ASPEN, Colo. – The funny business is a moving target. From Jackie Gleason’s pratfalls to Dave Chappelle’s racially charged delivery, comedy is constantly evolving.
Yet, there are some truths when it comes to tickling the funny bone, according to writers, directors and performers at the 12th Annual U.S. Comedy Arts Festival in Aspen this week.
Actor Robert Wuhl, performing here in a one-man show, said comedy is generational, but funny is funny.
“It can be anything from a really good joke to a pratfall,” he said. “I see it as being part of that comedy and tragedy mask. Out of that comes the human drama.”
For James Burrows, whose writing, producing and directing credits include “The Mary Tyler Moore Show,” “Taxi,” “Cheers” and “Frasier,” there’s always room for a witty show.
Currently at work on the final episodes of “Will and Grace,” Burrows said the similarities of the genre through the ages include “a core humanity, which has to do with the frailty of characters.”
“Funny is and will always be,” said Burrows, who will be honored Saturday with the festival’s career tribute.
Still, Burrows said the big difference between his sitcoms of the ’70s and those today is the loss of innocence.
“The Mary Tyler Moore Show” didn’t “push the envelope as much. In the world now where we have cable, there isn’t a big enough envelope,” Burrows said.
Bob Crestani, the festival’s chief executive, said opportunities abound for the comedic form in part because of new media, including cable, video on demand and the Internet.
“There are more outlets for talent to go to be exposed and do their shtick or whatever,” Crestani said. “Independent comedies are becoming a much stronger business.”
Kevin Haasarud, an employee of HBO who programmed films for this festival, said comedy seems to fall in and out of favor. He said the pendulum seems to have swung back to comedy, and he pointed to the surprise success last year of both “Wedding Crashers” and “The 40-Year-Old Virgin.”
Haasarud said that at this year’s festival there is a huge representation from movie studios seeking new talent and programming.
“It’s unusual that everyone would show,” he said. “It’s a good time to be making comedies.”
The last pure comedy to win an Oscar for Best Picture was “Annie Hall” in 1977.
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