as in what the fuck is going on?), "shit!". Their clean counterparts, like "crap", and "freaking" also count.

Other expressions like: "Oh my god!" are also interjections.

So, let me know what you think, escapists!

 

[Raven's Nest]

I would agree that they make a significant impact on how funny a comedian can be...

But it's not at all necessary. Take this clip from the late genius George Carlin.


And when he does drop the occasional f-bomb it has so much more impact than somebody who swears with every other word.

 

[Hero in a half shell]

Paul Merton (an English comedian) is a genius at that sort of stuff.


See also the Two Ronnies, as their sketches really focused on smart wordplay:


It probably has most appeal in impromptu comedy, so those unscripted comedy TV shows should be a goldmine for this sort of stuff: Whose line is it anyway, never mind the Buzzcocks, QI, basically anything that appears on Dave.

Also looks at comics that specialise in working the audience for their stand-up (eg. Al Murray, another Brit comic) because they will be relying on weird answers and unusual, unexpected things from the people they question, because that's the crux of their humour.
You will probably have a big bit on catchphrases and their dividing use in comedy: some love them, some hate them.

Finally impressionists who rely on caricatures will be important, as they are all about emphasising the small details of how famous people act and talk.

Hope this helps, and isn't all wrong. All the best for your research.

 

[DugMachine]

Well placed "fucks" can really add that little extra to jokes to make it super funny.

 

[Rinji]

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Thanks for the reply. Helped a lot!

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I actually used many examples of well placed interjections from this HBO Special! Carlin truly is a genius and one of my idols.

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I agree, it's particularly visible when you see a clean version of an act that usually has some curse words in them!

 

[BeeGeenie]

They're not really necessary, although some comedians use them to good effect. It's all about the timing and the joke itself, but if an interjection helps draw attention to a specific part of the joke, it can be useful.

Some comedians abuse the privilege, trying to fool people into believing that what they just said was funny. Notable examples might include: "Hey-Oh!" and "Now dat's funny right der!," or excessive swearing (as in the George Carlin example, it's all about timing, so sometimes less is more).

Interjections can a useful tool, but like any tool they must be used with skill.

 

[CrazyCapnMorgan]

Since Raven's Nest has posted one of my greatest idols, allow me to present you with my all-time greatest comedian, Mr. William Melvin Hicks.

 

[Lunar Templar]

i say the are like a spice.

used well they can add much, not just to comedy but all writing in-general.

used poorly and they can ruin what ever the person is working on.

 

[Rinji]

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I definitely see where you're coming from. I especially like the comparison to a tool. I heard that a lot, actually.

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He's an awesome dude, another one who has died too young.