Most jokes are based on the setup and punch line formula. First, the setup explains what the joke is about and then the punch line delivers the laugh (or so you hope).
Example:
Setup - "My mother is so fat..."
Punch line - "...her booty has its own zip code."
The following is a list of the primary joke formats:
1. Lists. The magic number in comedy is 3. The first two are alike, but the third is the opposite. ("Some are born great, some achieve greatness, and some hire PR officers." -Daniel J. Boorstin)
2. Comparisons. Pointing out vast differences. ("My girlfriend's idea of a romantic night is a candlelit dinner and a walk on the beach. Mine is a six-pack and a bag of Fritos.")
3. Simile. Describing something by likening it to something else. ("He looked like a squid in stretch pants." -Judy Tenuta)
4. Observations. Pointing out how absurd everyday life is. ("You can't have everything. I mean, where would you put it?" -Steven Wright)
5. Mimicking. Making fun of someone by acting like him/her. (Your interfering mom, your whiny significant other, your pesky parole officer .)
6. Callback. A joke with a punch line that refers to a joke you did earlier ("I was going to send my mom a letter, but I couldn't remember her booty's zip code.")
SoYouWanna know more? Check out our full-length article SYW do stand-up comedy?
