Normally, I name my characters after famous comedians.

Opening Scene – Narrated by Host
The rain was steady against the windows of the small café, a rhythmic tapping that mirrored the quiet hum of conversation inside. The light from the overhead lamps bathed the room in a warm glow, casting soft shadows on the worn wooden tables. Jack sat at the back, his eyes fixed on the pages of a book, the edges of his lips curling into a slight smirk as he flipped through the pages. Jeeny, across from him, was lost in her own thoughts, her fingers absently tracing the rim of her coffee cup. The storm outside was relentless, but inside, the world felt still, almost like a suspended moment waiting to be filled with something unexpected.

Host: The rain outside had blurred the world into a haze of gray, but inside, the space was alive with soft energy. The warm, comforting sounds of the café seemed to slow down time itself, as Jack and Jeeny sat in quiet companionship, the weight of the unspoken words between them growing heavier with each passing second.

Character Descriptions
Jack
In his early 30s, Jack had the look of someone who carried his thoughts like a heavy burden—sharp eyes, a furrowed brow, and a tendency to look at the world from a distance. He was the kind of person who had seen enough of life to be both cynical and curious in equal measure. His voice was low, often tinged with a quiet humor, but there was always a hint of something more beneath the surface—an unspoken question, a mystery left unsolved. His mind worked fast, always analyzing, always searching.

Jeeny
Late 20s, Jeeny had a presence that was both gentle and commanding. Her dark eyes, soft yet intense, always seemed to carry the weight of a thousand unspoken truths. She had a way of seeing the world that made it feel more alive. Her voice, though quiet, held a power to it, as if every word carried the possibility of something profound. She was deeply reflective, yet always open to new perspectives.

Host
The ever-watchful observer, detached but attuned to the subtle currents of the world around him. The Host didn’t speak often, but when he did, his words added depth and context to the conversations that unfolded. He had a way of making moments feel more profound, capturing the underlying feelings, the threads of emotion that connected the participants in the dialogue.

Main Debate

Jeeny: She took a deep breath, breaking the silence that had settled between them. “So, you’re reading about character creation, huh? What do you think about naming characters after famous comedians? That’s something Paula Danziger does, right?”

Jack: His eyes flicked up from the book, a smirk tugging at his lips. “Yeah, Danziger does that. I think it’s an interesting choice—naming characters after comedians. I mean, you’ve got these larger-than-life personalities who make you laugh, but then you put their names on fictional characters, and it changes the context. It gives the character a little bit of a backstory, even before they’re fully developed.”

Jeeny: She nodded, her fingers tracing the coffee cup again. “But does it really work? I mean, when you read a character named after someone like Lucille Ball or Robin Williams, don’t you expect them to carry a little bit of that comedian’s energy? Or is it just a fun way to play with expectations?”

Jack: He leaned back in his chair, his eyes thoughtful. “I think it works because the name already holds so much baggage. A character named after someone like Charlie Chaplin is already going to evoke certain images, certain emotions, even if that character is completely different from the comedian. It’s like the name becomes a sort of shortcut for the reader’s imagination. They know who the character is before they even start reading.”

Jeeny: “But that could also be a bit of a trap, don’t you think? What if the character doesn’t live up to the expectation? What if the reader’s mind fills in the gaps with all the wrong assumptions? It’s like setting yourself up for failure before the story even begins.”

Jack: “That’s a fair point. But I think it’s also a way of playing with contrast. If you name your character after someone famous for their comedy, but then you write them in a way that’s not funny at all, it could create this interesting tension. Like, what happens when comedy is taken out of the equation? Does the name still hold its power, or does it become something else?”

Jeeny: “So, it’s almost like a misdirection. You set up this expectation with the name, and then you play with it, subvert it. But there’s also something about naming a character after a comedian that’s inherently playful, isn’t there? There’s an irony in it. Even if the character is serious or dramatic, you’re still bringing a bit of lightness into the story.”

Jack: “I guess there’s a certain freedom in it. It lets you break the rules. It’s like saying, ‘Hey, I can take something that’s usually used for humor and apply it in a completely different context.’ You’re telling the reader, ‘Don’t take everything too seriously, but also, take the character seriously enough to understand why they’re named this way.’ It’s a bit of a balancing act, really.”

Host: The mood between them had shifted, the conversation growing more animated. The rain outside had picked up, the soft drumming against the window creating a subtle rhythm that matched the back-and-forth of their words. Jack’s expression had softened, and Jeeny’s gaze had sharpened with interest. They were both leaning into the idea now, the complexities of naming characters becoming a focal point of something deeper.

Climax and Reconciliation

Jeeny: She smiled, a soft but knowing expression. “So, it’s not just about the name, is it? It’s about the story you build around it. The character has to stand on their own, regardless of the comedian they’re named after. It’s about giving them the space to evolve, to be themselves, and not just a joke or a reference.”

Jack: “Exactly. The name gives you a jumping-off point, but the character still has to carry the weight of the story. It’s like you’re using the comedian as a starting point, but then you have to let them grow into something unique. It’s about the contrast, the unexpected. You don’t just lean on the name for the character to be funny—you make the character funny, or deep, or tragic in their own right.”

Jeeny: “It’s like the name is the spark, but it’s the character’s journey that keeps the fire burning.”

Host: The rain outside had begun to slow, and the soft light from the café lamps seemed to take on a new warmth. For a moment, the conversation felt complete, as if the tension between the lightness of the name and the depth of the character had found its place. Jack leaned back, his fingers tapping lightly on the table, and Jeeny smiled, satisfied with the understanding they had come to.

They both knew that naming a character after a comedian wasn’t just about humor—it was about balance, contrast, and the creative freedom to let a character become something unexpected.