Is Funny Sexy?

Would you go on a date with Robin Williams if he asked you? What about Billy Crystal, Adam Sandler, Ben Stiller, Jack Black, Steve Carrel, Jimmy Kimmel, John Sewart, Jay Leno, or Conan O’Brien? Okay, forget Leno—the chin thing’s a bit much; and O’Brien—it’s difficult to get past the hair. But I would go out with any of the others in two shakes of a rabbit’s tail. Can you imagine what a blast the evening would be?

I know that, easily, three quarters of the world’s adult female population would rather be with the brooding, troubled, and gorgeous type, which the likes of Tom Cruise, Gerard Butler, Russel Crow, Johnny Depp, and Collin Farrel fall under. It’s that air of mystery and promise of magic they exude that makes female knees buckle under. But after that dizzying first night with them, what next? I know I wouldn’t be willing to sit there and listen to them talk about the woes of superstardom, the ills of an industry that has made them multimillionaires, or the pimple that blossomed on their nose. I’d rather sit with someone who can make me run out of air guffawing the night away.

There is that argument about how comedians must resort to humor to get noticed in the first place, while all that gentlemen hunks have to do is brood in a corner for the ladies to start dropping like flies. Sure, there is that immediate disadvantage but that is the lay of the dating landscape—some are born drop-dead gorgeous, the rest are born funny, and in a class of their own are the really rich who think they don’t ever have to be anything else—these are the ones who get the girl and there’s not much one can do about it.

So the disadvantaged must be resourceful and the most convenient personal attribute one can capitalize on if one is neither rich nor handsome is one’s wit and sense of humor. Take Jim Carrey, that mouth doesn’t really do anything for him but his laugh-a-minute antics have gotten him out of living in a run-down VW Combi into a mansion in Beverly Hills, not to mention the various blonde, arm candies he has been squiring around town.

Jack Black is short, squat, and little else, but all one has to do is take a good look at him to promptly die laughing. What sounds more appealing, death by laughter or death by boredom? Jack Black is the ideal date or dinner party guest in my book. His sense of humor will get him the dating mileage others will have to sweat blood for.

In our very own backyard we need not look further than Dolphy, the icon of Philippine show business. Hasn’t his sense of humor reeled in the most desired women of their time? If it wasn’t his sense of humor that did it, then it certainly is something we haven’t had the privilege of seeing.

A friend of mine was invited out by this ordinary-looking guy for whom the only thing going was his sense of humor. He was so funny that his company was sought out by everyone. My friend was most reluctant at first but she eventually caved in to peer pressure. We all went to that popular Nineties club Euphoria, which was accessed by a grand staircase that ended at the mouth of the dance floor. All the club’s patrons were privy to entering guests. My friend didn’t want to be seen with the funny guy so she told him to walk in ahead with the rest of our companions, feigning an undone sandal strap. After giving the men a few minutes’ headstart we began our descent. Call it karma, but my friend missed a step and ended up sliding all the way down the length of the stairs on her buttocks. All eyes were upon her when she plopped to the very bottom, there were even pointed fingers and unrestrained giggles. The funny guy had the presence of mind to rush to her side and scoop her up. He then tucked her arm under his and said for all to hear, “What took you so long?” That broke the ice and mended her badly bruised bum and ego, turning a potential tragedy into an urban legend. Their date went very well; they are now married with two children.

New York Times writer, John Tierney said that, “Funny men are winners in the mating game…make a woman laugh and she’s yours for life.”

In Tierney’s article he said that Dr. Robert Provine, University of Maryland researcher whose field research in laughter has been widely documented, claims that laughter isn’t prompted by conscious attempts at humor. People mainly use it unconsciously to signal cooperation and friendliness. But given the expectations that men and women have about whose job it is to elicit laughter, it makes sense that women would be readier than men to laugh at the opposite sex.

“Women laugh most in the presence of men whom they are attracted to and like men who make them laugh,” he says. “They don’t care if the guy gets his yuks in or not. Men, of course, are attracted to women who laugh in their presence, being unable to resist their considerable charms.”

“Males don’t decide to laugh less in the presence of females, or females to laugh more in the presence of males,” Professor Provine said. “They just do it.” According to him, lower status explains why women underlings laugh in the presence of a male boss — and assuming there are more women in subordinate jobs and social roles, then women would be laughing more regardless of whether men are saying anything funny or not. According to Tierney, men and women tend to assign themselves different social roles when it comes to provoking laughter.

Professor Provine explains that, “Laughter plays a central role in human meeting, matching and mating. Both sexes know what they want and seek it. While excessive female laughter in the presence of a desirable male may have its roots in a submissive response to an alpha male, who’s complaining? Men are attracted to women who laugh in their presence, and women like men who make them laugh. A quick survey of your next cocktail partly or scan of the personal ads reveals the role of laughter in sexual politics. Laughter is a valued commodity in the sexual marketplace and is an unappreciated component of the mysterious quality of charisma.”
“A sense of humor is a strong male quality, a sign of good intellect,” says U.S. scientist Igor Krishtafovich, who discovered a formula of laughter. He claims that humor is a weapon and always implies aggression. “It is a bloodless verbal fight aiming to raise your status and strengthen your position. Even a friendly banter is a sort of intellectual clash, a kind of training before serious battles. In fact, we try to figure out who's the boss in the family when we poke fun at our loved ones,” says Mr. Krishtafovich.

“Why is the man who just cracked a nice joke normally laughing louder than the others? Well, he feels on top of the world, his moment of triumph has just arrived.” He adds that, “If laughter is akin to aggression, why do women have a liking for jesters? A sense of humor is a strong male quality. It is a sign of good intellect. Evolution favors the intelligent since a smart fellow has more chances of survival. That is why a sense of humor can be a much bigger sign of masculinity than pumped-up muscles. Needless to say, I'm talking about the subconscious level of perception.”

According to Best Life Magazine writer Lisa Jones who conducted a poll on random respondents, the Top Five Male Personality Traits are:

Sense of humor- 77%Being able to laugh at the stresses of this world is a must, according to the women on the panel. He gets bonus points if he can make them laugh. Humor tells a woman that he can laugh at—read, handle easily—the many difficulties that life throws at him.

Intelligence- 55% A worldly, interesting man is a man she likes to show off. Men who are take- charge problem solvers make women feel secure.

Passion- 46% Why have women always melted for musicians? Because rock stars are passionate in public. Women like displays of passion because they're not accustomed to seeing them from men. Get passionate about something—anything: kayaking, impressionistic art, barbecuing, or Habitat for Humanity. It's proof that you care for and about something beyond yourself.

Confidence-41% A man who feels secure in his own skin makes the woman he's with feel secure. By showing he can handle unfamiliar people or situations, he tells the woman in his life that there is nothing to worry about.

Generosity-38% This is more important to women over 35. Generosity, however, doesn't just mean spending for dinner at a four-star restaurant. His willingness to give his time and lend his ear is what women crave.

So, is funny sexy? Shall it be Robin Williams or Russel Crowe? Ben Stiller or Collin Farrel? Jack Black or Tom Cruise? Dolphy or Aga Mulach?

You can stop laughing now.