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There’s a very good chance that you have landed on this page looking for the best comedy topics — for a speech, presentation or a stand-up comedy routine.
Note: The comedy mechanics used to generate laughter in a casual conversation, a speech or a stand-up comedy routine are exactly the same — only the content structure is a different for each.
So, let’s get to the burning question…
Is there such a thing as a best comedy topic?
Well, you might be surprised to know that…
That question is actually too broad to answer intelligently or accurately.
Related Video:
How About Some Better Questions Regarding Comedy Topics
Are there “generic” topics that guarantee laughs? The answer is no.
Trying to compile a universal list of comedy topics is like searching for a pot of gold at the end of a rainbow—it doesn’t exist.
As a comic, your job is to create original stand-up material. That doesn’t mean you need to discuss something that’s never been done before.
Will Watching Stand-up Videos Help Me Find Comedy Topics?
Highly unlikely.
If you watch enough professional stand-up, you’ll notice most comedians talk about the same general themes—relationships, pets, driving, sex, paying bills—over and over.
Simply search any topic on Dry Bar Comedy, and you’ll see what I mean.
What makes stand-up material original isn’t the topic itself but how a comedian approaches it—their unique perspective, experiences, and delivery.
Watching stand-up might spark broad topic ideas, but it won’t teach you how to develop your own original material.
Another Perspective
Even if you could pull topic ideas from other comedians, then what? Are you going to sit down and hope something funny comes to mind?
If that’s your approach, you’re in for a long, frustrating process before you create material that actually gets laughs.
One of the biggest challenges for new comedians is figuring out what to talk about in the first place. That’s why my course focuses on helping comics develop comedy topics that suit them right from the start.
I don’t just teach theory—I demonstrate the process from concept to actual performance, including audio from the stage.
Finding great comedy topics isn’t difficult, but you need a process that works.
And unless you’re planning to steal another comedian’s material (which is both unethical and career suicide), watching stand-up isn’t going to give you much to work with.
The Truth About “Original” Comedy Topics
Most new comedians don’t understand what “original” material really means.
Let me tell you a story:
I was at an open mic at The Comedy Store in La Jolla, working on new material. I had already been headlining, so I got a decent early spot.
After my set, I overheard a new comedian say to another comic:
“You did a space shuttle joke. I do a space shuttle joke, and I’ve been doing mine longer. You need to quit doing that joke.”
The problem? I had just heard both jokes, and they were completely different. The only thing they had in common was the topic—the space shuttle.
No comedian owns a topic. As long as their material is original and gets laughs, they can talk about whatever they want.
What Actually Makes Stand-up Material Original?
Not the topic.
It’s the approach—your personal take, passion, and delivery—that makes stand-up material unique and funny.
A Great Source for Comedy Topics?
There is one category that consistently lends itself to great stand-up material:
Strange and unusual news stories.
Late-night TV hosts use them all the time in their monologues.
I used them frequently in my own act because they made it easy to develop great material. Sometimes, a single headline was enough to generate 1-2 minutes of strong, headliner-worthy material.
That said, if bizarre news doesn’t interest you, forcing it won’t work—just like with any other topic.
The Bottom Line
Every comedy topic has been covered hundreds (if not thousands) of times.
When comics say, “It’s all been done,” they mean that most stand-up material is based on recognizable, relatable life experiences.
What makes your stand-up unique isn’t the subject—it’s your perspective and delivery.
Stand-up Comedy Tip: The absolute best comedy topics you could ever find are already inside you. You simply need to know how to identify those comedy topics and develop the skill to turn them into a tight and funny stand-up comedy routine.
Related Video and Article Link:
Article Link: How To Write Stand-up Comedy Material