Humor Power

Here’s an Observational Humor monologue presented at an Ed Tate storytelling workshop presented at a PowerHouse Pros Toastmasters meeting.  Ed is an awesome storyteller and is the Toastmasters 2000 World Champion of Public Speaking.

THE SET-UP (What happened and what was said during the meeting before the monologue was delivered.)

1.  Ed pointed out that most of history’s great speeches had no humor.  Although humor is important…humor is optional.

2.  Ed told a story where one of the punchlines was “until they put on the handcuffs.”

3.  Ed told a story where a guy he called “Ordinary Joe” got arrested.  “If they arrested Ordinary Joe…a black guy doesn’t have a chance.”  Ed is black.  In discussing the story structure, he pointed out that most people probably assumed that Joe was white, “even though I never said he was white.”

4.  Ed pointed out that larger movements of the mouth, while speaking, automatically result in larger gestures.

5.  When Darren LaCroix introduced Ed he told a story about Ed being an avid learner and asking so many questions at a program that the presenter was becoming annoyed.  Ed started writing his questions and passing them to Darren so that Darren could ask the questions.

6.  At the start of the meeting, Bryant announced that PowerHouse Pros is the largest Toastmasters club in District 33.

7.  We had about 50 guests at the meeting that night.

8.  The unpublished agenda called for Bryant to recognize the club President at the start of the meeting.  He forgot to do that and during the meeting he asked me to do it at the end of my monologue.

9.  Ed told a story about a movie on a plane being terminated before coming to the who-dunnit part of the movie.

THE MONOLOGUE

Humor is optional.  Thank you very much.  (I started to leave the speaking platform.)
(A quick call back provided a good opener.)

Last week I was delivering a humor monologue.  It was going great…until they put on the handcuffs.
(Another call back slipped into an unexpected place.)

Ed Tate is a funny guy.  In fact I was sitting in the back of the room thinking…if they laugh at him…a white guy doesn’t have a chance.
(The humor is triggered by a reversal.)

You’ll notice that I didn’t say Ed was black.
(Another reversal.  A big laugh.)

I learned two things which may come in handy tonight.
1.  How to be funny…move your mouth.
2.  If the audience isn’t liking my jokes…I’ll write them down and give them to Darren LaCroix.
(First line, I dropped Ed’s punchline onto my own setup.  Second line I used the “drop myself into their story” technique.)

Bryant told you that we are the largest Toastmasters Club in District 33.  Actually, that’s not true.  The truth is that we have so many guests that nobody has figured out that we only have three members.
(The situation where guests out-number members provides a great set up for the understated punchline.  There is a touch of self-deprecation.  Also working is the principle of “tension” when I state “that’s not true.”  What someone lied to us?  Release of tension results in laughter.  However, within the structure of a monolgue, tension is a minor factor, because the audience expectation is that most setup lines are fabricated or said in jest, and the result is that no tension is built.)

Bryant Pergerson was supposed to recognize our club President at the start of the meeting but was unable to do that.  The problem is that we’ve had so many new members join in the past two months…that nobody can recognize the President.  Is Erin Pavlina in the room?
(The previous joke about guests provided a setup for me to recognize the President using humor.  The joke also plays with the double meaning of “recognize.”)

In closing, I caught a news flash on TV just before coming to the meeting.  Remember, six months ago, the two pilots that overflew Minneapolis by 150 miles?  The investigation just uncovered why.  The pilots were waiting to find out who-dunnit.
(This joke didn’t fit into the logical flow of the monologue, so I chose to use it as a closer.  It worked well.)

Here is an opportunity for you to see and hear an Observational Humor monologue presented on January 25, 2010.  It was delivered at the end of a program, “Good to Great — Speech coaching with Patricia Fripp and Darren LaCroix.”  This was a special event sponsored by PowerHouse Pros Toastmasters Club.

Here is what Patricia Fripp and Darren LaCroix said about the humor:

“You ROCKED. Wow…that was funny.”  Patricia Fripp.

