Stan Laurel of Laurel and Hardy used to compare comedy to sports
Many people believe comedy is an easy thing—all you have to do is be funny, which for many comes naturally anyway. However, Stan Laurel, of the comedy duo Laurel and Hardy, had a different take on comedy.
Laurel wanted to shed light on the fact that comedy, especially stand-up and sketch comedy, could be a lot more difficult than people gave it credit for. After all, comedy is an art. However, Laurel argued that it was a sport too.
In a 1935 interview with The Tuskegee News, he compared comedy to a sport, saying it takes just as much work to craft as tennis or golf did.
"You'd never think of comparing comedy with boxing, polo, tennis, golf or swimming," Laurel said. "But they all have one element in common—timing. A good boxer must time his punches so that they will do some damage at the right time. A comedian has to time his laugh-provoking antics and dialogue so that they will have the desired effect at the psychological moment."
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Laurel and his comedy partner, Oliver Hardy, were among the first successful comedy teams in silent films. Their work set a standard for comedic timing, physical humor, and character dynamics that influenced countless comedians and comedy teams that followed.
Just like a boxer, a comedian must study as well. A boxer studies every move he makes and the timing of each punch, while a comedian studies the punchline, and every facial movement. Although less active, it's just as important to practice and train for the big leagues.
"This is not simple—especially before the camera," Laurel said. "On the stage a comedian can get audience reaction and judge his laughs accordingly. In film this is impossible. The result is lots of hard work."
"Furthermore, fun making can be just as strenuous as any sport," Laurel continued. "We take many a beating to get a laugh, as well as getting plenty of exercise. People want reaction and plenty of it. They are more apt to laugh at a hard fall than a witty line."