Professor Irwin Corey had some of the best timing in the…
“Professor Irwin Corey had some of the best timing in the world, and that is something you can't steal. He talked nonsense, not punch-lines, per se. It was a great performance thing he did and his timing was impeccable. Pat Paulsen was a master of comedy too. The Smothers Brothers' strength was not in the content, but how it was said. We had a couple of our albums, including the Purple Onion album, translated in script form. It didn't work at all. It is no wonder that writers had a hard time writing for the Smothers Brothers, because they wrote impressions, but there was something else.”
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
Timing and delivery can make humor powerful even when the content is simple or absurd.
In simple terms: Good timing makes jokes work.
Key Takeaway
Focus on delivery, not just material.
Themes
comedy
timing
performance
improvisation
collaboration
Mood
playful
reflective
Type
observational
instructional
When to use this quote
- stand‑up shows
- radio sketches
- album scripts
- improvised scenes
- writing sessions
Key Concepts
humor theory
communication dynamics
creative constraints
Questions to Reflect On
- How does delivery change the audience's perception of a joke?
- What elements of timing are hardest to master?
A Different Perspective
Even perfect timing can't fix material that lacks clarity or relevance.