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A punch line (or punchline) is the final part of a joke, comedy sketch, or profound statement, usually the word, sentence or exchange of sentences which is intended to be funny or to provoke laughter or thought from listeners. Few punchlines are inherently funny out of context, but when a comedian sets up the premise and builds up the audience's expectations, the punch line can function as the climactic part of the act.

Punch lines generally derive their humor from being unexpected. The classic stand-up punch line sound is a sting (erroneously called a rimshot) on drums.

Etymology[link]

The origin of the term punchline is actually a mystery to etymologists. Some sources suggest the first published use of "punchline" or "punch line" to describe the pay-off line of a joke didn't appear until the 1920s or 1930s. Comedians had been using the classic "set-up, premise, punchline" format for many years before that time, however.

One theory is that the word punchline refers to the practice of emphasizing or "punching up" certain lines during a speech or monologue. Actors and broadcast journalists are trained to read their scripts with an ear towards high points and low points of audience interest. It is possible that the final line of a joke is called a punchline because the performer is expected to place stronger emphasis on it, or "punch it up" vocally.

Some believe the term is derived from one half of the medieval puppet team Punch and Judy. The modern punchline of a joke would be delivered in the same way that Punch delivered his slapstick blows on Judy. There is little convincing evidence to make such a connection, however, and the Punch and Judy plays did not rely on the same style of wordplay as traditional modern jokes.

In previous centuries, a joke was sometimes a "bite" or a "hit", in Italian it is still called a "battuta" (a "beating").

Avoiding the punch line[link]

Not all jokes have a punchline in a classic sense. Some comedic sketches simply end abruptly, or fade to black without a conclusion. Shaggy dog stories are long-winded anti-jokes where the punchline is deliberately anticlimactic, and are not intended to elicit laughter. Slapstick humor often relies more on an action and comical reaction instead of an actual punchline, but a pie in the face or pratfall can still work as a comical conclusion to a premise.

Monty Python moved away from punch lines as they found it increasingly hard to find good ways of rounding up humorous sketches. Terry Gilliam's animations and The Lumberjack Song were two of the many methods used to conclude sketches without punch lines.^[1]

References[link]

Vice Ganda
Birth name	Jose Marie Viceral
Born	(1976-03-31) March 31, 1976 (age 36) Tondo, Manila, Philippines
Medium	Stand-up comedy, television, film, music
Nationality	Filipino
Years active	1999–present
Genres	observational comedy, satire
Subject(s)	everyday life, current events, pop culture, human sexuality
Influences	Roderick Paulate, Dolphy, Allan K, Joey de Leon
Notable works and roles	Gandang Gabi, Vice!, It's Showtime, Praybeyt Benjamin, Petrang Kabayo

Vice Ganda (born March 31, 1976) is a Filipino stand-up comedian, television host and actor. He is best known as the main judge on ABS-CBN’s talent show It's Showtime and the host of Gandang Gabi, Vice!.
He is declared as 43rd Box Office Entertainment Awards, Phenomenal Box Office Star & Male Concert Performer of the Year, in the year 2012.

He is also known for his lead roles in commercially successful films Petrang Kabayo and The Unkabogable Praybeyt Benjamin which became the highest-grossing film in Philippines.^[1][2][3]

He gained popularity for his comic routines, for which he uses observational comedy on typical “Pinoy” lifestyle and his use of situational irony and sarcasm when reacting to Filipino culture & behavior and human sexuality. He is the first openly gay endorser for a major product in the Philippines, which is Globe Telecom in the Philippines.^[4][5]

Early life[link]

Vice, Jose Marie Viceral, is the youngest of five children. He grew up in the neighborhood of José Abád Santos Street in Manuguit, Tondo, Manila. His father, a barangay captain, was murdered when he was young prompting his mother to work as a caregiver abroad leaving them by themselves. He obtained his college education at Far Eastern University studying Political Science.^[6] Around the age of 19, Vice was writing and performing his stand-up comic routines in comedy bars in Ermita, Manila.

Career[link]

Stand-up comedy[link]

Vice launched his stand-up career in Punchline and The Library, whose manager Andrew de Real gave him the screen name “Vice Ganda”.^[7] There he spent several years developing his materials in the comedy clubs. Vice’s career began to build after appearances on television and reviews from tabloid columns. He worked alongside fellow comedians Chocoleit, Pooh, John Lapus and Rey Kilay.

Television career[link]

He appeared in several TV series and sitcoms 'Dyosa under the direction of Wenn V. Deramas. Vice also had another supporting role in the drama series Maging Sino Ka Man: Ang Pagbabalik.

His biggest break came in 2009, when he became part of Showtime, a talent search program which made him a regular host/judge until present. His life story of being bullied as a young closeted gay has also been featured in the drama anthology, Maalaala Mo Kaya.^[8] Aside from Showtime, he is currently hosting his own Sunday talk show, the consistently top rated Gandang Gabi, Vice!.^[9] Currently he is under the management of ABS-CBN, handling him is business unit head Deo Endrinal^[10] after being managed for four years^[11] by local entertainment columnist/host Ogie Diaz.^[12]

Film career[link]

Vice starred in minor roles until in 2009 where he appeared alongside Vilma Santos and John Lloyd Cruz in the film In My Life, depicting a story of a young Filipino gay couple struggling life in New York when one of their parents tries to live with them. A year later he starred in a comedy film, a remake of Petrang Kabayo.^[13] It proved to be a hit when it was released.^[14] The following year, Vice starred in Praybeyt Benjamin with Derek Ramsay directed by Wenn V. Deramas. The movie became the first local film to reach 300-million Pesos in ticket sales and proved to be an even greater box office success than Petrang Kabayo.^[15] He is presently under contract with Viva Films.^[16]

Music[link]

On June 15, 2011, Vice released his first studio album, Lakas Tama. The album was released under Vicor Records and featured mostly pop and novelty songs including "Palong Palo" written by Callalily frontman Kean Cipriano.^[17] He is also included in the compilation album of Showtime released by Star Records.

Filmography[link]

Television[link]

Film[link]

Discography[link]

Studio album[link]

Compilation album[link]

Awards/ Nominations[link]

References[link]

External links[link]

• Vice Ganda Website
• Vice Ganda Official Facebook profile
• Vice Ganda Official Twitter account