There’s a reason why great sketch shows are remembered and continue to make new audiences laugh. Certainly, a lot rests on the particular talents of the ensemble.
But that’s not something you can replicate. What other factors make a great, consistent cavalcade of sketches?
Here’s a list of some key lessons to learn from some of the best and most popular sketch shows of the last 100 years:
SCTV: Don’t think of the audience. Just make each other laugh. Don’t be afraid to act dumb.
Saturday Night Live: Don’t let anyone tell you you’re no good. Just keep making sketches.
That Mitchell and Webb Look: A great concept can make or break a sketch.
In Living Color: Go anywhere you have to go for the biggest laughs.
The Carol Burnett Show: The audience wants to have fun with you.
The Goon Show: Don’t be afraid to be silly.
Chappelle’s Show: Make sketches about the things you think and talk about.
Your Show of Shows: Work with the best writers you can find.
Sesame Street: Don’t be afraid to be silly and dumb.
Monty Python’s Flying Circus: Don’t think of the audience. Make each other laugh. Use every Funny Filter. Don’t be afraid to be silly, dumb, or too smart for your audience. It’s a wonderful combination.
Kids in the Hall: Use friendly competition to push everyone in the ensemble to be funnier.
Portlandia: How far you can escalate? Now escalate further.
Key & Peele: Great subtext makes great sketches.
Mr. Show with Bob and David: Be smart, do your best work, and don’t be afraid to be silly.
Monty Python's "A Man with a Tape Recorder Up His Nose" sketch is objectively funny as an absurdist sketch. The real genius though is pairing it with "A Man With a Tape Recorder Up His Brother's Nose". I use these as a test to see if people are on the same wavelength as I am.
Scott you are my comedy therapist! you keep me going when I procrastinate from self-doubt ! Thank you!