What is comedic timing?

Comedic timing refers to the precise moment at which a comedian delivers a punchline or element of humor, which is crucial in making the joke effective. For example, Cal Newport discusses the comedic style of Dave Barry, who skillfully sets up a scenario in a somewhat dry manner, then unexpectedly hits with an absurd punchline. The sudden shift from the mundane to the ridiculous, delivered at just the right moment, exemplifies excellent comedic timing. This technique keeps the humor rolling, continuously building on the absurdity 1 .