Sometimes I will watch something or just have a random thought which then leads to inspiration for an article – this is one of those times. I was dozing on a night sleeper and I ended up having this really random idea about improv that I felt I needed to write an article.

Sayings – so many comedy shows have these – they can be random, catchy and sometimes pretty unique. You can go for months or maybe years not seeing a television show and you may not remember the storyline or the episode but you will remember the catchy sayings or lines that you quote at really random times.

Let’s have a look at some of the really random sayings that have transferred into my own life:

“I bloody love crisps“

This is from the television show Miranda and it is so funny when it actually happens. That is thanks to the comedy talents of the actor. It is even more funny to use this quote out of context. it is so random and it always creates a laughter from someone. Also when there is crisps around it is really hard not to say.

“No Way“

Ever since Chris Ramsay said this in the opening title sequence and in one of the games in Taskmaster it has become a regular quote also whenever I saw no Way these days it is always in a Geordie accent. I really like the accent as it reminds me of the great times I had living in Newcastle and since seeing this saying in Taskmaster, I say it a lot and I say it a lot this way. It is so catchy.

“I declare bankruptcy“

I mean there are hundreds of Michael Scott quotes I could use here but this one is so good and out of context and sad so dramatically it can create so much humour.

So why am I discussing these? Well, I had a thought that relates to improv and that is all about the shows that you perform.

Sometimes you will go to see a show or even perform a show and a line or a saying or a song lyric that is improvised will stand out and you will remember it in a really random context at a later date.

If you see a friend perform improv and this happens to you, then you will more then likely quote it back to that friend. I will tell you now, nine times out of ten, the improviser will not remember that line but the person who is watching will and they will tell you how much they loved it.

There is only one line I remember saying in a show and that was when i was living in Newcastle and it was the quote ‘lean for beanz’ – I only remember it because I wrote it down in a diary and everyone was going how much they liked it and kept quoting it back to me.

I am glad I wrote that quote down because when I read it back I find it really amusing and I get to re-live that fun time all over again after all this time. That is what funny lines from shows or even improv can do – they can create a moment, a common joke, a random saying.

I very much doubt that Chris Ramsay saying something as simple as ‘No Way’ would he think would create something so dramatic and a fun saying in someones everyday life but it did because it stood out and creates fun memories.

So whilst a lot of improv is lost into the ‘ether’ maybe take note of quotes that happen or create a huge or even random response from the audience as it is always fun to look back at.