Late Night Talk Show and Sketch Comedy Course

Program Overview

This program teaches students the art of creating comedy sketches and late-night bits. Students analyze classic and contemporary sketch shows to understand comedic tones, perspectives, and challenges. Through in-class writing exercises and group feedback, participants develop their skills in crafting solid, funny, and functional comedy material. The program is taught via video teleconference by Jeffrey Kahn.

Program Outline

Outline:

• The program teaches students the art and craft of creating solid, funny, and functional comedy sketches and late-night bits.
• Students learn how to breakdown what makes a sketch, a bit, and desk pieces work by watching and analyzing the great sketch and talk shows past and presence.
• Participants close watch and analyze late-night talk and sketch shows to dissect the different comedic tones, overall perspectives, and specific TV personalities, as well as the challenges of shooting live versus pre-taped sketches.
• The course also studies the evolution and history of sketch comedy from SNL, SCTV, and Monty Python to Living Color, The Ben Stiller Show, Mr. Show, the Dave Chappell Show, Key and Peele, as well as I Think You Should Leave with Tim Robinson and Portlandia.
• Each class is devoted to watching segments and sketches, discussions, and working on in-class writing exercises to be reading/performed for group and professor feedback.

Teaching:

• The course is taught by Jeffrey Kahn.
• The course is held via video teleconference.
Instructors use Zoom to offer live class meetings at the designated class meeting time. Students must be present at the course meeting time as each student's final grade may include scores for participation.