Comedy feels like magic. A comedian talks, the audience listens, and suddenly everyone bursts into laughter. But jokes follow structure. They are not random; they are built step by step.
Most jokes share three key parts: the premise, the setup, and the punchline. Many also use tags—extra lines that keep laughs going.
The main idea of any joke is called The Premise.
Then the setup creates the build up and the tension.
And then the punchline is the surprise that delivers the laugh
There is also things called Tags – which are small jokes between the setup and the punchline.
To see this in action, let’s study three comedians: Robin Williams, George Carlin, and Ricky Gervais. Each uses a different style, but the same structure hides underneath.
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Robin Williams and the Hurricane
Robin Williams performed with speed and energy but ever wondered how he crafted a joke? Let’s learn from one of his best bits which was on hurricane names.
Premise: Hurricanes no longer sound scary. Williams jokes that names like “Hurricane Terrence” are too soft. Right away, the audience sees where he is going.
Setup: Williams then describes the storm in a flamboyant voice. He imagines Hurricane Terrence choosing between Boca and South Beach. The audience knows a twist is coming but they don’t know what.
Punchline: He delivers: “All I know is blowing is involved.” The line surprises the crowd. It connects the storm to playful innuendo.
Williams shows how a simple thought, paired with a vivid setup and then a quick punchline, becomes a strong joke.
George Carlin and Religion
Robin Williams was dynamic but George Carlin had a sharper style. He often mixed humour with social criticism. His routine on religion is a famous example.
Premise: “Religion convinced people that there’s an invisible man in the sky who watches everything you do.” The idea is bold and clear.
Setup: Carlin expands the thought. He then mentions that the invisible man has rules. He punishes anyone who breaks them with fire and suffering. Each detail increases the absurdity and builds tension.
Tags: Carlin slips in quick extras. He says: “But he loves you.” Continues saying how god loves you and he needs money. He always needs money.” These tags keep the audience laughing before the big finish.
Punchline: At last, Carlin ends with: “Now you talk about a good bullshit story. Holy shit.” The words strike hard. They cut the long buildup with sharp release.
Carlin shows how clear premises, long setups, and biting punchlines can mix laughter with critique.
Ricky Gervais and the Silence
Ricky Gervais uses silence as comedy. In SuperNature, he shows how pauses can be funnier than words.
Premise: He begins: stand-up comedy is “just a bloke talking.” The idea is simple, almost too plain. But it sets the stage.
Setup: He mentions funny female comedians. The crowd waits for his next line.
Punchline: He stays silent. The pause becomes the punchline. The audience laughs at the awkwardness and broken expectation.
Tags: Gervais repeats the trick. He says, “I know loads of funny women,” then pauses again. Each silence works like another punchline.
This shows timing is as powerful as words. Well-placed pauses can carry the same punch as sharp lines.
What We Learn from These Jokes
Williams, Carlin, and Gervais all use the same skeleton of comedy.
Williams uses lively setups and playful wordplay.
Carlin uses bold premises, stretched setups, and shocking punchlines.
Gervais uses silence and rhythm to twist expectation.
Each style is unique, but each follows the same structure.
Closing Thoughts
Jokes don’t appear by accident. They are crafted. Williams turned storms into party guests. Carlin exposed contradictions in religion. Gervais made silence hilarious.
If you want to write jokes:
Start with a clear premise.
Build tension with a setup.
Deliver a surprising punchline.
Add tags if possible.
Remember: timing rules everything.
Comedy looks like magic. But once you know its structure, you can practice and create laughs yourself.
You can watch this as a video on our Youtube channel here.
And you can also know about the Tight Five in Comedy here!
