“The Cooperstown of comedy:” A Q&A with the National Comedy Center

Interactive, immersive, just blocks away from the Lucille Ball Desi Arnaz Museum in Jamestown—and only 75 minutes from Buffalo.

The National Comedy Center is a state-of-the-art, all-ages destination for anyone who likes to laugh. Below, new National Comedy Center team member Kate Welshofer sheds light on just what makes it so special.

How would you describe the National Comedy Center to someone who has no idea what to expect?

“We like to say the National Comedy Center is sort of the Cooperstown of comedy, or the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame of comedy. That gives an idea of its importance and its scope. But it's also a really, really fun place to go. You don't have to be a comedy expert. You don't have to be a comedy super fan. If you like to laugh, this is a place for you.”

Take us through the experience.

“The National Comedy Center is unlike any other museum that you’ve ever visited, and largely that’s because it’s tailored to your very unique experience.

When you come in, you create your sense of humor profile, which is placed on a a ‘laugh band’ worn on your wrist. So when you go through many of the exhibits and you tap in with that band, it serves up something that is going to make you laugh—personalized for your unique sense of humor. If you’re in an exhibit with a bunch of other people, it reads the room. So it can say, ‘All right, what are these people going to think is fun?’ and it’s going to serve that up to you.”

Can you describe some of the exhibits?

“This is one of the most interactive museums in the world—it’s a comedy playground filled with immersive experiences like our ‘Comedy Continuum,’ a jumbo touch-screen video wall that unlocks the connections and collaborations between comedic artists; our ‘Prop Stars’ table, which bursts to life with hilarious TV, movie and cartoon clips featuring iconic props; and our ‘Green Screen’ experience, which enables visitors to put themselves into classic TV and movie scenes.”

What makes it a family attraction?

“The Comedy Center is a great place for families because it really shows how universal fun, laughter and comedy are. And it doesn’t matter how old you are—funny is funny. You might see grandparents come in and they’re experiencing the nostalgia of Johnny Carson, and a teenage grandchild comes in and says, ‘Hey, that guy’s pretty funny.’ You have this opportunity to go through these different experiences together.

And there is so much for kids and teens to do—from taking the stage for ‘Comedy Karaoke’ to competing in a fun ‘Laugh Battle’ to creating their own cartoon characters and internet memes, and much more.”

Why have comedians themselves embraced the Comedy Center?

“One of the things about comedy is that when it’s done well, it looks really easy, and for that reason, it can often be overlooked as a serious art form. So all the comedians who visit really appreciate that we celebrate this art form and highlight the years of hard work and dedication that goes into perfecting this craft. Comedians are also big comedy fans themselves so they love seeing how we preserve our country’s comedy heritage and showcase its greatest artists: George Carlin, Joan Rivers, Carl Reiner, Johnny Carson, Richard Pryor, Rodney Dangerfield, Lenny Bruce, Don Rickles, Lucille Ball and so many more.”

What do you wish people knew about the National Comedy Center?

“When people do walk in, they are immediately blown away. We have so many 5-star reviews of people saying, ‘I just can't believe it,’ and ‘I want to come back.’ And of course, we welcome people back again and again. Give yourself as much time as you can to experience it, because it really is an adventure and a place to play. And you want to give yourself as much time to enjoy it as you can.”