“You were hysterical!”  Darren LaCroix

And here are a couple of comments from people who watched the program on the Internet:

“John Kinde ROCKS!  He had me and the audience rolling in the aisles.  I love his observational humor.”  Bruce Ellingsen

“I’m still laughing.  Wow!  You made it look so easy.”  Patty K, Victoria, BC, Canada

The video link is at the end of this post.  You will have two choices:

  – You can listen to the entire program and experience it as the audience did.  The content is terrific and your 95 minutes would be well spent viewing the entire program.  You’ll also have more insight on the set-ups and the punchlines.  It’s almost like “being there.”

  – You can “express view.”  First, read the SET-UP comments which are provided in the post.  Those comments, about what happened during the meeting, will put the humor in the proper context.  Then when you go to the link for the video, skip to the end to see the monologue.  It’s a 95 minute program and the monologue is in the last five minutes.

  – Note that most Observational Humor has a “You Had To Be There” factor.  As you study Observational Humor, don’t pay attention to what YOU think is funny, but note the AUDIENCE reaction to the monologue.  The audience response is the true measure of the power of Observational Humor.

THE SET-UP (What happened and what was said during the program, before the monologue was delivered.)

1.  Barbell was the last speaker to be coached, just before I was introduced to do my monologue.  Darren coached her to have a happy expression as she mimed looking at a baby:  “Your look couldn’t have been more stoic.”

2.  The first time Fripp critiqued a speaker using notes, she said:  “Yes, this is me…with my glasses.”

3.  Fripp shared weak word choices which some speakers use to bury their punchlines, like:  “each and every one of you here in this room.”  Also the adding of “today” or “tonight” at the end of a phrase.

4.  A speaker said “when you think of Panama…you think of cows.”  And she shared some funny connections.

5.  Darren owned a Subway sandwich shop and attended Subway University.  He related being a farmer and having an MBA to skills which work to make you a better speaker and comedian.

6.  In the past, Fripp told a John Cantu story about a speaker who shared that she was a cheerleader and that women in the audience might think, “I have fat thighs.  I hate you!”

7.  Darren said, “All of you have written a world-champion quality speech…you just haven’t finished yet.”

8.  Darren told us about weaving free speeches around his work-week when he started developing his speaking skills.

9.  Darren gave an example of how a speaker’s emotions were expressed when his facial expression went from excited to nothing.

10.  Dana, one of the speakers being coached, posted a profile on our club’s web site.  He wrote:  “I’ll let you call me a pretty boy.”

THE MONOLOGUE

Barbell could have looked more stoic. (Big laugh.  Because of the response, I dropped a scripted topper “She could have looked like me.”  The topper line was implied and the audience “got it” without my having to spell it out.  Usually an implied punchline is stronger than one which is stated.  At its core, this is a self-deprecation line, poking fun at my lack of expressiveness.  Also, recency helped make the line work.  Barbel was coached immediately before my monologue, which made my opening the best place to use it.)

Yes, this is me…with my glasses.  I’m going to share some funny lines with each and every one of you here in this room…tonight.
(Some simple callbacks.  Effective.)

I’m from North Dakota.  I grew up around cows.  I know what you’re thinking…Panama!
(A reversal.  Big laugh.  What helped make the line work was that Panama/Cows was a significant part of the program, not just a quick mention.)

I’m just like Darren.  I, too, am a farmer.  And I have an MBA. And of course you’re thinking, “No wonder he’s so funny.  And he did it without going to Subway University.”
(Callbacks liking things in common between Darren and me.  The Subway University topper was perfect.  The audience senses that the humor is over…and then you drop the unexpected, additional line on them, playing with the element of surprise.)

Did you notice that the people who aren’t laughing…have fat thighs?
(An excellent call back.)

I’ve written a funny monologue.  But I haven’t finished it yet.
(I twisted Darren’s sound-bite phrase to fit the writing of a monologue.)

