@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.
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.
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
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."
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.
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.
@@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.
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.
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...
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.
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 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!
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
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.
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.
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
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.
It didn't just come naturally to him. Louis C.K. himself has talked about how hard he worked to develop his comedy. It took him fifteen years to figure out how to carefully craft his jokes and find his voice. There's natural talent there but talent means nothing without immensely hard work; you have to learn and practice your technique before it becomes second nature, which is what Louis did. Watch his tribute to George Carlin and his conversation with Jerry Seinfeld, Chris Rock, and Ricky Gervais. Nerdwriter was pretty on point in this video.
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 RUclips). 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."
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.
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.
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.
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...
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.
Great video, thank you! Your thoughts speak volumes about how great stand-up comedians are also brilliant writers, and even beyond that, masters of the language and expression. I'm in awe of people such as Louis C.K., Billy Conolly, George Carlin, Eddie Izzard and Diance spencer, and it has taken me a long time to understand the reasons why that is. Sure it's obviously that I like their humor, but I think your point about their ability to express ideas through comedy, and at best to get us thinking about those ideas, is a big part of the appeal. At least I can relate to that thought.
I love how even as he described the tactical process of the joke I still found myself laughing at it, despite the fact that I knew all of the "tricks" involved. It's a true testament to Louis CK's abilities.
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.
The first thing I ever noticed about his comedy is how smoothly he transitions into each topic, even though they have nearly nothing in common, yet it feels so fluid.
@@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!
brazilians think they're special on the internet like they've overcome some sort of challenge to find the content huehue look at me I just learned how to use google huehuehue (belgian who lives in brazil and absolutely despises it here)
Usually when people explain a joke, it takes the fun out of it, but even when you start dissecting the joke the punch line still works, Louis CK is fucking brilliant.
i just discovered this channel, subbed after one video (which i never do) and its already onw of my favourite channels. thank you for this quality content .
I had recently just got hired to do a standup routine at this fundraising event, and I've always loved Louis CK's style of comedy, so this video helped reassure me that I wasn't over analyzing comedy.
Louis CK is a brilliant comedian and my fav stand up comic of all time. The way he crafts stories and his awesome punch lines are just so masterfully handled. As a writer, it's inspiring. :)
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
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
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 ?
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.
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 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
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?
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.
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.
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.
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
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.
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.
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?
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.
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.
Next video: Why RUclips 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.
Well that was awesome. Stand up is one of those areas in entertainment that really isn't analyzed much on RUclips. More!
agree.. a refreshing piece of content indeed
"like great poetry, stand up is language distilled to its most potent form"
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
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
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
I'm in love with your way of analysing what is not meant to be analysed, it is so fascinating.
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!
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
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
"Comedy is poetry..." really opened my eyes. Thank you!
My absolute favorite joke is his jizzanthapous. It's just so perfect.
*jizz-on-the-puss
Lucio Laurini I'm calling the cops hahahah
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
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.
Classiest, most intriguing, video I've seen in a while. Favorite RUclips right now. Keep it real NerdWriter1
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
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
Could you do one like this for Dave Chappelle?
Genious
Gênio, em português
Legal, você também curte o Nerdwriter!
i am smart smrt
Genius
olha aí
Do Bill Burr next
It's a good video!
Oh man I love Louis CK, guy is a master in his craft
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
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!
Not sure why so many negative comments. I loved the analysis.
Talking about comedy is like dissecting a frog, no-one laughs, and the frog dies.
I laugh
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
This is my favourite comedian!!! This is a brilliant analysis
I'd love to see some analysis on John Mulaney! Great video!
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
Hey another Nerd writer video on Louis, AWSOME!!!
Brilliant!! Gotta love your videos s2
I gave the 2nd one
Bilal Piano Tutorial oh, thanks guys!!
damn you are overthinking this
4 rl
Are you dumb, or do you not realize how jokes are constructed.
+Hajile I'm dumb
you mean stand up jokes.. i don't think he planned like this guy is showing us.. it;s just comes natural to him
It didn't just come naturally to him. Louis C.K. himself has talked about how hard he worked to develop his comedy. It took him fifteen years to figure out how to carefully craft his jokes and find his voice. There's natural talent there but talent means nothing without immensely hard work; you have to learn and practice your technique before it becomes second nature, which is what Louis did. Watch his tribute to George Carlin and his conversation with Jerry Seinfeld, Chris Rock, and Ricky Gervais. Nerdwriter was pretty on point in this video.
