Late-Night TV Comedy Writing: Monologue Jokes

For the first time, TC Media (Thurston Community Media) is bringing a professional television writers' room to Olympia. The organization announces its Spring Comedy Writing Intensive led by veteran television writer, director and producer Brian Kahn.

The first in-person class, "Late-Night TV Comedy Writing: Monologue Jokes," drops students directly into a fast-paced, working writers' room. Participants write topical monologue jokes based on current events, learn formal joke structure, and experience real-time punch-up. Selected jokes are performed and recorded in TC Media's studio.

"Joke writing is a craft, and craft can be taught," says Kahn. "When students understand the mechanics, why a setup earns a laugh, why a punchline lands or doesn't, something clicks. Then they see their own material performed and recorded, and the learning accelerates fast. I'm all about education by doing. I'm also all about baked goods, so if anyone brings scones to class, you're getting an A."