Just like Darren, I worked a day job and gave free speeches at night.  I worked with nuclear weapons, sitting by the button which I never had to push.  And every night I spoke to a civic club…and bombed.
(“Things in common with Darren” becomes a running gag.  Also uses the double meaning of the word BOMB to trigger a laugh.)

You may have noticed that specific line worked because my facial expression went from nothing to nothing.
(Twisted a Darren phrase again.  Also self-deprecation.)

I was reviewing the club’s web site today and noticed that Dana’s profile says “It’s OK for you to call me Pretty Boy.”  What I want to know is, “How late is too late to call?”
(I actually had visited the club’s web site that day, but not for the purpose of creating humor.  I was asked to give feedback on the site by another member.  Since Dana had a significant role in the program, I decided to pull a quote from the site to wrap up the monologue.  I didn’t use the exact words from the site, but took the liberty of structuring the words to set up my punch line.  A strong closer.)

THE LINK.  When you click on the link to watch the video, you’ll have two choices.  You can watch the entire program (95 minutes) OR you can skip to the monologue which is in the last five minutes of the program.  Here is the video link.

I highly recommend Darren LaCroix’s Humor Boot Camp, April 30 – May 2.  Spend a three-day weekend in Las Vegas at an energizing and entertaining event.  You’ll discover a funnier you!

Don’t miss the Patricia Fripp Public Speaking and Presentation Skills School, June 10 – 11, 2010, in Las Vegas.  She is a world-class speaking coach and the school is one of the best investments you can make.

Here is another Observational Humor monologue from the second day of a Fripp Speakers School.

THE SET-UP (What happened and what was said during the workshop)

1.  Someone sitting next to Isaak mentioned that her fingers were tingling.  Someone else joked that it wasn’t BECAUSE she was sitting next to Isaak.

2.  Fripp said that Botox, used in facial cosmetic surgery, causes the face to lack expression.

3.  Fripp used a gesture when she said “the words” (fingers sweeping from below the chin to in front of the mouth).  She said that it had an obscene meaning in Italian, but that she wasn’t using it in that way.

4.  Fripp introduced a penalty-bowl and charged a one-dollar fine for anyone using the word STUFF.  Guy Burns was assessed more fines than anyone else.

5.  Fripp used the word CEREBRAL three times and had trouble pronouncing it each time she used it.

6.  When students asked questions, they were normally handed a microphone to capture the question on the recording.  A few times, the microphone didn’t reach them.  Fripp was wearing a wireless headset and would lean into them:  “Speak into my cheek.”

THE MONOLOGUE (Not delivered due to lack of time.)

I thought it would be appropriate, as the workshop ends, to answer some of your questions.  First, I’ll give you the answer and then I’ll read your question:  (The entire monologue is in the reverse-question format, popularized by Johnny Carson as Carnak the Magnificent. Most people are familiar with this format and those who are not seem to pick it up quickly, without a complicated explanation.)

The answer is:  My fingers started tingling.
And the question is:  What happened when you first met Isaac?
(Dropping myself into the story.)

The answer is:  Botox.
And the question is:  What is the key to your great deadpan delivery?
(Self deprecation.  A reference to my low-key delivery.)

The answer is:  No bookings in Italy.
And the question is:  What is the result of “the words” (doing the Italian gesture) Fripp uses?
(Using cause-and-effect to create a punchline.)

The answer is:  Guy Burns.
And the question is:  Who is a one-man money machine for the Stuff Bowl?
(A simple observation.  Funny because it’s something that everyone noticed.)

The answer is:  Cerebral.
And the question is:  What do Mensa members need to be, even if they can’t pronounce it?
(Makes the logical assumption that Fripp would be a likely candidate for Mensa and sets aside the pronunciation issue by making light of it.)

The answer is:  Speak into my cheek.
And the question is:  What has a dangerous double-meaning if you say it while bending over?
(Plays with the double meaning of the word CHEEK.  A good closer.)

Let’s look at some Observational Humor from a Toastmasters meeting which highlight some humor techniques:

  – Call backs and running gags.
  – Dropping yourself into the story.
  – What this means is.
  – What everybody is thinking.

