The Hierarchy of Humor

[Protoclown]

Max, I saw you mention in another thread that recognition humor is lower than a pun, and I know I've seen in the past where you have mentioned where certain types of humor fall, on the low or high end of a scale. I believe I've heard several people (not necessarily you) state that sarcasm is either the highest or one of the highest forms of humor.

But I'm wondering where all of this stuff comes from. Is there actually some sort of clearly defined hierarchy of the different forms of humor that has been established?

Wouldn't most humerous responses be far too situational anyway to classify into any sort of ranking system?

[mburbank]

As far as I know, there's no theoretical heirarchy, or if there is I've never seen it.

I was referencing a common statement, that puns are the lowest form of humor and positing recognition humor as even lower.

[Mockery]

The Humor Hierarchy:


http://images.rottentomatoes.com/images/movie/coverv/60/130660.jpg Highest

:bacos all the stuff in the middle

http://www.improv.com/images/comics/bobsaget.jpg Lowest

[Protoclown]

That's as good a hierarchy as I've ever seen.

[The Retro Kat]

I think Bob Sagget is only the lowest if you're watching America's Funniest Home Videos. But that's because his small role in Half Baked was amusing to me and he used to swear at the cast of Full House all the time.

[punkgrrrlie10]

Bob Saget doing stand-up is actually pretty funny. He complains about having to be all magoo in amer. funniest videos and how he just wants to tell everyone to fuck off. I was a bit shocked when I saw it but I wasn't expecting much either.

[kellychaos]

Prop comedians have to be amongst the bottom feeders as well.

[El Blanco]

Female comedians (a contradiction in terms) are pretty unfunny. Most of them pretty much sound the same.

"Oh, I'm 2 pounds too fat and can't find a normal man. I act like a whore and then wonder why I'm treated like one. My biological clock is ticking and my mother won't leave me alone.

There are a few exceptions. Wanda Sykes is usually pretty funny. I heard Ellen was funny in her last show because the auience expected her to dwell on the lesbian thing but she didn't.

And there is another one. She is Canadian and her parents came from Romania and are real dissapointed because she is a lesbian comedian. I can't remember her name.

[sspadowsky]

Actually, Paula Poundstone is someone I find very funny. Judy Gold is pretty sharp. Wendy Liebman I find alternately hilarious and annoying (Max, didn't you write some jokes for her?). I like what I've heard of Caroline Rhea, Maryellen Hooper, and Sarah Silverman too.

There are some excellent female comedians out there. Just don't rely on TV to help you find them (Comedy Central being the obvious exception). Them broads is funny.

[mburbank]

Couldn't agree with you more. I never wrote for Wendy, but I did coach her, very briefly, and she's very nice as well as funny and a good writer.

I think some of the very best sketch comedians are women. Amy Sedaris and catherine Ohara are two of my all time favorite performers.

[Miss Modular]

Catherine O'Hara RULES. She was awesome in Best In Show and A Mighty Wind.

[Rongi]

I find that I like certain black comedians better then white comedians :(

[ziggytrix]

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