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1. Reflection
In this essay, I will demonstrate my understanding of key themes in comedy by analysing my
three-minute comedy sketch script. I will go through my script and explain my process on
how I constructed my jokes and explain what types of comedy I applied to my script and
why I chose to employ those types. This evaluation will apply appropriate theoretical
frameworks rationalising my choices linked to critical material.
The type of comedy for my sketch I would say has aspects of cringe, gross-out and little
satire as sketches usually feature numerous “comedy forms in a condescend or reduced
version” (Kerr,1998:7). The jokes I came up for this sketch came from me thinking about the
theoretical lectures I attended where I learned the descriptions of numerous types of
humour. Gross-out humour usually refers to ugly imagery such as bodily functions it can also
refer to rudeness and political issues. My sketches do feature a couple of gross-out jokes
where I mention kidnapping and diarrhoea which fits in the category of gross-out. However,
I would say most is cringe comedy which can relate to gross humour as grossness can be as
well cringe depending on the context. This type of comedy is the “exposure of the viewer to
prolonged states of social discomfort in the form of vicarious embarrassment, framed in a
faux-realist aesthetic” (Saucke,2015:1). My sketch is set in an ordinary environment and the
jokes made in my sketch deal more in awkwardness with inappropriate comments are being
said leaving the viewer in embarrassment for Brent, Wayne and Lewis as well awkward
discomfort for the whole scenario that’s unfolding.
I based the premise on cringe comedy but the idea that inspired me was Dave Chappelle’s
Netflix controversy and James Gunn being fired from marvel for past tweets was also an
inspiration and even mentioned. The theme of taboo, talking about topics we probably
shouldn’t say out loud in social situations I think helps my script more. The jokes my

2. Reflection
characters made are on serious topics like racism and terrorism, but they don’t talk about
them to the extent that Chappelle did giving long opinionative jokes. Also, my sketch is
fictional with exaggerated characters talking about it lightly, Shirley sees the
inappropriateness of their jokes being the eyes and voice of the viewer in a way seeing the
ridiculousness of the whole thing. Without her there would be no context for the whole
sketch being sarcastic as she makes it funnier. I chose to approach jokes like Kevin Hart’s
teeth in where I know the viewer would be all right with it knowing the sarcasm. The jokes
the characters made themselves are not funny, they’re offensive but the viewer should
hopefully know that I know its offensive and I know they know it’s insulting, that’s why it’s
funny because I’m primarily making fun of the ridiculousness of the joke rather than the
actual joke of Hart’s teeth. We “feel better about our sorry selves by mocking people or
situations that we find ridiculous” (Carr & Greeves,2007:89). There’s an equilibrium
between the sketch and viewer where they understand the sarcasmof the jokes and that
I’m not disrespecting these subjects or people. The context of this scenario and Shirley make
it funny, if the Hart joke was told on its own it would not be funny but just cringe and
offensive. Arguably people still might feel offended, however when we hear or see awful
things, they could also be laughable. We laugh because cannot find a more appropriate
reaction in the moment. “Through laughter we achieve a provisional stance, outside belief
and disbelief, in the face of the horrible” (Willeford,1969:88). A father calling his kids
assholes is an awful thing to say but a “comic demands something like a momentary
anaesthesia of the heart” (Bergson,2005:3) to generate the whole effect.
In my creative process, I looked at various sketch examples to help me get an idea of the
structure. I found that most sketches don’t waste any dialogue having various mini-jokes in
the grand scheme joke of the sketch. Examples include Shirley’s innuendo name or the Gunn

3. Reflection
remark which does relate to script but itself is not the main point. Most sketches are
inspired by current events like mine, but I think my sketch stands out on its own because it’s
not entirely relying on a satire of this time, people may not get the Gunn pun in twenty
years, but it is not essential. These mini-jokes add more by reinforcing the main joke, the
character’s inappropriate statements. In my process I found that “studying jokes actually
eats away at your ability to find them funny” (Carr & Greeves,2007:87), writing my script I
imagined funny comedians performing them with funny delivery and actions. Scripts are not
funny when reading them on paper such as the awkward pauses which are not visible when
reading but are important to my narrative and comedy style. Allowing “awkward gaps,
refusing to quickly fill them with socially scripted comfort, and delaying … a return to a
smooth equilibrium” (Saucke,2015:1). Cringe gives us time to think about the approaches to
managing affective imbalance. I think part of my sketch also presents a strong theme and
statement itself of how you should not act or behave in real-life without being offensive or
alienating viewers.
The punchline of my joke is something I thought about as most comedies in any format have
some sort of set-up and punchline. The punchline of my sketch is displayed after a series of
awful statements have been read, then the punchline is that Wayne is disgusted by the only
wholesome appropriate comment in the sketch of Brent liking Kinkade’s art. This is funny
because the characters seem fine with everything they tweeted which the viewers are not
fine with, but then one of them is not fine with the Kinkade which the viewers are fine with.
The oppositional twist of the punchline makes it funny, also surprising the viewer at the
same time. Incongruity theory suggests a “set-up of a joke creates a scenario with an
assumed conclusion, punchline provides different conclusion subverting previously held
conclusion” (Carr & Greeves,2007:93). My punchline is probably not expected at first unless

