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FOCUS | 焦点

Crossover stand-up emerges as new trend

跨界脱口秀

By Zhang Min □ 张敏 / 文

cl
Driven by the popularity of competition clips on platforms such as Xiaohongshu,
forms such as Xiaohongshu,
ips on plat
Driven by the popularity of competition
shows such as
The King of Stand-up Com
Weibo, and WeChat Moments, generating
shows such as The King of Stand-up Com- - W e i b o , a n d W e C h a t Mo m e n t s, g e n e r a t i n g
edy Season, offline stand-up comedy has organic secondary exposure. “The lively
or
edy Season, of
fline stand-up comedy has
ganic secondary exposure. “The lively
rapidly
atmosphere completely changed my im-
rapidly woven itself into the fabric of every- - atmosphere completely changed my im -
the fabric
of every
into
woven itself
pression of the police as always serious
day entertainment. In Kunming, crossover
day entertainment. In Kunming, crossover pression of the police as always serious
and stern,” one viewer remarked. Another
performances by professionals like doctors and s tern,” one view er remarked. A nother
performances by professionals like doctors
blending
so sharp and funny—
humor
and police officers are blending humor with added, “They were so sharp and funny—
are
and
police
officers
added, “They were
with
public knowledge, adding a layer of wit and taking those daily work stories, often both
taking those daily work stories, often both
public knowledge, adding a layer of wit and
insight to the local comedy scene. amusing and exasperating, and turning them
insight to the local comedy scene.
amusing and exasperating, and turning them
into
life
police
knew
The concept of crossover stand-up come- - into punchlines. Who knew police life could
The concept of crossover stand-up come
could
Who
punchlines.
dy grew out of an attentive reading of young be so entertaining!” Such enthusiastic social
be so entertaining!” Such enthusiastic social
dy grew out of an attentive reading of young
t a time w
people’
cience
people’s tastes. At a time when science media feedback underscores stand-up come -
media feedback underscores stand-up come-
tes
hen s
.
s
tas
A
dy’s distinct strength: using humor and relat-
outreach from hospitals and legal education
outreach from hospitals and legal educati on dy’ s distinct strength: using humor and relat -
specialized
to make
lar
still
from police
from police departments still largely rely on ability to make specialized knowledge more
knowledge more
departments
rely
gely
on
ability
conventional formats, the rise of stand-up
conventional formats , the ris e of stand-up accessible and engaging, breaking down the
accessible and engaging, breaking down the
comedy has opened a new pathway for pro - formality often associated with traditional
comedy has opened a new pathway for pro-
formality often associated with traditional
fessionals to communicate with the public.
fe ssi o na l s t o c o m m u ni c a t e wi t h t he pub l i c . outreach.
outreach.
differ
ong ti
a
l
nd
When
asked
, profe
onal
sc
ssi
e
m
i
ence
how
these
performers
For a
“ “For a long time, professional science and When asked how these performers differ
from professional comedians, Wu pointed to
legal outreach have depended on traditional, from professional comedians, W u pointed to
legal outreach have depended on traditional,
bac
r
ssi
i
t
he
i
often formal methods, which can feel dis-
r non-profe
often formal methods, which can feel dis - their non-professional background as their
he
kground as t
l
ona
to
younger
audiences,”
noted
very appeal. “A professional telling their
tant to younger audiences,” noted Wu Yang, very appeal. “A professional telling their
u
Y
tant
ang,
W
a
a
y
t
re
st
r
l
founder of the s tand-up group M ore Than own story carries a credibility that an actor
n
r
a
founder of the stand-up group More Than
o
t
ry
di
b
t
i
wn
c
a
o
h
i
e
r
s a
t
c
o
i
c
.
imply can’
Comedy. The idea behind crossover stand- simply can’t replicate,” he explained. In
s
t replicate,” he explained. In
The idea behind crossover stand-
Comedy
follows
te
rea
eam
nt
on, t
c
up was to experiment with the dynamic of terms of content creation, the team follows
ti
onte
rm
he t
s of c
up was to experiment with the dynamic of
sm
“serious content delivered in a lighthearted a a clear principle: professionalism precedes
de
l
:
ssi
l
e
c
e
ona
s
a
i
r pri
i
pl
nc
profe
c
e
pre
“serious content delivered in a lighthearted
tand-up is hugely popular among
way.” “Stand-up is hugely popular among entertainment. “Unlike regular stand-up,
w
entertainment. “Unlike regular stand-up,
ay
.” “S
around police
the young, a nd professi ona ls na tural ly have performances themed around police work
the young, and professionals naturally have
performances
work
themed
rich stories to tell. Mer ging the two allows or medicine carry a stronger educational
or medicine carry a stronger educational
rich stories to tell. Merging the two allows
Accuracy
.
expertis e to be s hared in a relatable, en - responsibility. Accuracy comes first, and
expertise to be shared in a relatable, en-
comes
responsibility
first,
and
gaging manner , breaking down the barriers then we layer in the humor ,” W u noted. “W e
then we layer in the humor,” Wu noted. “We
gaging manner, breaking down the barriers
that sometimes come with more formal ap - also avoid sensitive or controversial topics,
that sometimes come with more formal ap-
also avoid sensitive or controversial topics,
proaches,”
proaches,” Wu added. which places greater demands on both writ -
which places greater demands on both writ-
W
added.
u
This crossover is no accident. In Wu’s ers and performers in balancing authenticity
W
ers and performers in balancing authenticity
s
This crossover is no accident. In
u’
d
v view, the core ethos of stand-up comedy— with engagement.”
i
w
o
e
m
y—
e
c
re
t
,
a
st
h
os of
t
e
he
nd
c
-
up
o
with engagement.”
Currently, stand-up comedy performanc-
“being your true self on stage” and “everyone
“being your true self on stage” and “everyone Currently , s tand-up comedy performanc -
r
i
d i
ng
r
can do a 5-minute stand-up”—naturally e es in Kunming are primarily held in core
p
n c
can do a 5-minute stand-up”—naturally
h
e
a
l
s i
m
n Ku
y
e
e
ri
i
l
or
a
nm
resonates with the real-life experiences of
resonates with the real-life experiences of commercial districts such as the Y unnan Art
commercial districts such as the Yunnan Art
professionals. “Police officers have amusing T he a t re , Na nqi a ng St re e t , T ongde Pl a z a ,
Theatre, Nanqiang Street, Tongde Plaza,
professionals. “Police officers have amusing
Henglong Plaza, and
unfang.
ivity
Y
The act
stories from answering calls; doctors talk
stories from answering calls; doctors talk Henglong Plaza, and Yunfang. The activity
y rout
l
t
generated before and after each show is
i
i
r d
i
bout
he
a
ne
a
r
e
about their daily routines in the emergen- - generated before and after each show is
n
e
g
s i
n t
he
m
e
tly ener
gizing the surrounding business
quie
T
he
e
ri
l
a
.
se
d m
vi
vi
re
t
a
a
wn
y room
c cy room. These are vivid materials drawn quietly energizing the surrounding business
s dra
straight from their work,” he explained. “For ecosystem. Even though these education- -
straight from their work,” he explained. “For
ecosystem. Even though these education
re
of
a
rform
oft
d fre
s a
nc
re
instance, when doctors from Yunnan share
l
e
e
n of
fe
pe
instance, when doctors from Y unnan share a al performances are often offered free of
e
or
on
‘W
s’
i
t
i
linger
f pa
audiences
e
t
e
to
s o
n
a
happy
stories of patients’ ‘Wonderland adventures’ charge, young audiences are happy to linger
st
a
ge,
nd
ure
s’
char
nt
d
ve
are
l
r
de
young
after eating toxic mushrooms, they not only
after eating toxic mushrooms, they not only in the nearby commercial areas afterward,
in the nearby commercial areas afterward,
i
t
ng t
i
ont
i
s e
ul
but
raise awareness about the dangers of poison - c contributing to Kunming’s efforts to culti- -
ng’
o c
s t
f
raise awareness about the dangers of poison-
o Kunm
ri
fort
f
u
s
vate a vibrant new nighttime economy

