The Cheeky Monkey: writing narrative comedy

by Tim Ferguson

From one of Australia's most successful comedians comes "The Cheeky Monkey", a practitioner's guide to the art of comedy writing. Both insightful and practical, "The Cheeky Monkey" explains the principles of sitcom writing and guides the reader in how to apply them. Seeded with exercises to aid the developing comedy writer, this book will help you Write jokes; Create funny stories; Build comic characters; Develop a sitcom; Sell your sitcom to producers and TV networks. Many of Tim's techniques can also be applied to film, stage, stand-up or indeed any form of comedy. You will make 'em laugh before you know it.

Genres: Nonfiction, Writing, Comedy, Humor

217 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2010

About the author

Timothy "Tim" Dorcen Langbene Ferguson is an Australian comedian, television presenter, game show host and writer.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tim_Fer...

Librarian Note:
There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.

Reviews

[James Loftus · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've been to comedy bootcamp with Tim Ferguson. After doing his comedy bootcamp where you get out of bed at 4am, do 50 jokes whilst rubbing the sleep out of your eyes and having, FERGUSON, that bastard, in your face telling you to be funnier and telling you you've got twenty more jokes to do before practising comedic routines whilst holding a rifle above your head and in your underpants.

Tim, you're a sick bastard ... the twenty page marathon route reads over all kinds of difficult comedic terrain, when I fell down and said I can't go any further you organised for the other aspiring comedians to beat me, at 3am in the morning, with bars of soap wrapped in socks.

Tim's principle is easy, Be Funny or Die. The audience hates you and you must attempt to kill them with stomach splitting jokes. At the end of the course we had the right to call ourselves not commandos but comedic-os, tougher, funnier, don't mess with us, we'll tell a joke which will explode your insides.

In all honesty, Tim's Cheeky Monkey is one of those well-written, thought provoking books you'll read and then read again understanding the psychology of comedy and its history.

[Lani Watt · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've been an admirer of Tim and his work since I was young, and his books haven't disappointed. After reading this, I was lucky enough to have been able to taken part in a Comedy Writing Masterclass with Tim and constantly find myself referring to his advice, tips and tricks of the trade in my own writing. Fantastic book from a very funny man worthy of penning it! Thanks, Tim - loved it!

[Henry Sheppard · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing. A solid textbook of comedy techniques, with illustrations. Everything from writing a gag to creating a sit-com. Written from experience. No padding. The result left me feeling overwhelmed and knowing I have to read this one again.

[Joshua Harrison · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good starting point for writers with an honest respect for the craft. Inspired me to write for 8 hours last night so if anything it's a good motivator

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

So far this is the most useful and lucid book on comedy-writing. Definitely warrants a re-read.

[Michelle Ham · Rating 4 out of 5]

Book 7.
4 stars.

Although this is mostly aimed at sitcom writers, I found it fascinating. As a novelist who likes to include humour in my work, I believe it could be a useful tool. I'm naturally amusing (in my humble opinion) but I love to learn about the mechanics of humour; what makes us laugh and why. I love any good book that teaches me something new about writing too.
I've gone through with a highlighter and marked all the jokes/gags/situations that made me laugh so that I might tweak them to use in my own work.
A lot of the shows referenced are dated - this is not a bad thing, as I do love the classics, but it would benefit from the addition of some quality newer sitcoms too (Scrubs, Community, The IT Crowd, A Moody Christmas are just a few that spring to mind). I'd love to read more about the art of comedy but I think this info is pretty rare - I'll have to do my research!

[John Wreford · Rating 5 out of 5]

I will never look at comedy the same way again - illuminating the role of surprise

[Belinda Rule]

Ok, I only got through the introduction and midway through chapter 1 before abandoning. Voice is oddly joyless and bombastic. I used to enjoy Ferguson's comedy. This book, so far, is an eldritch horror of bizarre, dated sexism cribbed from a 1982 Readers Digest article about What Women Want written by a really old dude with a leathery tan and acid-wash camel toe. Many example jokes about how everyone is heterosexual and married and aren't wives nags. After all, it's not like being the designated servant class in society would make a reasonable person mad.

I never got to the part that is actually about narrative comedy? Will maybe try again another time, once my urge to reach through the fabric of time and space to punch Ferguson in the face has dissipated.

Did not give it a star rating as I have decided to stop rating things I didn't finish. But it would be lowwwwwwwwwww. Would definitely not recommend the introduction, in particular, to anyone with comorbidities of feminist/poststructuralist education and high blood pressure.