Comic removes "a key element"

by Brian McKim & Traci Skene on November 18th, 2008

British comic Frank Skinner, writing for the TimesOnline (UK),

I spent the back end of last year doing a stand-up comedy tour of the British Isles– 69 gigs over a three-month period. One night in early October, at the Cambridge Corn Exchange, I decided to conduct an experiment.

The tour had been going well but, 20 gigs in, there is a danger that an act can become a bit too comfortable. Anything that makes it feel fresh or unfamiliar is worth a try, I thought. So I removed a key element.

The “key element” is swearing. When Skinner removed the majority of swearing from his set, he stumbled up on a variety of surprising insights.

Now, I should make clear, at this point, that I am not– nor have ever been– a shock comic. My aim has always been to do sugar-coated smut– or offensive material that doesn’t offend. I have always found that this sensibility tends to shine through even a blizzard of swearwords.

However, the removal of the swearing seemed to oil the wheels of this process, allowing the more self-consciously respectable members of the audience to loosen their corsets and really enjoy themselves, despite the subject matter.

Swearing is apparently rampant on British television. Skinner concludes that this flood of profanity on the telly over the last decade makes for much less contrast between the his live act (and the club acts of his fellow comics) and that which can be seen in one’s living room.

The whole thing is well worth a read.

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