New Books Network Elliott Kalan, "Joke Farming: How to Write Comedy and Other Nonsense" (U Chicago Press, 2025)
Dec 4, 2025
Elliott Kalan, a seasoned comedy writer and former head writer for The Daily Show, shares insights from his new book, Joke Farming. He demystifies the joke-writing process, emphasizing the importance of structure and audience engagement. Kalan reflects on his collaborative experience in writers' rooms and outlines a practical approach to joke crafting, highlighting how minor wording changes can transform humor. He also dives into the nuances of satire, defining its challenges and artistry while stressing the significance of finding one's unique comedic voice.
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Build A Repeatable Joke Process
- Reverse-engineer your unconscious joke-making into a repeatable process by identifying the absurdity first.
- Use premise, structure, wording, and testing to turn that absurdity into a clear, short joke.
Comedy Is Communication
- Comedy writing shares core goals with other writing: communicating an idea from one mind to another.
- Jokes are just discrete units built to transmit a specific point effectively.
Daily Show Apprenticeship
- Elliott Kalan recounts starting as a Daily Show intern and staying for about 13 years, eventually becoming head writer.
- He credits that experience with teaching most of his professional comedy-writing craft.
