Topic Guide
What Is Alternative comedy?
Alternative comedy is a subject covered in depth across 1 podcast episode in our database. Below you'll find key concepts, expert insights, and the top episodes to listen to — all distilled from hours of conversation by leading experts.
Key Concepts in Alternative comedy
Ninja/assassin writer
Conan O'Brien's description of Todd Levin's writing style, characterized by quiet observation and then delivering sharply hilarious, well-written material without constant "babbling." This contrasts with Conan's own more demonstrative performance style (02:01).
Bad magician performance style
Conan O'Brien's self-description of his own performance, using distraction and demonstrative behavior to hide what he perceives as a lack of "protein" or substance. He contrasts this with Levin's more understated, confident approach (02:40).
Needlessly complicated comedy
A comedic principle discussed by Conan and Todd, influenced by Jim Downey, where a very simple idea is made excessively complex with elaborate explanations and visuals. The humor derives from the disproportionate effort applied to an absurd concept, as seen in bits like the "Del Taco toilet delivery system" (23:19).
Subversion of sweet/monstrous
A comedic philosophy employed in bits like "Human Centipede Menorah" and "Wiki Bear." This involves taking something monstrous (the movie) and forcing its celebration, or taking something sweet (a kids' toy) and making it monstrous by having it deliver dark or inappropriate facts (15:14, 17:14).
What Experts Say About Alternative comedy
- 1.Todd Levin, a sharp writer, joined Conan O'Brien's staff in 2009 during the transition from Late Night to The Tonight Show, eventually working through the TBS era and now on Oscar preparations (01:01).
- 2.Conan distinguishes between his own "bad magician" performing style, using distraction, and Todd Levin's "ninja, assassin" writing approach, characterized by quiet observation and delivering sharply hilarious material (02:01).
- 3.Levin's introduction to comedy was through his father's Bob Newhart records, and he found his stand-up voice in New York's alternative comedy scene, which offered space for experimentation unlike confrontational clubs (03:55, 07:30).
- 4.Conan's writers are given significant autonomy to not just write but also produce and direct their bits, a practice Conan learned during his time at Saturday Night Live (19:30).
- 5.Effective comedic bits often stem from unique concepts like taking something monstrous and making people celebrate it (Human Centipede Menorah) or making a sweet thing monstrous (Wiki Bear) (15:14, 17:14).
- 6.Humor can also be found in taking a simple idea and making it "needlessly complicated," using elaborate explanations for absurd concepts, a style influenced by Jim Downey (23:19).
Top Episodes to Learn About Alternative comedy
Conan O'Brien Needs a Friend