I have a funny feeling that if Louis CK saw this line-by-line, in-depth analysis of how he supposedly calculates and executes his jokes with meticulous precision, he'd say "oh, wow, I had no idea I was that sophisticated."
No, comedians actually work their ass off for each and every joke. They don't just come up with them, they fine-tune them hours and hours, over and over again.
Gwydda yeah, and that was even touched on in this video with Chris Rock's point about the premise. Honestly OP's comment and all the thumbs up it received lead me to believe a lot of people missed the point of this analysis.
To really understand the significance of the shit, you have to look back at the context of the shit. The shit begins not at the toilet, but at the dinner table. All that visceral excitement about the taste of the food, the satisfaction of eating it, leads inevitably to the shit being created, ejected, and discarded. This speaks then of something larger than just the shit; the shit is the natural precursor to our consumerist drive, our insatiable urge to obtain, consume, and throw away.
I was thinking about this. Hypothesis: British comedians use fewer "tags" (repeated punchlines for emphasis like Louis does here). I don't know why we do it that way but hearing Louis using so many here felt unusual to me as a Brit.
I feel like the type of Carlin fans who go around telling people to watch Carlin because he's real comedy are the type of people that Carlin made fun of.
So anything by Steve Hoffstedter. "See how even though he plants this heckler into the audience, his comeback is still not that funny most of the time" "See how he needs to tell you how funny he is, and post his videos everywhere that he can to get views. This isn't because he's a truly gifted and funny comedian that you WANT to listen to. It's because he a hack comedian that has to be forced down into your ears until your brain malfunctions, almost like a intellectual foie gras."
Honest question, no sarcasm, is it still okay to watch Louis CK? In y'all's opinions is it okay to separate the art from the artist? Is it a moral cop out, or are they legitimately separate issues?
I wouldn't judge anyone that still watches him. Everyone should decide for themselves. But you should think twice if you are still paying for his stuff.
That's a trickier one because Burr does a lot of improv. I saw an interview where he said that his notes for jokes would just be a one word reminder. He is brilliant.
It's trickier because he's unpredictable, he changes his jokes and his delivery of jokes very often, he generally riffs based on a random thought he had. How do you dissect a joke that is different every time?
Milo Hempel he's more coversational and average joe-ish. the comedy in his act comes more from raw emotion and original/controversial view of a subject than from pure technique like louis
@parodyvideos In this video he mentioned that Louis used emphasis, articulation, dramatization and anticipation of the punchline to get the laughs. I think that is spot on, because if you imagine that bit but with those elements omitted it's not funny. I might understand you if it is the derived message he did of the joke was invalid. But if you look at other jokes he did you often see that he likes to sneak in social commentary, such as the Israel Palestine conflict he did on snl, or his reoccurring theme of what is ethically right vs what people actually do.
@parodyvideos This isn't on a macro state such as the presidency, just a vid. Also what about basically every politician or do you live in China? Because here, in America we have many people trying to become president.What I'm saying if offer an example of what you view as superior.
This comment section really shows what little respect people have for comedians and the efforts they go through to make everything seem natural. It took Louis CK years upon years to get to the point he's at.
Louis ate shit for about 10 yrs... or was it 20? busting his ass as a writer and performer and producer, editor, etc etc to get his current level of success. Anybody who thinks he just got here as a fluke is a chump who's never understood what it takes to succeed
Yeah, it is so hard to write comedy. I've had a few years of theatre courses. And by far the hardest thing we had to do was make and play a comedic scene, as we'd usually have one day to make a scene. It completely fell flat, all the scenes from all the groups. It seems so easy but it really takes some doing.
To add to this, there's a HUGE difference between being a "funny guy" and being a comedian. I've done some stand up on my own just to try it out. I can get my friends to laugh with dumb gags but when it's just you, a microphone, and a light shining in your fucking face? Just a liiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiitle different. Especially if they're not your friends. They don't know your sense of humor, they don't know your "in jokes", they don't know you period. You can be the funniest guy in your group of friends but that doesn't mean shit when it comes to getting on stage and winning that audience over. And even if you CAN do that, people like Louis STILL eat shit during a performance. George Carlin ate shit. They all still eat shit on occasion! The same theory can be applied to professional musicians. Yes there are a lot of "good musicians" out there. Can they bring it to the stage and knock it out of the park? No. The answer is no. If you're a performer you have be able to deliver your A game regardless of how bad you feel or unhappy you are on that day. "I could that!" "Did you?" "Well no, but I could. He's just *insert simplified explanation*" That's the difference between him and you then. He did it while you are talking about what you could have done.
It's my dream to be a standup comedian so sometimes, I'll listen to other comedians and dissect a joke. I figured out Louis CK and Doug Stanhope have both written a hilarious 5-minute bit about seeing a bumper sticker in traffic and it blew my mind how someone can write something so long and so funny based on such a single simple thing. It really gave me a new apprrciation for writing jokes
Vegetarian Soylent-Green Yeah, honestly, the thumbs-up system on youtube is one of the worst social media upvoting systems. It's not just because likes... but it's mostly cuz likes...
Filip Galetic pseudo-my-ass. These people are complaining because he "exaggerated the process of making a joke" when there are multiple interviews where Loius C.K., among many other comedians, confirm that they plan jokes out this way.
I totally agree. If you watch his "Arrival: A response to bad movies" video and look at that comments section, it's full of people saying stuff like "Oh, I had no idea what he was talking about most of the time, he should put it in layman's terms or he's going to lose his target audience." It just makes me laugh that they want him to dumb down his content for his "target audience", even though the main draw for most people who enjoy NerdWriter's content is that he's clever enough to spot and analyse things most people just take for granted. It really just proves that they're not actually part of his target audience.
A lot of people who aren't into comedy believe this is over analyzing, that it is more natural than that. That is why Louis C.K. is such a genius, and comics like Chris Rock as well. They have literally said in a talk that they meticulously plan every tiny detail, every time it seems like he is stuttering, every "mistake", those are all planned.
I mean by the time he has a set ready for a special yeah but Louis writes everything on the road, tweaking bits and trying new ones and deliveries on stage, he's talked about it plenty and you can tell there's a mix in leaked sets
His jokes are definitely well scripted but he does leave some small room for improvisation. He'll tell the same joke with slightly different emphases or sometimes add on extra emotion or commentary.
