RECESSION = COMEDY

Earlier this week I went to see the film Zombieland. For a Monday afternoon film on a lazy day off, it's the perfect film to see. No belly laughs, but some funny moments and a good comedic twist on a a horror genre staple. But Zombieland opening as the #1 at the U.S. box office with $25 million? That's just as strange as the "comedy" film Couples Retreat opening at #1 with $35.3 million. The same thing is happening in TV. There isn't just 1 big new comedy, there are 3. Modern Family, Cougar Town, and Glee are all doing very well in the ratings. So what's going on?

A cultural pattern is beginning to emerge. Every economic recession in the United States has given a rise to comedy overall in American entertainment. Americans want to laugh, and apparently looking at the U.S. box office lately, they want to laugh at just about anything. This isn't the first time this pattern has emerged, and given the stunning lack of banking regulation not being legislated, this will not be the last time we experience a deep recession and witness a rise in the comedy genre.

Comedy is really hard to do. Comedy is hard to write, it's hard to act, and it's all in the timing and set up. Don't get me wrong, I love a good drama, but comedy takes real talent. And comedy writers may be able to write comedy, but that doesn't make them funny people. And comedic actors may be funny with lines, but they can't write comedy. Only stand-ups have the one-two punch of both being funny and writing funny (since most of them write their own material). With comedy, the result is immediate and successful or crushing. Put simply, it's either funny or it's not. Either you get a laugh or its crickets. I love a good comedy, and the more engaging and smart, the better.

While I hope the country and the world pull out of the recession soon, I'm enjoying all the laughter.