Wednesday, July 24, 2019

A joke in the traditional manner

The New York Times reports that “People find corny jokes funnier when they are paired with laughter.” Research has shown!

Here’s one Elaine and I worked up while walking: Did you hear about the shape-shifting car?

No spoilers. The punchline is in the comments. Please pair it with laughter.

More jokes in the traditional manner The Autobahn : Did you hear about the cow coloratura? : Did you hear about the thieving produce clerk? : Elementary school : A Golden Retriever : How did Bela Lugosi know what to expect? : How did Samuel Clemens do all his long-distance traveling? : How do amoebas communicate? : How do worms get to the supermarket? : Of all the songs in the Great American Songbook, which is the favorite of pirates? : What did the doctor tell his forgetful patient to do? : What did the plumber do when embarrassed? : What happens when a senior citizen visits a podiatrist? : What is the favorite toy of philosophers’ children? : What’s the name of the Illinois town where dentists want to live? : What was the shepherd doing in the garden? : Where do amoebas golf? : Where does Paul Drake keep his hot tips? : Which member of the orchestra was best at handling money? : Why did the doctor spend his time helping injured squirrels? : Why did Oliver Hardy attempt a solo career in movies? : Why did the ophthalmologist and his wife split up? : Why does Marie Kondo never win at poker? : Why is the Fonz so cool? : Why was Santa Claus wandering the East Side of Manhattan?

[“In the traditional manner”: by or à la my dad. He gets credit for the Autobahn, the elementary school, the Golden Retriever, Bela Lugosi, Samuel Clemens, the doctor, the plumber, the senior citizen, Oliver Hardy, and the ophthalmologist. Elaine gets credit for the Illinois town. My dad was making such jokes long before anyone called them “dad jokes.”]

comments: 3

Michael Leddy said...

It turned into a driveway.

Anonymous said...

I usually use that one in the following context:
When is a door not a door? When it’s ajar.
When is a car not a car? When it turns into a driveway/garage.
(Please pair with laughter.)

Michael Leddy said...

I like that! The first joke sets the audience up, so they never know what’s going to hit them. Thanks, Anon.