5 Tips For Writing Comedy Sketches

5 Tips for Writing Comedy Sketches for YouTube, live, and elsewhere, from @FrankJames who has written dozens of comedy sketches with millions of views on YouTube.

[amysantamaria]

Your guidance is so specific and organized - thank you for sharing your insights. I'm writing fiction but want it to be funny, so this was really helpful. I took notes! Your approach to humor is so widely appealing - everyone in my household adores your sketches, including the 11 year old INTJ and the 8 year old ENTJ.

[ClubENTP]

That's a really great approach to writing comedy. Thanks, FJ.

[StephanieJeanne]

Thanks, Frank! These are great and specific tips! I really appreciate this! 😊 ✌️

[kyrafox]

Hi Frank, I think it would be fun to see a 16 personalities sketch about if each were representing the weather forecast.

[_This.is.taking.too.long-o]

Hey Frank, taking on the role of "Imma teach the lot of ya" aka Chiron, teacher, teacher, daddy teaches aaaand extrapolate to the collective unconscious = the online community on the platform ☺; I think it's a testament to the commitment to your craft that characterises you as an authentic, diligent creator, it was certainly structured (INF-J 😄), informative and kind; caring for the ones who come after us, when all could do with some room for improvement... the pulse of the collective = mini-polls 😉😉... Thank you and have a good one, FJ! 😃👋👋 Oh! Here's another🧡 to keep you energised! 👋

[gmhefner]

this was awesome, frank! 👏👏👏 we all intuitively know whats funny, but breaking it down is a whole other ballgame and you did a really great job. thank you! im currently working on a comedy screenplay and the structure section was super helpful. i know it intuitively but the breakdown was a super handy clarification to have in my back pocket. 😊

[Graywyck]

Diggin' the decapitated mannequin head of Marc Bolan in the background

[gmhefner]

also, the two watches (or what i initially thought were two watches...lol) freaked me out for a sec! 🤣🤣🤣

[AdorableOracle]

Thank you!! I think your advice is really sound and I trust your word and experience.


I have been trying to get a Behind the Music parody but it’s the 10 year reunion of a 4th grade choir class to work.

I picture it in my mind. For some reason it doesn’t come across.

I was talking to someone in my sketch group and I told her I was just trying to write a behind the music parody . And she said that sounds amazing. You should write that. And I said I already did.. you just read it…

😮😂

[nathalieprange]

Damn, such a good explanation!! Thank you!!!

[Elodie_N_INTJ_Analyzes]

Thank for sharing.
The only thing I did, is : Turning a serious real life experience/observation that I lived in the past, into fun/comedy videos.

[ianaxel]

Where do you get the inspiration to create your sketches?🤔

[Pinkredblack]

A video about introverts being shy and writing scripts to perform before they come into a conversation with someone reading it word for word all revised amd edited so it sounds extremely rehersed . Or just que cards to help prompt them to communicate.

[JohnHenrysaysHi]

Ay, ay ron, Frank. Watched the Key and Peele skit thanks to your recommendation. Really cool hearing your taste in relatability. Make a character the audiences want to relate to is an excellent tip for entertainment in general imo. Not only regarding what you said about quality over quantity being important for being considerate of people's time, but I think that encouraging respect for the audience (such as how you say "stay" cool and attractive) will encourage excitement to keep returning for re-watches and sharing with others.

I think there might be a know the rules to break the rules, good boyfriend/ bad boy appeal with the kind of, ironically, popular random humor. Or when something is so good, the work speaks for itself, so flawed things provide more conversation. How about this one for an example of minimal information, no homework joke:

How many genders are there?
"I don't know. I just got here."

Hope you and your family's month is off to a good start! Thanks for so many videos. Have a fun day!

[kathleenrivard]

I like no plot all vibes kinds of books. Characters are def my fav part. You dont even need a plot plot.

[veracuskar]

Thanks, it was interesting to hear how you make comedy skeches. They are briliant, funny and interesting to watch.🙂
Have a great afternoon.

[PersonalityTrainer]

Great tips on comedy sketches. I remember OPS typed Seinfeld as an INFJ jumper and also play last like yourself and it seems comedy is something that you guys do well on!

[gisa.amorim]

It's funny to see how you say "some young writers"... You're a young writer too, FJ!

I REALLY loved this kind of technical information, makes me feel in college again!

There's any place we can read/watch some of your plays? 😊

[imaimaima]

Thanks, FJ!

this is extremely relevant, i've just uploaded a "comedy" sketch in spanish and i think it came off as harsh 💀 bc i based it on CJ the X videos which are like that

how can i be funny without being aggressive when everything else makes me cringe?