Hollywood’s biggest night is almost here, and we’re taking a look at the people who write the jokes for the Oscars!
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Jokesters
There’s a team of writers who are responsible for creating the hilarious jokes you hear at the Oscars. These writers are usually comedy writers who have a lot of experience with writing jokes. They usually start writing the jokes a few months before the Oscars.
Who are they?
There are a team of writers who are responsible for the jokes that are told during the Oscars. This team is made up of comedians, screenwriters, and other professionals who have a knack for coming up with funny material. These writers work closely with the producers of the show to ensure that the jokes are appropriate and will be well-received by the audience.
What do they do?
Jokesters are professional comedy writers who specialize in creating material for stand-up comedians, late-night talk show hosts, and other performers. They may also write for sketch comedy shows and sitcoms. In some cases, jokesters may perform their own material.
How do they come up with the material?
How do they come up with the material?
It’s a team effort! jokesters enlist the help of writers, comedians, and even friends to come up with material that will get a laugh. But it’s not just about writing jokes—they also have to be well-timed and delivered in a way that will work with the flow of the awards show.
The Process
You might be wondering who writes the jokes for the Oscars. It’s a team of writers, and the process is a bit more complicated than you might think. Let’s take a look at how it works.
Who pitches the jokes?
Kevin Hart is hosting the Oscars this year, and he’s working with a team of writers to come up with material for the show. But who are these writers, and how do they come up with the jokes that will make Hollywood laugh?
The answer may surprise you: a lot of the jokes you hear at the Oscars are actually written by a team of writers who work for the Academy itself. That’s right – the same organization that hands out the awards is also responsible for many of the jokes that are told during the show.
So how does it work? The team of writers start by watching all of the nominated films and taking notes on anything that might be funny. They also keep an eye on news stories about the nominees and look for any potential humor there.
Once they have a good idea of what might be funny, they start writing jokes and pitching them to Kevin Hart and the other producers. If a joke makes them laugh, it has a good chance of making it into the show.
Of course, not all of the jokes at the Oscars are written by Academy writers. Some are contributed by Hollywood celebrities themselves, or by professional comedy writers who are hired specifically for this purpose. But even those jokes have to go through a approval process before they can be used on air.
So there you have it: next time you’re watching the Oscars, remember that some of the funniest moments might be thanks to a team of writers who are just trying to make Hollywood laugh.
Who decides which jokes to use?
It’s a well-oiled machine, with a lot of people playing small but important roles. Here’s a rundown:
The first step is the “topic meeting,” where the writing team (which typically consists of about five people) meets with the producer to brainstorm what the night’s big themes will be. That’s followed by a week or two of joke-writing, during which each writer is responsible for coming up with material for about 10 to 15 awards.
From there, the jokes go through a process of “punching up,” which is when they are refined and made funnier. The writers present their material to the executive producer and other producers, who then provide feedback. The writers then revise their jokes, which are circulated among a smaller group of people for more feedback. This process continues until everyone is happy with the material.
Finally, it’s time for the “dress rehearsal,” held the day of the show. At this point, most of the awards have been announced, so the writers know which jokes will be used and can fine-tune them accordingly. The rehearsal is also when they figure out timing — how long each presenter will take to walk onstage, how long their speeches will be, etc. — so they can make sure the show moves along at a brisk pace.
How are the jokes delivered?
The first step is to come up with a list of potential targets. These are usually people or films that have been in the news recently, or that the writers think will be popular at the time of the awards. The writers then start to write jokes about these targets.
Some of the jokes will be general jokes that could be applied to any target, but others will be specific to a particular target. For example, a joke about a film that has been nominated for several awards might be: “This film is so good, I’m surprised it wasn’t nominated for more awards.”
Once the jokes have been written, they are sent to the person who will be delivering them (usually one of the presenters). This person then rehearses the jokes to make sure they sound natural and delivery is impeccable on Oscar night.
The Jokes
If you have ever wondered who writes the jokes for the Oscars, you are not alone. Many people are curious about who is responsible for making the Academy Awards ceremony fun and entertaining. While the Oscars are a serious awards show, there are always a few light-hearted moments mixed in. So, who writes the jokes for the Oscars?
What are they about?
Jokes for the Oscars are written by a group of around 15 writers who are hired by the show’s producers specifically for this purpose. The writers work in teams of two and each team is responsible for writing jokes for a specific presenter or group of presenters. In total, the writers will produce around 500 jokes, which are whittled down to around 50 by the producers.
Who are they aimed at?
The Oscars (and the Golden Globes, too) have a long tradition of being made fun of. For as long as there have been award shows, there have been people pointing out how self-important and/or out-of-touch they can be. But in recent years, the targets of these jokes have shifted.
Traditionally, host meanness was directed almost exclusively at the nominees. They were the ones who had to sit there and take it, whether it was Billy Crystal making fun of Martin Scorsese for never winning an Oscar (he eventually won two), or Chris Rock needling Leonardo DiCaprio about his string of nominations without a win (he finally won one in 2016).
But in recent years, the host has increasingly been turning the meanness on the Academy members themselves. It’s a reflection of how the role of host has changed over time. In the early days of the Oscars, the host was someone who was supposed to be above it all—a true Hollywood insider who could make fun of everyone equally because he or she was one of them. But as Hollywood has become increasingly politicized—and as award shows have become increasingly aware of their own politics—the hosts have become more like commentators, using their platform to point out hypocrisy and call out injustices.
So when Jimmy Kimmel made jokes about diversity at this year’s Oscars—jokes that were aimed not at the nominees but at the Academy members in the room—it wasn’t just funny, it was also meaningful. And it highlighted how much comedy at award shows has changed in recent years.
What is the overall tone?
The overall tone of the jokes is humor.
The Reception
The Oscars are one of the most important nights in Hollywood. Every year, the biggest and brightest stars in film come together to celebrate the previous year’s achievements in cinema. But what about the jokes? Who writes them?
How are the jokes received?
The jokes are written long before the Oscars and are carefully vetted by the producers, who choose material they think will be safe. (Some years have been edgier than others; in 2017, Jimmy Kimmel made headlines when he joked about then-President Donald Trump.) But not all of the material is screened in advance. For example, when Jennifer Lawrence won Best Actress for “Silver Linings Playbook” in 2013, she took a tumble on her way to the stage. Billy Crystal joked from the podium, “Looks like we’re going to have to borrow a cup of sugar from neighbors — we just lost Jennifer Lawrence.”
What is the reaction?
The reaction to the Oscars has been mixed. Some people love it and some people think it’s just okay. There are definitely some jokes that fall flat, but overall I think it’s a pretty funny show.
What is the aftermath?
The aftermath of the Oscars is always interesting. People tend to either love it or hate it. For those who love it, they enjoy watching the speeches, the acceptance, and the tears. For those who hate it, they tend to find it all to be a bit too much.