He missed the part about the father ruthlessly crushing his daughters in monopoly. _He’s_ dark. It’s not even Monopoly in the end, is just sets the stage for the father to be the cold, heartless monopoly man, and he’s blaming the game.
Why not? Do you really think it was an anecdote about playing Monopoly with his daughters? Nedwriter sees hidden meanings and structures in everything. It's what great theorists do. Also, your Clockwork Orange avatar suggests you know stuff about culture.
no hes saying we naturally associate it with monopoly because its essentially a game about capitalism. Which is what makes the dark parts of this joke darker and also funnier.
Now it's my turn to dissect why Roiben100's comment is hilarious. Progressives are often mocked for seeing a criticism of capitalism in every piece of art, even in the least likely places. But here, the comical effect comes from the fact that the reference to the brutality of the economy is completely obvious to the audience - except Roiben100
Bryan A my thoughts exactly. probably would compliment his breakdown, bring up something he missed, and then throw in something about him being a douche.
such over-analyzation,, CK prob just scribbled it down, and it just worked. Just like how Picasso painted,, he didn't sit there analyzing the paint molecular structure against the canvas under the moonlight. 1-2-3 done. masterpiece
He absolutely didn´t! If you see interviews and talks with him, especially such where he talks with other commedians about comedy you´ll see that it clearly is very hard work he is putting into his bits. Most of what we see of him are bits taken from purpously recorded specials. We don´t see how he tests and hones those bits in countless smaller gigs before.
Its not overanalyzing, Louis CK has been using his jokes to make this type of comments for a very very long time. Is it really that much of a stretch to think he uses a joke about a game invented to criticize capitalism to criticize capitalism ?
Couldn't agree more. While he does make jokes regarding capitalism in indirect means on occasion, he makes sure to make the connection. It's fairly presumptuous to assume he'd change his formula on this specific joke.
Thats literally what the joke is. a slightly disguised joke of capitalism from a game called monopoly. The word monopoly says it all. And his children are now learning how shit the world is through a game made to mimic capitalism.
Actually, go watch Louis discuss this very topic with Jerry Seinfeld, Chris Rock, and Ricky Gervais on HBO's "Talking Funny" (it's here on TH-cam). You would find that Louis would agree with the analysis of this video. As Louis says in the clip excerpted here, what he's doing *sounds* spontaneous, but he knows "all the moves." These are guys who love the craft, love the structure of jokes, and work very hard to craft them perfectly. The seeming lack of "complication" is a carefully crafted illusion. Another good example (in a different style) is Rodney Dangerfield. He sounds like he's just throwing out quick one and two-liners as they occur to him. But, if you see him telling the jokes in different venues (on stage, on tv, in interviews), he delivers them exactly the same way. And, if you understand comedy writing and how jokes are structured, you'll notice that the structures of his one and two-liners are so tight and perfectly packaged, you couldn't condense or expand them without losing what makes them work. That's why he was a comedian's comedian who even the comedians of today talk about with awe and respect (and a little sadness because, IRL, he was a little bit of a mess). TL;DR - It *is* that complicated, and Louis would tell you so himself. And has said so directly. The exception, of course, would be when comedians do "crowd work" (where they talk to the audience and riff off whatever they're saying), but, once the comedian is touring for a while, even the crowd work is made up of successful riffs from previous shows, giving them the illusion of ad-libbing with the audience when really they're just sort of mixing-and-matching standard responses to the things they hear over and over again from audiences. And folks like Don Rickles, Robin Williams, and Jonathan Winters are exceptions. They're part of a very small group of comedians who do stream-of-consciousness type comedy and even very good, very successful stand-up comics are in awe of the ability to do that kind of comedy at that level. I'm not sure what the ratio of written-to-riffed was with Robin Williams and Jonathan Winters, but my understanding is that Don Rickles never wrote anything. He just went out onstage and started talking. He was apparently also like that IRL. Those guys were great, but, if you really look at their sets critically, you quickly notice that the consequence is that a comparatively large percentage of their jokes make zero sense. Robin Williams was a genius and made some genius comedy, but, a lot of times, people were laughing at the rhythm and funny voices more than the actual content of the joke because the joke had no structure and made no sense. That's the trade-off, I guess.
Hey John. I logged in just to give your post a thumbs up. I had never heard that Rickles never wrote anything. But, when you see him 'riffing' with Johnny Carson, etc. it makes sense. You seem to be a bit of a "comedy nerd" like myself. Have you seen David Steinberg's "Inside Comedy" series, on Showtime..? There are some pretty good interviews on it. Keep laughing. - Jamie
I see the opportunity for this quote everywhere, and I want to apply it here with respect to your line "The seeming lack of "complication" is a carefully crafted illusion." The quote I mean is: "When you do things right, people won't be sure you've done anything at all."
All the arrogant folks in these comments! "Muh! I already knew that, Nerdwriter! Why are you making a video on something I already know!" *scratches chest* "Muh!"
I would like your comment for being accurate, but with all the monkey sounds and super condescending parroting of their words, you come off as being just as arrogant. In fact, I think I dislike your comment more than theirs.
@@DiegoRuiz1991 Jesus thought for a moment and then replied, “He that is without sin among you, let him cast the first stone at her.” The people crowded around him were so touched by their own consciences that they departed. ... She replied, “No man, lord.” Jesus then said, “Neither do I condemn thee: go and sin no more.
To me that deeper societal commentary is what sets Louis CK and this joke apart. He's not just pointing out the ruthlessness of the economy but also that we're complicit in its being the way it is. We start teaching it to our kids at a young age. When he says his daughter isn’t "emotionally developed" yet, what he means is that she is still uncorrupted, innocent. That's the real joke here: On the surface he's acting as the parent who knows better, but he’s really pointing out his own folly-and our folly-that maybe what we think is maturity and wisdom is just that we’ve gotten good at playing a game without questioning its effect on our lives.
foofoodog "Works in bars?" He sells out large arenas and writes/produces/directs several award winning tv series. This guy hasn't only played in bars for a decade.
Louis CK is one of the greatest comedians of our time. He's honestly my personal favorite comedian. His comedy just resonates with me so much. I have the exact same dark, fucked up, depressing sense of humor.
