Hack (comedy)

Hack is a term used primarily in stand-up comedy, but also sketch comedy, improv comedy, and comedy writing to refer to a joke or premise for a joke that is considered obvious and/or has been frequently used by comedians in the past, particularly by unskilled ones. Alternatively, it may refer to a comedian or performance group that uses hack material or similarly trite devices in their act. Since comedians and people who work with comedians are typically exposed to many more jokes than the general public, they may recognize a topic, joke or performer as hack before the general public does; as a result, even performers who do well on stage may be considered hacks by their peers.

Exceptions

Occasionally a performer will be one of the first to develop a joke about a specific topic, and later on others will follow suit to excess. This renders the topic "hack" to new performers, but is not considered a detriment to the originator of the material.

Commonly cited examples of hack joke topics in stand-up comedy

*Viagra, especially in regard to erections lasting longer than 4 hours.
*Airplane Food.
*Wearing Comical Clothing.
*Prop Comedy.
*The Comedian's Personal Appearance, including;
**The comedian's resemblance to the probable offspring of an unlikely celebrity coupling, such as Chewbacca and Estelle Getty
**An overweight entertainer beginning his act with threats to use his tremendous girth or proposed outsized hunger as a weapon against audience members.
**Jokes about being bald.
*Masturbation, specifically offering a number of slang terms for the act in rapid succession.
*Michael Jackson
*Outdated topical humor, such as a joke about Lorena Bobbit or the Macarena.
*Ethnic taxi drivers.
*Hurricane names.
*Terror alert codes.
*Impressions
**Presidents.
**Arnold Schwarzenegger.
**Christopher Walken.
**Michael Jackson.
**Using racial slurs.
**Racial Minorities, especially Asian, Indian, Black and Latino.
**Ethnic Minorities, especially Italian or Jewish.
**The Comedian's own Mother or Father.
*Differences Between Groups of People.
**Men vs. Women / Boys vs. Girls.
**Black People vs. White People vs. Latinos vs. Asians.
**Homosexuals vs. Heterosexuals
*Invading Canada.
*Jokes about the differences between Los Angeles or New York and another place in America.
*Jokes about being part one race and part another, and halfway embodying stereotypical characteristics of each.

Common examples of hack punchlines

*The "Mom Switcheroo:" When a character in a risque story involving the comedian is revealed through the sentence "So I said, Mom--" to be the comedian's mother.
*Overweight comics saying "I'll move the mic stand so you can see me."
*"The only way you would have a funny bone in your body is if I was having sex with you." (and variations)
*Puns involving Michael Jackson "Getting Off" with regard to the children involved in molestation scandals
*"I don't go to where you work and tell you the whoppers don't taste good" (and variations)
*"One in three people is (ugly/annoying/etc)...so if the person to your left isn't and the person to your right isn't, it's you." (and variations)
*I'm going to beat my dick like it owes me money

ources

* cite book
last = Carter
first = Judy
authorlink = Judy Carter
title = The Comedy Bible: From Stand-up to Sitcom--The Comedy Writer's Ultimate How-To Guide
publisher = Fireside
date = 2001
isbn = 0-7432-0125-6
* cite web
last = Rosenthal
first = Steven
authorlink = Steven Rosenthal
title = Hack FAQ: The Complete Guide to Hack Stand-Up Comedy
date = Wed, 16 Dec 1998 18:40:33 GMT
url = http://www.faqs.org/faqs/comedy-faq/hack/
accessdate = 2007-02-16
* cite web
last = Silberberg
first = Steve
authorlink = Steve Silberberg
title = Black Hack FAQ: The Complete Guide to Black Hack Stand-Up Comedy
date = Mon, 17 Feb 97 04:00:43 GMT
url = http://www.faqs.org/faqs/comedy-faq/black/
accessdate = 2007-02-16
* cite web
last = Lange
first = Artie
authorlink = Artie Lange
title = The Howard Stern Radio Show
date = Thu, 21 June 2007
url = http://www.howardstern.com/rundown.hs?month=June&day=21&year=2007&x=39&y=11
accessdate = 2007-06-21