Two Irishmen leave a funeral. One says to the other, "Twas a beautiful ceremony." "Twas", says the other. First says, "When I pass, would you pour a bottle of good Irish whiskey over my grave?" "Of course", says the second, "but would you mind if I run it through my kidneys first?"
Joke Poo: Two Astronauts on Mars
Two astronauts are finishing a spacewalk on Mars. One says to the other, “That surface sample collection was outstanding.” “Outstanding,” says the other. First says, “When I die, I want you to eject my body into the vastness of space, right beyond the orbit of Mars.” “Of course,” says the second, “but would you mind if I take a quick orbital selfie with your corpse first?”
Alright, let’s break down this classic Irish joke and then see what comedic gems we can mine from it.
Joke Analysis:
- Core Elements:
- Irish Stereotype: Leverages the stereotype of Irishmen enjoying whiskey. This is the foundation of the humor.
- Dark Humor/Morbid Curiosity: The joke deals with death and what happens after.
- Selfishness/Practicality: The punchline hinges on the second Irishman prioritizing his own enjoyment of the whiskey over the gesture of remembrance.
- Wordplay (Implied): The humor is partially built on the understanding that the whiskey is intended for the deceased, but the second Irishman’s response subverts this.
- Humor Mechanism:
- Subversion of Expectations: We expect a sentimental response to a request regarding death. The joke delivers the opposite.
- Irony: The irony is that the gesture of remembrance is transformed into an opportunity for personal indulgence.
Comedic Enrichment:
Let’s focus on the whiskey and the Irish stereotype for our enrichment.
New Joke Idea – Play on Irish Whiskey Knowledge:
Setup:
Two Irishmen, Paddy and Mick, are discussing retirement plans over a dram of single malt. Paddy sighs, “Ah, Mick, when I kick the bucket, I want to be buried with a bottle of Redbreast 27 Year Old. It’s the pinnacle of Irish whiskey-making.”
Punchline:
Mick takes a long sip and says, “Paddy, lad, that’s a fine choice. But wouldn’t you be worried about the peat smoke tainting the coffin?”
Why it works:
- Specificity: We’ve replaced “good Irish whiskey” with a specific, highly regarded brand, Redbreast 27 Year Old, instantly elevating the joke for those with whiskey knowledge. This appeals to a slightly more sophisticated audience.
- Playing on Expertise: The punchline hints at a deeper understanding of whiskey production. Peat is often used in the malting process of Scotch whisky, but is not a significant factor in Irish Whiskey, which is typically triple distilled. This adds a layer of humorous “expertise” and friendly mocking.
Witty Observation – “Did You Know?”
“Did you know that in some parts of Ireland, they used to believe that the spirit of the deceased could linger near their favorite drink? That’s why, historically, many an Irish wake would see a ‘spirit glass’ filled with whiskey left out. Whether the mourners actually believed the spirit was partaking, or were just making sure the whiskey didn’t go to waste…well, that’s a tale for another pint.”
Why it works:
- Connects to the Original: This “did you know” connects to the original joke’s theme of death and whiskey.
- Implies Humor: The suggestion that mourners might have been more interested in the whiskey than the spirit is humorous.
- Offers Factual/Cultural Insight: The mention of the spirit glass is a real tradition (or at least a documented one).
Additional Comedic Exploration (Slightly Darker):
We could also explore the punchline’s implication of kidney function.
New Joke Idea – Using a Technical Angle:
Two Irishmen are at a wake. One says, “Ah, Seamus loved his Jameson. When I go, I want a bottle poured over me.” The other nods sadly, “Aye, a fitting tribute.” The first continues, “And when I’m gone, I want someone to record the specific gravity and creatinine levels of my post-mortem kidney function.” The second, puzzled, asks, “Why in God’s name would you want that?” The first responds, “Well, I hear the taste changes on the second pass.”
Why it works
- Takes the joke to the next level of morbid thinking: What does kidney filtration of the whiskey do to the taste?
- Uses specific and slightly gross scientific terms for effect.
By breaking down the original joke, identifying its core comedic elements, and then leveraging those elements with relevant facts or amusing observations, we can create new and enriching humorous material. The key is to build upon the foundation of the original joke while adding our own twist or layer of sophistication.