--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Comedy is the only form of entertainment…" description: "\"Comedy is the only form of entertainment where the audience doesn't know what to expect. In an evening, you might get ten comics doing ten different th..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/835/jon-stewart-455_audience_comedy-is-the-only-form-of-entertainment_253990.jpg" --- # Comedy is the only form of entertainment where the… ![“Comedy is the only form of entertainment where the audience doesn't know what to expect. In an evening, you might get ten comics doing ten different things. That's not what happens when you go to hear music. There isn't a classical performance followed by a hoedown followed by rap.” quote by Jon Stewart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/835/jon-stewart-455_audience_comedy-is-the-only-form-of-entertainment_253990.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/835/jon-stewart-455_audience_comedy-is-the-only-form-of-entertainment_253990.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/835/jon-stewart-455_audience_comedy-is-the-only-form-of-entertainment_253990.jpg) > “Comedy is the only form of entertainment where the audience doesn't know what to expect. In an evening, you might get ten comics doing ten different things. That's not what happens when you go to hear music. There isn't a classical performance followed by a hoedown followed by rap.” [Jon Stewart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-stewart/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Comedy thrives on unpredictability, unlike other performances that follow set sequences. **In simple terms:** Comedy is unpredictable, unlike structured music or theater. Key Takeaway Embrace surprise and variety in creative work. Themes creativity unpredictability performance art Mood witty observational Type observational entertainment When to use this quote - stand‑up shows - improv classes - festival programming Key Concepts improvisation genre blending Questions to Reflect On - How can comedians balance surprise with audience connection? - What role does structure play in other arts? A Different Perspective Audience expectations can still shape comedic success. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Audience](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/audience/) [Comedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/comedy/) [Entertainment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/entertainment/) [Evening](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/evening/) [Humor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humor/) [Music](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/music/) [Performances](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/performances/) [Rap](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rap/) ## Related quotes > [When you making a piece of comedy entertainment, the audience is a big component there. You do have to end up getting rid of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-h-moore/when-you-making-a-piece-of-comedy-entertainment-the-audience-is-a-big/) Jason H. Moore > [I miss live audiences, because it's like no other form of entertainment, where the audience is a major part of the production every night.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-hamill/i-miss-live-audiences-because-it-s-like-no-other-form-of/) [Mark Hamill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-hamill/) > [Football is entertainment in which the audience is expected to delight in gladiatorial action that a growing portion of the audience knows may cause…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-will/football-is-entertainment-in-which-the-audience-is-expected-to/) [George Will](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-will/) > [Really, I just love doing comedy. Any form it takes is great, as long as I can keep doing it, you know? If I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-kroll/really-i-just-love-doing-comedy-any-form-it-takes-is-great-as-long-as/) [Nick Kroll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-kroll/) > [As a man who tried to explain in his own way that people have to learn to get along with each other. I did…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherwood-schwartz/as-a-man-who-tried-to-explain-in-his-own-way-that-people-have-to/) [Sherwood Schwartz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherwood-schwartz/) > [Why is comedy the only form of the arts where people think they have to agree with or approve the content? You don't walk…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-norton/why-is-comedy-the-only-form-of-the-arts-where-people-think-they-have/) [Jim Norton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-norton/) > [“A standard feature of situation comedy has some form of the main character "talking trash" to someone about a husband, wife, girl friend, boy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-albrecht/a-standard-feature-of-situation-comedy-has-some-form-of-the-main/) [Karl Albrecht](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-albrecht/) > [Each generation wants their own form of entertainment and their own form of storytelling.