Portal:Comedy

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The Comedy Portal

Comedyis a genre of fiction that consists of discourses or works intended to behumorousor amusing by inducinglaughter,especially intheatre,film,stand-up comedy,television,radio,books,or any other entertainment medium.The term originated inancient Greece:InAthenian democracy,thepublic opinionof voters was influenced bypolitical satireperformed bycomic poetsintheaters.The theatrical genre of Greek comedy can be described as a dramatic performance pitting two groups, ages, genders, or societies against each other in an amusingagonor conflict.Northrop Fryedepicted these two opposing sides as a "Society of Youth" and a "Society of the Old". A revised view characterizes the essential agon of comedy as a struggle between a relatively powerless youth and the societal conventions posing obstacles to his hopes. In this struggle, the youth then becomes constrained by his lack of social authority, and is left with little choice but to resort to ruses which engender dramaticirony,which provokes laughter.

Satireand political satire use comedy to portray people or social institutions as ridiculous or corrupt, thus alienating their audience from the object of their humor.Parodysubverts popular genres and forms, critiquing those forms without necessarily condemning them.

Other forms of comedy includescrewball comedy,which derives its humor largely from bizarre, surprising (and improbable) situations or characters, andblack comedy,which is characterized by a form of humor that includes darker aspects of human behavior or human nature. Similarlyscatological humor,sexual humor, andrace humorcreate comedy by violatingsocial conventionsortaboosin comic ways, which can often be taken as offensive by the subjects of the joke. Acomedy of mannerstypically takes as its subject a particular part of society (usually upper-class society) and uses humor to parody or satirize the behavior and mannerisms of its members.Romantic comedyis a popular genre that depicts burgeoning romance in humorous terms and focuses on the foibles of those who are falling in love. (Full article...)

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"Homer's Phobia"is the fifteenth episode ofThe Simpsons'eighth season,which originally aired on theFox networkon February 16, 1997. It was the first episode written byRon Haugeand was directed byMike B. Anderson.John Waters(pictured)guest starred, providing the voice of the new characterJohn.In the episode,Homerdisassociates himself from new family friend John after discovering that John isgay.He worries that John will have a negative influence on his son,Bart."Homer's Phobia" was the first episode to revolve entirely aroundhomosexualthemes, with the title being apunon the word "homophobia".Originally, due to the controversial subject, the Fox censors found the episode unsuitable for broadcast, but this decision was reversed after a turnover in the Fox staff. It won four awards, including anEmmyforOutstanding Animated Program (For Programming One Hour or Less)and aGLAAD Media Awardfor "Outstanding TV - Individual Episode".

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Credit: Bain News Service

Buster Keaton(bornJoseph Frank Keaton,October 4, 1895 – February 1, 1966) was anAmerican silent filmcomic actor and filmmaker. His trademark was physical comedy with astoic,deadpanexpression on his face.

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...thatRoger Wilmutwent on from typing out the episode list of a BBC comedy show to become aGuardianTop 10 author of books about British comedy?

... that theSouth Parkepisode "Margaritaville"portraysKyleas aJesus-like savior of theU.S. economyduring therecession?
... that "Ron and Tammy",an episode ofNBC'sParks and Recreation,features comedienneMegan Mullallyplaying the ex-wife of a character played by her real-life husband,Nick Offerman?

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All I need to make comedy is a park, a policeman and a pretty girl.

—Charlie Chaplin

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Julie Deborah Kavner(born September 7, 1950) is an Americanfilmandtelevision actress,comedienneandvoice artist.Noted for her long-running role asMarge Simpsonon the animated television seriesThe Simpsons,she also voices other characters for the show, includingPatty and Selma Bouvier.Born inLos Angeles,Kavner grew up inSouthern California,attendingBeverly Hills High Schooland laterSan Diego State University.Kavner was cast in her first professional acting role asBrenda MorgensterninRhodain 1974. She received aSupporting Actress in a Comedy Series Primetime Emmy Awardin 1978 and several more award nominations for playing the character. FollowingRhoda,Kavner was cast inThe Tracey Ullman Show,which debuted in 1987.The Tracey Ullman Showincluded a series ofanimated shortsabout a dysfunctional family. Voices were needed for the shorts, so the producers decided to ask Kavner to voice Marge. The shorts would eventually be spun-off intoThe Simpsons.Kavner has been described as "nearly reclusive"; part of her contract says that she will never have to promoteThe Simpsonson video. For her work as Marge, Kavner received aPrimetime Emmy AwardforOutstanding Voice-Over Performancein 1992 and anAnnie Awardnomination for her performance as the character inThe Simpsons Movie.In 1992, she starred inThis Is My Life,her first leading role in a feature film. Kavner has also appeared in live-action roles in sevenfilms writtenbyWoody Allenand, most recently,Click.

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... that thedocumentary comedyfilmsBeing CanadianandWhen Jews Were Funnyexplore the filmmakers' cultural identity through interviews with dozens of comedians?
... that a revival of the comedy seriesLizzie McGuirewas ordered in 2019, but canceled mid-production after Disney deemed it not family-friendly enough?
... that a story titled "The Adventures of Mr. Stupidhead in Russia" may have influenced the Soviet silent comedy filmThe Extraordinary Adventures of Mr. West in the Land of the Bolsheviks?
... that a 1955 satirical comedy play byKasymaly Jantöshevwas one of the first signs of the relaxation ofSovietliterary restrictions after the death ofJoseph Stalin?
... that the racially themed time-travel comedyTimewasterswas developed under the working titleBlack to the Future?
... that during a comedy routineReuben Solodrew a graph plotting the audience's reaction to his routine?

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Comedy

Terms: Black comedy •Comedian •Comedy club •Comedy of manners •Convention (norm) •Irony •Komos •Parody •Political satire •Race humor •Restoration comedy •Satire •Screwball comedy •Surreal humour •Taboo •Toilet humor

Comedy genres: Bouffon •Comedy film •Anarchic comedy film •Gross-out film •Parody film •Romantic comedy film •Screwball comedy film •Slapstick film •Comic novel •Dramedy •Improvisational comedy •Musical comedy •Stand-up comedy •Alternative comedy •Impressionist (entertainment) •One-liner joke •Comedy genres •Sketch comedy •Television comedy •Radio comedy •Situation comedy •Tragicomedy

History of theatre: Ancient Greek comedy •Ancient Roman comedy •Burlesque •Citizen comedy •Clown •Comedy of humours •Comedy of manners •Comedy of menace •Comédie larmoyante •Commedia dell'arte •Face •Jester •Restoration comedy •Shakespearean comedy •Dadaist/Surrealist •Theatre of the absurd

Comedy events and awards: British Comedy Awards •Canadian Comedy Awards •Cat Laughs Comedy Festival •Edinburgh Festival Fringe •Just for laughs •Halloween Howls Comedy Festival •Melbourne International Comedy Festival •New York Underground Comedy Festival

Lists: List of comedians •List of British comedians •List of Canadian comedians •List of Finnish comedians •List of German language comedians •List of Italian comedians •List of Mexican comedians •List of Puerto Rican comedians •List of Indian comedians •List of British TV shows remade for the American market •List of comedies •List of New York Improv comedians

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