4. Reflection
it was because having a subverting punchline might be a common convention itself in
sketches. Either way, I think it still works as it produces a punchline that’s linked in with the
set-up of the sketch. Inappropriate jokes are more laugh-provoking and liberating giving a
kind of release in the form of laughter, the tweets are unexpected and cringe actions make
the sketch amusing.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
Bergson, H. (1900) ‘Laughter: An Essay on the Meaning of the Comic’, Dover Publications
(2005).
Carr, J. Greeves, L. (2007) Chapter 5 ‘Nuts, Bolts and Hydraulic Brains’, in ‘The Naked Jape:
Uncovering the Hidden World of Jokes’ Penguin.
Kerr, C. (1998) ‘Build to Laugh: How to Construct Sketch Comedy with the Fast and Funny
Formula’, Execuprov Press.
Saucke, A. (2015) ’"So funny, it hurts". Cringe Comedy and Performances of Discomfort’,
GRIN Publishing.
Willeford ,W. (1969) ‘The Fool and His Scepter: A Study in Clowns and Jesters and Their
Audience’, North western University Press.
My Script- Script Inappropriate Statements (1).pdf
Back-up Copy:
INT. TABLE ROOM - DAY

5. Reflection
Three comedians are busy writing comedy material. WAYNE (26), Average male height,
brown spike up hair is sat next to BRENT (30), short, chubby, Long curly black hair wearing
a headband. Across from him on the table is LEWIS (27), Tall, short brown beard and hair,
average weight. All are focused on their laptops writing new material. Lewis and Wayne are
working on the comedy channel on YouTube they've all created and Brent is working on
writing jokes for a stand-up gig. SHIRLEY (32) their HR representative walks in.
Shirley
Hello, gentlemen gentlemen up here look up.
The boys slowly look up realizing someones talking to them.
Shirley (Cont'd)
I'm Shirley Cumming and your HR consultant.
Brent
Oh good we need this guys, I think it's important.
Shirley
Giving the current circumstances of comedians saying inappropriate statements, I have been
mining through your past tweets just in case someone is James Gunning for you.
Shirley awkwardly smiles finding her pun funny. The boys don't laugh at the James Gunn
pun, Wayne gives a puzzled look not even getting the joke.
Shirley
Sorry, I like to make a humour every now and then. I don't know anyone else with punny
names.
Wayne
Yeah, I don't think I have anything to worry about.
Lewis
Hey, have you ever ate beans in a blanket? Where you ordered a can of beans from the dark
web and get wrapped up in blanket and get exchanged in the black market for 5 dollars but
later got released from the buyers because you had diarrhea.
Shirley
Okay, Lewis let's start with you then. In 2016 you said that "Kevin Hart looks like a set of
white fluorescent teeth that decided to wear a black hooded cloak".
Lewis

6. Reflection
Yes, and I would like to apologize if I offended any teeth.
Shirley
Wayne, ermm it says here on May 5th, 2018 that you tweeted "My children are perfect
beacons of beauty, if perfect beacons of beauty is what you call total fucking dumb assholes".
Wayne stares at Shirley then looks at Brent and then looks back at Shirley.
Wayne
My children were being dumb assholes.
Shirley
But I just thinking openly saying that to 2,000 followers is...
Wayne
...wait now, 2,300 twitter followers.
Wayne then high fives Brent without the two even looking at each other.
Shirley
...is borderline inappropriate. Just like last night at the comedy club you said "What's the
difference between Middle Earth and New York? Two Towers."
Wayne tries to hide his chuckling.
Wayne
Come one that was a funny one.
Shirley
Either way you said it in a club in New York and said the joke right after you told another
joke about racism being good, which you got booed for. And lastly Brent...
Brent
...Oh, ermm you know what before you say anything most of my tweets are pretty weird and
off, but I'm not a bad person.
Shirley
Oh good as long as your not "a bad person" then it's fine.
Wayne and Lewis both proceed to agree with Brent not being bad person by nodding their
heads and patting him on the shoulder.

7. Reflection
Shirley
OK, on December 24th 2009 you tweeted...
Nervously Brent cuts Shirley and explains with anxious hesitation.
Brent
...you know what, were comedians right, we should be able to say whatever we want.
Shirley
On Christmas Eve you...
Brent
...no no please don't, whatever it is I'll delete it, just tell me which one and I'll delete now.
Shirley
"Merry Christmas"
Brent
Oh that's it? Merry Christmas, I mean is that where that line was 10 years ago? What is this
PG bullshit...
Shirley
...let me finish please. "Merry Christmas, I hope you have a white one because the Aryan race
is a supreme version of the human species...
Wayne and Lewis both give confused looks to Brent and to each other.
Shirley (Cont'd)
...this is not a joke I actually agree with Hitler, I am sober".
Brent laughs out loud.
Brent
2009 was a crazy year right guys. I mean I was on new medication and stuff...
Shirley
...you also tweeted in the same year that...
Brent raises his hand looking at Wayne and Lewis saying:

8. Reflection
Brent
Heyyy were all for gender equality with dolphins am I right guys?
Shirley
"Seriously it goes Aryan then Nordic then other trash people, if someones asks me to delete
this tweet I'll say I will but then I won't". Then you posted a Thomas Kinkade painting.
After series of confused face by Lewis and Wayne. Wayne sighs and face palms looking
angry. Lewis smiled and found it sincere after hearing the Kinkade post. Wayne puts his hand
in the middle of the table.
Wayne
Brent. When we started this thing we all agreed we would delete any offensive tweets, photos
and your meaning to tell me that just as we're getting started you failed to mention to anyone,
that your a Thomas Kinkade fan!
Brent
I like his Disney stuff.
Wayne
We're fucked! We're fucked!
Wayne leaves the room, but then quickly walks back in to say:
Wayne
WE'RE FUCKED!
fade out: