🤣TV Comedy Unit 5 – Creating Comedic Characters and Ensembles

Key Comedic Character Types

• The straight man serves as a contrast to the comedic characters, often reacting to their antics with frustration or bewilderment (Jerry Seinfeld in Seinfeld)
• The lovable loser is a character who consistently fails but remains sympathetic due to their relatable struggles and endearing qualities (Charlie Brown in Peanuts)
  • They often have big dreams or aspirations that are constantly thwarted by their own shortcomings or bad luck
  • Despite their failures, they maintain an optimistic outlook and continue to persevere
• The eccentric oddball is a quirky character with unusual habits, beliefs, or personality traits that set them apart from the norm (Kramer in Seinfeld)
• The wise-cracking sidekick provides comic relief through witty one-liners and sarcastic remarks, often serving as a loyal friend to the main character (Chandler Bing in Friends)
• The pompous blowhard is an arrogant and self-important character who believes they are superior to others, often leading to humorous conflicts and comeuppances (Dwight Schrute in The Office)
• The neurotic worrier is a character who is constantly anxious and overthinks every situation, creating humorous situations through their exaggerated concerns (George Costanza in Seinfeld)
• The naive innocent is a character who is oblivious to the realities of the world around them, often leading to misunderstandings and humorous situations (Kenneth Parcell in 30 Rock)

Building Character Backstories

• Establishing a character's family background can provide insight into their motivations, quirks, and relationships with others (the dysfunctional Bluth family in Arrested Development)
• Defining a character's education and work history can help explain their skills, knowledge, and approach to problem-solving (the diverse educational backgrounds of the study group in Community)
• Identifying formative experiences and traumas can shed light on a character's fears, insecurities, and defense mechanisms, which can be sources of both humor and depth (BoJack Horseman's troubled past in BoJack Horseman)
• Developing a character's romantic history can create opportunities for awkward encounters, misunderstandings, and humorous relationship dynamics (Ted Mosby's search for love in How I Met Your Mother)
  • Past relationships can also provide insight into a character's emotional baggage and attachment style
• Establishing a character's hobbies and interests can help make them more relatable and provide opportunities for humorous situations and interactions with others (the gang's various hobbies in It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia)
• Creating a character's unique quirks and habits can make them more memorable and provide recurring sources of humor throughout the series (Abed's love for pop culture references and meta-commentary in Community)

Developing Distinct Personalities

• Establishing a character's core values and beliefs can help guide their actions and decisions, creating consistency in their behavior and humorous conflicts when challenged (Leslie Knope's unwavering dedication to public service in Parks and Recreation)
• Defining a character's communication style, such as their use of sarcasm, bluntness, or evasiveness, can create distinct and humorous interactions with others (Lorelai Gilmore's fast-talking and pop culture-laden dialogue in Gilmore Girls)
• Identifying a character's strengths and weaknesses can create opportunities for both success and failure, leading to humorous situations and personal growth (Michael Scott's misguided attempts at leadership in The Office)
• Developing a character's unique perspective on the world can lead to humorous misunderstandings and conflicts with others who see things differently (Sheldon Cooper's literal and analytical approach to life in The Big Bang Theory)
  • This can also create opportunities for the character to learn and grow through exposure to different viewpoints
• Establishing a character's emotional range and temperament can help define their reactions to various situations, creating consistency and humor in their behavior (Ron Swanson's stoic and no-nonsense demeanor in Parks and Recreation)
• Creating a character's distinct physical appearance and mannerisms can make them more memorable and provide opportunities for visual humor and running gags (Elaine Benes' distinctive dance moves in Seinfeld)

Creating Character Dynamics

• Establishing contrasting personalities within the ensemble can create humorous conflicts and misunderstandings as characters navigate their differences (the odd couple dynamic between Oscar and Felix in The Odd Couple)
• Developing power dynamics and hierarchies among characters can lead to humorous struggles for control and status (the constant power struggles between Jack Donaghy and Liz Lemon in 30 Rock)
  • These dynamics can shift and evolve over time, creating new sources of humor and character growth
• Creating romantic tensions and love triangles can provide ongoing sources of humor and drama as characters navigate their feelings and relationships (the on-again, off-again relationship between Ross and Rachel in Friends)
• Establishing friendly rivalries and competitions among characters can lead to humorous one-upmanship and banter (the pranks and challenges between Jim and Dwight in The Office)
• Developing mentor-mentee relationships can create opportunities for humorous misunderstandings and life lessons as characters learn from each other (the dynamic between Jack and Kenneth in 30 Rock)
• Creating unlikely friendships and alliances among characters with different backgrounds and personalities can lead to humorous situations and personal growth (the friendship between Jake and Boyle in Brooklyn Nine-Nine)

