Recently, several people reached out on social media asking me what makes a good comedy premise. I thought I’d take the opportunity to write a brief lesson on the topic to help you get a better understanding.
One of the oldest definitions of a joke comes from Aristotle, who defined it as “two dissimilar ideas converging.” This idea was later referenced by Plato, although he wasn’t a fan of comedy, even trying to ban it. Fast forward to 1783, and the Scottish philosopher James Beattie revived this concept.
But let’s dive deeper into what this really means.
Two Dissimilar Ideas Converging
At its core, a joke typically consists of two parts: a setup and a punchline. The setup is where the premise is established.
So, what exactly is a premise? A premise is the foundation for the setup. It’s the starting point that creates interest and grabs the audience’s attention. Without a solid premise, the setup may fall flat.
A premise should spark curiosity or emotion in the audience, as it’s what keeps them engaged and interested in what’s coming next. It’s the hook that makes them want to hear more.
The Building Blocks of a Strong Premise
To craft a good premise, there are a few essential components to consider. First and foremost, a good premise consists of a topic and a condition.
The topic is what the joke is about, while the condition refers to the setting, situation, or perspective through which you present the topic. Together, these elements create anticipation in the audience, prompting them to wonder how you’ll resolve the setup.
The explanation or punchline that follows the premise can be made even more compelling if it’s filtered through your unique persona, emotional state, physicality, or even a personal characteristic.
Let me give you an example:
I could say, “I’m Irish and Native American.” That’s a fact about my background, a topic that’s commonly known to have some cultural connections—especially when it comes to alcohol.
From there, I could say, “I’m Irish and Native American. That’s my lineage. Irish and Native American… so, you know what that means? I have VIP seats waiting for me at any AA meeting. I walk in, and they’re like, ‘Hey Running Bear-O’Reilly, we’ve got a seat for you in the front row!’”
The Secret to Crafting a Good Premise
Here’s the secret: a good premise sets up a question in the audience’s mind that they want answered. The audience is actively waiting for you to resolve the information you’ve given them in the setup, which builds anticipation.
Let’s break down the joke above:
SETUP: “I’m Irish and Native American.” (Two dissimilar ideas are introduced: Irish culture and Native American culture.)
This is a decent setup, but for it to have a strong comedic impact, the audience needs more tension to feel the need for a resolution. So, we add a little more:
SETUP (extended): “I’m Irish and Native American. That’s my lineage. Irish and Native American…”
The repetition here creates tension. The audience is starting to think, “Okay, what’s the point?” This prompts curiosity—tension is building.
MISDIRECTION: “So, you know what that means…?” (This is the key moment where the audience tries to figure out what you’re going to say next. They’re formulating possible answers in their minds.)
PUNCHLINE: “I have VIP seats waiting for me at any AA meeting.”
The punchline works because it resolves the tension and answers the question the audience had been waiting to be solved. By blending the Irish and Native American cultures and relating them to alcoholism, I’m able to create a humorous scenario based on a surprising connection.
Using Analogy to Create a Premise
Another simple way to connect two dissimilar ideas is by using analogy, which involves saying something is like something else. For example, “Going to the gym is a lot like sex,” or “Marriage is like going to Home Depot…”
In these cases, you’re making a comparison between two things that don’t obviously have much in common, which creates a sense of contradiction. Now, your audience is left waiting for you to explain why these two things are alike, and this creates a sense of tension.
The humor lies in the absurdity of claiming that these dissimilar things are actually the same. The audience is curious about how you’ll resolve this illogical statement, which heightens their engagement. This is a key element of tension in any joke, and tension is essential in making the audience pay attention.
Breaking Down a Good Premise
To summarize, a good premise should:
- Be relatable: It needs to resonate with the audience, often tapping into shared experiences or universal truths.
- Create emotion: It should provoke excitement, confusion, frustration, or curiosity in the audience.
- Generate imagery: A strong premise paints a mental picture or sets a scene that helps the audience visualize the situation.
- Build tension: It should create a need for resolution, making the audience eager to hear the punchline or conclusion.
Don’t Overcomplicate It
Understanding the fundamentals of a good premise will help you write better jokes. It’s easy to overthink comedy, but in many cases, it’s simpler than we believe. Some of the best jokes are also the simplest.
When we see or hear a great joke, we often assume that it’s incredibly clever or complex, but in reality, it may be as straightforward as presenting two different ideas, stating they’re related, and then providing a resolution.
There are countless ways to craft a good premise, but this quick breakdown should give you a solid foundation to start from. Keep practicing, and you’ll soon find yourself creating more engaging and effective premises for your comedy.
