Insult comedy

Insult comedy is a comedy genre in which the act consists mainly of offensive insults, usually directed at the audience or other performers.^[1] Typical targets for insult include people in the show's audience, the town hosting the performance, or the subject of a roast. The style can be distinguished from an act based on satire, or political humor. Insult comedy is often used to deflect or silence hecklers even when the rest of the show is not focused on it.

Performers

• Fred Allen, especially towards his longtime friend Jack Benny^[2]
• Greg Giraldo^[3]
• Bob Hope^[4]
• Don Rickles, widely considered a master of the genre^[4][5][6]

See also

• Roast (comedy)
• The dozens

References

1. James Mendrinos, Jim Mendrinos (2004), The Complete Idiot's Guide to Comedy Writing, Penguin, ISBN 978-1-59257-231-1
2. Alan Havig (1991-10-10), Fred Allen's Radio Comedy, ISBN 978-0-87722-810-3
3. O'Connor, Anahad. "Greg Giraldo, Insult-Humor Comic, Dies at 44", The New York Times, September 30, 2010
4. W. McCaffrey (2005). The road to comedy. ISBN 978-0-275-98257-7.
5. Levin, Gary (April 6, 2017). "Master of the insult: Comedian Don Rickles dies at 90". USA Today.
6. Rickles, Don (October 13, 1967). "From the Archives: A 1967 interview with Don Rickles, the ever-busy insult comic who never writes anything down". Los Angeles Times (Interview). Interviewed by Don Page.