--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When you're writing a sketch, it has to…" description: "\"When you're writing a sketch, it has to be surrounded by a situation. It can't just be out of the air.\" — Leslie Jones" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bb3/leslie-jones-30734_air_when-you-re-writing-a-sketch-it-has-to-b_1385311.jpg" --- # When you're writing a sketch, it has to be surrounded by a… ![“When you're writing a sketch, it has to be surrounded by a situation. It can't just be out of the air.” quote by Leslie Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bb3/leslie-jones-30734_air_when-you-re-writing-a-sketch-it-has-to-b_1385311.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bb3/leslie-jones-30734_air_when-you-re-writing-a-sketch-it-has-to-b_1385311.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bb3/leslie-jones-30734_air_when-you-re-writing-a-sketch-it-has-to-b_1385311.jpg) > “When you're writing a sketch, it has to be surrounded by a situation. It can't just be out of the air.” [Leslie Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leslie-jones/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Comedy needs context; jokes should arise from a clear situation. **In simple terms:** Jokes need a setting. Key Takeaway Ground humor in relatable scenarios. Themes comedy writing creativity Mood playful insightful Type humorous educational When to use this quote - sketch writing - improv - stand‑up routines Key Concepts situational humor storytelling Questions to Reflect On - What everyday scene could become a sketch? - How does setting shape punchlines? A Different Perspective A joke can fail if the situation is vague. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Air](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/air/) [Just](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/just/) [Just be](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/just-be/) [Out](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/out/) [Situation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/situation/) [Sketch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sketch/) [Sketch Surrounded](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sketch-surrounded-4811322/) [Surrounded](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/surrounded/) [Surrounded Situation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/surrounded-situation-4811323/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) [Writing Sketch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing-sketch-3152217/) [You](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/you/) ## Related quotes > [After writing for 'SNL,' I never felt like I was properly writing sketch comedy. 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Then I started writing sketch comedy, and it felt…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julio-torres/when-i-started-doing-stand-up-there-were-people-who-were-like-well/) [Julio Torres](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julio-torres/) > [I grew up surrounded by sketch comedy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-helberg/i-grew-up-surrounded-by-sketch-comedy/) [Simon Helberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-helberg/) > [I think that one of Tim's great qualities and abilities is in what seems like a thumbnail sketch to get something quite telling, very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-finney/i-think-that-one-of-tim-s-great-qualities-and-abilities-is-in-what/) [Albert Finney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-finney/) > [A sketch of a man facing to the right.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-smith/a-sketch-of-a-man-facing-to-the-right/) [Adam Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-smith/) > [THING TO TRY: If you are asked to describe a suspect to a police sketch artist, describe in precise detail, the features of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/demetri-martin/thing-to-try-if-you-are-asked-to-describe-a-suspect-to-a-police/) [Demetri Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/demetri-martin/) > [The sketch hunter moves through life as he finds it, not passing negligently the things he loves, but stopping to know them, and to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-henri/the-sketch-hunter-moves-through-life-as-he-finds-it-not-passing/) [Robert Henri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-henri/) > [Cell phones, alas, have pretty much ruined train travel, which I used to love. I could read or even sketch notes for what I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-mallon/cell-phones-alas-have-pretty-much-ruined-train-travel-which-i-used-to/) [Thomas Mallon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-mallon/) > [I think I'm one of those guys who was sort of always in comedy. I thought of myself - and other people seemed to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-daly/i-think-i-m-one-of-those-guys-who-was-sort-of-always-in-comedy-i/) [Andy Daly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-daly/) > [An incomplete sketch superbly executed is power.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-schmid/an-incomplete-sketch-superbly-executed-is-power/) [Richard Schmid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-schmid/) > [I went from an unemployed actor's life to doing stand-up comedy, and that was fortuitous. It's not the usual way the crow flies, going…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherine-tate/i-went-from-an-unemployed-actor-s-life-to-doing-stand-up-comedy-and/) [Catherine Tate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherine-tate/) > [Said Hamlet to Ophelia, I'll draw a sketch of thee. What kind of pencil shall I use? 2B or not 2B?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/spike-milligan/said-hamlet-to-ophelia-i-ll-draw-a-sketch-of-thee-what-kind-of-pencil/) [Spike Milligan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/spike-milligan/) > [Maybe it's just my improv and sketch background, but I'm a lot more comfortable in a group. I like sharing focus and populating an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-mantzoukas/maybe-it-s-just-my-improv-and-sketch-background-but-i-m-a-lot-more/) [Jason Mantzoukas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-mantzoukas/) > [Like I said, a sketch is one joke. They shouldn't really be more than a minute, two minutes. There are some shows where the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-andre/like-i-said-a-sketch-is-one-joke-they-shouldn-t-really-be-more-than-a/) [Eric Andre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-andre/) ## More by Leslie Jones > [There is no such thing as getting anything easy. Trust and believe. Even if you're good at what you do, you still should be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leslie-jones/there-is-no-such-thing-as-getting-anything-easy-trust-and-believe/) [Leslie Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leslie-jones/) > [The reason everybody is so amazed and enamored with me right now is because I have worked every angle, I have worked every formula,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leslie-jones/the-reason-everybody-is-so-amazed-and-enamored-with-me-right-now-is/) [Leslie Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leslie-jones/) > [I always had a Twitter account. I always had an Instagram account. I was always active on it, always spoke my mind. To me,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leslie-jones/i-always-had-a-twitter-account-i-always-had-an-instagram-account-i/) [Leslie Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leslie-jones/) > [The way we value black beauty has changed. I'm single now, but back in the slave days, I would have never been single. I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leslie-jones/the-way-we-value-black-beauty-has-changed-i-m-single-now-but-back-in/) [Leslie Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leslie-jones/) > [My job is to bring the tickle. I know what's funny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leslie-jones/my-job-is-to-bring-the-tickle-i-know-what-s-funny/) [Leslie Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leslie-jones/) > [I'm really good at standup. 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No. It's just that you all found me overnight.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leslie-jones/people-think-i-m-an-overnight-success-no-it-s-just-that-you-all-found/) [Leslie Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leslie-jones/) > [I didn't realize the age thing until I got hired and everybody was telling me I was f - -ing old.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leslie-jones/i-didn-t-realize-the-age-thing-until-i-got-hired-and-everybody-was/) [Leslie Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leslie-jones/) > [You can't rush good wine. It has to sit. And when you finally drink it, it's the bomb. 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I'm either hugging you or making sure that you're not sick, because my backpack has every kind of medicine…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leslie-jones/i-take-care-of-everybody-i-m-either-hugging-you-or-making-sure-that/) [Leslie Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leslie-jones/) > [Back when I played, basketball was all about fundamentals, about hustling, getting those loose balls, all those rebounds under the basket. 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