What I imagined happening for some people reading the piece from my journal was the moment I introduced Karen, which happened in the first paragraph, it made them wonder if I would eventually refer to a Target tyrant.
If you haven’t read the piece yet I’m not spoiling it by saying Karen makes an appearance early on in the form of a girl I was over the moon about for a few weeks in 1978. Go read it if you want to know whether I would draw on the joke that has become a cliché.
I am no expert in comedy, but in the opportunities I’ve had to try standup, I’ve paid attention to the comics who are good, and what makes people respond with laughter. Over time I will pull quotes from people who actually are experts. What I can tell you from my own experience is that laughter comes from surprises. If a joke is a cliché, it probably adds no value unless you can offer a twist, providing a jolt to a hackneyed meme.
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