r/improv • u/Duke-Berryman • 2d ago

Telegraphing a joke

Here's a great comedy lesson from Steve Martin: you can telegraph a joke from a mile away and it will still be funny. Similar to how Penn & Teller show the audience how a trick is done, then actually do the trick, and the audience is still amazed. Feel free to give away the punchline because it will still be funny when you deliver it.

Know any other examples like this? Or comics that put the punchline first, like a Jeopardy question?

https://youtu.be/276xNCbUDX8?si=DUUdPa9Jevt11PC5

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u/bikenambulist 15h ago

Just like the vast majority of improvisers I’d probably advise against going for “jokes”. That mostly because so often the flow of improv will take a 90° on it and it’ll no longer be relevant. But honestly it’s just a guideline to avoid a common pitfall. I’ve seen TJ & Dave do actual jokes and they killed with it. Can’t even imagine how many other examples there are. Just goes to show that something doesn’t work until it does. Best of luck to those who go for it.