“What Makes Comedy Funny?” [] San Miguel Literary Sala
Event Category: All Events, Community Events, and Literary Events
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“What Makes Comedy Funny?”
David Misch in Conversation with Jeff Reno
ONLINE | SUN., JAN. 16 | 6:00–7:30 PM CST | $10–$50 USD
Making Comedy Funny
By Vicki Totten
“It takes a serious mind to analyze comedy. It takes a funny mind to appreciate it.
David Misch is of two minds.” – Jason Alexander
If you like to laugh and to learn, get ready for a fun evening of entertainment. Successful comedy writers David Misch and Jeff Reno are ready to spill the beans about how to make people laugh, while also exploring the history of comedy and its roots. In a sure to be entertaining and laughter-filled interactive event, the two are featured in the San Miguel Literary Sala Distinguished Speaker Series via zoom on Jan. 16.
Misch’s book Funny: The Book explores the history of comedy before delving into a close up look at some of comedy’s greats and at what made them greats. Misch moves his exploration from what makes us laugh to helping us think about why we want to laugh. The book even explores the scientific basis behind comedy, which it turns out, involves the brain’s need for pattern recognition. “Only by recognizing the underlying shape or rhythm of a joke or funny story can we be taken by surprise when the rhythm’s interrupted or the pattern altered” says Misch.
Misch and Reno have collaborated on such successful shows as Mork and Mindy, Saturday Night Live, The Muppets Take Manhattan, West Wing, and dozens of other shows. Separately, they each have distinguished careers using their many years of writing comedy to share what they have learned.
In addition to Funny: The Book, Misch is also the author of A Beginner’s Guide to Corruption. He blogs for HuffPost, has taught comedy courses at USC and UCLA, and been a featured speaker at major universities and film festivals such as Yale, Oxford University, the Smithsonian Institute, Lucasfilm, Sony Pictures, Walt Disney Studios, and Austin Film Festival among others.
Jeff Reno and long-time partner Ron Osborn have been nominated for nine Emmys, four Writers Guild Awards, and a Humanitas. They are also recipients of Cable Ace and Banff Film Festival Awards. Some of the projects they have collaborated on include Moonlighting, West Wing, Mork & Mindy, Night Court, Meet Joe Black, and cult favorite Duckman. More recent tv credits include Beauty & the Beast and Good Witch.
Join us for what will surely be a fun and funny evening on Sunday, January 16, 6:00–7:30 PM CST. Tickets are pay-what-you-wish-scale, $10-50 USD and are available at sanmiguelliterarysala.org.
In addition, on-line Creative Non-Fiction Writing, Memoir, and Poetry writing workshops are Jan. 17-19 and an in-person master class on making your writing come alive begins Jan. 24.
Our purpose is to offer visibility, community, and inspiration to the writers and readers of San Miguel de Allende; to honor the long history of distinguished writers living and working here; to enrich the cultural life and educational opportunities for local residents in both Spanish and English; and to establish San Miguel de Allende as a leading destination for literary and cultural tourism commensurate with its status as a World Heritage Site. We believe that reading and writing are essential, that great literature enriches our lives, feeds our souls, and facilitates greater understanding of ourselves and others.
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