COMEDY ON TV – OR TOP BANANA IN THE BOX
Long before the time of comedy on TV, there was vaudeville; Follies and whole palaces of variety. Here the comedian made his mark or died. This gave us comics such as the Marx Brothers, Ed Wynn, Eddie Foy and their like.
Then there was radio; the home of George Burns and Gracie Allen, Bob Hope, The Goons, Ronnies Barker and Corbett and a whole host more of comics and situation comedy.
Radio was the medium for the ear and unlike vaudeville did not have the ambience of live theatre. To the untrained, it was just a bunch of guys and girls around the microphone, reading from prepared scripts; the end result, what came out of the ‘Bakelite box’. All was in the hands of The Sponsor (Advertiser). In essence they dictated what and who went to air.
Then, TV – good old black and white 15 to 20 inch screens. It was touted as radio with pictures, where one could see the best of radio and theatre.
Here, along with adventure shows such as Hopalong Cassidy, Roy Rogers and one-off detective shows came comedy on TV. Single act comics doing their bit on variety-style shows and, situation comedies – sitcoms.
Into our living rooms came Lucille Ball – I Love Lucy; Burns and Allen; reruns of The Three Stooges and Marx Brothers shorts. From across the Atlantic, came The Two Ronnies, Monty Python, Benny Hill and from down under, Dame Edna. Initially situation shows were built around the comedian; Andy Griffith, Phil Silvers – Sgt Bilko; Lucy of course and then in came family shows; The Partridge Family; The Donna Reed Show, evolving to today’s Modern Family and similar sitcoms.
Every one of the above and the countless other comedy stars had a tough apprenticeship in a lot of cases beginning with theatre in tough towns across both America and the UK. Here they loved you or hissed and hooted you off stage.
Radio, was perhaps a tad kinder, but it had no live audience to liaise with. In the events where shows were broadcast live from the studio; certain limitations were put on the audiences. No heckling and no spontaneous laughter that may override the studio.
Comedy on TV was pretty much the same and here the TV comic had more to deal with. Lack of moving space – all controlled by ‘marks’; no instant response to the verbal or sight gags – canned laughter. Like radio, the end result was what came out of the ‘box’.
Comedy on TV is evolving at a great rate whether it is the US or the UK and the potential TV comic, be it solo or sitcom has to learn a whole new game plan. As it is with learning the ropes of being a comedian, learning the tricks of the TV Trade is another must for the potential TV comic.
Yes, writing is paramount and appreciating the nuances of TV as opposed to live on stage comedy and radio is a sure-fire way to enter the medium. Perhaps being a sitcom or gag writer is another string to add to your bow.
Comedy on TV is really no different from theatre when it comes to material. Like an actor, the TV comedian who knows his or her lines, where and when to enter, exit and stand has hit the ground running. Okay! Lines are going to be fluffed – all par for the course; but there is no excuse for not knowing directions or lines – teleprompter or not.
So! at the risk of being repetitive; know your medium, study television shows, take courses, go to see live broadcasts and never stop asking questions. If comedy on TV is for you, then good luck.
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