Here are some of the set-ups (what happened at the meeting), followed by the observational humor remarks.

The first set-up.  The Toastmaster of the evening (emcee) selected a meeting theme of Star Wars.  He said that he had obtained genuine Star Wars story boards from a vendor in Nigeria.  He had created humorous story boards based on the Star Wars movies which he used to transition from one part of the meeting to the next.

Since the story boards were a big part of the meeting I decided to open my monologue with my own story boards:

I’ve created story boards for my monologue. (I created two hand-drawn pictures.)  This is me delivering the monologue (me drawn as a stick figure).  This is you laughing (stick figures with smiley faces).  Now that we’ve set the ground rules…I’ll begin my monologue.
(My use of story boards might be considered a call back to those used by the emcee.  But I prefer to think of it as a continuation of a story-board running gag established by the emcee.  It worked perfectly.  Big laugh.)

The second set-up.  Members Jim and Anita (husband and wife) normally attend the meeting together.  That evening Jim came to the meeting without Anita.  Jim has a funny guy and always has something to contribute during the Observational Humor part of the meeting.

Jim said that he had recently made millions of dollars selling Star Wars story boards from Nigeria.
(Here he is “dropping himself into the story.”  Someone had established the Nigerian connection story, and Jim made himself part of that story.  He received a big laugh.)

As he took his seat, I followed his comments with an observation:
Did you notice?  Now that Jim has made millions…he’s leaving Anita at home!

A third set-up.  A speaker gave a humorous speech on goal setting.  He made a resolution that when people cut him off on the freeway he’ll no longer shout obscenities or give them the finger…at the same time.

Here’s an observational remark from my monologue based on that “goal.”
I had a bad experience driving to the meeting tonight.  As I approached the freeway exit, I changed lanes.  I pulled in front of a guy who started shouting obscenities.  After 15 seconds he stopped shouting obscenities and started giving me the finger.
(This is another example of “dropping yourself into the story.”  I became part of his story, which he had established in his goal setting speech.  Very big laugh.)

A fourth set-up to help us look at two more techniques.  In her opening remarks, our club President noted that we had 14 guests at the meeting.

Here’s my remark:
We have 14 guests at the meeting tonight.  If this is your first meeting, you’ll realize what that means is…our club only has three members.
(A couple of things set the stage for this joke.  First, I’m using the principle of “What that means is…”  When something happens or is said, you often have the opportunity of translating what that means “in other words.”  Second, the principle of “What everybody is thinking.”  We had about the average number of people attending the meeting, about 25, but had more guests than normal.  It was the Monday following the New Years weekend, and member attendance was lower than usual.  When our President said that we had 14 guests, quite likely some people may have thought “There’s more guests than members here,”  or some variation of that thought.  In constructing the joke I realized there were more than three members present, but I exaggerated the low member attendance to get the laugh.  And three is a funny number.)

Here’s an Observational Humor monologue from a Darren LaCroix humor workshop in Las Vegas.

THE SET-UP (What was said and what happened during the workshop.)

1.  Darren mentioned that he is a very physical, high-energy speaker (which is true).

2.  Darren said that anyone contributing something to the program as an audience volunteer would receive a free CD of the program.

3.  We practiced creating a joke using the rule-of-three to set-up and deliver a punchline.  One joke was:  To motivate people you need sincerity, conviction and a gun.

4.  Darren demonstrated how the punchline tricks the mind, using the classic line:  Take my wife…please.

5.  Darren demonstrated character development in a story by giving one of his female characters the qualities of an Amazon woman.

6.  Darren mentioned that an ex-girlfriend was a teacher of the Law of Attraction.

7.  Darren presented an exercise, half and half:  I’m half French and half German…which means (punchline).

8.  I’m Norwegian heritage.

THE MONOLOGUE (Not delivered due to lack of time.  Remember that 90% of the value is in the creation of the monologue, not in the delivery.)

