pool lanes became fairly common on freeways in the
1980’s, one comic told a joke about driving with two
pet dogs wearing tiny hats so he could use the car-
pool lane. Delivery plays an important part in obser-
vational comedy.
Character comedians assume a persona other
than their own on stage. The character adopted by
the comedian is often a stereotype easily recogniz-
able to the audience. The humor associated with
such performances is often recognition humor, as a
skilled comic may simultaneously capture and par-
ody a voice or attitude that audience members have
encountered in their lives. At other times, perform-
ers will use personas to set up expectations and then
violate them, using surprise either to get laughs or to
add depth to an act. Whoopi Goldberg demon-
strated mastery of this technique in a stand-up rou-
tine in which she assumed the persona of a young
Valley girl. Her intonation and delivery perfectly
mimicked actual Valley girls, but she strayed into se-
rious territory when her persona described becom-
ing pregnant and terminating her pregnancy. Tele-
vised sketch comedy shows also provide venues well-
suited to character comedians: Eddie Murphy’s suc-
cess onSaturday Night Liveowed much to his skill
portraying characters such as a grown-up version of
child star Buckwheat, the animated character
Gumby, and Mr. Robinson (an inner-city version of
children’s television host Fred Rogers).
Prop comedians rely on their skill at slapstick and
improvision to interact with objects or costumes in
humorous ways. Sometimes considered unsophisti-
cated, these comedians depend on silliness, exag-
geration, pratfalls, outlandish outfits, and other
tricks considered to be passe by some successful
1980’s comedians. Still, Phyllis Diller, using fright
wigs, garish garments, and a maniacal laugh, be-
came extremely successful in the 1960’s and 1970’s,
and remained successful in the 1980’s. Gallagher,
whose trademark was smashing watermelons with
a sledgehammer, was perhaps the most successful
prop comedian of the 1980’s.The Eighties in America Comedians 231
Comedian Richard Pryor (left, with chicken) appears onThe Tonight Showwith host Johnny Carson in October, 1986.(AP/Wide
World Photos)