The best advice I was probably given and the best advice I could give someone who is trying to get into the comedy field is to take advantage of every opportunity you have to work to hone your skills.
Bob NewhartRead
I think that what comes through in Chicago humor is the affection. Even though you're poking fun at someone or something, there's still an affection for it.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Chicago humor reflects a playful affection towards people or situations, even when joking about them.
In this quote, Bob Newhart highlights the unique nature of humor in Chicago, suggesting that even the act of teasing or making fun of someone is underpinned by a sense of warmth and care. This perspective shifts the notion of humor from being purely critical to being a celebration of flaws and imperfections, where affection coexists with jest, ultimately creating a more relatable and human experience.
Themes
ChicagoHumorAffectionJokingTeasing
In practice
Example use cases
During a comedy night at a local club, a comedian might use this quote to emphasize the blending of humor and affection in their jokes.
More from Bob Newhart
All quotes →I've always said people say on a dramatic show, 'I was crying. It was so emotional when he went and grabbed that little girl from a burning building and handed her over to her mother.' In comedy, the best thing you can say is, 'I think it's funny.'
Bob NewhartRead
Jack Benny was, without a doubt, the bravest comedian I have ever seen work. He wasn't afraid of silence. He would take as long as it took to tell the story.
Bob NewhartRead
I've been told to speed up my delivery when I perform. But if I lose the stammer, I'm just another slightly amusing accountant.
Bob NewhartRead
I certainly don't delude myself that there aren't certainly more important things to do in life than make people laugh, but I can't imagine anything that would bring me more joy.
Bob NewhartRead
I found the most difficult thing when you became successful - when I had the record album, it won Album of the Year - that you were cut off from the source of your material. Your material was everyday people, and you were kind of cut off from that, and you had to work at it.
Bob NewhartRead
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