I know what you’re thinking…Oh no!  Another high-energy speaker.
(Self-deprecation.  I opened by immediately commenting on my contrasting, low-energy style.)

Is that enough to get my free CD?
(A topper and a quick and unexpected callback.)

I have a really funny joke to tell you.  I have a setup.  I have a punchline.  And I have a gun.
(A triple which sets up a punchline which is a callback.)

Take my wife…she’s an Amazon.
(Inserts a callback to switch a classic joke.)

Comedy secret #9.  Do what Darren does.  Surround yourself with people who are good at what they do.
  – His financial advisor is broke.
  – His fitness guru is in intensive care.
  – And his EX-girlfriend teaches the Law of Attraction.
(This is a triple that sets up a callback.  It’s based on the possible dis-connect, not the reality, between an attraction expert being an EX girlfriend.)

I’m half humorist and half Norwegian.  Which means that I’m funny…but you’d never know it.
(Self-deprecation.  I am funny, yes.  But most people would never guess it when first meeting me.)

Watch for the January 1 Ezine which will include an article on how to create “savers” (what to say when a line doesn’t work) based on Observational Humor.  We’ll examine three, original, one-time saver lines created during Darren’s workshop and analyze which is the most sure-fire one to use.  Subscribe to the ezine at www.HumorPower.com.

Here’s another monologue and analysis.  It was presented at the end of a Toastmasters meeting.

THE SET-UP (What happened and what was said during the meeting, before the monologue was delivered.)

1.  Our club President opened the meeting with a toast.

2.  We had two guests who appeared to be about 16 years old.

3.  Ryan and David are two members in their early 20s.

4.  Our emcee for the evening announced the meeting theme:  “Kicking Bad Habits.”

5.  A speaker opened a quote starting with:  “Einstein once said…”

6.  A speaker gave a talk on The Science of Prime Numbers.

7.  A speaker gave a speech based on the book Love Languages.

8.  In an impromptu speech Barbel mentioned watching the “adult channel” in her bedroom.

THE MONOLOGUE

I’ve been in Toastmasters for 36 years.  This is the first time I’ve seen a toast.  My life is complete.
(Irony.  One would expect that Toastmasters would always be doing toasts.  “My life is complete” is a topper.)

It’s great to see our young visitors tonight.  I’m especially happy they’re here, because Ryan and David can see what it feels like to be old men.
(This joke is a reversal.  Turning young people into old people.  Very good laugh.)

When Krista announced the theme of Kicking Bad Habits, I thought she said Kinking Bad Habits.  I thought that was strange, because that is the theme for next week.
(A joke based on a sound-alike word.  I suspected that I wasn’t the only one who heard “kinking” and I was right.  The “next week line” was a topper.)

Einstein once said:  “The person who can explain the science of prime numbers is not a nerd.  The person who can explain the science of prime numbers is a nerd squared.”
(Joke, topper, topper.  The first laugh line was “Einstein once said.”  Squaring the nerd fit the theme of the speech and was an alternate way of saying Super-Nerd.)

I’m writing a book on Love Languages.
     Flashing
     Drooling
     And heavy breathing
(A parody of the original book.  A huge laugh.)

Which reminds me to announce that after the meeting, there’s a party…at Barbel’s.  I’ll be taking notes for my book.
(A perfect closer.  The topper is a callback.)

Here’s an Observational Humor monologue used at the end of the first day of a Fripp Speakers School.

THE SET-UP (What happened and what was said during the workshop, before the monologue was delivered.)

1.  Fripp mentioned that a speaker was tall, and had long, pretty hair.

2.  An effective phrase as part of a speech opening might be:  “In the next few minutes you’ll learn…”

3.  Someone suggested, as part of a speech opening, that you could say:   ”…information which you will take away.”

4.  Fripp pointed out that the word “stuff” is weak, non-specific and does not build credibility.

5.  Fripp said it’s best not to put your hands in your pockets, especially for men:  “Men are genetically prone to jingle.”