Luis C.K. has a great talent for setting the mood for the joke. He is also good at turning around very offensive jokes. We can be very glad that Luis C.K. became a comedian and makes us all happy
This if fucking amazing. Thank you for the in-depth breakdown of a legend at work. I, myself have always been a fan of comedy but recently, I've decided I'd like to perform on stage one day and writing jokes is a topic I'm COMPLETELY lost on. Personally, I like to gather as much information as I can on a subject (typically in book form) before I apply myself to a new craft. Can you recommend any great comedy writing books or any other great sources (tutorials, videos, etc.) to help me get started writing stand-up comedy? Thank you again!
F. Jacob Alvarado great comment! And you articulate my exact sentiments. Ive recently been feeling the itch to try to perform one day but have zero idea about constructing something solid. Ive simply been trying to take notes on items I find funny and hope to one day make them stories or jokes or one liners or anything that works really! And now I'm learning about the premise/ punch line concept which I guess I inherently knew but didn't call it that. Anyways, glad to hear someone is on a similar trail. Thanks for commenting!
F. Jacob Alvarado if I were you I'd just try to observe different stand ups and sort of figure out what methods work and which ones don't. Look out for a variety of comedians and their shows, look up their ratings and reviews from critics, figure out which ones are your personal favorites, the funniest, the ones that inspire you the most. Learn their style(s) and incorporate it with how YOU want your style to be, then experiment on your own with family, co-workers, friends, acquaintances, even strangers to get an honest reaction. I don't think you can learn to tell decent jokes just by reading a how-to book, just observe, figure out, and practice.
No, I don't mean Gangs of New york. That was not as good a movie as Gangs of Wasseypur you should watch it. And i do know English. Jesus was not black BTW but I forgive you.
Sahil Paul Many of the legendary Hollywood movies are mediocre but you're so shoved in Hollywood's ass that you think that everything Hollywood is good and all others are rip offs. Taxi driver, Scarface etc are mediocre movies not GOW. GOW's narrative style is borrowed from City of god and Goodfellas and there is nothing wrong with it , many hollywood directors borrow narrative styles of other movies for their movie.
Matthijs de Jong I agree. To me he is clever and interesting to listen to but he never gets me busting out laughing the way Bill Burr does. In my unpopular opinion, Louis C.K. is like The Beatles of comedy: I appreciate his work and contribution to the form more than I actually enjoy it.
Any updates on Louie? Besides that video with the horse laughing guy in the back posted about months ago? I truly do miss this guy as if he were a friend. It seems as if he can write and deliver a joke in an intellectually stimulating capacity like no other. Humor is like therapy for me---so I am asking, who is on this level of Louie C.K who isn't banned from the media that I can go to? Most comedians just don't compare...
Would you PLEASE analyse Gervais comedy? Specially when he does live appearances/stand up, even tho it's mostly about what he says, it's pretty physical too, using the interaction with audience in a masterful way.
I love when you do Louis CK videos. I'm British, most of my favourite comedians are British, but Louis CK is hands down the best comedian in the world. And only you can break it down and illustrate precisely why that is! Love it!
onee yeah and it doesn’t even constitute sexual misconduct what he did, specially since he asked (*ehem* consent) to do what he did and they accepted (*ehem* consent). I’m glad the Me Too movement happened, it was needed, but Louie was one of the only cases where I felt things went straight stupid.
Cash Nelson we understand it’s a problem, but things can’t be so finely defined by absolutes, there are degrees of injustice, and Louie is an examplen of it
Just saw him last night in Toronto. He is absolutely INCREDIBLE at providing context, very economically. His choice of words is always impeccable and he's a pro at making it genuinely seem like everything is off the cuff. Love him!
Ck is definitely a rapist. He fully admitted to being a twisted sexual deviant. He should be rotting is a prison cell for the rest of his life but his white male privilege got him out of trouble. Sad.
@@erikl9842 Sort of :-( Really hoping folks in charge of getting him back on stage, on TV, etc. (or maybe, more importantly, he himself?) forgives the dude and we can get on with the show!
I am a pretty big Louis fan, but I do think you have to be a specific kind of person to find him "funny". No denying his intelligence, but his actual humor is often rooted in laughing at the fact that life kills you, slowly. Like the story about a conversation between him and his daughter. She asks about the Earth rotating around the Sun and if it always will. He says, "Well no, eventually it's going to blow up" and she freaks out and hes like "Oh no, this won't happen until you and everyone you know have been dead for a very long time". He then goes on to explain how she knew none of these things (her and everyone she knows will die, they'll be dead for a very long time, and then the sun will explode) and now suddenly she knows all of these things, told to her in about a 12 second time period. Innocence begins to die when you learn about your own mortality, and finding the humor in that, you can find the humor in anything and use that humor as a coping mechanism. Or, maybe I'm just a fucked up individual, could kinda go either way in full honesty lol.
It depends on if there are any videos with asses or boobies in the thumbnail... Otherwise, Louis CK is my third choice for auto-clicking! :D In summary, it goes: 1. asses 2. boobies 3. Louis CK 4. 1000 Degree Knife
This is what makes Louis special. He can get so much mileage out of a simple joke. Retelling one of his jokes almost never does justice to his oratory skills.
A perfect explanation of my favorite comedian by my favorite youtube channel. Today is a good day :)
Werner Erkelens It is a VERY good day.
Werner Erkelens my thoughts EXACTLY.
Werner Erkelens My exact thoughts. If only MKBHD came in somehow to the story...
a very very special one, with sugarcoat on top. sweet.
+Mladen Dragovic you keep your own you tuber erotic fan fiction to yourself bruh
I have a funny feeling that if Louis CK saw this line-by-line, in-depth analysis of how he supposedly calculates and executes his jokes with meticulous precision, he'd say "oh, wow, I had no idea I was that sophisticated."
No, comedians actually work their ass off for each and every joke. They don't just come up with them, they fine-tune them hours and hours, over and over again.
*good comedians
Gwydda yeah, and that was even touched on in this video with Chris Rock's point about the premise. Honestly OP's comment and all the thumbs up it received lead me to believe a lot of people missed the point of this analysis.
You've fallen for the illusion of effortlessness.
