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Some people say funny things, but I say things funny.
Who’s the funniest person where YOU work?
Why are they so funny?
Do they say funny things?
Or do they say things funny?
Big difference.
In the last Thinkin’ Funny post, we learned that when funny things are said, the reason we laugh is because we “get” how two incongruent worlds have been cleverly combined.
A classic example of this is when the brilliant playwright Neal Simon combined the world of OCD with the world of a total slob.
Remember the Odd Couple?
It was the story of a finicky perfectionist who moved in with a hoarder.
Simon combined those two incongruent worlds over and over again in this story and the game of that made us laugh.
The hit Broadway play became a hit film and then a hit TV series in the early 70’s and cracked us up for half a decade.
When things are “said funny,” however, we laugh for a different reason.
It’s funny because it’s a world that is common or predictable to us being combined with an incongruent presentation.
Like a funny voice, or some sporadic timing, or some over the top precision, or a ridiculous accent.
If it’s done well, something predictable being presented unpredictably surprises our brain pleasantly, which causes us to laugh.
But only if our brain “gets” the connection.
Meaning sees clearly how that incongruent presentation is still hitting the beats of that predictable world.
Some of our favorite movies and TV shows use a combination of saying funny things and saying things funny to make us laugh.
For example, in the hit show ‘The Office,’ the boss, Michael Scott, said a lot of funny things.
However, Andy Bernard, one of the show’s silly sidekicks, said a lot of things funny.
Dwight Shrute, often the office antagonist, did both.
Now you know that you can say funny things or say things funny.
A serious person wanting to begin Thinkin’ Funny can start practicing both.
Nothing more unexpected (or funnier) than someone serious doing a funny voice out of nowhere.
Here are some fun ways you can practice “saying things funny”:
- Read a company memo like you’re speaking to the Queen.
- Recite your company motto like a heavy smoker from the Bronx might.
- Tell the kids what’s for dinner in a voice two octaves above your normal speaking voice.
Wherever you work or live, there are plenty of predictable worlds that you can begin to “say funny.”
It does take some initial courage to go outside of your comfort zone like that, but know that most people in your world will probably appreciate your attempt at Thinkin’ Funny and will give you a laugh for the effort.
Just don’t take it too far and become the Jar Jar Binks of your peer group.
Next, we’ll talk about the oldest funny-format in the book: Premise, Setup, Punchline.
You’ll see why it’s responsible for trillions of laughs and counting.
Plus you’ll learn how you can use that same formula during your day to begin spotting some funny moments in your life.
Until then,
Mike
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