The Ten Commandments of Comedy. Gene Perret

      Notice that the comic doesn’t come out and say that his wife talks a lot. However, his meaning is abundantly clear. The audience “gets it.” They’re proud of having “gotten it,” and they laugh.

      Here’s a brilliant Rita Rudner line that also illustrates this technique very well:

       I was going to have cosmetic surgery until I noticed that the doctor’s office was full of portraits by Picasso.

      Rudner doesn’t say why she changed her mind about having the cosmetic surgery performed, but the audience figures it out. Having figured it out provides a nice, pleasant surprise that generates laughter.

      There are many other ways to amaze, astound, and surprise an audience. Each comic may develop his or her own arsenal of tricks. More than the specific techniques, though, the key element here is to remember that if you want people to laugh at whatever you’re saying or doing, there’d better be a surprise in there for them. It’s the First Commandment of Comedy.