Saturday, April 21, 2007

Spontaneous Combustion

A few days ago I gave the thumbs down to a new improv show on NBC, and improv as well. It turns out Dan Kois in Slate hates the show, too. He makes a very good point within a very bad point.

The good point--the show's not really improv. The guest star is shoved in with the regular cast and the cast has a general plot they must follow. Okay, this is still a form of improv, but a degenerate one. (Having a scenario to work within is actually a well known type of improv, but seeing how one cast member not in the know will react to twists is a stunt.)

The bad point--Kois has done improv and keeps claiming how wonderful it is when done right (and how wonderful he's been in it).

Here's a representative line: "It's funny to see someone come up with a quick-witted joke; it's astonishing to see a team invent an entire well-structured, hilarious scene from scratch." I agree, it's astonishing, because it never happens.

Ask someone to write a well-structured, hilarious five-minute sketch in five minutes. Can't be done. Expecting two or more people to do it, while trying to keep up where the others are going, is even tougher.

As I said, the main attraction of improv is the knowledge it's being created on the spot, not that something truly great is being made. It's been my experience that improv is a lot more fun for the performers than the audience.

5 Comments:

Anonymous Anonymous said...

Question: Is improv related to the way comedy writers actually write sketches? Perhaps the entertainment value also is in watching the comedy be formed. Strictly speaking the entertainment value is not entirely from the humor/joke but watching the creative process.

I know there are counter examples but consider: Most people realize that the point of sex is babies. But plenty enjoy the process of making the baby .

7:26 AM, April 21, 2007  
Blogger New England Guy said...

Its a reality show for people that due to job description don't get to do reality- and its just as enjoyable as the other reality show ( thats not a compliment). But reality shows are popular and maybe thats at the root why improv seems to have a dedicated following

On the other hand, I found the Drew Carey "Whose Line Is It Anyway" to be a lot funnier- maybe its because it involves smaller jokes that are easier for the actor/comedians to focus on the funny bits- or maybe its not really spontaneous

7:30 AM, April 21, 2007  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

The point of sex is babies?- A little like saying the point of speeding is to kill yourself.

Gentlemen, start your engines.

7:33 AM, April 21, 2007  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I think we need to hire AnonymousGuy, stat.

4:43 PM, April 21, 2007  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

That last was SWMBCg, etc.

4:44 PM, April 21, 2007  

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