He'd only say that if he thought he'd get a reaction though. It's not exactly sophisticated though. As you can see, it's a very simple technique.
can you dissect the way I took a shit last week ?
doctor jimmy lmaooooooo yo you won the Internet for today my guy
MrLasso15 So you didn't take one since last week or you only find that one memorable for some reason?.. if it's the first one go see the doctor man
To really understand the significance of the shit, you have to look back at the context of the shit. The shit begins not at the toilet, but at the dinner table. All that visceral excitement about the taste of the food, the satisfaction of eating it, leads inevitably to the shit being created, ejected, and discarded. This speaks then of something larger than just the shit; the shit is the natural precursor to our consumerist drive, our insatiable urge to obtain, consume, and throw away.
Nadzia Skalapendra wow the philosophy in this one is through the roof
this should happen more often in the comment section. this is art, and the video above is the tool that unleashes this art
Thanks for not taking this down!
Like ck's pants
@@rudnums1 offffff
Taking it down? That would just be a pussy move
Probably contractually obligated by his sponsors to keep it up.
lobmin why would it be ?
Explaining a joke is like dissecting a frog; you'll understand it better, but it dies in the process.
But now you know how it looks inside and why it works and if you see another one you can appreciate it even more.
ALL IN A DAY except that's not true because we've literally had the joke explained here and it only adds to understanding why it's so good.
Maybe if his *_voice delivery_* was having fun along with the content, he would've kept it alive.
There's a difference between explaining a joke and deconstructing a joke.
ALL IN A DAY Except the fact the frog is dead before the dissection.
You should do a video comparing British comedy with American comedy.
Tom Monty
the youtube channel "now you see it" did a video about it
Now You See It has a great video on this topic
I was thinking about this. Hypothesis: British comedians use fewer "tags" (repeated punchlines for emphasis like Louis does here). I don't know why we do it that way but hearing Louis using so many here felt unusual to me as a Brit.
Yes, 'Now You See It' has done a video on this, but wouldn't you like to see it again from another angle?
Neither comedy is objectively better. It simply comes down to your preference.
Louis CK has a great economy of words.
You should do a similar analysis on a comedian whose joke did not work.
find any Dane Cook standup and have at it
I feel like the type of Carlin fans who go around telling people to watch Carlin because he's real comedy are the type of people that Carlin made fun of.
So anything by Steve Hoffstedter. "See how even though he plants this heckler into the audience, his comeback is still not that funny most of the time" "See how he needs to tell you how funny he is, and post his videos everywhere that he can to get views. This isn't because he's a truly gifted and funny comedian that you WANT to listen to. It's because he a hack comedian that has to be forced down into your ears until your brain malfunctions, almost like a intellectual foie gras."
+BaronVonTacocat like carlin was ever funny
Every Amy Schumer standup segment.
First, he pulls down his pants...
I came here for this joke :D
Same
Honest question, no sarcasm, is it still okay to watch Louis CK? In y'all's opinions is it okay to separate the art from the artist? Is it a moral cop out, or are they legitimately separate issues?
I wouldn't judge anyone that still watches him. Everyone should decide for themselves. But you should think twice if you are still paying for his stuff.
Lame ass joke
The Nerdwriter making a video essay about Louis CK?
My dreams have come true.
skinnyindonesian24 he alredy made a C.K video essay. Its called " How louis C.K is a moral detective "
skinnyindonesian24 You have a very low standard for yor dreams.
it's appreciating the little things, skinnyindonesian24, must be a very happy person :))))))))):D:D:D:D:DDDDD
200k away from him, huh? :D
Making another video*
I'd love a vid on bill burr
That's a trickier one because Burr does a lot of improv. I saw an interview where he said that his notes for jokes would just be a one word reminder.
He is brilliant.
how is that trickier?
yes, that would be great
It's trickier because he's unpredictable, he changes his jokes and his delivery of jokes very often, he generally riffs based on a random thought he had. How do you dissect a joke that is different every time?
Milo Hempel he's more coversational and average joe-ish.
the comedy in his act comes more from raw emotion and original/controversial view of a subject than from pure technique like louis
People are saying you're overthinking but honestly this analysis is spot on
@parodyvideos In this video he mentioned that Louis used emphasis, articulation, dramatization and anticipation of the punchline to get the laughs. I think that is spot on, because if you imagine that bit but with those elements omitted it's not funny.
I might understand you if it is the derived message he did of the joke was invalid. But if you look at other jokes he did you often see that he likes to sneak in social commentary, such as the Israel Palestine conflict he did on snl, or his reoccurring theme of what is ethically right vs what people actually do.
@parodyvideos Then make an in depth analysis
@parodyvideos well, I'm simply saying if you think its not in depth enough. Then make your own or link to one that meets your standards.
@parodyvideos This isn't on a macro state such as the presidency, just a vid. Also what about basically every politician or do you live in China? Because here, in America we have many people trying to become president.What I'm saying if offer an example of what you view as superior.
I hate that spot on phrase... spotty onnn
I found this fantastic and intriguing, thank you.
This comment section really shows what little respect people have for comedians and the efforts they go through to make everything seem natural. It took Louis CK years upon years to get to the point he's at.
here's how bernie can still win He still sucks :/
Louis ate shit for about 10 yrs... or was it 20? busting his ass as a writer and performer and producer, editor, etc etc to get his current level of success. Anybody who thinks he just got here as a fluke is a chump who's never understood what it takes to succeed
Yeah, it is so hard to write comedy. I've had a few years of theatre courses. And by far the hardest thing we had to do was make and play a comedic scene, as we'd usually have one day to make a scene. It completely fell flat, all the scenes from all the groups. It seems so easy but it really takes some doing.
To add to this, there's a HUGE difference between being a "funny guy" and being a comedian. I've done some stand up on my own just to try it out. I can get my friends to laugh with dumb gags but when it's just you, a microphone, and a light shining in your fucking face? Just a liiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiitle different. Especially if they're not your friends. They don't know your sense of humor, they don't know your "in jokes", they don't know you period. You can be the funniest guy in your group of friends but that doesn't mean shit when it comes to getting on stage and winning that audience over. And even if you CAN do that, people like Louis STILL eat shit during a performance. George Carlin ate shit. They all still eat shit on occasion!
The same theory can be applied to professional musicians. Yes there are a lot of "good musicians" out there. Can they bring it to the stage and knock it out of the park? No. The answer is no. If you're a performer you have be able to deliver your A game regardless of how bad you feel or unhappy you are on that day.
