Is There A Best Comedy Topic? If so, where Can I Find It?

There's a pretty good chance that you've landed on this page in search of the best comedy topics - for a speech, presentation, or a stand-up comedy routine.

Note: The mechanics of generating laughter in a casual conversation, a speech, or a stand-up routine are the same - only the content structure is different.

Alright, let's get to the point.

Is there such a thing as the best comedy topic?

It might surprise you...

The question is actually too broad to answer accurately or intelligently.

Here are some better questions about comedy topics.

Here are some better questions to help you in your search for the best comedy topics:

Are there "generic" topics that can generate laughter? Not at all.

There is no pot of gold at the end of the rainbow when you attempt to create a generic list of topics that can generate laughter.

You must remember, as a comedian, that your task is to create original stand-up comedy material.

Developing original stand-up comedy material does NOT mean talking about a topic or concept that has never been explored before.

How can I find comedy topics for my act by watching stand-up comedy videos?

Maybe, maybe not.

If you watch any number of stand-up comedy videos of established professional comedians, you will notice that they usually talk about the same things - relationships, pets, driving, sex, paying bills, etc.

With few exceptions, broad stand-up comedy topics have been covered by a number of comedians in one form or another.

In stand-up comedy, original content is not determined by the topic per se, but rather how each comedian addresses a subject from their unique point of view, perspective, or experience.

While watching other comedians perform may give you some very broad topic ideas to address on stage, it won't teach you how to develop your own original stand-up comedy material.

Another Viewpoint

What if you could get a few comedy topic ideas from watching other comedians? Are you going to try to come up with something funny for an audience?

It is my contention that if that is the approach you take, you might be in for a long and frustrating process before you develop stand-up comedy material that actually generates laughs.

The biggest challenge new comedians face is what to talk about on stage in the first place. My online course starts out with a major focus on showing people how to develop comedy topics that are right for them from the beginning.

Besides demonstrating that process from the idea or concept phase to the actual performance on stage (the audio recording of the performance is also included), I also demonstrate that process in my course.

Producing original stand-up comedy material that gets laughs when performed is not difficult at all when it comes to deciding what comedy topics, ideas, concepts, etc. to use as the basis. A process is necessary however.

From watching stand-up comedy videos or live performances, you are probably not going to get much in the way of comedy topic ideas you can use to develop your own original stand-up comedy material unless you plan on performing another comedian's material (which is illegal).

Although most new comedians aren't really aware of what "original" stand-up comedy material really is, the notion of "original" stand-up comedy is a big deal.

In that regard, I would like to tell you a story that illustrates some of the absurd things that can happen.

A Story About “Original” Comedy Topics

I attended an open mic at the Comedy Store in La Jolla to work on some new stand-up comedy material. Since I was already established and strong, I was able to get a decent spot at the beginning of the open mic show.

A new comedian approached another new comedian after my performance and said this:

“You did a space shuttle joke. I do a space shuttle joke and I have been doing mine longer. You you need to quit doing that joke.”

There was a problem with that since I heard both jokes and they were completely different and unique. Both jokes were about the space shuttle, but that was all they had in common.

This is because NO comedian can claim to be an expert on any topic. Comedy can certainly deal with the same topics as long as their material is original (as I described above) and gets laughs.

Let me clarify:

A comedian's material is not original or funny because of the comedy topic. The approach they take with a comedy topic is what makes it original and funny.

A Great Source For Stand-up Comedy Topics?

There is one category of topics that seem to lend themselves easily to great stand-up comedy material, and it is...

weird and unusual news stories.

Late night TV hosts often use strange and unusual news stories in their comedy monologues.

In my stand-up comedy act, I frequently used strange and unusual news stories. I confess...

From these colossal tales of utter stupidity, I have developed 1-2 minutes of original comedy material with ease, sometimes with just a single strange and unusual headline as inspiration.

When it comes to comedy topics overall, there is no such thing as "best comedy topics" except for the example above - and even then, if you don't find strange and unusual news stories interesting, you will have difficulty "fabricating" humor from them (just as you would with any other topic).

Just remember this:

Each and every topic and premise has been done by at least one of hundreds (if not thousands) of comedians who mostly talk about common things that we all know, recognize and can easily relate to.

When someone who has been in the stand-up comedy business for a while says "It's all been done", they mean that.

Stand-up comedy's "uniqueness" or originality has little to do with the topic or premise the comedian is discussing - it has to do with the comedian's unique point of view, passion, and delivery.