Rule, Rule, Joke
Just a few days ago I wrote about comedy clichés, well this is one of my favourite manoeuvres of all time. One so great that even when you obviously see it coming you can’t help but listen and wait for the punch line.
I’ve searched a bit and it seems it’s called The Triple. It consists on stating something that is true or reasonable (defining a rule), then something else that is also true or sensible for the same reason (confirming the rule) only to, right in sequence, mention a third element that breaks the rule and delivers the joke.
Here’s an example I’m sure you remember…
Beast: “I wanna do something for her… but what?”
Another great example, right in the middle of the fantastic “Not Just for Gays Anymore” by Neil Patrick Harris…
So, yeah, embrace The Triple in your jokes and you’ll make me extremely happy.
