Does watching stand-up comedy make you funnier?

[The_Reaper]

I suspect it does. Or, it at least expands the range of interesting topics you can talk about, e.g. on a night out at a bar with some friends.

 

[Schwank]

No, it doesn't. I have a friend who watched Eddie Murphy's "Delirious" a few times and then tried to pawn off some of Eddie's jokes as his own. He fell flat on his face; my friend's not black and he doesn't have the personality to make such jokes work. Epic fail.

 

[Cry For Love]

Perform them in your imagination. Use your creativity, it is the defining force in generating quality in every area

 

[CaptainJ]

No, it doesn't. I have a friend who watched Eddie Murphy's "Delirious" a few times and then tried to pawn off some of Eddie's jokes as his own. He fell flat on his face; my friend's not black and he doesn't have the personality to make such jokes work. Epic fail.

Ofcourse you're going to flop if you just regurgitate what you saw on the stand up. It's all about learning the attitude of the comedian, his body language, his imagination and his creativity in the themes of his humour. Yes watching Stand up will make you gain a better sense of humour, but only if you know how to learn from it.

 

[mikeyb]

Yeah but...stand up comedians have to exaggerate gestures, expressions etc. because the audience is further away and because it's part of the theatrics. If you do a "true" Robin Williams impression in a bar you will be mistaken for a very happy drunk and possibly tossed out by bouncers. As CaptainJ said if you want to somehow use these sketches to get funnier you need to try and think like one of these guys and not just repeat what they say.

 

[Sir Psycho Sexy]

YES

I credit my wit to a combination of my funny friends and stand up comics

 

[Dante420]

No, it doesn't. I have a friend who watched Eddie Murphy's "Delirious" a few times and then tried to pawn off some of Eddie's jokes as his own. He fell flat on his face; my friend's not black and he doesn't have the personality to make such jokes work. Epic fail.

You gotta admit that had to of been fun to watch.

I think stand-up comedy can help you learn the format for humor and what people relate to. The way to deliver a joke to a group, etc. but don't copy a joke word for word or you may actually sound pre-rehearsed

 

[CuriousGirl]

Well, watching british stand-up does.

I think the more you watch comedy and talk to funny people the more you start reacting to things with humour. It's kind of like a way of thinking, so I think it does rub off on you a bit.

 

[dj_china]

of course. you pick up habits from people around you. if you surround yourself with stand up comedians YOU WILL GET funnier. watching standup is obviously not as effective as hanging around standup comedians, but certainly the effect is there

 

[HeyPachuco!]

Well, watching british stand-up does.

I think the more you watch comedy and talk to funny people the more you start reacting to things with humour. It's kind of like a way of thinking, so I think it does rub off on you a bit.

Jimmy Carr funny for the Lulz,

and it's all over.

 

[CuriousGirl]

Jimmy Carr funny for the Lulz,

and it's all over.

I've seen jimmy carr live! He was the mystery guest at the end of a load of other comedians, I was second row from front


He's not my fave though, not sure. I love so many of them. I can only think of one good american comedian though, but I can't remember his name. is style is actually quite similar to jimmy carr.

 

[Boxer]

It all depends. If you're watching it at like 11pm at night all slouched down practically lying down with a beer in your hands and a bag of potato chips on your lap and your eyes are starting to get heavy I don't think you will get to much out of it. If you are sitting down with good posture and are really aware of the way he/she presents their lines you will pick up on a lot of stuff. I also watch well more like study what they do. I take notice of facial expressions and body movement and the pause before they are about to hit the audience with the pick up line. The pause is really important in the stand up comedians act.

Watching stand up comedy has not made me any better at coming up with witty and funny responses. What it's done for me though was teach me how use facial expressions and body movement to turn basic standard comments that would not normally be funny into something people will smile and laugh at.

 

[HeyPachuco!]

I've seen jimmy carr live! He was the mystery guest at the end of a load of other comedians, I was second row from front


He's not my fave though, not sure. I love so many of them. I can only think of one good american comedian though, but I can't remember his name. is style is actually quite similar to jimmy carr.

Jimmy Carr has be the man for me, his outspoken sarcasm is out of this world.

Second to Russell Howard

Boxer is totally right about how to view comedians if you want to be witty and funny. If I'm at home cradling a beer and my eyes are red, I won't take much notice - Although Joe Rogan isn't to good at stand-up, his fights, arguments and comebacks are probably the best I've ever seen.

 

[Nygard]

No, you won't. If you watch and watch and then try to be funny, you become Carlos Mencia. Look, if you want to be funny like a comedian and you don't have that on you naturally, you have to develop it as a skill. You have to try many times and fail.

For example, I watch and love Al Madrigal's act. I once tried it but I'm not Al, it didn't work. However, I was once in LA and there was an open mike night at the Improv and most of the guys trying totally blew their acts. I was tipsy and tried it myself and did well, got a few laughs.