I could tell you, but then I’d have to bill you.
Okay, here’s my attempt at a “Joke Poo” version:
Joke Poo: What Does A Plumber Charge?
What does it cost to hire a plumber to unclog your drain?
I could tell you… but then you’d have to pay through the nose.
Alright, let’s analyze this joke!
Key Elements:
- Premise: The joke starts with a seemingly straightforward question about the cost of hiring a spy. This sets up an expectation for a numerical or informational answer.
- Punchline: The response “I could tell you, but then I’d have to bill you” subverts the expectation by introducing a transactional element and referencing the secretive nature of espionage. It relies on the trope that spies are secretive and also work for money.
- Humor Mechanism: The humor comes from the unexpected twist and the implied threat. It plays on both the mystique of spies and the idea that information has a price. It’s a self-referential joke – the spy is offering information that would cost money.
Now, let’s use some related facts/tidbits to create some comedic enrichment:
Option 1: Amusing ‘Did You Know?’
“Did you know that during World War II, the British used exploding rat carcasses to sabotage German factories? They filled the dead rats with explosives, hoping unsuspecting workers would dispose of them in furnaces. Apparently, the going rate for a rat-filled bomb was negligible compared to a trained agent’s fee… but the PR nightmare was immense. Makes you wonder if they even sent an invoice!”
Why it works: It keeps in theme with spies and the ‘surprise bill’. It is a funny and unexpected fact. It uses a hypothetical question at the end to keep in with the joke format.
Option 2: A New, Related Joke
“Why did the accountant refuse to audit the spy agency?
Because they kept all their assets classified and insisted on paying in untraceable cryptocurrency. Talk about a bill you can’t send!”
Why it works: It takes the billing aspect of the original joke and applies it to another relevant area. It highlights the humor by adding more elements of espionage and finance.
Option 3: Witty Observation
“The most dangerous thing about hiring a spy isn’t the risk of betrayal or exposure; it’s the inevitable line item on the invoice for ‘Discretionary Expenses: Herring & Decoys.'”
Why it works: This observation takes a facetious look at the business side of spying and alludes to methods a spy may use to create distractions or be stealthy. It is in the spirit of the original joke in that it is a small observation that is funny due to its specificity and insight.
I tried to use facts that enhance the idea of secret information and/or cost in creative ways. I think these pieces of ‘comedic enrichment’ successfully build on the original joke’s humor.