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Reviewed by Pikasho Deka for Readers' Favorite
Stand-up comedians have to learn a lot to work the stage and the crowd. Comedy itself has come a long way since the old "Gatekeepers" have been replaced by Netflix, Hulu, and Amazon. Comedians on TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube depend on real-time user reactions. In Only the Funny Survive, author Rich Davis II explores how comedy has changed over the century from the days of vaudeville and silent films to streaming platforms and social media. Radio in the 1930s and 1940s primarily played comedy until music took over by the 1960s. Later, television brought out another side of comedians. Sketch and improv performers have to make decisions on the spot. But with the advent of AI, the audience stops being the teacher. Instead, comedians are turning to the machine to get new material.
If you enjoy comedy or aspire to be a comedian, I can't think of a better book than this one. Only the Funny Survive basically covers every aspect of the art form and its evolution throughout the last century. I'm really impressed by the length and breadth of Rich Davis II's knowledge of the subject. It's clear how much thought and research have gone into crafting this book. It's not just informative, but also interesting and fun to read. I had no idea what vaudeville was before reading this book. The author also tells stories about a few contemporary and legendary comedians who bombed on stage at some point in their lives. I think an aspiring comic will get plenty of inspiration from reading this book. Highly recommended.
