"Ask me the secret of comedy." "Okay, what is the sec-" "TIMING!"
It's the oldest cliché in the book, but it's true. Comedic timing—the use of rhythm, tempo, and silence—is what separates a professional from a nervous amateur.
The Beat
In scriptwriting, a pause is often written as (beat). This isn't just a rest; it's a cognitive necessity.
When you deliver a Setup, the audience needs a fraction of a second to process it. * If you rush to the Punchline, you step on their processing time. * If you wait too long, the tension dissipates.
The Pregnant Pause
Sometimes, the silence is the joke. Jack Benny was the master of this. * Robber: "Your money or your life!" * Benny: (Silence... for 10 seconds) * Robber: "Well?" * Benny: "I'm thinking it over!"
The humor wasn't the line; it was the long, agonizing silence where the audience realized just how cheap Benny was.
Speed vs. Drag
- Speed: fast-talking comedians (like Robin Williams) use speed to overwhelm the audience, creating a manic energy where you laugh just to keep up.
- Drag: Deadpan comedians (like Steven Wright) use slowness to create awkwardness. By under-reacting to absurd statements, they force the audience to do the emotional work.
Can Timing Be Taught?
Some say it's innate. You either have "funny bones" or you don't. But like music, it implies listening. Great timing comes from listening to the audience's laughter and knowing exactly when the wave is cresting—and surfing it.