Comedy by the Numbers: The 169 Secrets of Humor and Popularity

by Eric Hoffman (Editor), Gary Rudoren (Editor)

This book is perfect for people who are funny and for those who aren't funny (thus it is marketable to 100 percent of the population). As we all know, true creativity comes from simple formulas and the memorization of data. This new bible makes the secrets of comedy accessible, not only to those funny few among us, but also to those who might not have the ability or talent to be funny. One no longer need worry about originality — just find the right comedy number and apply as needed... and then you're on your way to POPULARITYVILLE!© Comedy by the Numbers is a NEARLY comprehensive list of all comedy characters, bits, scenarios, sketches, skits, shtick, and much more. (We say nearly because we want to leave room for Volume 2.) Included are special hints, tips, and unboring comedy history. Comedy by the Numbers is the brainchild of Prof. Eric Hoffman (Mr. Show) and Dr. Gary Rudoren (Annoyance Theatre) — AND features loads of comedy fun facts that you can memorize and use to impress people at parties!

Genres: Humor, Nonfiction, Comedy

150 pages, Paperback

First published May 4, 2007

About the author

Eric Hoffman (aka Eric Von Hoffman) was born in 1963 in Angola, Indiana. He is the co-author/cartoonist of the McSweeney's how-to humor bible, "Comedy by the Numbers." He was a writer on the influential TV sketch program Mr. Show with Bob and David, and the Netflix reunion show W/Bob and David, and co-wrote the Girlfriend's Day film with Bob Odenkirk.

Reviews

[Hans · Rating 4 out of 5]

The humor here is the commitment to form and frequent #3 underlined by the use of #11, #43 and #152. Thankfully the #110 seemed to be of the #62 variety. And admit it, you enjoyed the #149 form used for #96, #105, and #120.

I would give more details, but I'm trying to do my part to help with the author's goal (outlined at the beginning and end of their book). Go buy one and find out what it is!

For extra credit go to http://comedybythenumbers.com/cmp/mai... and check out the short films.

[Richard · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is great to grab in a free couple minutes, flip to a random page and get some "comedy advice." Some of it is is laugh out loud funny, particularly the list of novelty items ("itchy milk, hobo negligee, dead relative Halloween mask, etc.), and the rest is more smirky funny.

[Christopher · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book is more of a guide to being moderately amusing than it is a guide to honest-to-gosh comedy. Even if it's a parody of "how to" books, designed to illustrate the futility of teaching people how to embrace talents as instinctual as comic timing, this book rates a big FAIL. Sure, there are some chuckles to be had, and you could probably stock your bathroom book rack with worse toilet reading, but when you consider the past efforts of the authors, you kinda wonder what fell flat when they were given the opportunity to write a book-length manifesto on The Funny. If you take the promises offered on the book cover seriously and would really like to learn how to be funnier, go study Woody Allen's humor writing instead.

[Greg · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good laughs were had in the Euphemism at the Maupin estate this month. For anyone keeping track, "Women" are #169 (the last one) - which is itself funny, because women aren't even funny! That's why this book is so great/ useful/ educational! Plus it uses exclamation points the proper way! To encourage excitement!

Kudos as well for the serious paean to the Goons somewhere in the midst of all the mockery of the world of komedy. Let's hope it takes.

[James · Rating 5 out of 5]

I may not ever finish this...completion is not the intent of this book. There is no plot, etc. This is a reference book. Perhaps best consumed while traveling, washing clothes (my application), working (me, again), passively watching tv and so on. This book is pretty gall-dern funny. I find it to be most funny in the minor details rather than broad strokes. The final entry is the coup de grace.

[Tony Phonethibsavads · Rating 5 out of 5]

When I first read this, I took this a little bit too literally as a manual for tropes and comic devices, but when I read this as a parody of how-to books, then it became quite brilliant. It provides dozens of comic devices and is genuinely funny. This should be seen as a brochure that hows you examples of many things possible given different topics, not a dogma which tells you what is absolute.

This book has no plot, so it is impossible to spoil.

[Scout · Rating 3 out of 5]

So far, this is less of a funny book than I thought it would be, and more of am actual guide on how to be funny, which is pretty interesting. One of the two authors is Eric Hoffman, whom I _believe_ was a writer on Mr. Show. Not positive, if anyone wants to help me out here.

[hench · Rating 5 out of 5]

includes the equivalent of TWO volumes of comedy!

moves from the basics (#19: contact with something that isn't dry) to the advanced (#158: ugly people) in 169 simple, factual lessons.

[Heather · Rating 4 out of 5]

are you funny? do you want to be? this book will introduce you to the entire known comedic world in 169 easy, alphabetized steps.

apparently, it helps to be fat. or named steve martin.

[Matt · Rating 3 out of 5]

Would love to hear a reading of the book by the authors, in its book form it wasn't as funny as I hoped it to be. One can read list only so long until the mind is ignoring needed timing.

[Billy · Rating 4 out of 5]

More earnest than you think.

[Siobhan · Rating 5 out of 5]

The pure genius involved in brainstorming this book would be enough excitement for me!

[Cyndi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Scientifically proven applications for comedy. You can't go wrong.

[Shawn · Rating 2 out of 5]

A very silly book that makes me laugh out loud each time I read a section of it. It's a McSweeney's book, like the website of the same name, rated R for hilaRious.

[Mordecai42rabbo]

Best if read aloud to those around you.

The gags generally weren't that funny if only read to oneself.

[Steven Pattison · Rating 3 out of 5]

A textbook on how to be funny in any context and any situation. This would be just any standard comedy writing book but the clever writing and lack of a serious tone made it a fun read.

[Duane · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute more often than funny. Skimmed the second half because it was becoming more off chore to finish.

[Michael Dorsher · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting concept, and humorously written. Good for a reference book. Can you write a joke for every Number?

[Brian · Rating 2 out of 5]

Good for about three laughs. Unfortunately no resale value.