Comedian Sid Caesar said that comedy is the truth with a little curlicue at the end. Today, this is most popular through two iconic formats: late night talk-show monologues and fast-paced news satirization like “Saturday Night Live’s” Weekend Update. To celebrate their 40th anniversary, Thurston Community Media (TCMedia) is bringing the writers’ room to Olympia. For spring and summer Comedy Writing Intensive workshops, they’ll welcome veteran television actor/writer/producer Brian Kahn to help curious writers hone their craft, no experience required.
Hollywood Comes to Olympia: Experienced TV Writer Brian Kahn Teaches Comedy 101
Kahn is no stranger to the writers’ room himself. He has developed and produced comedy programming for FOX, NBC, Nickelodeon, Paramount, FOX Sports, E! Entertainment, UPN and others. Kahn has worked on sitcoms, animation, sketch comedy and satirical news programming.
His work has made audiences laugh on shows like “Duckman,” “Malcolm & Eddie,” “Late Bloomer,” and “The Best Damn Sports Show Period.” He has written material performed by Jane Lynch, Ken Jeong, Rob Lowe, Joel McHale, Tim Allen and more. He is also a member of the Writers Guild of America, the Producers Guild of America and the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences.
During the TCMedia workshops, Kahn will focus on the Late-Night Monologue and Weekend Update-style news commentary.
From Knock, Knock Jokes to Knocking Their Socks Off with Comedy Workshops
Saturday, May 2, 2026, from noon until 4 p.m. is the first Late Night Joke Writing Workshop. These are in the style of late-night TV’s opening monologues and students will practice writing topical jokes based on current events, learn formal joke structure and get to experience real-time punch-up. Selected jokes will even be performed and recorded in TC Media’s studio environment of cameras, microphones and lights.
Elements practiced and refined will be setup and punchline mechanics, writing for a specific voice, tags, misdirection, rhythm and the difference between jokes that read well and those that play well. This class is for anyone age 12 and up and costs $125 with tickets available online.
During summer 2026, TCMedia welcomes Kahn back for several two-day intensive sessions which alternate between the Late-Night Joke Writing Workshop and TV News Comedy Writing. Here, students write material to be streamed through a teleprompter with jokes performed and recorded on camera.
This class showcases the differences between monologue and desk comedy, the difference between headline and commentary jokes, anchor voice, tonal control, how to order material for broadcast and how to create satire based on real-world events.
Late-Night Monologues will be taught June 30-July 1, August 4-5 and September 1-2. News Satirization is scheduled for July 14-15 and August 18-19.
Thurston Community Media: Firsthand Experience, Visuals, Classes and Education
TCMedia is a local nonprofit which strives to keep media production accessible to everyone. For 40 years, they’ve been committed to providing our region with access to professional production, education and content creation resources.
Like his host organization, Kahn understands the importance of hands-on, performance-driven work. He believes that professional level technique is truly available to anyone because comedy writing is learnable and not simply innate.
“Joke writing is a craft, and craft can be taught,” says Kahn. “When students understand the mechanics—why a setup earns a laugh, why a punchline lands or doesn’t—and then see their own material performed and recorded, the learning accelerates fast.”
This spirit of collaboration and support encourages students to learn from each other on the journey from idea to page to performance to camera. Students leave with written material and video content which can be included in future artistic portfolios.
Other upcoming TCMedia classes include Animation for Adults: The 5 Main Principles of Animation and Camera, Podcast, Youtube and More Media Workshops. Sign up for their newsletter or follow them on Facebook and Instagram for updates.
They have facility space for rent which can include equipment and production staff. For regular use, consider becoming a member on a monthly or annual basis. TCMedia even offers personalized media training.
To learn more call TCMedia at 360.956.3100 or email info@tcmedia.org today. Then start exercising your funny bone at the upcoming workshops because plenty of late-night audiences are waiting.
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