6.  A speaker put his hands in his pockets.  Fripp grabbed his pockets to see what was inside.

7.  Fripp shared that, “Logic makes you think.  Emotion makes you act.”

8.  A speaker opened a story about someone dying in a hospital with “I wish you could have been there.”  Fripp suggested that you only use that opening for a fun and happy event.

9.  We were told “there is not such thing as a boring subject…only boring speakers.”

THE MONOLOGUE

I know what you’re thinking.
Sure you’re tall.
But your hair isn’t long.
And it’s not pretty.
How could you possibly be funny.
(A call back to the tall/long/pretty comment.  A disconnect between those physical descriptions and being funny.  A bit of self-deprecation mentioning the thought that I don’t look funny.)

In the next few minutes you’ll laugh…or you’ll take away some techniques not to use.
(Self-deprecation suggesting that my humor might bomb.)

I’m going to share some funny stuff.
(A simple line re-visiting the word STUFF.)

It’s time for a jingle.
You heard the speaker was really hip.
So you packed your bag and took a trip.
It’s more than fluff.
Much more than stuff.
The speaking master’s name is Fripp.
(This “jingle” was just a simple limerick.  It wasn’t meant as a stand-along joke, but was used only as a set-up for the following two jokes.)

I’m a man…I’m genetically prone to jingle.
I bring that up hoping that Fripp will want to feel what’s in my pockets.
(The first line received a good laugh.  The second line, a huge laugh.)

Today I learned that:
Logic makes you think.
Emotion makes you act.
And stuff makes you laugh.
(Making STUFF a running gag.)

I wish you could have been there.  He was strapped to a gurney in the execution chamber.  It was so much fun.
(Using the opposite of a happy situation to re-visit the “wish you could have been there” line.  Big laugh after “It was so much fun.”

As a final thought:  There is no such thing as an un-funny subject.  There are only un-funny speakers.
(Not a huge laugh, but a good closer recalling a piece of advice and substituting the word FUNNY.  Simple and effective.)

Here’s another Observational Humor monologue presented at the end of a Toastmasters meeting.

THE SET-UP (What happened and what was said during the meeting before the monologue was presented.)

1.  A speaker told us that to love others, you must first love yourself.

2.  A speaker told us to SLAP our significant other, using SLAP as a motivational acronym.

3.  Mike told the classic Starfish story.

4.  Freeway traffic was terrible enroute to the meeting.  Everyone coming from my end of town was late.

5.  Daylight Savings time change took place the day before our meeting.  We set our clocks back one hour.

6.  Our Table Topics (impromptu speech topics) were presented by a member who gave us obscure words to define, and she told us that it was unlikely we would know the correct definition.

7.  A speaker was introduced as a classically trained musician.  “Which explains why he uses notes.”

8.  A speaker said, “I was in a jazz band for four years.  I’m telling you that because it’s important for the next story I’m going to share.”

9.  Someone referred to a speaker who had spoken to Superbowl contenders and Apollo astronauts.

10.  A speaker used the acronym TIP for Trust, Integrity, Peace.

11.  Frank told us a story of meeting his wife’s ex and not realizing who it was.  “I was confused when I saw that he had pictures of my grand kids in his wallet.”

THE MONOLOGUE

I love myself.  I love myself.  I love myself.  And when I go home tonight I’m going to slap my significant other.
(The first laugh line was a slight twist on the motivational mantra “I like myself.”  The SLAP line was simply a repeat of a previously used phrase.  The literal use of the word SLAP made the line funny.)

And the man said to me, “Why are you throwing starfish back into the ocean?”  I replied, “So Mike can give a speech.”
(I dropped myself into the Starfish story.)

I was late getting to the meeting tonight…I forgot to set my clock back on Sunday.  Actually if that were the case, I would have been an hour early.
(The set up stated a seemingly logical reason for being late for the meeting.  The punchline stated the reality, which was probably not immediately obvious to most people.)

Table Topics were really challenging tonight.  We were challenged with a word which we were told that we probably wouldn’t know the meaning of.  And we were being told that by a blonde.
(I connected the Table Topics presenter’s challenge with a stereotype about blondes.)

