My girlfriend asked me to call her babe.

Original Joke:

My girlfriend asked me to call her babe. “That’ll do, pig” wasn’t the answer she was looking for.

Joke Poo: My Boss Asked Me to Be More Approachable

My boss told me he wanted the team to feel like they could come to him with anything. “Oink, oink,” wasn’t the level of approachability he had in mind.

Alright, let’s break down this joke!

Elements of the Original Joke:

• Setup: Girlfriend’s request for a pet name (“babe”). This establishes an expectation of affection and romance.
• Punchline: The boyfriend’s response, “That’ll do, pig,” clearly misses the mark, creating humorous incongruity. The punchline relies on:
  • Misinterpretation: A misunderstanding of the intended affectionate tone.
  • Reference: Allusion to the movie “Babe” (1995), where Farmer Hoggett says “That’ll do pig, that’ll do” to the titular pig.
  • Inappropriate choice: Using an animal-related term, but specifically one associated with farm animals and a specific catchphrase.
• Humor Source: The humor arises from the unexpected, inappropriate, and quite frankly, hilarious choice of words. It’s a comedic subversion of romantic expectations.

Factual/Interesting Tidbits to Enrich the Humor:

• “Babe” the Movie: “Babe” was a critical and commercial success, even nominated for Best Picture at the Oscars (it didn’t win – Braveheart did). This widespread cultural recognition is key to the joke’s impact.
• Pet Names in Relationships: Studies show that couples who use pet names report higher levels of relationship satisfaction. (Maybe not “That’ll do, pig” satisfaction, though.)
• Pigs are Smart: Pigs are considered highly intelligent animals, some studies even placing them on par with dogs or even young children. So, technically, the girlfriend could have been complimented… with a hefty side of offense.

New Piece of Humor (Joke):

My girlfriend told me she wanted me to call her something affectionate, something from the heart. So, I took inspiration from the greatest cinematic masterpiece about interspecies communication ever created.

She’s still not speaking to me after I asked if she knew the correct pronunciation of “Baa-ram-ewe.”

Explanation of the New Joke’s Logic:

This new joke builds upon the original.

• Echoes the Setup: Still involves the request for an affectionate name.
• Maintains the Reference: Continues the “Babe” movie theme.
• Ramps up the absurdity: “Baa-ram-ewe” is the sheepdog password in the movie. By asking if the girlfriend knows the password, the joke is even more disconnected from reality, as well as slightly demeaning.

Witty Observation:

“That’ll do, pig” is an impressive example of how a simple phrase, deeply associated with wholesome children’s film, can somehow destroy a budding romance. It’s the cinematic equivalent of accidentally calling your date ‘Mom’.

Amusing “Did You Know”:

Did you know James Cromwell, who played Farmer Hoggett in “Babe,” is a passionate animal rights activist? He probably wouldn’t approve of calling your girlfriend “pig,” even ironically. Maybe suggest “Duchess” from Babe: Pig in the City instead. Just maybe.