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The Rule of 3

By Ched Rickman · April 7, 2010

I’d like to address a common reference in your standard comedy writing class or improv class or “this is how we teach ‘funny’ even though it can’t be acquired, it can only be bestowed and even then it must be honed finely but not without intense non-classwork related exercises” class. One of only a small handful of “rules” that I, as an actor [EDIT: and writer], have ever abided by: the good ol’, classic, Rule of 3.

Here’s the deal. The Rule of 3 states, for the most part, that no joke in a sketch, screenplay, stand-up bit, scene, whatever the fuck you want to call it, should be repeated more than two times, for a total of 3 overall references. This is a guideline based upon the tried and true realization that people love “callbacks.”

Callbacks, in comedy, are the shit. They are essentially an inside joke, and everyone knows those are awesome. Like Brendan Rose, when he razzes me for having it in for our friend’s sister YEARS ago, everyone loves the fact you brought back that Obama reference from ten minutes ago. When a joke or a “pop” hits, there’s no better experience than having the joke really appreciated by the audience. If you’re lucky enough to find a window to slip it in again, and get that reaction again, Brava.


And here comes the rule of 3. Pardon me for using the framework of improv comedy as my example here, as there is literally no actual writing ever done in the form, but it’s the best way I can illustrate this. If you are fortunate enough to find ANOTHER window on your page to slip in that joke from 20 minutes ago, choose wisely. The third of a three-parter callback needs to be a book-end type sort of thing. It doesn’t have to close the set or end the entire show, or finalize the story, but it needs to come late, and even then, only if the dumbest of luck has presented you with another chance to revive a joke you know will kill. Throw it in with a few minutes left in your improv cycle, or the falling action of your script, an afterthought — funny, make no mistake — to the rest of your work which was, hopefully funnier. The Rule of 3 should be enacted and utilized only when you stumble upon the somewhat rare times where you have no choice but to utilize and enact it: when the audience will still be on the same mental page with you and “get” it.

And here’s where I mount myself on a soapbox: The Rule of 3 is a fantastic, limiting guideline (yeah, they exist), but it is often misinvoked. The Rule of 3 does not mean that every joke you write should be repeated twice more. To utilize the comedic callback means you’ve got a gem that deserves reminiscing. It does not mean that every single quip deserves re-visiting (admit it, some of your shit is less than stellar).I was once shooting a hosting bit where I had to do a little gimmick regarding camera placement. Fair enough. Stupid, but fair. I’m an actor, you tell me to do something, then I do it, then I get paid amounts of money I in no way deserve. Then they asked me to do it again, a full 1/16th of an inch down the script from the last time I did it. I obliged. Then talk turned to me doing it a THIRD time at the end of the segment. I, overwhelmed and meek, as it was in my early era of acting professionally, finally piped up and protested. As I expected, one of the camera ops dropped the ol’ Rule of 3: “Well, we did it twice, it would be weird if we didn’t do it one more time.”

NO
NO
NO
NO

You don’t need the Rule of 3. You can callback a joke once and that’s fine. As I said, lucky enough to do it twice, you’re “the money,” as they say. But therein lies the beauty of this little rule we have as comedians. As I said earlier, the Rule of 3 essentially banks on the idea of an inside joke. And inside jokes aren’t manufactured. They just plain old happen. They happen because you bust your buddie’s balls about that drive home with the stripper in the back seat from Kenosha back in aught-3. Or that time you were saying goodbye to your brother on the phone and started to say “Bro” but decided to say “Dude” instead and ended up calling him “Boo.” And they happen when your material is funny enough that the audience understands your out-of-the-blue reference to Patrick Roy and laughs their asses off.

So here’s my whole point. First off, repeat material that you only truly think people will enjoy hearing again. And of course, never more than twice (for a total of 3 jokes) because, as unexplainable as it is, human psychology finds no joy in the 4th reference. But never, EVER expect yourself to abide by the Rule of 3. Let it happen, don’t make it happen. Please?
But what the fuck would I know, I’m just an actor.