I’m a classically trained humorist.  That explains why I use notes.
(I usually use notes when I deliver a monologue.  Switching classically trained musician for humorist worked nicely.)

I was in a jazz band for four years.  That has nothing to do with this monologue.  I just wanted you to know.
(A silly line that got a good laugh.)

I’ve spoken to Super Bowl contenders, Apollo astronauts, and cows.  I told the cows to focus on Trust, Integrity and Peace.  I was cow tipping.
(I combined two observations…speaking to celebrities and the TIP acronym…and linked them with cow-tipping.  It was good for two laughs.  The first one was when I said “and cows”.)

(taking out my wallet)  Let me show you some pictures of Frank’s grand kids.
(A great closing line implying that everyone carried photos of Frank’s grand kids in their wallet…or that I was the ex of Frank’s wife.  It didn’t matter to me which way it was received because both would work.  A huge laugh.)

 At last week’s PowerHouse Pros Toastmasters meeting we had 17 guests who had attended Steve Pavlina’s Conscious Growth Workshop.

One of those guests was Alex Wu from Ottawa, Canada.  Alex gave an impromptu speech about a Chinese restaurant.  In a meeting top-heavy with humor, his speech was the highlight of the evening.  Brilliant. 

In his speech, Alex used his sharp wit to bring the house down.  Part of his humor was hinged on his using a stereotypical Chinese accent.  For most speakers, playing with an accent could be dangerous.  But Alex, with a Chinese ethnic background, was able to skillfully do it.  He received huge laughs.  That, of course, set his speech up as a perfect target for Observational Humor.  I delivered two laugh lines which were part of a longer monologue.

First I’ll give you my lines: 
  – A set up.
  – A punchline. 
  – A topper. 
Then I’ll follow the lines with my analysis. 

Here are the lines:

“The speech on the Chinese restaurant was so funny.
I laughed so hard…when it was over…I wanted to stand up and crap.
I knew it was OK to do that line…since I’m half Chinese.”

And now for an analysis:

THE SET UP LINE:  “The speech on the Chinese restaurant was so funny.”  I expected a bit of a laugh from the set up line.  Not that it was funny, because it wasn’t funny and wasn’t intended to be.  It was solely intended to set up the two humor lines.  But I expected some laughter because it would be recalling the funny speech.  Usually, when something really funny happened earlier, just mentioning it gets some laughs.  But there was virtually no response. 

The lack of laughter could have been a warning signal that the following two lines were about to bomb.  That did cross my mind.  Or it could be just building tension, which could be either good or bad from a humor standpoint.  The bad could be that the audience wasn’t sure they wanted to give me permission to take a joke into that territory.  After all, I was clearly a tall, 6′ 3″ Scandinavian, and not Chinese. Or, on the other hand, it could mean that they were reserving judgment and waiting to see which direction I took the joke.  If that were the case, building tension is as good thing, as it will be relieved with laughter.  I didn’t know which way it would play out.  But I do remember being a bit surprised by a muted response to the set up line. 

Fortunately they loved the two lines which followed.

THE PUNCHLINE:  “I laughed so hard…when it was over…I wanted to stand up and crap.”  A huge laughter response from the

First, a danger zone.  I normally don’t use the word CRAP in a speech.   And in front of a typical corporate audience, such as in a keynote speech, I would almost never use it.  But I felt that two things, in this situation, set me up with the permission to use it and get big laughs.  First, Alex played with accent issues in his speech, including the switching of L’s for R’s.  This helped pave the way for me to do it, once, as a punchword at the end of a punchline.  Connecting it with the speaker experience of a standing ovation (stand up and CLAP), I did the switch, and it worked.  If it had not worked, it would have received nervous laughter and not the huge reaction that it received.   And it helped that Alex was laughing big time…which added permission.

