By: Michael Sartain, Performance Coach & Influencer

As the summer sun heats up, so do the hopes of many singles looking for that perfect summer fling. With lockdowns and social distancing measures behind us, dating in the summer of 2024 is poised to be more vibrant than ever. But how do you maximize your chances of connecting with someone special? Interestingly, the answer might be hiding in your Netflix queue.

Let’s start with the obvious: your “Stranger Things,” your “Bridgerton,” your “Great British Baking Show.” These binge-worthy staples are fine for blowing off steam after a long week. While they might not directly help you find your summer fling, I’ll admit they serve a purpose: relaxation. But let’s keep it at that – the key is moderation!

What if I told you spending more time on Netflix could actually improve your dating game or build your social circle this summer? The hidden gem on Netflix is… comedy specials! Yes, you read that right—more stand-up specials and sitcoms (the ones you probably have scrolled past a dozen times this month) might be your first-class ticket to a successful summer fling.

Why Comedy?

One of the easiest ways to make a girl like you is to make her laugh. Studies have shown that humor is one of the most attractive traits people look for in a partner. Obviously, being funny isn’t an innate talent but a skill you can develop over time. Comedy, like any other muscle, gets stronger the more you work on it.

Here’s how you can use Netflix to pump up your humor muscles:

1. Watch and Rewatch: Choose comedy shows and specials and watch them repeatedly. This doesn’t mean studying and rehearsing their lines. Instead, pay close attention to how comedians build jokes and set up punchlines.
2. Analyze and Absorb: Start noticing the structure of jokes. How do comedians lead into a punchline? How do they strategically use timing and pauses?
3. Practice Makes Perfect: This transformation won’t happen overnight. Gradually, through repeated exposure, you’ll start recognizing similar joke setups in real life.
4. Execution: With enough practice, you can pull off gut-busting jokes spontaneously. It will seem like magic to others, but you’ll know it results from consistent practice.

My Personal Favorites: Daniel Tosh and Dave Chappell

If you’re looking for recommendations, my go-to comedians are Daniel Tosh and Dave Chappelle. Their brand of comedy leans heavily on “breaking rapport,” a technique that is particularly effective in making high-status people and beautiful women laugh. This technique involves setting up a predictable scenario and breaking it with an unexpected punchline, such as the apple-apple-tampon technique. Let me break it down for you: 

Apple – something normal.

Apple – something else normal.

Tampon – something completely out of left field.

Here’s a sample joke using this method:

“People assume I’m some bleeding-heart liberal! What?! I’m conservative in nearly every way it counts. I hate the poor!”

See what I did there?

Apple – protests his political beliefs being misinterpreted. Normal.

Apple – asserts his true political beliefs (conservative). Normal.

Tampon – proudly asserts something that no actual conservative would ever say (at least not with a straight face), but which fits the liberal stereotype of a conservative.

Humor goes miles beyond just making people laugh—it can easily build your social circle and relationships. For example, therapy as we know it is often more applicable for women than men, mainly because emotional exploration is more encouraged among females. However, humor serves as a form of therapy for men, providing an outlet for stress and building social bonds.

In another instance, a friend once told me about a time he was so stressed over paying bills that he couldn’t concentrate on his date. Instead of letting it ruin the night, he turned it into a stand-up routine. His date was in stitches, and they ended up having a fantastic time.

So Is Comedy the Answer?

While it’s not the whole story, comedy can certainly give you a leg up. The goal isn’t just to become a joke-telling robot, but to use humor as a tool to connect with people more effectively. So, fire up Netflix, take notes from the masters, and get ready to laugh your way into someone’s heart this summer.

Published by: Nelly Chavez