The ‘Birth of Jane Fonda’ Joke

Joke Poo: The Rise of Elon’s SpaceX Colony

Elon Musk is in Mission Control, anxiously watching the first Martian colonists arrive via SpaceX rocket.

Suddenly, a technician rushes in and shouts, “Sir, the landing was successful, but the colony has a nitrogen deficiency! We’ll need a botanist immediately!”

Puzzled, Elon responds, “A botanist? For a nitrogen deficiency?”

The stressed technician retorted, “A nitrogen deficiency makes the flora grow, Musk!”

Alright, let’s break down the “Birth of Jane Fonda” joke and then inject some comedic steroids into the concept.

Joke Dissection:

• Premise: Henry Fonda, the famous actor, is awaiting the birth of his child.
• Punchline Setup: The doctor presents seemingly contradictory information: a baby daughter with an abscess requiring a heart specialist.
• Punchline: “An abscess makes the heart grow, Fonda!” This is a pun, relying on the homophone “fonder” to connect the medical situation (abscess) to the well-known phrase “absence makes the heart grow fonder.”
• Humor Source: The humor comes from the wordplay and the unexpected twist on a familiar saying, combined with the implication that the doctor is too stressed to speak clearly. It also leans on the assumed knowledge that Fonda is a stern actor known for his serious roles, making his confusion funnier.

Key Elements:

• Henry Fonda: Iconic actor.
• Abscess: A medical condition.
• Heart Specialist: Medical professional.
• Pun: “Abscess” sounds like “absence.”
• Phrase: “Absence makes the heart grow fonder.”

Comedic Enrichment:

Now, let’s build something new from these elements. Here are a few ideas:

1. A “Did You Know?” observation:

Did you know that Jane Fonda was almost named “Aneurysm” Fonda? Apparently, the doctor on duty was really struggling to make the heart grow jokes land that day. Henry just kept asking for a second opinion, and a stiff drink.

2. A Meta-Joke (joke about the joke itself):

I tried telling the “Henry Fonda/abscess” joke at a medical convention. It bombed. Apparently, doctors are not fond of puns that trivialize medical conditions, especially when you mispronounce “abscess” with a thick Brooklyn accent. Who knew?

3. A Related Joke (building on the initial premise):

Years later, Peter Fonda brought his daughter, Bridget, to the same hospital. The doctor burst in, sweating, “Mr. Fonda! Your daughter… she… she has a serious craving… for motorcycles! We need a financial advisor!”

Peter, calm as ever, raised an eyebrow. “A financial advisor? For a motorcycle craving?”

The doctor sighed. “A craving for motorcycles makes the future Fonda!” He then promptly collapsed from the sheer effort of the pun.

4. Witty Observation (playing on Fonda’s career):

It’s ironic that Jane Fonda became known for her fitness videos. I mean, you’d think after that whole “abscess” ordeal at birth, the last thing she’d want to think about is ex-Sirsizes (exercises)… or maybe that was Henry’s strategy to discourage her from becoming an actress.

Why these work:

• They leverage the original joke’s setup and punchline structure.
• They introduce new elements of surprise or absurdity.
• They tap into our understanding of Henry and Jane Fonda’s public personas.
• They play with language and expectations.

Hopefully, these comedic enrichments have given that “Fonda” joke a new lease on life!