SlapStik Comedy Written by Astrid Coste
We are now entering the digital age of comedy with AI. Which is a great thing! Absolutely fantastic. I will not be saying anything bad about this at all. When the robots take over, trust me, I’ll be their number one fan.
And that’s why I’ll survive J
Anyways, instead of taking up Drake’s songwriting or painting the next modern art, AI has turned towards comedy as their new form of self-expression. Robot-expression? Mike Todasco, writer of the Medium article “Does AI Get the Joke? Assessing the Sense of Humor of Large Language Models,” explains that the first step of creating comedy is understanding why something is funny to begin with, and that’s a class AI is in front row for. Let’s test it out ourselves.
If we write the prompt “Write a creative joke that would make us humans laugh, please,” (Yes, I said please to the AI), ChatGPT would write:
Sure! Here’s one for you:
Why did the scarecrow get promoted?
Because he was outstanding in his field! 🌾😆
Not great, to be honest, but it is a start. A simple structure to a clear-cut joke: a question with a pun-y response. Some word-play. A dad joke, if you will. Sorry to the dads that were writing this one down for the next family reunion. Just a heads-up for y’all, it’s not going to work out. Let’s up the ante and see if we can help AI with understanding and creating a funny comedy pitch for the next big TV show. Using examples from Abbott Elementary and other mockumentary style comedy shows, let’s ask AI why these have become a big hit.
Prompt: Shows like Abbott Elementary and The Office make thousands of people laugh every day. What makes their style of comedy humorous and consistently makes humans laugh?
Great question! Shows like Abbott Elementary and The Office thrive on a unique style of comedy that consistently resonates with audiences. Their humor works because of a few key elements:
1. Mockumentary Style & Fourth-Wall Breaking
- Both shows use the mockumentary format, where characters acknowledge the camera and break the fourth wall. This creates an intimate and meta layer of comedy, making viewers feel like insiders to the joke.
- Those hilarious deadpan reactions (Jim Halpert’s iconic stares or Janine Teagues’ awkward smiles) make moments funnier by pointing out the absurdity.
2. Relatable Workplace Situations
- The humor stems from real-life awkwardness—cringe-worthy bosses (Michael Scott or Ava Coleman), quirky coworkers, and office/school struggles that many people deal with.
- The comedy finds laughter in mundane daily routines, exaggerating how ridiculous some workplace dynamics can be.
3. Strong, Lovable Characters
- Every character is uniquely flawed but endearing, whether it’s Janine’s relentless optimism, Gregory’s social awkwardness, or Dwight Schrute’s intensity.
- They feel real, which makes their weird habits and interactions even funnier.
4. Cringe & Situational Humor
- Awkward silences, uncomfortable conversations, and social missteps fuel some of the biggest laughs (e.g., Michael Scott saying something wildly inappropriate or Ava roasting her teachers).
- Watching characters dig themselves into deeper holes (instead of fixing a problem) is both painful and hilarious.
5. Running Gags & Inside Jokes
- These shows master the art of callbacks and running jokes (like The Office’s “That’s what she said” or Abbott Elementary’s “Sweet baby Jesus and the grown one too!”).
- The audience feels rewarded for watching consistently.
6. Satire with Heart
- Both shows poke fun at bureaucracy, whether it’s corporate nonsense (The Office) or underfunded public schools (Abbott Elementary).
- But instead of being mean-spirited, the comedy is balanced with genuine warmth and human connection, making us root for the characters.
The magic of these shows is that they make the ordinary extraordinarily funny—often by holding up a mirror to the awkwardness of real life.
Would you say you prefer The Office-style cringe comedy or Abbott Elementary’s heartwarming humor? Or both? 😆
Uhmm….I think AI knows more about comedy than I do. Granted anyone could know more comedy than me, I’m just a writer—however: damn. Much more thorough and, feels inappropriate to say, thoughtful, than what I’d imagined. Let’s make a comparison with stand-up comedy.
Prompt: With the previous answer in mind, in a small paragraph (because I have a word count to uphold), what makes a successful stand-up comedian?
A successful stand-up comedian thrives on relatability, timing, and authenticity. Like The Office and Abbott Elementary, great comedians find humor in everyday life, turning awkward moments, personal struggles, or societal observations into hilarious, punchy stories. Their delivery and timing—pausing for laughs, using expressive body language, or building tension—make even simple jokes land perfectly. Strong comics also master audience connection, reading the room and adapting in real time. Most importantly, they bring a unique voice—whether it’s dry wit, high-energy storytelling, or self-deprecating humor—making their material feel fresh and memorable. A killer joke is great, but making people feel like they’re in on the joke? That’s what keeps audiences coming back.
AI is definitely coming for our jobs as journalists. Better critical analysis than my own! And I’m supposed to be the one that over-analyzes everything! That’s my whole shtick! Alright, let’s send this little research project home and see if AI has learned a thing or two from its own analysis on comedy.
Prompt: Keeping the previous answers in mind, in a small paragraph, write me a television pitch of the next big comedy sketch TV show that will knock everyone’s socks off from laughter.
Title: “That’s a You Problem”
A high-energy, fast-paced sketch comedy show that hilariously exposes the awkward, absurd, and painfully relatable struggles of modern life. Think Key & Peele meets The Office—but with a sharper edge and a documentary-style twist. Each sketch follows everyday people trying (and failing) to navigate cringe-worthy social interactions, workplace disasters, and embarrassing personal moments—only to have a fake “expert” panel (made up of comedians playing over-the-top specialists) analyze their failures in real time. From the horrors of accidentally liking a 3-year-old Instagram post to office small talk gone horribly wrong, “That’s a You Problem” turns life’s smallest embarrassments into comedy gold. Expect quick-witted dialogue, recurring characters, and sharp social satire—all wrapped in a fresh, binge-worthy format that’ll have everyone saying, “Oof… that’s a you problem.”
That’s it. I quit.
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