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Ad Lib |
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When a comedian improvises lines in their routine. This can often take the form of a prompt from the audience that sets the comedian off on a joke made up on the spot. |
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Bomb |
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When a comedy performance goes really badly, it bombs! |
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Catchphrase |
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A funny saying used by a comedian. Sometimes comedians can be identified by their catchphrase such as Catherine Tate’s ‘Am I Boverred’ and Little Britain’s ‘Yeah but no but…’ |
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Decoy Assumption |
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This comes from the setting up of the first story and the comedian misleading the audience on purpose for comic effect |
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Expressions |
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Facial expressions can form a big part of some comics routines. They are often important part of slapstick routines. Lee Evans uses a lot of facial expressions in his routines. |
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Funny |
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What all good comedians should be! |
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Gag |
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Another name for a joke. |
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Gig |
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A booking for a performance. |
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Gilding the Lily |
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Taking a joke too far so that it is no longer funny. |
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Heckler |
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A member of the audience who shouts out in the middle of a comedians performance, usually in order to complain or put the comedian off. |
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Impressions |
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Many comedians do impressions of people in their shows including famous people like celebrities or politicians as Rory Bremner does or ordinary people such as Peter Kay’s impressions of his mum and dad… ‘Gaarlic bread?’ |
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Jokes |
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Definitely an important part of any comedians routine. Many comedians have lots of jokes, but rather than just give a list of one liners, they will often tell one or two jokes by including them in a funny story with lots of build up before the actual joke – this is where the 1st story and the 2nd story come in! |
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Kill |
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Surprisingly this actually means to have a really really great performance! |
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Line up |
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This is the list of all the acts performing on a night. There will normally be one headline act with a number of lesser known warm up acts. |
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Monologue |
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One comedian talking at the audience often in the form of a funny story, that can often be about the comedian’s observations about everyday life. |
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Narrator |
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An monologue is often told from a narrator’s point of view. |
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One Liner |
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A joke that is just one line, for example ‘Did you know 65% of all statistics are made up on the spot!’ |
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Open Mike |
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A comedy event where anyone can go up on stage and have a go at telling some joke…. How scary!! |
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Punch / punchline |
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This is the climax of the joke where the comedian expects the biggest laugh. A comedian will often throw in a punch after they have set up the 1st story to lead into the 2nd story. |
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Quick Exit |
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Necessary if the comedian has bombed! |
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Roll on |
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When a comedian continues a joke or funny theme over a number of pieces to keep the audience laughing continuously. |
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Routine |
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A set of jokes which a comedian has practised and developed into a set. |
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Stand up |
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A type of live comedy performance which involves usually one comedian standing up on a stage in front of an audience and telling jokes or funny stories |
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Slapstick |
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This is a style of comedy that is physical for instance Laurel and Hardy or more recently Mr Bean. It often is made up of people being hit on the head or falling over in a comical fashion. |
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Topical jokes |
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Comedians often build their jokes and routines around topical subjects often including politics, news stories and celebrity news. Topical jokes are particularly popular on comedy quiz shows or panel games such as Have I got News for you or Never mind the Buzzcocks. |
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Understanding |
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It’s really important for a comic to understand their audience. There’s no point performing in front of a group of middle aged folk with jokes about the OC – they’re just not going to get it! |
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Volume |
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It may be simple but it’s very effective. Simply whispering or shouting can make a joke funnier if you get the timing right! |
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Wit |
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This is a very sharp kind of comedy, with quick comebacks and quirky observations. It can be very useful to have a quick wit when there are annoying hecklers to put down! |
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Xtremely |
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difficult to come up with these last three! If you can think of any Send them to blastni@bbc.co.uk |
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