I think the main thing about comedy and humor is that it's impossible and always was impossible to define.

In this quote, Mike Nichols highlights the inherent elusiveness of comedy and humor, asserting that it has always been impossible to define in clear, concrete terms. Nichols is suggesting that comedy isn’t a fixed concept but rather something that’s subjective and ever-changing, depending on context, culture, and individual tastes. Humor can take many forms, from slapstick to satire, making it challenging to pin down a single definition or formula for what makes something funny.

Nichols' statement reflects his deep understanding of comedy as an art form that resists simple categorization. What is humorous to one person might not be funny to another, and humor often evolves over time. As a director and filmmaker, Nichols worked on a wide range of projects, from satirical films to theatrical plays, all of which explored the various ways humor can be expressed. His experience in the entertainment industry likely informed his view that humor is something that defies rigid boundaries.

The origin of the quote can be traced back to Nichols’ extensive career in comedy and filmmaking. Known for his work on films like The Graduate and Catch-22, as well as his early partnership with Elaine May in comedy, Nichols was deeply invested in exploring humor from a creative standpoint. His experiences in both theater and film show that he viewed comedy as an ever-evolving, fluid medium that could not be contained by one rigid definition.

Ultimately, Nichols’ quote emphasizes the complexity and fluidity of humor. He argues that because humor is inherently unpredictable and subjective, it can never be fully defined, and that’s part of what makes it so powerful and universal. This perspective encourages a broader view of comedy, one that embraces its diversity and subjectivity, acknowledging that the essence of humor can differ greatly from person to person and from one era to another.