The best advice I was probably given and the best advice I could give someone who is trying to get into the comedy field is to take advantage of every opportunity you have to work to hone your skills.
Bob NewhartRead
I've always said people say on a dramatic show, 'I was crying. It was so emotional when he went and grabbed that little girl from a burning building and handed her over to her mother.' In comedy, the best thing you can say is, 'I think it's funny.'
Interpretation
What this quote means
Comedy relies on straightforward acknowledgment of humor rather than the dramatic storytelling seen in other genres.
In this quote, Bob Newhart emphasizes the simplicity and directness of humor compared to the emotional depth often associated with drama. While a dramatic narrative may move people to tears through complex storytelling, the essence of comedy lies in its straightforward acknowledgment of what is funny, without the need for elaborate explanations or emotional backstories.
Themes
ComedyHumorDramaEmotionEntertainment
In practice
Example use cases
During a stand-up comedy show, a comedian might use this quote to highlight the difference in emotional engagement between humor and drama.
More from Bob Newhart
All quotes →Jack Benny was, without a doubt, the bravest comedian I have ever seen work. He wasn't afraid of silence. He would take as long as it took to tell the story.
Bob NewhartRead
I've been told to speed up my delivery when I perform. But if I lose the stammer, I'm just another slightly amusing accountant.
Bob NewhartRead
I certainly don't delude myself that there aren't certainly more important things to do in life than make people laugh, but I can't imagine anything that would bring me more joy.
Bob NewhartRead
I found the most difficult thing when you became successful - when I had the record album, it won Album of the Year - that you were cut off from the source of your material. Your material was everyday people, and you were kind of cut off from that, and you had to work at it.
Bob NewhartRead
I'm most proud of the longevity of my marriage, my kids, and my grandchildren. If you don't have that, you really don't have very much.
Bob NewhartRead
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