Barry's Not Funny

Listen Barry, that was your name right, Barry? I know you want to be funny.  Everyone wants to be funny. I want to be more funny. I want to be the funniest. But honestly, I just don’t know if it works like that. 

You can take classes on how to write a joke. You can take classes on how to write a sketch, create a character, write for late night, stand-up, improv and basically every other class you can think of, and maybe that works. I just don’t know. It’s helped me become a better comedian that’s for sure. It’s also developed my taste and my technique.  But I also came to it with something.

My theory is this, my parents developed my humor as I grew up, and then I chose friends that continued to develop it. Until it was no longer something I was learning but something I was.  It’s woven into the fiber of my being.  This is of course a totally subjective view. While I view myself basically as funny, there are people who don’t see me that way, and sometimes I don’t see me that way. 

There are so many layers to what makes people laugh. Was it a joke? Are they laughing at you Barry or are they laughing with you? Are they totally oblivious and that’s what makes them so funny (old people, babies, cats)? 

We laugh at truths, at pain, at surprises, and grief, at joy. We laugh at dumb stuff, smart stuff, small stuff, big stuff, and all the in between stuff. A little part of me laughs at the name Barry. I just want to say it over and over again in a nasal voice. Would you find it funny if I did that over and over again? Maybe that’s the key if you want to develop a sense of humor, I say start by laughing at yourself. It’s the person you spend the most time with. Might as well think he’s hilarious.

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