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-dubuc/each-generation-wants-their-own-form-of-entertainment-and-their-own/) [Nancy Dubuc](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-dubuc/) > [I've never relegated the lip-synch to a lower form of entertainment. Lip-synching is an art unto itself. A lot of people can't do it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-clark/i-ve-never-relegated-the-lip-synch-to-a-lower-form-of-entertainment/) [Dick Clark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-clark/) > [I was a very happy child, so to speak. But, since we didn't have video games or television, and very little radio, in terms…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mako/i-was-a-very-happy-child-so-to-speak-but-since-we-didn-t-have-video/) [Mako](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mako/) > [Human entertainment will have moved on to something new. Then the ultimate challenge for us is, can we figure out what that new form…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/reed-hastings/human-entertainment-will-have-moved-on-to-something-new-then-the/) [Reed Hastings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/reed-hastings/) > [Violence has been a part of films since the beginning of time. It's been a form of entertainment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vanessa-hudgens/violence-has-been-a-part-of-films-since-the-beginning-of-time-it-s/) [Vanessa Hudgens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vanessa-hudgens/) > [For me, I would say that horror is my absolute favorite form of entertainment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lydia-hearst/for-me-i-would-say-that-horror-is-my-absolute-favorite-form-of/) [Lydia Hearst](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lydia-hearst/) > [ In this Western world that we have, culture risks being \[only\] a form of entertainment. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shirin-neshat/in-this-western-world-that-we-have-culture-risks-being-only-a-form-of/) [Shirin Neshat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shirin-neshat/) > [In short, if you have any question about whether a particular movie, book, or other form of entertainment is appropriate, don’t see it, don’t…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-s-monson/in-short-if-you-have-any-question-about-whether-a-particular-movie/) [Thomas S. Monson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-s-monson/) ## More by Jon Stewart > [Clearly, I'm way older than everyone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-stewart/clearly-i-m-way-older-than-everyone/) [Jon Stewart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-stewart/) > [I don't know how people feel,that's the beauty of TV, is they can see us, but we can't see them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-stewart/i-don-t-know-how-people-feel-that-s-the-beauty-of-tv-is-they-can-see/) [Jon Stewart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-stewart/) > [I don't think marijuana should be illegal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-stewart/i-don-t-think-marijuana-should-be-illegal/) [Jon Stewart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-stewart/) > [I reject the idea there are just two sides. I think that with the amount of ideas and thoughts there are, it's not even…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-stewart/i-reject-the-idea-there-are-just-two-sides-i-think-that-with-the/) [Jon Stewart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-stewart/) > [Megachurches. I can't be the only one frightened when our houses of worship sound like they could take on Godzilla.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-stewart/megachurches-i-can-t-be-the-only-one-frightened-when-our-houses-of/) [Jon Stewart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-stewart/) > [While opponents label (Howard) Dean a throwback liberal, The New York Times recently noted that as governor, Dean cut income taxes, reformed welfare and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-stewart/while-opponents-label-howard-dean-a-throwback-liberal-the-new-york/) [Jon Stewart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-stewart/) > [You just have to keep trying to do good work, and hope that it leads to more good work. I want to look back…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-stewart/you-just-have-to-keep-trying-to-do-good-work-and-hope-that-it-leads/) [Jon Stewart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-stewart/) > [You know, in Saudi Arabia, you're innocent until proven Jewish. Female. Guilty! They're guilty!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-stewart/you-know-in-saudi-arabia-you-re-innocent-until-proven-jewish-female/) [Jon Stewart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-stewart/) > [The unfortunate, yet truly exciting thing about your life, is that there is no core curriculum. The entire place is an elective.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-stewart/the-unfortunate-yet-truly-exciting-thing-about-your-life-is-that/) [Jon Stewart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-stewart/) > [A guy who says what people who aren't thinking are thinking.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-stewart/a-guy-who-says-what-people-who-aren-t-thinking-are-thinking/) [Jon Stewart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-stewart/) > [Do you guys have to sell everything? I'd like to buy the Earth's core.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-stewart/do-you-guys-have-to-sell-everything-i-d-like-to-buy-the-earth-s-core/) [Jon Stewart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-stewart/) > [Christmas and the New Year are actually two holidays. So there is a plural, which in the English language, necessitates the use of 's.'