Today’s script is “What’s His Race,” by @uptownthompson , starring @that_guy_lesley , @anthonysneedfilm , @erica.herndz , @isthistheseanhartiknow , and @arielgitlin ! It was written for @thefoundationcomedy at @ucbtny , and directed by me @marinateeeeee .

I love this sketch for a few reasons. It’s written so well! The performances are wonderful! The specifics are great and EXPERTLY chosen. 

Which leads to the thing I love most about it — Chris does an incredible job of staying in control of the audience and the laughs. Because of his skillful writing, Chris pulls off something that newer writers struggle with: a sketch that is both edgy and funny.

Usually, as an audience member, you don’t know who wrote the sketch you’re watching. In the words of my writing partner @niccoloaeed — “No one in the audience knows you’re not a bigot. Why should someone trust you to make that joke?” So if you’re writing something “edgy,” you need to communicate your idea VERY clearly. 

In this sketch, it’s not the stereotypes themselves that are the fun part — it’s the peas-in-a-pod characters all start to treat them like points in an edge-of-your-seat football game.

Put another way — stereotypes themselves are not “unusual things,” and they are not fun. But characters being EXCITED to hear stereotypes in the context of a heightened, sports-like, relatable desire not to be grouped into an even BIGGER stereotype?? THAT’S unusual, and it really packs a punch! And Chris has done a great job of picking specifics that make this unusual thing fun, instead of just being a bummer.
This is the kind of sketch that takes quite a bit of time and practice and skill to learn how to write well. It’s not that you CAN’T write edgy sketches as a student! It’s just that your edgier ideas are better served when you’ve honed your craft and sharpened your tools.

There’s a whole section in the book about this notion. Very excited to share it — and so grateful to Chris for this hilarious, amazing example of How It’s Done! Link in bio! (For some reason it’s not letting me download/clip!)

#comedy #sketchcomedy #script #writing