The Death of ‘Funny’
Why We Should Stop Asking ‘Is It Funny?’ in Comedy Education
Every time we hear someone ask, “But is it funny?” we hear the death rattle of modern comedy.
Not because laughter isn’t important (we live for a good wheeze-laugh that scares nearby pets), but because the word “funny” has been weaponized. Too often, “funny” really means “Does this fit into the narrow, outdated idea of comedy that a small group of gatekeepers decided decades ago?”
Spoiler: that definition is broken.
The Problem With ‘Funny’
“Funny” is subjective. What makes one person cry-laugh might make another person quietly wish for an alien abduction to escape the room. Yet, in old-school comedy rooms, there was an unspoken rule: if the (often white, often male, often straight) powers-that-be didn’t laugh, your material “wasn’t funny.”
Translation:
The voices that already dominated the stage kept dominating.
Everyone else was told to change their material until it “fit.”
A lot of incredible, unique comedy never made it past the notebook.
When “funny” is the only goal, originality dies.
How This Hurts Comedy Education
In too many classes, students are taught to write for approval instead of authenticity. The goal becomes to please the teacher, the booker, or the hypothetical “average audience member” instead of finding their own voice.
Here’s the trap:
Students stop writing their jokes and start writing “safe” jokes.
They chase what’s been proven instead of exploring what’s possible.
If they’re from an underrepresented group, their perspective is often labeled “niche” or “too specific.”
The result?
A comedy scene full of sameness. And sameness is boring.
What Actually Matters
At The LaughtHER Collective, we believe three things matter more than chasing laughs:
Honesty — The real stories only you can tell.
Specificity — Details so vivid they stick in someone’s brain like gum in hair.
Point of View — Why you’re on stage in the first place.
When comedians focus on these, the laughs come. But they’re not empty laughs - they’re laughs with roots.
The Future of Comedy
Comedy is shifting. Audiences are craving authenticity. Look at Hannah Gadsby, Ali Wong, Taylor Tomlinson, Amber Ruffin- each has a unique POV that doesn’t fit into a cookie-cutter “funny” mold, and they’ve built devoted audiences because of it.
Social media has only amplified this. A thousand true fans will show up for your weird, hyper-specific, deeply personal material. They’re not looking for funny for funny’s sake - they’re looking for you.
Our Challenge to Comics and Comedy Students
Next time you write a joke, don’t ask, “Is it funny?” Ask:
Is it mine?
Does it sound like me?
Would I still stand by it if nobody laughed?
Because chasing “funny” will make you blend in.
Chasing your voice will make you unforgettable.
Ready to stop writing for approval and start writing for impact?
We’re here for that.
We don’t care if it’s “funny” — We care if it’s yours.