"I could that!"
"Did you?"
"Well no, but I could. He's just *insert simplified explanation*"
That's the difference between him and you then. He did it while you are talking about what you could have done.
It's my dream to be a standup comedian so sometimes, I'll listen to other comedians and dissect a joke. I figured out Louis CK and Doug Stanhope have both written a hilarious 5-minute bit about seeing a bumper sticker in traffic and it blew my mind how someone can write something so long and so funny based on such a single simple thing. It really gave me a new apprrciation for writing jokes
Next video: Why TH-cam Comments are Always Butthurt.
Actually, it would be REALLY interesting to hear Nerdwritter's thoughts about a YT comments section.
Milena Đ. Because... Likes...
Vegetarian Soylent-Green
Yeah, honestly, the thumbs-up system on youtube is one of the worst social media upvoting systems. It's not just because likes... but it's mostly cuz likes...
omg, and then it would end with his drawn out conclusion... "because like a toilet, sometimes youtube... is full... of... shit." *fade to black*
Because they feel worthless and want everyone to feel the same.
How about a video on George Carlin?
NoNameNoLastName definitely
My thoughts exactly. This was awesome.
This. George Carlin was a genius.
I was looking for this comment !!!!!
yes
I would love to see an analysis of how George Carlin tells a joke.
Skunkdog Gro The same, but he was also a walking encyclopedia.
Zeemas he was a genius no doubt, his intelligence and social awareness only made his jokes better.
watch his material and analyze it then.
Here's an analysis: be angry at something with 20 adjectives.
...and always mention dildos
Looking at these comments, I'm beginning to think NerdWriter's content is too smart for TH-cam.
Pseudo-smart.
Filip Galetic pseudo-my-ass. These people are complaining because he "exaggerated the process of making a joke" when there are multiple interviews where Loius C.K., among many other comedians, confirm that they plan jokes out this way.
most things are too smart for youtube
It's certainly too smart to use less adverbs.
I totally agree. If you watch his "Arrival: A response to bad movies" video and look at that comments section, it's full of people saying stuff like "Oh, I had no idea what he was talking about most of the time, he should put it in layman's terms or he's going to lose his target audience."
It just makes me laugh that they want him to dumb down his content for his "target audience", even though the main draw for most people who enjoy NerdWriter's content is that he's clever enough to spot and analyse things most people just take for granted. It really just proves that they're not actually part of his target audience.
How can people possibly dislike content as good as this?!
haters gonna hate
waterglass21 Yep. Haters Hate. Always good to remember that how people treat others is a reflection of how they feel about themselves.
How can people possibly repeat this comment on millions of videos and expect to get a new answer?!
Anonymous User Genuinely the first time I've commented it.
By pressing the dislike button?
A lot of people who aren't into comedy believe this is over analyzing, that it is more natural than that. That is why Louis C.K. is such a genius, and comics like Chris Rock as well. They have literally said in a talk that they meticulously plan every tiny detail, every time it seems like he is stuttering, every "mistake", those are all planned.
I mean by the time he has a set ready for a special yeah but Louis writes everything on the road, tweaking bits and trying new ones and deliveries on stage, he's talked about it plenty and you can tell there's a mix in leaked sets
His jokes are definitely well scripted but he does leave some small room for improvisation. He'll tell the same joke with slightly different emphases or sometimes add on extra emotion or commentary.
That is so true.
He missed the part about the father ruthlessly crushing his daughters in monopoly.
_He’s_ dark. It’s not even Monopoly in the end, is just sets the stage for the father to be the cold, heartless monopoly man, and he’s blaming the game.
Really? You turn a fucking joke about monopoly into capitalism criticism? Seriously?
Why not? Do you really think it was an anecdote about playing Monopoly with his daughters? Nedwriter sees hidden meanings and structures in everything. It's what great theorists do. Also, your Clockwork Orange avatar suggests you know stuff about culture.
Roiben100 kinda hard not to when the game itself was designed as a capitalism criticism
Hey genious, the game was originally designed to be a criticism of capitalism. Look it up.
no hes saying we naturally associate it with monopoly because its essentially a game about capitalism. Which is what makes the dark parts of this joke darker and also funnier.
Now it's my turn to dissect why Roiben100's comment is hilarious. Progressives are often mocked for seeing a criticism of capitalism in every piece of art, even in the least likely places. But here, the comical effect comes from the fact that the reference to the brutality of the economy is completely obvious to the audience - except Roiben100
You should do one on how Nerdwriter1 makes a video. They're getting better every week! Would love to see the process.
Predictable.
King of Wakanda You are EVERYWHERE! I wish he'd do one on another great comic, that Mark Ellis guy. I hear he's working on his standup right now
Guy Simchony oh yeah I've heard of him
He should do that for a subscriber special
That'd be like giving away the crabby patty secret formula
Say all you want about Louis CK the person, but Louis CK the comedian is definitely one of the best in history.
Finally!! a good comment about his art rather than his controversy
He seems to be pretty nice. What do you mean?
As a Louie CK fan I can't help but wonder what his response to this video would be.
Bryan A my thoughts exactly.
probably would compliment his breakdown, bring up something he missed, and then throw in something about him being a douche.
He'd be like "nah, I was just... talking about that time I played monopoly with my daughters"
such over-analyzation,, CK prob just scribbled it down, and it just worked. Just like how Picasso painted,, he didn't sit there analyzing the paint molecular structure against the canvas under the moonlight. 1-2-3 done. masterpiece
mmm or somewhere in between the two
He absolutely didn´t! If you see interviews and talks with him, especially such where he talks with other commedians about comedy you´ll see that it clearly is very hard work he is putting into his bits. Most of what we see of him are bits taken from purpously recorded specials. We don´t see how he tests and hones those bits in countless smaller gigs before.
was fine until the sentence at 5:23 , overanalyzing lol
mmm but it crosses over into what he says about adults understanding just HOW heavy it is. Like we imagine reality instead of the board game, no?
Its not overanalyzing, Louis CK has been using his jokes to make this type of comments for a very very long time. Is it really that much of a stretch to think he uses a joke about a game invented to criticize capitalism to criticize capitalism ?
