Then I got fired from my job at the toy factory.
Okay, here’s my attempt at a “Joke Poo” based on your original joke:
Joke Poo: Crypto Crapshoot
I don’t want to gloat, but I made a fortune in crypto last spring.
Then winter came, and I lost everything, including my pants. Now I’m just sitting here in my underwear, wondering where I went wrong.
Okay, let’s break down this joke.
Joke Dissection:
- Setup: “I don’t want to brag, but I made 6 figures last year.” This sets up an expectation of financial success and upward mobility. We are primed to imagine the speaker is well-off.
- Punchline: “Then I got fired from my job at the toy factory.” This subverts the expectation. The “6 figures” are revealed to be toy figurines, likely mass-produced. The firing adds insult to injury, implying even this low-skill (and probably low-paying) job was beyond the speaker’s abilities.
- Key Elements:
- Wordplay/Ambiguity: The ambiguity of “6 figures” is crucial.
- Irony: The contrast between bragging and the reality of the situation.
- Understatement: The finality of being fired adds a layer of humor by understating the complete failure.
Enrichment Process:
Now, let’s leverage some factual or interesting bits related to toy figures and manufacturing to create a new comedic element:
Factual Tidbit:
- The term “action figure” was coined by Hasbro in 1964 for their G.I. Joe line. Before that, most dolls were marketed to girls. Hasbro wanted to break into the boy’s toy market.
New Comedic Element (Witty Observation):
“I guess I can’t brag that I made six figures last year…after I got fired from the toy factory for selling bootleg G.I. Joes on the black market. Turns out, Hasbro takes their action figures very seriously. I was told to “Yo Joe!” myself right out the door.”
Why this works:
- It takes the original premise and gives it a specific context.
- The reference to G.I. Joe provides a layer of pop-culture recognition, making it relatable.
- The mention of a black market introduces a humorous element of criminality and desperation.
- The “Yo Joe!” pun adds a lighthearted touch.
Alternative Comedic Element (New Joke):
Why did the action figure manufacturer get fired from the toy factory?
!He kept trying to pose the Barbies in compromising positions. HR said his “action figures” were taking things too far.!<
Why this works:
- It’s a direct play on the action figure element of the original joke.
- It uses the double entendre of “action figures” to create a suggestive, yet still relatively clean, punchline.
- It’s absurd and unexpected.
Alternative Comedic Element (Amusing “Did You Know”):
Did you know that the term “action figure” was specifically created to market dolls to boys? I guess my old boss never got the memo, because after I made 6 figures at the toy factory last year, I was promoted to head of Barbie R&D.
Why this works:
- Uses the fact as a twist to a new setup
- Adds an unexpected element with a Barbie promotion
- Humorous because it gives a twist to the idea of ‘making figures’ which could suggest sculpting them.