Blue Humor = The Dark Side of the Force

Ah, yes. The question of blue humor. "Can we say this?" is a question that often comes up in one of the first weeks of improv class. Sexual innuendos, bathroom humor... the situation prompting the question changes, but my response is usually the same. And since I'm a huge Star Wars geek, I turn to the ultimate source of wisdom -- Yoda.

The Empire Strikes Back
"Master Yoda, is the Dark Side stronger?"
"No! Quicker... easier... more seductive..."

Return of the Jedi
"Once you start down the Dark path, forever will it dominate your destiny!"

Substitute the concept of the Dark Side of the Force with blue humor, and you've got my position on the subject. Yes, it's quick and easy to make a fart joke or a Viagra joke. But it doesn't make for better improv. If you drop the F-bomb in a show for "shock value," you'll end up using it again and again throughout the rest of the show.

Improv comedy can be perfectly good without resorting to bathroom humor. Yes, sometimes more adult themes will surface in a show. There's no way to completely prevent it. It's how you deal with those situations that shows your true mettle as an improviser. Do you sink down to the level of poop jokes? Or do you find something more important going on in the scene? Good improv comes from the relationship between two characters. Find that.

Mind what you have learned. Save you it can. Never turn to the Dark Side.