How did Mort Sahl’s performance style differ from the style of older joke tellers?

In the 1950s, Mort Sahl pioneered a shift in stand-up comedy by rejecting the "detached mechanical style" of traditional joke tellers who relied on a rigid setup and punch-line structure.1

Instead of delivering standard gags, Sahl’s performance style was characterized by the following:

• Conversational Tone: He appeared onstage sitting on a stool, often holding a rolled-up newspaper, and spoke in normal, conversational tones rather than performing a rehearsed act.1
• Caustic Commentary: His material focused on sharp, intellectual critiques of political leaders, popular culture, and the pillars of societal respectability during the conservative 1950s.1
• Personal and Social Engagement: By moving away from the "Borscht Belt" style of comedy, Sahl demonstrated that stand-up could be a medium for smart, personal, and socially engaged discourse.1

His approach turned the comedian into a commentator, famously quipping, "Are there any groups here I haven’t offended?" This style paved the way for a new wave of performers who used comedy to satirize the era's conformist attitudes.1