The Future of Funny: How Old and New Media Collaborate on Comedy

  Christine Erickson 

Comedy has undergone a transformation over the past few years thanks to digital and social media. From standup comedians breaking out on Twitter to television networks adapting to new viewer habits — there’s a blending of old and new media that’s thrown all the old rules of production and talent out the window.
We’re beginning to see production and distribution of content take alternative routes, as Louis C.K. and Aziz Ansari set the bar for others to follow.

However, that’s not to say old media isn’t keeping up. Many network shows now include hashtags to encourage the conversation on the “second screen,” and comedians provide additional commentary on Twitter when a show airs. Erik Flannigan, EVP of digital media at Viacom Entertainment Group, says the result has made first-run TV time slots relevant again in the age of DVR.
“Whether that show was shot six months ago or not, when it airs, especially if you know the talent’s on the other side, suddenly there’s this moment where you do want to watch it on television live, not necessarily on your DVR. Because there’s a conversation happening with essentially some additional material from that talent that you might be missing out on if you waited to watch it the next day.”
Alternatively, comedians are beginning to reap the benefits from their casual acts on social media. Flannigan says that some comedians already have graduated from Twitter to the tube.
SEE ALSO: How Twitter Is Changing The Craft of Comedy
Rob Delaney is often identified as a talent discovered on Twitter. The comedian landed a pilot with Comedy Central which revolved around his take on the current Twitter trends.

@robdelaney

If you leave your baby unattended, I'm going to sniff it. I'll tell you that right now.

15 Mar 12

“Social media certainly brings people to our attention, no doubt about it, ” says Comedy Central’s SVP of talent and specials, Jonas Larsen. “It’s an emerging state for sure, but it’s definitely important how we use it in our search for talent.”
Delaney is among several others who’ve been nominated for “Funniest Person on Twitter” — a new category at this year’s Comedy Awards. According to Larsen, comedians have in some ways become “the new rock stars,” and attributes that directly to social media.

SEE ALSO: Twitter Comedy: How to Be Funny in 140 Characters
Comedian and Nerdist founder Chris Hardwick says social and digital media have turned the web into the new demotape, changing the game completely from what it was 20 years ago.
“It’s a bottom-up system, where the old media was very top-down,” says Hardwick. “Like, three companies would tell the world who they should find entertaining, and now anyone can be exposed to the world and show their talent because of the Internet. It seems obvious, but it literally has completely changed the structure of how we get and consume media.”
Viral content has become so powerful to major companies, it often equates to the same level of validation as a nod from the companies themselves — in other words, power in numbers has become equally as important as exclusivity.
“Now, everyone can be displayed into the world, so the challenge is how do you rise above the noise,” Hardwick says. “I think ultimately if you care about what you’re doing and you’re good at it, you will.”

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