Comedy is a skill which can be learned and honed, much like playing an instrument or building a car. 

This fall, 34 students at Bingham High learned that as they took Chris Hults’ new class, Science of Comedy. 

“Once you learn the craft and the skills, anybody can do it,” he said. “We learn nine or 10 elements of comedy, or laughter triggers, and we categorize the types of comedy, like different flavors of comedy. Much like a science course, we count, measure, categorize and learn the rules. Comedy requires vulnerability and courage to fail, just like science. Stand-up comics experiment for years before they succeed and sometimes, their jokes still fail.”

Sophomore Quinn Burnham, a member of the school’s 17-person improv team, joined the class to further explore comedy.

“At first, I thought, things are either funny or they’re not,” he said. “But now, I’ve learned there are many ways to make things funny, like, ‘Is it funny because you can relate to it? Is it funny because it’s ironic? Is it funny because it breaks the rules just a little bit?’ I learned I don’t have to be a stand-up comedian to make people laugh, but I want a career which brings joy and laughter. When you’re affecting people, it’s changing the world.”

The class focused on comedians like Steve Martin, Robin Williams, Jerry Seinfeld and Bob Hope, analyzing their joke-writing methods. They studied late night hosts and Hults explained those late night writers and hosts excel in comedy that makes connections from observations.

“It takes time to make observations, collect material and write lists,” he said. “To be funny, you need to be well-read and knowledgeable. You have to make connections, especially for topical comedy with what’s going on in the news.”

Students practiced this by listing ideas and finding connections between them. Hults said many struggled to wait before turning their lists into jokes.

“We did exercises like creating roller derby names using our own names to get students to focus on the process,” he said.

Along with studying comedy, students read, “How to Fly a Horse: The Secret History of Creation, Invention and Discovery,” which challenges the idea of innate genius and emphasizes success comes from repeated failure.

“Comedy requires failing—famous comedians talk about how often their jokes don’t work,” Hults explained. “Failure is part of learning, and this book helps kids learn how to be OK with that.”

Throughout the semester, students explored various forms of comedy, including short-form, long-form, improvisation, storytelling and clowning. 

Burnham recalled exercises that pushed them to think creatively.

“We explored how Jerry Seinfeld observes the world. He writes observations and later finds connections that become jokes. We did the same, writing about everyday things like garbage or classroom temperatures. It doesn’t always turn into a joke, but (Hults) taught us to make the observations first before trying to be funny,” he said. “Even though we’re studying Jerry Seinfeld and Steve Martin, (Hults) wants us to find our own comedy. He doesn’t want us copying someone else. We may practice a bit of their method, but it doesn’t mean we should become the next Steve Martin. He wants us to find out how our mind makes the world funny.”

Hults emphasized comedy often involves an element of surprise, requiring an understanding of audience expectations.

“To surprise, you have to cross a line,” he said. “But how far? You must study those lines and know your audience. High schoolers in Utah may have different limits than the standard American audience, so we talk about how far to push boundaries without going too far. Those conversations are fun to explore alongside the kids.”

After working on Bingham’s production of “Comedy of Errors” and learning about clowning, Burnham discovered a passion for physical comedy.

“I fell in love with clowning—it’s how Robin Williams started, doing mime on the streets,” he said. “In ‘Comedy of Errors’ the mimes helped tell the story without speaking. I realized my face is a powerful tool in acting and comedy, and I’ve been practicing how to use it.”

Hults, who taught the class previously at Maser Prep Academy, brings a diverse background in philosophy, theater, English, history and critical studies to the course.

“Comedy comes from studying theater and film,” he said. “I learned by reading about it and doing it.”

Burnham added Hults’ unique teaching style makes the class stand out.

“Not everyone could teach a class about being funny,” he said. “He knows how to connect with us, and he’s always ready to make
a joke.” λ