“Only those who will risk going too far can possibly find out how far one can go.”
The performance is unprecedented in Hong Kong: an English stand-up comedy in a total of 5 shows capturing 35,000 audience in one of the largest stadiums in Hong Kong. The popular and successful comedian is Jimmy O Yang (歐陽萬成) who was born in Hong Kong and moved to live in America with his parents after completing junior high school. He is not handsome, small-built and sightly plump. But, his face is cute and he got monolid eyes. Some ladies love him to death.
Yang graduated from university with a degree in economics in 2009. He did not like financial consulting work and started his funny shows in comedy clubs. He later signed up for some acting classes. Now, Yang starred in movies, TV dramas, and wrote books. He continued doing stand-up comedies in USA. His latest TV murder drama Interior Chinatown (內景唐人街) made him super famous .
When watching a performance, I enjoy analysis. Observations more than being sheerly entertained can help me understand the ways to crack jokes for a stand-up comedy. We can learn from Jimmy O Yang. A good sense of humour is an essential skill when we have to handle social activities such as giving a speech or holding a banquet.
To sum up, Jimmy can make you laugh with the following techniques:
- self-deprecating: a positive trait that can foster approachability and humility.
- mocking others: it may mean bullying, but if the audience dislike the subject person, they will find joy.
- politics: when politics is the topic, laughter might be the best medicine and emotional redress which can be used to address the anger caused by the wrongdoings of a politician or government.
- absurdity: it is funny when something ridiculous happens. It will result in a staple of being amazed and amused.
- unexpectedness: as we do not expect something to happen and our expectations are turned upside down by what we hear, the comicality of the unexpected situation will make us laugh.
- a saying with the latter-part suspended: for example, Jimmy threw a pack of facial tissue at the audience and people clamoured for it. He suddenly said, “Sorry, this pack of tissue paper is not for free!”
- celebrity: it is really puzzling why when the life of a celebrity is referred to, people tend to laugh. I really do not understand the psychology in such reactions.
- money: money is the concern of everyday life. This is why people can easily feel excited and guffaw at any remark about money.
- recognition: if something is agreed to, the audience express their recognition by clapping hands and chortling.
- cultural difference: audience like to cackle when people or things are culturally different, and the laughter is often associated with disapproval. This explains why some jeer at another race or even LGBTQ.
- dirty words: research said people enjoy listening to dirty words or talking because it activates all regions of their brain while their body is also getting stimulated.
For many people, the funnier the talk, the better the “orgasm” they will get. A great stand-up comedian plays right into their heart. Talk is powerful and so we have love talk, dirty talk, erotic talk and finally naughty talk. Stand-up comedy is a kind of naughty talk. Coupled with humour which is high-class or profanity which is low-class, the successful comedies, like those of Jimmy O yang, will mix and create the happy air in our lungs. We wish Jimmy would soon have the balls to do stand-up comedy in Mandarin in the Chinese Mainland.
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