ABSTRACT
When discussing humour and Wittgenstein, scholars have usually taken as a point of departure a conversation he had with Norman Malcolm in which he said that a serious and philosophical work could be written that would consist entirely of jokes. Suppositions and presuppositions are also part of the grammar that regulates the use of words and sentences of different language-games. Many of the extravagant, unruly and reckless behaviours of comedians can be seen as an attack not only on the rules of etiquette and morality, but as a challenge to authority. Language-games, as many other games, are not completely determined by rules. The use of words is unregulated and the game people play with them is unregulated. Comedians can act as triflers, cheats and spoilsports, but of course they are something else. Some of the best performances can be seen when comedians represent the difficulties someone has when they try but fail to take part in a practice.
