Frustration Humor

Historically, I've always hated frustration humor. Frustration humor is the sort of comedy involving either a dumb or hapless character who chronically finds himself in awkward or compromising positions. A key element of frustration humor is that the audience can forsee the mayhem the character will walk into. And that element is what kills the humor for me. If the unfortunate situation that befalls the character is a surprise, I'll laugh. But if I can see it coming, and the character can't, my gut reaction is to scream at the character rather than laugh at them.

The queen of frustration humor was one Lucille Ball of "I Love Lucy". In her classic 1950's show, Lucy was a walking disaster who would screw everything up. And you knew this from the outset. I couldn't figure out why anyone, let alone husband Ricky, would love Lucy. Lucy was a troublemaker who'd launch into an irratating baby cry if she didn't get what she wanted. Her most assissine desire was to perform at the Ricky's club. Ricky, wisely would tell her no. Then she'd show up at the club anyway dressed as Carmen Miranda, would get on stage with a terrified look on her head as the fruit motif on her head started to fall apart. I get ill when I see the stupid bit when Lucy works in the chocolate factory and can't keep up with the conveyor belt. Lucy should have been banned from employment. In fact, she was probably the main reason that women were not a major part of the workforce in the United States in the 1950s. It was even worse in the late 60's and early when Lucy made a final run at frustration humor with the "Lucille Ball Show". She was too damn old for the brand of comedy. Get off the wobbly ladder Lucy, you're going to hurt yourself!

The new kings of frustration humor, in my estimation, are the Stillers --- son Ben and father Jerry. Jerry's role of George Costanza's father on Seinfeld was classic. But when George and Dad were on, it equalled double frustration humor. Both would get their signals crossed, there'd be lots of yelling, and I'd have to switch channels until the show refocused on Kramer and his pratfall humor (which I love). Son Ben has taken up the torch and has appeared in a string of frustration humor movies including the Meet the Family series and Along Came Polly and other movies about weird, whacky chicks. I guess I hate frustration humor most when it's placed in the family setting --- it's just tense enough being around your own family, why would it be funny to watch a hyper dysfunctional family scream at each other? But because Hollywood loves this formula, Ben Stiller will likely never be out of work.