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See enough sketch comedy and you’re bound to experience a head shaking, teeth gritting night when you’re questioning why you abandoned the warm, comforting glow of your Magnavox. At last weekend’s Chicago Sketchfest, we eavesdropped on a few patrons in that predicament, discussing what they’d like to see abolished in sketch comedy:
"Casting a woman in your group for the sole purpose of being 'the girlfriend', 'the spouse', or the object of lust."
"Mistaking 'zany' characters for funny ones."
It’s not easy being funny. For every Monty Python and Kids in the Hall, there are plenty of groups who make the mid-80s Saturday Night Live cast look brilliant. As a public service, Chicagoist asked people connected to the Chicago comedy scene what aspiring groups should avoid.
Shuttling between Sketchfest and Snubfest (where he emceed the Last Snob Standing contest), Time Out Chicago Comedy Editor Steve Heisler saw more sketch comedy last weekend than many people see in a year. He blogged about his weekend on TOC’s website, presumably while sifting through press releases and writing a feature for next week’s issue. His advice:
- One big thing I've noticed in failed sketch comedy shows is that there's no clear, coherent voice. That's not to say it has to be heavy-handed and sappy, but unless the material's rooted in some semblance of truth, it tends to swing-and-a-miss.
- If you can't describe, to coworkers or friends, what makes your sketch show different (even ever-so-slightly) from other sketch shows, then you need to think about it more. Launch the show later.
- Sketch comedy, and improv for that matter, is only one or two degrees away from, well, legit theater. Would you audition for a play with no stage training whatsoever? Most likely not. Would you write a play and perform it under the same circumstances? For the sake of your audiences...please don't.
- Guys dressed in drag = not inherently funny.
- Kick lines = not inherently high-energy.
The Bastion blog keeps us informed of stand up and sketch events throughout the week. Their staff has been there, done that, seen that. Editor Elizabeth McQuern really doesn’t like:
- Over-reliance on pop culture references, at least, those which are thrown in for a "Hey, remember this? We do, too!" moment.
- The unneccessarily gay character, who is often lispy, limp-wristy, and one-dimensional.
- Minorities having to directly address their "differentness" in an awkward, artificial-feeling manner.
- The big joke being revealed right away, and a long series of predictable poundings of that joke thereafter.
Snubfest is a comedy festival more generous than most, accepting groups who were spurned from other fests. But still, there are a few things Festival Organizer Angela McMahon can’t stand:
- Bad wigs, and too many props slowing down transitions.
- Being loud for no good reason, and/or being naked for no good reason.
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This post is almost exactly what I've been saying about the local scene for months. Chicago has such a massive sketch/improv history that people just pour into town every year to be the next Farley or Belushi, and they're in such a hurry to do it, they neglect the fact their comedy has nothing really to say.
And the real sad thing is, all the same-ness in the sketch scene, the prevelance of improv, and the fact we only have one tiny (and horribly crappy) stand-up club, people don't know that there is a vibrant, original, and growing underground stand-up scene going on in this town right now.
Local guy TJ Miller is going to Aspen to be in the top comedy festival in country. Andy Ross is doing really cool things with stand-up, and then we got Tony Sam, Mike Bridenstine, Chad Briggs, Bradley Fojas, all the girls from the Spitfire crew... I could go on.
Anyway, excellent sumation of the scene going on. Damn good post...
Yea I agree with you.
Yea, I agree with you.
How about ending ending all your scenes by yelling or acting spastic, aka "going to crazytown"? Louder does not equal funnier.
And perhaps a moratorium on scenes set in an office? I know those crappy temp jobs are the only actual life experience you've had, but still.
nmpkm (or those in the know)- What are some good places for stand-ups to get stage time these days? I did it for a living back in the day and have been having an itch to return to the form. No problem if you want to keep it under your hat (I can understand if you don't want your favorite venues overrun with new talent) but I thought I'd ask.