He consulted a lawyer, but after hearing him out the lawyer told him “I’m sorry, Mr. Mouse, but insanity is not a basis for divorce in this state.”
“Gosh, I didn’t say she was insane, huh huh,” Mickey replied, “I said she was fucking Goofy.”
Okay, here’s my “Joke Poo” version of the Mickey Mouse joke, titled “The Lion King’s Lament”:
The Lion King’s Lament
Simba was seeking a divorce. He went to Rafiki for advice, but after hearing him out, Rafiki said, “Simba, my friend, the Circle of Life frowns upon divorce. Are you sure about this?”
Simba sighed heavily. “Hakuna Matata, my butt! I didn’t say I wanted a divorce, Rafiki! I said Nala’s been lion… to Scar!”
Alright, let’s break down this Mickey Mouse joke and find some comedic gold to mine!
Joke Dissection:
- Premise: Mickey Mouse is seeking a divorce.
- Humor Trigger: The punchline relies on a pun/misunderstanding. The lawyer hears “insanity” when Mickey actually said “fucking Goofy.” The humor comes from the juxtaposition of the innocent Disney image with an adult act.
- Characters: Mickey Mouse (innocent, high-pitched voice), Goofy (endearing buffoon), Lawyer (authority figure, rational).
- Target: It targets the nostalgia and innocence associated with Disney, subverting expectations with the vulgar punchline.
Key Elements:
- Mickey Mouse & Disney: The epitome of wholesome animation.
- Goofy: A lovable, clumsy character, an unlikely object of infidelity.
- Divorce/Infidelity: A decidedly adult, serious topic.
- Puns/Wordplay: The core of the humor relies on the sound-alike words.
Comedic Enrichment & New Material:
Now, let’s use these elements to create some new humor:
Option 1: Witty Observation/Did You Know:
“Did you know that while Mickey Mouse’s voice actor, Walt Disney himself, was known for his meticulous control over his creations, he probably never envisioned Mickey being caught up in a divorce case involving Goofy? Talk about a ‘gawrsh’-awful situation for the brand.”
Option 2: A “What If” Joke:
“What if Mickey Mouse did try to claim ‘insanity’ as grounds for divorce? The court transcript would be amazing. Imagine the judge asking, ‘Mr. Mouse, can you provide examples of Mrs. Mouse’s erratic behavior?’ And Mickey replies, ‘Well, she keeps buying those Pluto-shaped chew toys… even though we don’t have a dog!‘”
Option 3: A Prequel Joke:
“Before the divorce, Mickey and Goofy were inseparable. It all started innocently enough. Mickey confided in Goofy about how Minnie was always nagging him about ‘spending too much time with Pluto.’ Goofy, being a good friend, offered some ‘quality time’ advice. He never clarified that he meant with Minnie.“
Explanation of Choices:
- Option 1 leans into the contrast between Disney’s image and the joke’s adult themes, creating an ironic observation.
- Option 2 plays with the absurdity of Mickey trying to argue legal grounds, extending the humorous premise.
- Option 3 tries to imagine the event that lead to Mickey finding out and uses Goofy’s nature to hint at something gone wrong.
Final Thoughts:
The original joke is effective because it relies on the shock value of the Disney characters in an unexpected context. By understanding the core elements, we can create new comedic material that expands on the humor or offers a fresh perspective on the original punchline.