What I mean by “common ground” connections is the simple fact that Ellen establishes a “common ground” among the audience right at the beginning. “Common ground” is a basis agreed to by all parties for reaching a mutual understanding. In communications, finding common ground is a technique for facilitating interpersonal relationships. It’s as if they are on the same playing field, able to understand the jokes the same way, and also helps draw them together so as to feel bonded in a sense. This helps the audience feel apart of something bigger and also touches on the idea I mentioned earlier that laughter is contagious.

Ellen’s opening bit does exactly this:

‘What’s great about this is that you have a room full of people. Everybody is so different, and we’re all here for different reasons, everyone has a different story…and with all of out difference, we all have one thing in common: We’re all gay….Now I think the one thing that we all have in common is that we all want to laugh and that is a beautiful thing.”

What she does here is place everyone in the same spot: they all want to laugh. This helps her establish a relationship amongst everyone in the room. A relationship in which she can build upon through Personal Connection.

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