Since I write comedy, I think a lot about laughter. We should all laugh every chance we get, just to feel good. Watch a comedy, laugh at yourself, laugh with your family. Laugh with the one you love, especially during sex play. Laughter in bed is like the light foreplay that leads to the heavy good-stuff kind of foreplay. Just don’t laugh when things get hot and heavy, because someone might think his performance isn’t UP to par, and said PERFORMANCE just might shrink. Oops!
In The Scot, the Witch and the Wardrobe, Vickie–a loose-canon witchcraft-wise–doesn’t like her body very much, so every time she’s tried to hop into bed with a guy, something painful happens to him before he gets her clothes off–broken beds, concussions, fire alarms, sprained ankles… You get the drift. Now our hero, Rory MacKenzie from Scotland, is determined that sex is actually going to happen between them, but oh the torture, the insults, the laughter–the kilted highland fling sans underwear–that man suffers in the name of heroism between the sheets. Which reminds me that I have to finish the galleys for that book today. Yikes.
Comedy, I have discovered, is an art form. Whoever said laughter is the best medicine was right. I’ve been studying comedy–a delightful hobby–and have found myself hooked on some old and current TV sitcoms. One of them is THE NANNY. Great writing, sexual tension. Fast, witty comebacks, and THE NANNY reminds me of my witches–sassy, suggestive and with good taste in clothes. TWO AND A HALF MEN is a hoot a minute, sharp unexpected comebacks, nonstop, though the last couple of shows rather overdid the bathroom jokes, I thought. Hope that’s not a new trend. COUPLING is a Britcom, unique, sharp witted sex play, and anything goes. I love its no-bounds innuendo. Everyone’s old favorite, FRIENDS, is of course, a huge favorite. All of these comedies have one thing in common: they’re bawdy. Gee, what a surprise. You can learn a lot about comedy from all of them, and you’ll feel plain old happy while you do. FRIENDS adds lessons in characterization, and MONK is funny because the comedy comes strictly from the eccentricities of the character. All of the above are either captured daily on my DVR or as in FRIENDS, I own every season on DVD. Total entertainment, every one.
I’d like to add to my list. What are your favorite TV or movie comedies and why?
www.annetteblair.com
My timing for suspense is great. And my mind runs toward dark paranormal when I’m writing.
Usually, I don’t feel that comfortable with writing comedy, although I sometimes get in a funny line or pratt fall.
It takes a certain kind of humor writer to attract me. My taste in books runs toward Terry Pratchet and Donald Westlake. On TV, I like Bill Mahar (sp?) and the Daily Show. Not all that sexy, but very irreverent.
Rebecca
Comment by Rebecca York — August 31, 2006 @ 5:21 pm
I love Will Smith humor (MIB, Fresh Prince, Hitch). Also currently in a Firefly fascination, I love the dry humor and quick somebacks on the show.
Comment by Kris — August 31, 2006 @ 5:47 pm
You wrote: “In The Scot, the Witch and the Wardrobe, Vickie–a loose-canon witchcraft-wise–doesn’t like her body very much, so every time she’s tried to hop into bed with a guy, something painful happens to him before he gets her clothes off–broken beds, concussions, fire alarms, sprained ankles…” Omigawd!
That sounds hilarious. I can’t wait for it to pub in December so I can read it! I love to laugh, too, and I love comedy. I envy stand up comics (wish I had the nerve and talent to do it) and I love to watch them work. Some of my favorite stand up comics of all time are Steve Martin and Eddie Murphy. These days, I’m catching some fantastic talent on Comedy Central. “Mind of Mencia” is an edgy show starring a fantastically funny Latino comic, Russell Peters is hilarious (just checked out his special “Outsourced”), and Ron “Tater Salad” White is one of the Blue Collar guys who I lust after. I also enjoy “South Park,” and, as a New Yorker, I think “Seinfeld” is genius. I also love Woody Allen (Annie Hall, Hannah and Her Sisters), Nora Ephron’s Heartburn, and My Big Fat Greek Wedding. I could go on and on!
Luv,
Cleo Coyle
Latest release…Murder Most Frothy (which has a few frothy moments of its own layered into the murder mystery)
Comment by Cleo — August 31, 2006 @ 6:52 pm
Rebecca, I like irreverent. I can do irreverent, and I’ve heard a lot about Terry Prachett. I’m definitely going to try his books. Thanks for the added reminder.
Comment by Annette Blair — August 31, 2006 @ 7:43 pm
Firefly? What’s firefly? Sounds like something I’d like. And I agree Rebecca. Will Smith is awesome, whatever he’s in. A great actor and he raises the bar on funny–can’t put my finger on why, though.
Comment by Annette Blair — August 31, 2006 @ 7:44 pm
Oh, the Firefly question and Will Smith comments should have gone to Kris. Annette, procrastinating when she should be reading her galleys.
Comment by Annette Blair — August 31, 2006 @ 7:47 pm
Cleo, Murder Most Frothy sounds wonderful. I really hoped to have more time to read when I retired, but so far all I have is more contracts–not that I’m complaining. But I’d really like to read that one. Yes, on My Big Fat Greek Wedding, one of my faves, and Steve Martin & Eddie Murphy, but I’ll have to check out the other stand ups you mentioned. Thanks.
Comment by Annette Blair — August 31, 2006 @ 7:49 pm
I really admire your skill for writing funny! I agree, Two and a Half Men, one of the best new sitcoms. Love it. Adore Steve Martin, and Chevy Chase, too. Love his “Sparky” character in the Lampoon family films. I grew up on our British Carry on movies, talk about bawdy, but I still love them today. Watch them whenever they are on. It’s the *naughty* attitude to sexuality that appeals to me.
Comment by Saskia Walker — September 2, 2006 @ 9:42 am
I’m with you Saskia, I adore the bawdy naughty attitude toward sexuality. That carries a level of comedy all its own, exactly what I strive earnestly to employ in my stories. What are the British Carry on movies? Bet I’d love them.
Comment by Annette Blair — September 2, 2006 @ 12:59 pm
Nettie, check them out here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carry_On_films
You may have seen one but not realised it was a series. We seem to have reruns every bank holiday weekend in England, but I don’t complain.
Comment by Saskia Walker — September 2, 2006 @ 3:20 pm
Sorry it took so long to get back.
Firefly is a show that was on the Sci-Fi channel for a season or two then it was cancelled and they made a movie called Serenity a year later that finishes off the storyline. The show has a lot of dry humor and I find it hilarious.
It stars Nathan Fillion from the show Two Guys and a Girl (and a pizza place).
Comment by Kris — September 4, 2006 @ 11:01 am