…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-stewart/christmas-and-the-new-year-are-actually-two-holidays-so-there-is-a/) [Jon Stewart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-stewart/) > [We're going to do a challenge. I'm going to try and download every movie ever made and you are going to try to sign…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-stewart/we-re-going-to-do-a-challenge-i-m-going-to-try-and-download-every/) [Jon Stewart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-stewart/) > [Our culture is just a series of checks and balances. The whole idea that we're in a battle between tyranny and freedom - it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-stewart/our-culture-is-just-a-series-of-checks-and-balances-the-whole-idea/) [Jon Stewart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-stewart/) > [For me it was just exciting to see fake news catching on like that. We don't you know, it's interesting. I think we don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-stewart/for-me-it-was-just-exciting-to-see-fake-news-catching-on-like-that-we/) [Jon Stewart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-stewart/) [Explore all 545 Jon Stewart quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-stewart/) ## More Audience quotes > [If the audience likes your work, if they like you, they don't think whether you are married or have children or not. I made…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dimple-kapadia/if-the-audience-likes-your-work-if-they-like-you-they-don-t-think/) [Dimple Kapadia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dimple-kapadia/) > [It's those moments, those odd moments that you look for and sometimes by creating this kind of loose atmosphere you find those little moments…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-levinson/it-s-those-moments-those-odd-moments-that-you-look-for-and-sometimes/) [Barry Levinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-levinson/) > [I can skate beautifully. While performing on ice I always try to please the audience and to win as well. Being artistic is very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evgeni-plushenko/i-can-skate-beautifully-while-performing-on-ice-i-always-try-to/) [Evgeni Plushenko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evgeni-plushenko/) > [One of the best moments of any Liars show is hearing the crowd squawk 'We're doomed! We're doomed!' on cue during 'We Fenced Other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-sheffield/one-of-the-best-moments-of-any-liars-show-is-hearing-the-crowd-squawk/) [Rob Sheffield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-sheffield/) > [It's the adrenaline rush you only get from being in front of an audience. It's addictive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raphael-saadiq/it-s-the-adrenaline-rush-you-only-get-from-being-in-front-of-an/) [Raphael Saadiq](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raphael-saadiq/) > [If I had to speak in front of a Korean audience, I would be hard pressed to sound other than a little girl.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/an-na/if-i-had-to-speak-in-front-of-a-korean-audience-i-would-be-hard/) [An Na](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/an-na/) > [The liveness of theater, and the excitement of experiencing it alongside an audience, is something you can't get at home. That makes the theater…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-blaemire/the-liveness-of-theater-and-the-excitement-of-experiencing-it/) [Nick Blaemire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-blaemire/) > [One of the things that touches me most when I play for an audience is that although we may be unable to communicate in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-hough/one-of-the-things-that-touches-me-most-when-i-play-for-an-audience-is/) [Stephen Hough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-hough/) > [I have to feel the audience. I enjoy that feeling of community.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-gahan/i-have-to-feel-the-audience-i-enjoy-that-feeling-of-community/) [Dave Gahan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-gahan/) > [When you lived it for years and years and years and seen different characters just get pummeled and squashed because 'I said so,' it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arn-anderson/when-you-lived-it-for-years-and-years-and-years-and-seen-different/) [Arn Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arn-anderson/) > [“During the first few minutes of your presentation, your job is to assure the audience members that you are not going to waste their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dale-ludwig-and-greg-owen-boger/during-the-first-few-minutes-of-your-presentation-your-job-is-to/) [Dale Ludwig and Greg Owen-Boger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dale-ludwig-and-greg-owen-boger/) > [Donald Trump is a different ball of wax. I've been trying to say for I don't know how many months now that the traditional…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/donald-trump-is-a-different-ball-of-wax-i-ve-been-trying-to-say-for-i/) [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) > [I don't think about who the audience is for my books.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-k-rowling-2/i-don-t-think-about-who-the-audience-is-for-my-books/) [J. K. Rowling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-k-rowling-2/) > [I feel I have been playing all primary characters. And if your character forms a connect with the audience, it doesn't matter if you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angad-bedi/i-feel-i-have-been-playing-all-primary-characters-and-if-your/) [Angad Bedi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angad-bedi/) > [When I was playing piano, it was like, 'I'm going to write a song using all the white keys.' My music director, who knew…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-tesh/when-i-was-playing-piano-it-was-like-i-m-going-to-write-a-song-using/) [John Tesh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-tesh/) [Browse all 9,118 Audience quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/audience/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Comedy is the only form of entertainment where the audience doesn't know what to expect. In an evening, you might get ten comics doing ten different things. That's not what happens when you go to hear music. 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