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 RUclips). 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."
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.
LOVE THE ANALYSIS!!! absolutely amazing!! ❤
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.
This breakdown was magic. Thank you. I'm writing a comedy web series, and this just changed my life.
Miss this dude.
He died?
Well put with the "Anticipatory joke" thing. Norm MacDonald and Louis CK are the kings of this.
He says "and you didn't get to win" when describing a Candy Land loss, that's also carefully chosen.
How Amy Schumer steals jokes
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.
I love how he put the background music that has the same tempo as Louis CK's comedy! EPIC!
Looking at these comments, I'm beginning to think NerdWriter's content is too smart for RUclips.
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.
great video, you've earned yourself a sub!
New stand-up comic year (been at it for about 3 years). Peeps still learning from this video 5 years later :)
I love how you bring your content to a beautiful end. It enhances the flavour to another level.
Louis is by far one of the, if not THE master comedian in the circuit nowadays. Excellent breakdown.
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
I love how he can talk about social issues in such a way that you don't realise you're talking about it
Great video! CK and Carlin are two of the best at using their words carefully to showcase the power of vocabulary.
Comedy genius, and you just described why exactly! great content!
Perfect analysis. I wish Louis would hurry up and get back on tour so I can see him in person finally.
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.
great job. comedic delivery is an amazing thing and clearly is lost on some people. they're missing out.
I love it when other people see what I see / appreciate in my favourite people. 😊👏😀
Thank you Nerdwriter1
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
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.
Great video, thank you!
Your thoughts speak volumes about how great stand-up comedians are also brilliant writers, and even beyond that, masters of the language and expression.
I'm in awe of people such as Louis C.K., Billy Conolly, George Carlin, Eddie Izzard and Diance spencer, and it has taken me a long time to understand the reasons why that is.
Sure it's obviously that I like their humor, but I think your point about their ability to express ideas through comedy, and at best to get us thinking about those ideas, is a big part of the appeal. At least I can relate to that thought.
amazing. so glad other people appreciate him just as much as i do.
Yes, he's amazing! ❤
Thank you so much for explinig why do we find him a genius! ☺❤
I love how even as he described the tactical process of the joke I still found myself laughing at it, despite the fact that I knew all of the "tricks" involved. It's a true testament to Louis CK's abilities.
Stellar breakdown why CK and other greats are masters of their craft. It requires drafting, work, pause, practice, editing etc.
I'm Captain... James Tiberius Kirk... and today... we will be looking... at what a Louis C... K joke is.
Greetings from Spain!!
This would be great way to explain the importance of a conductor in an orchestra...
He's simply brilliant. Love you, Louis
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.
And this is why Louis C. K. is my favorite comedian. Thank you Louis.
exactly. mine too.
Happy you havn't taken this down
This video has nothing to do with him as a person. So there is literally no reason to.
The first thing I ever noticed about his comedy is how smoothly he transitions into each topic, even though they have nearly nothing in common, yet it feels so fluid.
Brought by the Nerd. Glad i came!
Hellooooo procrastinators
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 love C.K and i love nerdwriter = ) (Brazil here)
Robert Kifer who cares where we are from
Yay we're from the internet WELCOME!
brazilians think they're special on the internet like they've overcome some sort of challenge to find the content
huehue look at me I just learned how to use google huehuehue
(belgian who lives in brazil and absolutely despises it here)
oh shit, im just telling him and sending love from other countries. You're insane.
Anders Fjerstad Shut up dumb bitch, if you don't like it leave
Usually when people explain a joke, it takes the fun out of it, but even when you start dissecting the joke the punch line still works, Louis CK is fucking brilliant.
How Amy Schumer tells joke: *memorizes this video
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
👏👏👏
Louis CK is one of the best comics of our generation. Love the guy..
i just discovered this channel, subbed after one video (which i never do) and its already onw of my favourite channels. thank you for this quality content .
*Please make a video on Bill Burr man pls.*
Louie is the GOAT. Fuck all these kids who are acting like grandparents all of a sudden. YOU'RE THE MAN LOUIE
I had recently just got hired to do a standup routine at this fundraising event, and I've always loved Louis CK's style of comedy, so this video helped reassure me that I wasn't over analyzing comedy.
Louis CK is a brilliant comedian and my fav stand up comic of all time. The way he crafts stories and his awesome punch lines are just so masterfully handled. As a writer, it's inspiring. :)