Funny

Something on another thread that prompted me to react got me thinking about the word "funny" relative to ... what? What do we mean when we say something or someone is funny, or not funny? For the record, here is what I found in the Webster's New World College Dictionary section of the AP Stylebook online:

fun•ny
(fun´ē)

adj. –ni•er, –ni•est [[see FUN & -Y2]] 1causing laughter; laughable; amusing; humorous 2out of the ordinary, esp. in a puzzling or suspicious way 3[Informal] peculiar, eccentric, crazy, etc. -adv. [Informal] in a funny manner —☆ n. pl. –nies [Informal] a joke or witticism —☆get funny with [Slang] to be impudent to –fun’ ni•ly adv. –fun’ ni•ness n.

SYN– —funny is the simple, general term for anything that excites laughter or mirth; laughable applies to that which is fit to be laughed at and may connote contempt or scorn; that is amusing which provokes smiles, laughter, or pleasure by its pleasant, entertaining quality; that is droll which amuses one because of its quaintness or strangeness, or its wry or waggish humor; comic is applied to that which contains the elements of comedy (in a dramatic or literary sense) and amuses one in a thoughtful way; comical suggests that which evokes laughter of a more spontaneous, unrestrained kind; farcical suggests a broad comical quality based on nonsense, extravagantly boisterous humor, etc.

There are many times when I use the term about something that does not make me laugh at all. In fact, it's rare that I laugh. Usually, a smile and a nod are my version of cracking (although there have been a couple of times when I thought I would actually die from laughing).

Maybe I've answered my own question by posting the definitions, but I'm fascinated by the differences people have over what's "funny" and what's not, at who's a brilliant comedian or humorist and who's not. Some of you may recall times when what has been largely accepted here as acceptable (and even desirable) gallows humor strikes me as tasteless and inappropriate. I'm not looking specifically for where that line gets crossed, although it's probably impossible to deconstruct the nature of what's "funny" without touching on it.

In general, what are your thoughts about what we call funny? Who's funny? Who's not? Why? Do any of the above definitions resonate more for you than others? Are you specific in using such terms as witty, clever, amusing, etc., when funny doesn't really work, or do you default to the general term? I think of people who get labeled as comedians but come somewhat close to a more liberal definition of performance art, essentially ad libbing their way through life with that je ne sais quoi that we often define as "funny."

What say you?

 

That's funny.

 

That's funny.

 

I've got a bad feeling about this thread.

 

See, that's funny.

 

Great signature line you have there JD!

 

I am more a fan of the deadpan, dry delivery. I don't go for the "Hey, this is funny, you're supposed to laugh!" type stuff.

The American Express commercial in Major League just cracked me up.

 

On the funny side there are the Marx Brothers, except Zeppo; the Ritz Brothers, no exceptions; both Laurel and Hardy; and Woody Woodpecker. On the unfunny side there's anybody who has ever played the accordion professionally.

 

Which is why Joey Bishop was popular.

 

No love for Judy Tenuta?