标题: Comics Need an Audience [打印本页] 作者: choi 时间: 8-29-2020 12:27 标题: Comics Need an Audience Chris Kornelis, No Joke: Comics Need an Audience; Stand-ups find it isn't funny writing when not on stage. Wall Street Journal, Aug 26, 2020 (front page). https://www.wsj.com/articles/sta ... udience-11598373521
Quote:
"How does a comedian know if something is funny? The audience tells him. It's no joke.
"Late-night talk-show hosts have been telling jokes without an audience for months [during the pandemic, when large gathering and nonessential businesses are prohibited], but many of those are timely riffs off the daily news, not the longer-simmering material that stand-up comedians work and rework night after night with feedback from a live crowd. 'Stand-up comedy without an audience is just an insane person at a bus stop just ranting,' says comedian Ron Funches.
Note:
(a)
(i) WSJ places the article behind paywall.
(ii) There is no need to read the rest.
(b) riff (n; probably by shortening & alteration from refrain):
"3: a succinct usually witty comment
4: a distinct variation : TAKE <a disturbing … riff on the Cinderella stor — Daria Donnelly>" https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/riff