So ... Analyze this

Analyzing humor is like dissecting a frog. Few people are interested and the frog dies of it.

This is a quote from EB White who I assume was the American author of Charlotte’s Web and Stuart Little, and contributor to The New Yorker, mainly as there is a Z in the word ‘analysing’ and no second U in humour.

I say assume, what I mean is I Googled it as my research knows no bounds.

I am writing this article in comic sans, the font type that is often used to label things by primary school teachers. Whether or not this will be the font type used in the paper is another matter as it looks a lot less silly in Times New Roman.

But I agree with the sentiment that trying to analyse comedy and humour often ruins the whole experience of what makes us laugh naturally.

I am reading Katherine Ryan’s autobiography The Audacity. She is a Canadian comic (I’m not sure if she uses a z in her spellings) who has become prolific in recent years and stars on top shows with Jimmy Carr whilst having written her own comedy series for Netflix.

I met Katherine back in the day when I was lugging my piano around the bright streets of London.

She hosted a Funny Women competition that I was in the semi finals of.

It is true that you can’t judge a book by its cover. For she was quite focused and unassuming, friendly and quiet backstage. And very funny on stage which is always good as the audience and competitioners are more at ease.

I am enjoying the book for two reasons. One I don’t often find her that funny on TV panel shows.

Perhaps it is the editing, or maybe I am just hugely jealous of her worldwide success.

So it is good to be challenged. Perhaps I bought the book in order to be proved right.

The other reason is that it is genuinely funny, honest and not sycophantic.

She made her way through comedy clubs from the lowest rung and this is a good way to become better at the craft and to be respected.

They say the bigger the star the nicer they are. A perk of my job as a comedy performer myself, a roving reporter and writing about entertainment means I get to chat to people that I really admire.

I may never have met them in real life but I always feel a kinship with the people I interview from the point of view that everyone starts somewhere.

I recently interviewed Iain Stirling, an absolute comedy gent, and saw his show Failing Upwards to review.

But who am I to analyze.