Bananna Sauce In his series Louie he loves making jokes about capitalism (the apartment, the choking lawsuit, etc).
Couldn't agree more. While he does make jokes regarding capitalism in indirect means on occasion, he makes sure to make the connection. It's fairly presumptuous to assume he'd change his formula on this specific joke.
Thats literally what the joke is. a slightly disguised joke of capitalism from a game called monopoly. The word monopoly says it all. And his children are now learning how shit the world is through a game made to mimic capitalism.
I feel like Louis CK wouldn't think it's that complicated. This is an amazing analysis though :) it's like literature
He would agree.
Actually, go watch Louis discuss this very topic with Jerry Seinfeld, Chris Rock, and Ricky Gervais on HBO's "Talking Funny" (it's here on TH-cam). You would find that Louis would agree with the analysis of this video. As Louis says in the clip excerpted here, what he's doing *sounds* spontaneous, but he knows "all the moves." These are guys who love the craft, love the structure of jokes, and work very hard to craft them perfectly. The seeming lack of "complication" is a carefully crafted illusion.
Another good example (in a different style) is Rodney Dangerfield. He sounds like he's just throwing out quick one and two-liners as they occur to him. But, if you see him telling the jokes in different venues (on stage, on tv, in interviews), he delivers them exactly the same way. And, if you understand comedy writing and how jokes are structured, you'll notice that the structures of his one and two-liners are so tight and perfectly packaged, you couldn't condense or expand them without losing what makes them work. That's why he was a comedian's comedian who even the comedians of today talk about with awe and respect (and a little sadness because, IRL, he was a little bit of a mess).
TL;DR - It *is* that complicated, and Louis would tell you so himself. And has said so directly.
The exception, of course, would be when comedians do "crowd work" (where they talk to the audience and riff off whatever they're saying), but, once the comedian is touring for a while, even the crowd work is made up of successful riffs from previous shows, giving them the illusion of ad-libbing with the audience when really they're just sort of mixing-and-matching standard responses to the things they hear over and over again from audiences.
And folks like Don Rickles, Robin Williams, and Jonathan Winters are exceptions. They're part of a very small group of comedians who do stream-of-consciousness type comedy and even very good, very successful stand-up comics are in awe of the ability to do that kind of comedy at that level. I'm not sure what the ratio of written-to-riffed was with Robin Williams and Jonathan Winters, but my understanding is that Don Rickles never wrote anything. He just went out onstage and started talking. He was apparently also like that IRL. Those guys were great, but, if you really look at their sets critically, you quickly notice that the consequence is that a comparatively large percentage of their jokes make zero sense. Robin Williams was a genius and made some genius comedy, but, a lot of times, people were laughing at the rhythm and funny voices more than the actual content of the joke because the joke had no structure and made no sense. That's the trade-off, I guess.
Hey John. I logged in just to give your post a thumbs up.
I had never heard that Rickles never wrote anything.
But, when you see him 'riffing' with Johnny Carson, etc. it makes sense.
You seem to be a bit of a "comedy nerd" like myself.
Have you seen David Steinberg's "Inside Comedy" series,
on Showtime..?
There are some pretty good interviews on it.
Keep laughing.
- Jamie
I see the opportunity for this quote everywhere, and I want to apply it here with respect to your line "The seeming lack of "complication" is a carefully crafted illusion."
The quote I mean is:
"When you do things right,
people won't be sure you've done anything at all."
i dare you,
do bill burr.
i double dare you.
Not much to analyze on that one
Ya bro, love bill, he introduced me to Stanhope! But delivery and writing o don't think there's anybody better than Louie when it comes to that
Nice emphasis
@@proof2008 your comment perfectly demonstrates why Bill is a genius
All the arrogant folks in these comments! "Muh! I already knew that, Nerdwriter! Why are you making a video on something I already know!" *scratches chest* "Muh!"
I would like your comment for being accurate, but with all the monkey sounds and super condescending parroting of their words, you come off as being just as arrogant.
In fact, I think I dislike your comment more than theirs.
Elaxter 84801161
Awww.
Can you do bo burnham next?
I second that, he's a genius
Bo Burnham's comedy is pretty simple: First he makes you laugh. And then he makes you cry.
Leonardo R then cry when you laugh, and vice versa
K1ttenShopping I think Alec Hall posted on a different comment lol.
Mackenzie Anderson fuck off
Next video - How Nerdwriter1 makes a video.
I think this right here would be the most useful kind of information I could receive. ( But he can't give away his secrets )
How Nerdwriter 1 structures a video
Just watch Mister Amazing's 100 000k special, it's basically that
Aaaaaahhhhh Yes
Early 2017 was beautiful
MemoReviews we all lived in a “make believe world” didn’t we?
"How Louis CK takes out his dick in front of ladies"
MemoReviews not really. But I get your point...
@@DiegoRuiz1991 one rung on the zipper of deprivation at a time.
@@DiegoRuiz1991 Jesus thought for a moment and then replied, “He that is without sin among you, let him cast the first stone at her.” The people crowded around him were so touched by their own consciences that they departed. ... She replied, “No man, lord.” Jesus then said, “Neither do I condemn thee: go and sin no more.
To me that deeper societal commentary is what sets Louis CK and this joke apart. He's not just pointing out the ruthlessness of the economy but also that we're complicit in its being the way it is. We start teaching it to our kids at a young age. When he says his daughter isn’t "emotionally developed" yet, what he means is that she is still uncorrupted, innocent. That's the real joke here: On the surface he's acting as the parent who knows better, but he’s really pointing out his own folly-and our folly-that maybe what we think is maturity and wisdom is just that we’ve gotten good at playing a game without questioning its effect on our lives.
Jack Cheng Oh that's something to ponder
foofoodog "Works in bars?" He sells out large arenas and writes/produces/directs several award winning tv series. This guy hasn't only played in bars for a decade.
This comment is cringe incarnate
Jack Cheng and we would be the monopolistic entity with all the power if we could, as shown by our ability to do it so easily in the board game.
Jack Cheng this comment is gold
It's his body language as well, his smirks and gestures and even chuckles add layers to the joke
Voice inflections as well
Gestures yeah..
Like when he lights up and smiles when he says how dark it is. Little nuances like that.
I got the hots for him
@@jblue1622 inflection, rhythm and cadence.
