Many of you know I swear by The Story Grid. And they’ve got a take on “comedy” that blew my mind.

According to my beloved Grid, comedy isn’t about the intent to amuse— indeed, it can be dark and bitter (like chocolate). No, the difference between it and drama is that comedy subverts emotional sincerity. In comedy, there is no true emotional reckoning; every time a character comes close to revealing something meaningful and sincere, the writing pushes it away.

I was surprised to learn this, because Fred, Ata Maroo, Alvert, Dame Elsebet… shoot, even Corvinalias, even Twinkle— all face their situations head-on and without irony.

But then… what about the laughs?

To use a quote from the TV era of my childhood: what’chu talkin’ bout, Story Grid?