I've found that even with all the great lines I've come up with over the years, often the things that get the most laughs are the impromptu ad-libs that are not really all that funny standing on their own.

So if you want something that is actually funny learn how to perform WITH your spectators not AT your spectators. If you're standing there doing rehearsed patter, it will only be "so funny" and from what I see on the Café, that means "not very".

Learn how to get your audience interacting with you as opposed to you performing AT them in your monkey suit.

I look more like a penquin performing. Did you know that Rodney Dangerfield scripted every word, and I mean every word, of everything he every said on Carson? Did you know that David Letterman scripts every word, including Paul's "reactions" to his "ad libs" during his monologue? Whatever floats your boat- whatever works- we're all different for sure... Scripted magic is what I prefer moreoften that when the magish is trying to joke around with his audience- which only works if he/she has the personality for it... No one set of rules for this Café'...

That's for sure Bus. All the different styles and approaches are fascinating.
Bantering with the audience fits my character best. Although there's a scripted framework, I want it to feel like having fun with friends. Every crowd is different and I like everything flexible and spontaneous.

That's the correct approach.

Are you saying Rodney and Johnny made sure EVERY SINGLE LINE was scripted from both of them? I find that highly unlikely and highly unnecessary from those two. Did they also make sure NO audience member ever shouted anything funny from their seat because Rodney couldn't handle it or didn't want it?

Johnny probably gave out a list of questions to which Rodney scripted his responses , like any pro would do, but I doubt everything was scripted. Completely unnecessary. What if Johnny said something funny to an answer by Rodney? What would Rodney do? Just sit there silent waiting for the next question? What if an audience member shouted out something. Rodney is going to just sit there? Or not be able to come up with something funny at that time?

I call B.S. The pro's work FROM a script. They just don't recite lines, squawking at the audience like a bird. There's give and take, which is the point of this thread. The funny that comes from spontaneous moments can be far funnier than all your scripted funny-ness that you spend years developing. And the great ones learn to be good at it and learn to weave it in.

I have a lot of bits of business that only play if the audience thinks it's an off the cuff remark.

In reality, it's scripted

Making scripted material appear improvised is the mark of a true performer.

Many years ago, I met an old Vaudeville slapstick comic. His act was EXACTLY the same every time. It was like watching a movie over and over.
He always killed.

Amazing Johnathan is an example of a scripted but seemingly adlibed show. I worked with Johnathan in Nevada almost 20 years ago and the show and lines are basically still the same today.

We're getting closer....
Scripts are great. One thing that is great about them is that once you have them down pat that you can go OFF SCRIPT to react to a spontaneous moment and then COME BACK.

My original point is that you can engineer moments into your SCRIPT that actually encourage the show to go OFF SCRIPT momentarily (if the audience takes the bait properly).

And when you do go OFF SCRIPT, it can allow for moments that are FAR FUNNIER than what your base script allows. Because an audience likes to see you deal well with OFF SCRIPT situations.

Yes some of those spontaneous moments can be scripted. That is a no brainer. We already know that. This is the NEXT step in the journey.

.... or you can be satisfied doing your vanishing bandana out of the box.