Well that was awesome. Stand up is one of those areas in entertainment that really isn't analyzed much on TH-cam. More!
agree.. a refreshing piece of content indeed
Could you do one like this for Dave Chappelle?
This is 7 minutes of explaining nothing...
No it's not. Did you watch the video?
Didn't pass third grade pal?
I Love Secular Talk It's more of a long video explaining what we already know. Just spilled out.
yes, and the William Shatner delivery doesn't help either.
It's not that it's nothing - it's just that the explanation isn't unique to Louis CK and be generally applied to a swathe of comedians.
Louis CK is one of the greatest comedians of our time. He's honestly my personal favorite comedian. His comedy just resonates with me so much. I have the exact same dark, fucked up, depressing sense of humor.
You should watch bo burnham he has a free show on youtube and one on netflix you can watch
My absolute favorite joke is his jizzanthapous. It's just so perfect.
*jizz-on-the-puss
Lucio Laurini I'm calling the cops hahahah
I'd love to see some analysis on John Mulaney! Great video!
How Amy Schumer steals jokes
I think you rely too much on
dramatic pauses
Hooooly shit, I even read it in his voice 😂😂😂😂
So fucking annoying isn't it, I struggle to finish these videos because of it
👏👏👏
Is it bad that I don't find him remotely funny?
Sprango it's bad that you don't have the smarts to understand humor is subjective
I said I don't find him funny. Not that he isn't funny, but I personally didn't find him funny. That's expressing an opinion.
tf is a nu-male?
nobody cares? whats the point of sharing your opinion? so someone doesnt find him funny. so what?
i t w a s a j o k e
Genious
Gênio, em português
Legal, você também curte o Nerdwriter!
i am smart smrt
Genius
olha aí
Fun fact: Monopoly was actually created as a satirical critique of capitalism.
And then stolen by a capitalist. shocker.
Communism doesnt get a board game, just gulags.
@@dublplus3332 let’s get together and make a communist board game. first person to take over the system wins.
that fact was indeed very fun
thanks random person i'll never see again
@@dublplus3332
Who said anything about communism?
I'm Captain... James Tiberius Kirk... and today... we will be looking... at what a Louis C... K joke is.
Luis C.K. has a great talent for setting the mood for the joke.
He is also good at turning around very offensive jokes.
We can be very glad that Luis C.K. became a comedian and makes us all happy
"like great poetry, stand up is language distilled to its most potent form"
Language distilled to its most potent form:
"I think getting an abortion is exactly like taking a shit." -- Louis CK.
Euphemism that is taking it out of content thought
Do Bill Burr next
It's a good video!
Louis CK is a genius and I knew that but I have never seen it explained so scientifically before. I really appreciate this video. Thank you.
The analysis isn't scientific (no data or empiricism) but it is methodical/meticulous.
He is foul and disgusting.
@@MrPabloingles still a genius
This if fucking amazing. Thank you for the in-depth breakdown of a legend at work.
I, myself have always been a fan of comedy but recently, I've decided I'd like to perform on stage one day and writing jokes is a topic I'm COMPLETELY lost on. Personally, I like to gather as much information as I can on a subject (typically in book form) before I apply myself to a new craft.
Can you recommend any great comedy writing books or any other great sources (tutorials, videos, etc.) to help me get started writing stand-up comedy?
Thank you again!
F. Jacob Alvarado great comment! And you articulate my exact sentiments. Ive recently been feeling the itch to try to perform one day but have zero idea about constructing something solid. Ive simply been trying to take notes on items I find funny and hope to one day make them stories or jokes or one liners or anything that works really! And now I'm learning about the premise/ punch line concept which I guess I inherently knew but didn't call it that. Anyways, glad to hear someone is on a similar trail. Thanks for commenting!
F. Jacob Alvarado if I were you I'd just try to observe different stand ups and sort of figure out what methods work and which ones don't. Look out for a variety of comedians and their shows, look up their ratings and reviews from critics, figure out which ones are your personal favorites, the funniest, the ones that inspire you the most. Learn their style(s) and incorporate it with how YOU want your style to be, then experiment on your own with family, co-workers, friends, acquaintances, even strangers to get an honest reaction. I don't think you can learn to tell decent jokes just by reading a how-to book, just observe, figure out, and practice.
Brilliant!! Gotta love your videos s2
I gave the 2nd one
Bilal Piano Tutorial oh, thanks guys!!
Not sure why so many negative comments. I loved the analysis.
Do the Bollywood movie Gangs of Wasseypur plz.
I think you mean the Hollywood movie; Gangs of New York.
I understand english is your second language, Pajeet and I forgive you.
No, I don't mean Gangs of New york. That was not as good a movie as Gangs of Wasseypur you should watch it. And i do know English. Jesus was not black BTW but I forgive you.
Stfu about wasseypur. Its a mediocre rip off of Goodfellas and The Godfather.
Sahil Paul Many of the legendary Hollywood movies are mediocre but you're so shoved in Hollywood's ass that you think that everything Hollywood is good and all others are rip offs. Taxi driver, Scarface etc are mediocre movies not GOW. GOW's narrative style is borrowed from City of god and Goodfellas and there is nothing wrong with it , many hollywood directors borrow narrative styles of other movies for their movie.
Paras Benal I never said everything in Hollywood is great. Stop assuming facts about others, when making an argument coz it is plainly retarded.
I like my humour dark, like my slaves.
Miss this dude.
He died?
For some reason I can't really get into Louis CK. Idk why, but I feel like something is missing.
his missing the whole, being funny part, yeah he's not f#cking funny at all
Matthijs de Jong I agree. To me he is clever and interesting to listen to but he never gets me busting out laughing the way Bill Burr does. In my unpopular opinion, Louis C.K. is like The Beatles of comedy: I appreciate his work and contribution to the form more than I actually enjoy it.
Yep, this was a brilliant bit.. like 99% of Louis's bits..
can you do a video on radiohead
Hey another Nerd writer video on Louis, AWSOME!!!
Oh man I love Louis CK, guy is a master in his craft
Talking about comedy is like dissecting a frog, no-one laughs, and the frog dies.
I laugh
"Comedy is poetry..." really opened my eyes. Thank you!
Louis CK is my least favourite comedian.
Yeah he's not for average iq people.
