However, he believes that anything can be approached with humor if the right angle can be found. “Even delicate topics can be poked fun at if your approach isn’t mean-spirited. That’s one of the keys. Comedy doesn’t have to come at the expense of others. Don’t punch down. I don’t mock science or scientists….I find a way to celebrate science because I love it. And I’ve found that I’m able to draw people into science with my sense of humor.”
Malow strongly agrees that comedy can inspire more people to engage with science. “Look at how successful Neil deGrasse Tyson has been. He’s an astrophysicist but he loves comedy and he’s funny himself. He also features comedians like me on his show, and he’s built a fan base of millions.
At my own science comedy shows, sometimes an audience member might believe that science is hard or boring. But if I can keep them entertained and interested—and laughing—for an hour, then maybe I could change their mind just a little bit. One thing I like to say is that music is not just for musicians, art is not just for artists, and science is not just for scientists!”
Lastly, I want to leave you with one of Malow’s jokes that proves that science and humor can be a compatible combination.
“I noticed whenever my mom would lose weight, my dad would gain weight. And when my dad lost weight, my mom gained weight. It’s like the conservation of mass - within our family! You never actually lose weight… you just give it to someone else. Fat can be neither created nor destroyed. It’s one of the basic laws of the universe.”
And make sure to tune in on the History Channel in November, where he will be appearing on a TV show called “The Unbelievable," hosted by Dan Aykroyd.
