Today is the birthday of the late Bob Hope, who died a few years ago at the age of 100. Bob Hope said, “I don’t feel old – I don’t feel anything until noon. Then it’s time for my nap.”
Hope was the master of the one-liner and he was funny. He understood that humor requires speed. The best jokes come quickly with little build-up.
I once took a class in stand-up comedy from Atlanta comedian Jeff Justice. He taught us that great jokes have a very short buildup and a quick punch.
He made the point that the audience shouldn’t have to invest too much time in the joke. A quick buildup and payoff works best.