u
information
o
ous fungi but also make important information vate a vibrant new nighttime economy. .
also make important
but
g
n
i
As for the lasting appeal of such crosso-
stick through laughter.” Rooted in real life and
stick through laughter .” Rooted in real life and As for the lasting appeal of such crosso -
relatable to everyday audiences, this creative ver stand ‑ up comedy , W u identifies two key
relatable to everyday audiences, this creative
ver stand‑up comedy, Wu identifies two key
l
e
x
ssi
n
o
a
s
e
p
factors: the accessibility of free admission
c
ri
pe
n
e
r
a
u
s t
c
oa
h
h
r
ro
p
e
f
e
n
a approach has turned professional experiences factors: the accessibility of free admission
d
p
he
a
y be
ous
nd t
hi
into a rich source of stand-up material. a and the authentic humanity behind serious
uthenti
a
c
into a rich source of stand-up material.
nd seri
ni
t
hum
s fast-paced society
The “entertainment + knowledge” model
The “ente rtainment + knowledge” model professions. In today’s fast-paced society, ,
professions. In today’
has found notable success in Y unnan. W u the public is draw n to “profes sionals with
has found notable success in Yunnan. Wu
the public is drawn to “professionals with
and
stand
observed that these crossover stand-up per
up
‑
comedy
warmth,”
observed that these crossover stand-up per- - warmth,” and stand‑up comedy offers a win- -
a
offers
win
their
formances
lives.
strong
popularity:
dow
into
are
formances enjoy strong popularity: tickets dow into their daily lives. “Doctors are no
no
daily
enjoy
tickets
“Doctors
and
police
coats,
in
longer
just
figures
for a 200-seat show often sell out shortly longer just figures in white coats, and police
for a 200-seat show often sell out shortly
white
e
re
t
he
o
f
after release on the More Than Comedy We-
after release on the More Than Comedy W e - officers aren’t merely stern enforcers of the
st
e
e
nforc
rs
offic
rn

e
a
l
e
m
rs

n’
re
t
y
law
. On stage, they express work frustrations
Chat account, sometimes becoming scarce law. On stage, they express work frustrations
Chat account, sometimes becoming scarce
within minutes. During performances, the
and share touching moments, letting the au-
within minutes. During performances, the and share touching moments, letting the au -
venues are filled with laughter and applause, dience see that they are people just like us;
venues
and
applause,
dience see that they are people just like us;
laughter
are
filled
with
only their professions set them apart.”
and audience members frequently share only their professions set them apart.”
and audience members frequently share