Comedy Writing for Late-Night TV: How to Write Monologue Jokes, Desk Pieces, Sketches, Parodies, Audience Pieces, Remotes, and Other Short-Form Comedy

by Joe Toplyn

He has written and produced comedy/talk shows for over fifteen years. Now four-time Emmy winner Joe Toplyn reveals his proven methods of writing for late-night television in this one-of-a-kind insider’s guide. Toplyn analyzes each type of comedy piece in the late-night TV playbook and takes you step-by-step through the process of writing it. His detailed tips, techniques, and rules • 6 characteristics every good monologue joke topic must have • 6 specific ways to generate punch lines • 12 tools for making your jokes their funniest • 7 types of desk pieces and how to create them • 9 steps to writing parodies and other sketches • How to go after a writing job in late night • PLUS a complete sample comedy/talk show submission packet Also use this comprehensive manual to write short-form comedy for the Internet, sketch shows, magazines, reality shows, radio, advertising, and any other medium.

Genres: Comedy, Writing, Humor, Nonfiction, Business, Stand Up, Tv

444 pages, Paperback

First published May 5, 2014

Reviews

[Kevin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hands down the most useful comedy writing book I've ever read. The fact that I actually finished it instead of throwing it against the wall speaks volumes.

[Fernando Suarezserna · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've read a few books on comedy, plus a couple masterclasses and courses, and this book is BY FAR the best thing I've found to learn the nuts and bolts of comedy.

A professional standup comedian recommended me this book. Reading it felt like finding the cheat codes to writing comedy, regardless if you're writing for TV, digital media, standup, or even to get a laugh at a speaking gig.

I googled the author -who, by the way, won 4 Emmys as a head writer of David Letterman- because I was astonished by his methodic approach to comedy. Perhaps not surprisingly, his academic formation began as an Engineer in Applied Physics.

I'm well aware that some of our best jokes -and ideas- come to us as pure inspiration, without planning them. But if you're a professional (or aspiring to be one), you cannot rely on lightning bolts of inspiration to strike, you need tools and methods to offer consistent quality in your writing.

5/5, life changing book.

[Nicholas Ball · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good breakdown of the different types of comedy used in tonight shows and writing tuition on each. Complete with instructions on how to get hired onto writing teams and the like it's essential reading for anyone who wants to work on a collaborative team in the industry, though the book is also excellent guidance on how to generate topical short form comedy in general.

[Jason Peters · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent book on how to approach writing jokes and pieces for late-night format. Be aware that as it's namesake implies, the book is targeted towards the specifics of comedy as it applies to the late-night talk show format, so while there are some general tools that you can use and apply towards other styles of comedy, it's really catered towards topical jokes, as are typically heard on the late-night programs.

[Nicole Conlan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm always very hesitant about how-to comedy books, but this one is VERY good and helpful. It breaks the style of late-night writing down to its mechanics, so you can do it automatically without feeling "inspired" - which makes sense when you have to churn out an hour long show every single day. It's also nice to see someone writing this books who has actual legitimate credits in the world of what he's writing, instead of a failed screenwriting writing a book about screenwriting.

[Dan Richter · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ein praktisches Handbuch, wie man es sich nur wünschen kann.
Vom Finden des Themas über den Aufbau der Gags bis zum Polieren.
So funktionieren Conan O'Brien, Letterman, Leno usw.
Und eben auch für Nicht-Late-Night-Autoren ein wunderbarer Handwerkskoffer.

[Xchel · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the best books on comedy writing. No shit.

[Maarten Vissers · Rating 4 out of 5]

Een sterk en heel praktisch boek over het schrijven van comedy bij een late-night comedy televisie. Geen enkel ander boek gaat zo diep in op verschillende schrijftechnieken. Het boek is zo opgesteld dat iedere soort programma rubriek stap-voor-stap uitgelegd, incl. redenen waarom sommige het programma die vorm gekregen heeft. Het nadeel van deze opzet is dat - als je het boek in een keer wilt uitlezen - je gek wordt van alle herhaling. Daarnaast is er maar één late-night comedy progamma in Nederland: De Avondshow met Lubach. Veel van de technieken zijn breder toepasbaar, een aantal zijn daarentegen zo specifiek dat je ze nooit gaat gebruiken als je niet voor dat programma werkt.

[Paul · Rating 4 out of 5]

A well-organized breakdown on how to write comedy in a formulaic way. While the formula can seem bland and uncreative, this book serves as a great jumping off point. The author gives non-abstract and helpful tips to start thinking of ideas. Most of the actual jokes that serve as examples in this book are not all that funny, but the process is the same no matter the result.

MS: Toplyn gives a brief evolutionary history of why humans find things funny. Either we are positively disarmed by the surprise element of the punchline, or we feel superior than the idiots being mocked.

[Mark Speed · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an extremely well-written and well-thought-out manual on how to write comedy for late-night TV (and for other markets, IMHO). The author has taken the time to break everything down into a step-by-step process. Zero waffle. Brilliant. Essential reading for anyone wanting to write topical comedy for TV and radio.

[Diego Mazacotte · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the best comedy writing books I had ever read. Direct and clear, it really teaches you how to write for this kind of short comedy pieces, is not like other books about writing that just mumbles about the philosophy of writing and stuff; really practical.

[Revfry · Rating 5 out of 5]

Enjoyable insight into comedy writing for late night. Now if only I was writing because of it.

[Kate Ly Johnston · Rating 5 out of 5]

A class reading I actually got a lot out of. Good examples.

[Jami · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very thorough!

[Natthan Coelho · Rating 5 out of 5]

A masterpiece for comedy writers! So many good insights, thanks mr. Joe!

[Lizzie Buehler · Rating 4 out of 5]

very informative! i learned a lot about a topic i knew nothing about.

[James Fagan · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great how to on this mysterious form. It’s incredibly accurate to the process on one of these shows. Sadly a bit dated now as well, which probably belies how the form is sunsetting.

[Zeco · Rating 5 out of 5]

this was good

[Nick · Rating 5 out of 5]

EASILY THE BEST BOOK OF 2015. I'VE LEARNED EVERYTHING I NEEDED TO LEARN ABOUT SUBMITTING TO COMEDY LATE NIGHT TV. MY ONLY QUESTION : IS A COLLEGE DEGREE NECESSARY WITH AN IMPECCABLE SUBMISSION PACKET ?

[Bryce Druzin · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm a standup but still found this book super helpful.

- Straightforward writing with real examples
- Super practical advice, you can take the techniques he uses to write late-night monologues and immediately apply them to writing and editing your jokes.