Ensemble Chemistry and Interactions

• Balancing screen time and storylines among the ensemble cast ensures that each character has opportunities to shine and contribute to the overall humor (the equal focus on all six main characters in Friends)
• Developing running gags and inside jokes among the ensemble creates a sense of shared history and camaraderie, making the characters feel like a cohesive unit (the recurring "legendary" catchphrase in How I Met Your Mother)
  • These gags can evolve and callback to earlier moments, rewarding long-time viewers
• Establishing a shared setting or hangout spot for the ensemble provides a central location for characters to interact and creates a sense of familiarity (the bar in Cheers, the study room in Community)
• Creating opportunities for characters to work together towards a common goal can lead to humorous teamwork and problem-solving (the Pawnee Parks Department's various projects and initiatives in Parks and Recreation)
• Allowing characters to have individual storylines and relationships outside of the core ensemble adds depth and variety to the series (the separate work lives of the characters in The Office)
• Developing a sense of loyalty and support among the ensemble members creates heartwarming moments amidst the humor and reinforces the idea of chosen family (the "I'll be there for you" theme in Friends)

Writing Dialogue for Comedy

• Incorporating witty banter and rapid-fire exchanges between characters creates a sense of energy and keeps the audience engaged (the fast-paced dialogue in Gilmore Girls)
• Using misunderstandings and miscommunications as sources of humor highlights the differences between characters and creates opportunities for comedic confusion (the constant misinterpretations in Arrested Development)
• Employing sarcasm and irony in character dialogue adds a layer of humor and can reveal a character's true feelings or opinions (the snarky remarks made by Chandler in Friends)
  • This can also be used to comment on or subvert audience expectations
• Incorporating pop culture references and meta-humor in dialogue creates a sense of shared knowledge between the characters and the audience (the frequent references in Community)
• Using catchphrases and recurring jokes specific to each character helps define their personality and creates anticipation for their appearances (Barney Stinson's "suit up!" in How I Met Your Mother)
• Allowing characters to have distinct speech patterns, accents, or verbal tics makes them more memorable and can be a source of humor in itself (Gloria's strong Colombian accent in Modern Family)
• Balancing dialogue with physical comedy and visual gags ensures that the humor is varied and not solely reliant on words (the blend of verbal and physical humor in I Love Lucy)

Physical Comedy and Mannerisms

• Incorporating slapstick and pratfalls can create memorable and visually humorous moments that complement the dialogue (Kramer's elaborate entrances in Seinfeld)
• Developing signature moves or gestures for each character adds to their distinct personality and can be a source of recurring humor (Elaine's "little kicks" dance in Seinfeld)
• Using facial expressions and reactions to convey a character's inner thoughts and feelings can be just as effective as dialogue in delivering humor (Jim's knowing looks to the camera in The Office)
  • This can also be used to break the fourth wall and create a connection with the audience
• Employing physical transformations, such as disguises or costumes, can create humorous situations and reveal new sides to a character (Tobias Fünke's various unsuccessful disguises in Arrested Development)
• Incorporating physical comedy into character interactions, such as hugs, high-fives, or playful fighting, can add depth to their relationships and create humorous moments (Jake and Boyle's elaborate handshakes in Brooklyn Nine-Nine)
• Using props and objects in humorous ways can enhance physical comedy and create memorable visual gags (the Bluth family's use of the stair car in Arrested Development)

Character Growth and Running Gags

• Allowing characters to learn from their mistakes and evolve over time creates a sense of growth and adds depth to the humor (Michael Bluth's gradual development as a leader in Arrested Development)
• Incorporating running gags that highlight a character's quirks or flaws creates a sense of continuity and rewards long-time viewers (Barney's catchphrases and womanizing behavior in How I Met Your Mother)
  • These gags can also be subverted or retired to signal character growth and change
• Developing character arcs that challenge their established personalities and beliefs can lead to humorous situations and personal revelations (Sheldon Cooper's gradual understanding of emotions and social norms in The Big Bang Theory)
• Creating callbacks to earlier moments or jokes in a character's journey creates a sense of payoff and rewards attentive viewers (the recurring "chicken dance" in Arrested Development)
• Allowing characters to form new relationships and dynamics over time keeps the ensemble fresh and creates new sources of humor (the unlikely friendship between Jack and Liz in 30 Rock)
• Using running gags to comment on or parody larger cultural trends or societal issues adds a layer of satire to the humor (the political commentary in Veep)
• Letting characters break from their established patterns or roles can create surprising and humorous moments that subvert audience expectations (the occasional moments of wisdom from Joey in Friends)