The Key to Comedy: Random Specificity

Someone once told me (I think it was my husband) there are two words that sum up the key to humor: random specificity.

Yet when I was asked to create a blog about humor during my blog tour for Cherdo's blog, I couldn't find any examples. I searched and searched and searched and finally gave up. But after just a few hours of watching Friends on Netflix, I found more examples than I could ever find, mostly thanks to this guy.




Random specificity. What is almost universally funny (at least in America) is humor that pulls some random example out of the universe, yet the example is so specific, it makes the joke hilarious. Here's an example:

Chandler (hanging up the phone): I got her machine.
Joey: Her answering machine?
Chandler: No, interestingly enough, her leaf blower picked up.

Could you be any more randomly specific than a leaf blower?



Here's another one:

Chandler (pointing at Rachel): Could you want her more?
Ross: Who?
Chandler (rolls his eyes): Dee, the sarcastic sister from 'What's Happening?'

Yes, I'd say that's even more randomly specific.




Sarcasm or not, the point is if you're trying to be funny, instead of referring to a general idea, pick something very specific. Something so random that it will make people wonder where on Earth you came up with that.

By the way, 30 Days of No Gossip is in this month's Scholastic flyer, which is in classrooms all across the country! I love this sight...