Second, it helped to build permission because Alex was surrounded with friends who liked him.  Normally as a guest he would have been a stranger visiting a club for the first time.  An outsider.  But in this situation, he had brought his own circle of friends, sixteen other guests with whom he had just shared a very intimate, week-end workshop.  They knew him and loved him.  Also, his presentation at the meeting built a bond between Alex and the club members who were meeting him for the first time.  Those factors helped make it safe for me to enter the territory of a stereotypical accent, when it was not MY territory.

From a delivery standpoint I chose to deliver the line with no accent affectation at all.  I simply delivered the line switching the R for the L in the last word.  This delivery technique choice helped disguise the punchword, giving it more impact.

THE TOPPER:  “I knew it was OK to do that line…since I’m half Chinese.”  This line was totally unexpected and absurd.  Being a tall Norwegian helped make the line play strongly.  I had decided that I could use this line as a “saver.”  It would be a good line to use if the stand-up-and-crap line didn’t work.  If the first line had bombed, I would have delivered the line as:  “I was hoping that line would be OK…since I’m half Chinese.”  By using it as a saver, I would be acknowledging that the first line flopped, and getting a laugh by pointing out the obvious, that I was not Chinese.  Fortunately the line was not needed as a saver and I delivered it as an expression of confidence, that I knew that the line would work.

Thanks Alex for the great humor presented at our meeting and providing me with a terrific target for Observational Humor.

Here’s another observational humor monologue presented at the end of a meeting.

THE SET-UP (What was said and what happened during the meeting before the monologue was delivered)

1.  Normally the Observational Humor part of the program is introduced by the Master Evaluator.  When the Observational Humor is complete, the Master Evaluator finishes the overall evaluation of the meeting, and can critique the humor segment, if necessary.  During this meeting, the Master Evaluator closed his part of the meeting and passed control to the Toastmaster of the Evening (the emcee).  The emcee decided to let everyone know that if they shared humor in poor taste that the Observational Humor Master (me) would “smack them.”

2.  Ryan Mulligan gave an outstanding evaluation of a speaker.  The Master Evaluator, after Ryan’s evaluation, noted that Ryan had been in the club only one year.

3.  The theme of the meeting was Training Camp.

4.  John Bernstein, talking about cookies, said that he liked them with “deep relish.”

5.  Someone mentioned the Seven Dwarfs.

6.  Pam Shinkle mentioned that a speaker at another meeting (who was short and bald) “gave up hair and two inches on her.”  Pam often jokes about her height.

7.  A speaker mentioned a Fairy Godmother granting her a wish.

THE MONOLOGUE

If you get out of line…I’m going to smack you.  (puckering up and delivering a loud kiss in the air)
(A strong opener because it immediately followed the introduction which set up the observational line.  The alternate word meaning (smack) made the joke work.  The physical delivery of the kiss magnified the humor.)

(Ryan Mulligan shared some Observational Humor.)
I’d like to point out that Ryan has been with the club for only one year.
(This line came to me in the moment and surprised me with a very big laugh.)

And now it’s time to answer some of your questions:  (a series of jokes in the Reverse Question format)

A:  The difference between Training Camp and Toastmasters.
Q:  What are Performance Enhancing Drugs?
       They don’t use them at Training Camp.
(I love the topper which makes an unexpected switch.)

A:  A place where you learn more than Training Camp.
Q:  What is Band Camp?
(A line from an old comedy movie.)

A:  With deep relish.
Q:  Most people like their cookies with milk.  How does John Bernstein like them?
(Playing with double word meaning:  Deep relish meaning both “a type of food” and “with passion.”)

A:  The Seven Dwarfs.
Q:  Name a group of men who have less hair and two inches on Pam.
(Pam often jokes about being short and is frequently the butt of short jokes.  I almost never do “short” jokes.  But in this case it was a callback line that I couldn’t resist.)

A:  I can’t remember.
Q:  Your fairy godmother offered to make you either very funny or to have a great memory.  Which did you choose?
(The laughter came before I delivered the “Which did you choose?” and drowned out the line.  Apparently it was an unnecessary line.)