Line Gags
Line Gags is an exercise where players line up and take turns making short quips based on a chosen gag type, supported by enthusiastic reactions from the group.
label
Failure, Commitment, Exercise, Line
Element
Add to Workshop
description
How to Play Line Gags
Synonyms
None.
Introduction
Please line up shoulder to shoulder facing the same direction.
Description
Line Gag is a structure that is both an exercise and a handle. This is the exercise version of the structure.
Line Gags are a staple of improv comedy performance. In many ways Line Gags go against everything we strive to learn in improv comedy. However they are fun and do serve a purpose as an exercise in a workshop. The leader can pick from any of the copious line gags listed under variations. Some very famous and historically relevant line gags have their own structures.
In a Line Gag the players are called upon to make short quips relating to the gag type chosen by the leader. We will use the storied example of 99 strings. In 99 Strings there is a very structured format where players make gags about nouns getting kicked out of a drinking establishment. For example, “99 strings walk into a bar. The bartender asks them to leave because they are knot old enough.” Rim shot please. Strings is replaced with any other noun but the format remains the same. “99 buckets walk into a bar. The bartender asks them to leave because they are already full to the rim.” There are an infinite number of house variations on this structure alone.
Why on earth would we do this in a workshop after spending so much time working on narrative and open scenes. Line Gags, when done correctly, are excellent commitment and support exercises. Players are encouraged to step forward and say anything. Nothing can be wrong. All the other players on the live will react to their contribution like it was the greatest thing imaginable. It helps players work on the principle that they are supported on stage and their contributions are worth while.
Often spirited players will come up with an onslaught of silly puns and correlations. That is fine during a performance, but not during a workshop. It is best to go through the line in order. No one can hide and no one can overwhelm. For players that are paralysed by this exercise have them present their gag in gibberish. This will elicit a fabulous round of gibberish support from the other players on the line.
Gimmicks
- It is a gimmick
Variations
- Competitive – any line gag where host conducts and keeps pointing forcing multiple responses from one performer
- Reverse Trivial Pursuit
- Jeopardy = Reverse Trivial Pursuit statement with multiple answers
- Sex With Me Is Like – Players use the noun to describe what sex with them is like. Sex with me is like a string because I get afraid.
- I like my lovers like – Players use the noun to describe what they like in a love. I like my lovers like string, tightly wound.
- 99 strings – See detailed example above
- 185 things – Same as 99 strings.
- You know it’s a noun’s offspring – You know it’s a string’s kid because he’s so high strung.
- World’s Worst – Take a profession and be worst possible member of it.
- Props – most uses of object not the object
- Famous Last Words – epitaphs for a noun or famous person. Here lies Beethoven decomposing his past work.
- Marketing – new names/slogans for non-existent objects
Credits
None.
account_treeVariations (12)
- 185 things — Same format as 99 Strings but with a different number.
- 99 strings — Players create gags about a noun getting kicked out of a bar, following the format '99 [noun] walk into a bar. The bartender asks them to leave because they are [pun].'
- Competitive — A host points repeatedly at a performer, forcing multiple quick responses from them.
- Famous Last Words — Players create pun-based epitaphs for a given noun or famous person.
- I like my lovers like — Players complete the phrase 'I like my lovers like...' with a pun based on the given noun.
- Jeopardy — Host provides a statement, players offer multiple possible questions that could have that answer.
- Marketing — Players come up with humorous marketing slogans for imaginary products.
- Props — Players find unusual uses for a prop, creating gags based on misinterpreting its function.
- Reverse Trivial Pursuit — Players are given a statement and they respond with a trivia question that leads to that answer.
- Sex With Me Is Like — Players complete the phrase 'Sex with me is like...' using the given noun to create a humorous analogy.
- World’s Worst — Players are the world's worst at a given profession, making puns related to the profession.
- You know it’s a noun’s offspring — Players create jokes about the offspring of a noun, using puns related to that noun.