Thursday, June 11, 2009

What's So Funny

I recently found a quote somewhere on the web that I thought was very profound.


"Nothing shows a person's character more than what he or she laughs at."


The more I think about this the more I realize how true it is. A person who laughs at the pain or misfortune of others is generally not a very nice person, A person who laughs at humorous situations is fun to be with. A person who can find the humor in a situation, especially one that may not seem humorous is usually wise and witty. Best of all is the person who can laugh at themselves.

I love humor and wit. I often laugh out loud while reading a book or watching a good movie. Sadly, it seems more and more that so-called humor is becoming crass and mean-spirited.

The TV shows that make me laugh the most are 'I Love Lucy" and "The Beverly Hillbillies"

Beverly Hillbillies falls into the category of finding the humor in a situation such as the coincidence of the mysterious music playing just before someone shows up at the door. A gold-digger thinking that Jethro is a duke instead of realizing the old hound is named Duke. What about thinking a parking ticket is some sort of prize.


The humor comes from the innocence and naivete of the Clampetts but we are not laughing AT them, we laugh with them as they try to make sense of a foreign way of life.

I Love Lucy is based on us laughing with Lucy as she laughs at herself. The situations are so ridiculous and each idea Lucy comes up with is crazier than the one before. Who can forget the episode where Lucy is stomping grapes, or is trying to prove she can hold down a job in a candy factory and ends up with chocolate everywhere but in the wrappers. Of course there is the classic Vita-Meata-Vegamin episode where she gets more and more tipsy and ends up slurring her words. We see the humor in yet another crazy stunt. It is laugh out loud funny every time!



Ask yourself... what makes you laugh. Be careful, your character is showing.