yukking it up without television

I dislike television.  And I have disliked it enough not to have access to it for over twenty years.

As a result, I missed a few series that I may have enjoyed while they were being broadcast.  Frasier is a perfect example.

Netflix came to my rescue in Mexico.  I reserved some time for about three weeks to watch each of the episodes.  Eleven seasons of episodes.

Like most situation comedies, the best writing came in the early seasons.  And it reminded me how humor has changed over the years.  And what writers can expect of their audiences.

The first episode is devoted to introducing us to the characters and defining the tensions that will provide comic moments for us.  A recurring theme is Niles's professional disdain for his brother Frasier's psychiatric radio program.

At the end of the episode, they are reconciling in a coffee shop. 

Frasier: You're a good brother and a credit to the psychiatric profession.
Niles: You're a good brother too.

That is a classic humor devise.  The non-parallel response.  But I am not certain it would survive a current situation comedy.

Two years ago I was part of a live studio audience for the filming of a television comedy.  The hours-long process was fascinating. 

But I could not figure out why the production needed a live audience.  After all, laugh tracks easily let the dull know the appropriate places to laugh.

I had completely missed the audience's role.  We were there as a focus group.  To help the producers serve up buffet-style humor. 

The show was filmed joke by joke.  The first one was quite clever.  But it got very few laughs.

So, the director huddled with the writers and re-wrote the line.  A few more laughs because the joke was explained a bit more. 

By the time the process was done, the joke was fully explained and paroxysms of laughter convulsed the audience.  Even though the line lacked all humor.  Every bit of surprise had been sucked out of it.

That experience reminded me of a libertarian function I attended several years ago.  A long-time acquaintance, who ran for vice-president in 1972, asked me: "Steve, do you know how many libertarians it takes to change a light bulb?"

I responded: "No, Tonie.  How many?"

"None. The market will take care of it."

I chuckled. It was a good joke.

She then launched into a 5-minute explanation, beginning with: "You see, Steve, the joke is an example of the basic market principle that ... ."  And libertarians wonder why they are considered to be a bit humorless.
 
The first rule of humor is simple.  A joke explained is a joke strangled.

I recently re-enacted one of my favorite lines from MASH, written by the great Larry Gelbart.

Lt Col Blake has been transferred to Japan, leaving Major Frank Burns in command of the MASH unit.  As was his wont, Frank began issuing irrational orders. 

Radar: They aren't gonna like this.
Frank: I didn't come here to be liked.
Radar: You certainly came to the right place.

 The person listening to my story asked: "Why is that funny?"

Of course, I did not explain why.  What would be the point?

But I am convinced that television has had an adverse effect on the ability of Americans to appreciate humor.  Whether that is true of other nations, I do not know.  Even though some of the offerings from Britain and Australia is proof enough for me that the English-speaking world may be similarly handicapped.

Of course, I have the luxury of reading my humor.  Reading I can now do with the time I have save not watching television.