Ah yes, the answer to a question no one asked. Thanks, dipshit.
Any updates on Louie? Besides that video with the horse laughing guy in the back posted about months ago? I truly do miss this guy as if he were a friend. It seems as if he can write and deliver a joke in an intellectually stimulating capacity like no other. Humor is like therapy for me---so I am asking, who is on this level of Louie C.K who isn't banned from the media that I can go to? Most comedians just don't compare...
Martine tizzy fit? What he did to those women was sickening. He needs to be locked up and put away for good.
Science is a great tool to explain art but not create it.
Would you PLEASE analyse Gervais comedy? Specially when he does live appearances/stand up, even tho it's mostly about what he says, it's pretty physical too, using the interaction with audience in a masterful way.
great video, you've earned yourself a sub!
Louie is the GOAT. Fuck all these kids who are acting like grandparents all of a sudden. YOU'RE THE MAN LOUIE
I love when you do Louis CK videos. I'm British, most of my favourite comedians are British, but Louis CK is hands down the best comedian in the world. And only you can break it down and illustrate precisely why that is! Love it!
Remember that one time when people didn't knew the difference between sexual misconduct and sexual assault.
onee yeah and it doesn’t even constitute sexual misconduct what he did, specially since he asked (*ehem* consent) to do what he did and they accepted (*ehem* consent). I’m glad the Me Too movement happened, it was needed, but Louie was one of the only cases where I felt things went straight stupid.
@@oranginator the whole thing is just a bit murky.
HAhahahahaha jesus christ
"It was only misconduct! What's the problem?"
@@oranginatorAs soon as you said *ehem* I thought of Rick Sanchez.
Cash Nelson we understand it’s a problem, but things can’t be so finely defined by absolutes, there are degrees of injustice, and Louie is an examplen of it
Greetings from Spain!!
Just saw him last night in Toronto. He is absolutely INCREDIBLE at providing context, very economically. His choice of words is always impeccable and he's a pro at making it genuinely seem like everything is off the cuff. Love him!
Still love him?
CumberCube fuck yeah.
Dr. Riq cmon man
He's a rapist
Ck is definitely a rapist. He fully admitted to being a twisted sexual deviant. He should be rotting is a prison cell for the rest of his life but his white male privilege got him out of trouble. Sad.
He says "and you didn't get to win" when describing a Candy Land loss, that's also carefully chosen.
I miss Louis CK
He's still around lol
@@erikl9842 Sort of :-( Really hoping folks in charge of getting him back on stage, on TV, etc. (or maybe, more importantly, he himself?) forgives the dude and we can get on with the show!
@@voicetube I'd be fine with this, if he was willing to be forgiven. His more recent behavior suggests he isn't, so fuck 'em.
@@erikl9842 what do you mean? he died tragically in that masturbation incident
good riddance
I find Louis CK smart but not funny.
you're a bloody heretic!
pls don't burn me
I am a pretty big Louis fan, but I do think you have to be a specific kind of person to find him "funny". No denying his intelligence, but his actual humor is often rooted in laughing at the fact that life kills you, slowly. Like the story about a conversation between him and his daughter. She asks about the Earth rotating around the Sun and if it always will. He says, "Well no, eventually it's going to blow up" and she freaks out and hes like "Oh no, this won't happen until you and everyone you know have been dead for a very long time". He then goes on to explain how she knew none of these things (her and everyone she knows will die, they'll be dead for a very long time, and then the sun will explode) and now suddenly she knows all of these things, told to her in about a 12 second time period. Innocence begins to die when you learn about your own mortality, and finding the humor in that, you can find the humor in anything and use that humor as a coping mechanism. Or, maybe I'm just a fucked up individual, could kinda go either way in full honesty lol.
I agree with 50% of your statement
i think you are spot on and i find him hilarious. his jokes are chock full of content, even when he would pretend to masturbate a cat.
Who the living fuck gives this a thumbs down ! People who think Dane Cook is a genius I guess ?
I love how he can talk about social issues in such a way that you don't realise you're talking about it
New stand-up comic year (been at it for about 3 years). Peeps still learning from this video 5 years later :)
the greatest joke ck louis told was saying he supported Hillary Clinton
Does anyone else just automatically click on any video with Louis CK in the title?
BigFatCock not really
BigFatCock i just automatically click on nerdwriter
Too many videos to click. You'd be here forever.
It depends on if there are any videos with asses or boobies in the thumbnail... Otherwise, Louis CK is my third choice for auto-clicking! :D
In summary, it goes:
1. asses
2. boobies
3. Louis CK
4. 1000 Degree Knife
BigFatCock Yes! ...Not to your username, Yes to your comment.
rip
Brought by the Nerd. Glad i came!
Hellooooo procrastinators
I'm in love with your way of analysing what is not meant to be analysed, it is so fascinating.
How Amy Schumer tells joke: *memorizes this video
Classiest, most intriguing, video I've seen in a while. Favorite TH-cam right now. Keep it real NerdWriter1
I'd love to see a video like this done about an Amy Schumer joke. How does one masterfully talk about their vagina?
oh man, i really llke your channel and this is my favorite video by far, i'd love it if you could make another video decostructing comedy
The master. I love Louie. He will be sorely missed.
Steve Broggie missed? What happened to him
The accusations of sexual misconduct that he 'fessed up to. He'll be be out of the scene for a while.
he’s back. and he’s still pissing off the usual snowflakes.
Comedy genius, and you just described why exactly! great content!
This would be great way to explain the importance of a conductor in an orchestra...
What great respect you have for thee greatest comic alive
I'm in love with all of your essays (great voice too btw). Thanks for putting so much work into this channel and sharing it with us!
*Please make a video on Bill Burr man pls.*
I love it when other people see what I see / appreciate in my favourite people. 😊👏😀
Thank you Nerdwriter1
Well said.
This breakdown was magic. Thank you. I'm writing a comedy web series, and this just changed my life.
Louis is by far one of the, if not THE master comedian in the circuit nowadays. Excellent breakdown.
Yes, he's amazing! ❤
Thank you so much for explinig why do we find him a genius! ☺❤
The comments are acting like him doing whatever makes this joke not funny
This is what makes Louis special. He can get so much mileage out of a simple joke. Retelling one of his jokes almost never does justice to his oratory skills.