5 Precise Ways to Reach Your Audience: Comedies

Part two: connect with comedies

Compared to the grand themes and plots of dramas, comedies tend to be small and personal. They are stories that start out with incongruence—someone is out of step with their social system. For example, Phil in Groundhog Day is rude and egotistical. Cher in Clueless is shallow and self-centered. Evelyn in Everything Everywhere all at Once is scattered, controlling, and trying to win approval from her father.

By the end of a Comedy, we have a compromise. The Primary Norm Breaker has grown in some way and become more aligned with their system. Phil is genuinely kind and loving. Cher is more mature and aware of others. Evelyn has learned to let go of what she can’t control and be in the present. Their systems usually grow to accommodate them a little bit too. Rita, sensing Phil’s authentic growth, offers her love to him. Josh becomes less critical of Cher and accepts her as she is. Evelyn’s daughter and father grow more connected to her. As we watch these messy and flawed characters grow, we sense that we can find a way to do the same.

At heart, this is all about power sharing. The compromise is accomplished by each person giving up some of their power at some sacrifice to themselves to meet each other in the middle. That’s how everyone wins in a Comedy.

And Comedies make your audience feel good. Studies show that laughing reduces stress, burns calories, improves mood, lengthens your life, and builds connection. Who doesn’t want that? The good news is while your audience relaxes into these good feelings, their hearts are more susceptible and open to your underlying message or theme.

Use a Comedy to enlighten your audience—
to promote personal growth and connection.

“A little nonsense now and then is relished by the wisest men.”
~Willy Wonka, Willy Wonka & The Chocolate Factory

“A woman is like a... artichoke. You have to do a bit work before you get to her heart.”
~Inspector Jacques Clouseau, The Pink Panther

“Strange, isn’t it? Each man’s life touches so many other lives.
When he isn’t around, he leaves an awful hole, doesn’t he?”
~Clarence, It’s a Wonderful Life