An old woman is in a nursing home, she's in a wheelchair and can no longer talk so she communicates by writing on a note pad.
It's her 100th birthday so all her family are visiting to celebrate but her favourite grandson is running late. As she waits she begins leaning to the left in her chair so her carers dash over and prop her up with a pillow. Minutes later she begins leaning right and again the carers prop her back up with a pillow. Then she begins leaning forward and once more the carers step in and prop her back upright.
Not long after her grandson finally shows up and greets her with a big hug. "Sorry I'm late granny, how are you, how are they treating you?" And he watches as she writes on her little pad,
"They won't let me fart"
Joke Poo: Astronaut Training
An astronaut recruit is undergoing rigorous training. He’s in a zero-gravity simulator, unable to speak but able to communicate via a complex computer interface.
It’s his final evaluation day, and all the instructors are watching. As he floats, he begins drifting nose-down in the simulator. An instructor rushes over and orients him back up with a burst of compressed air. Moments later, he starts drifting feet-first, and again the instructor corrects his position. Then he begins spinning slowly, and once more, the instructor stabilizes him.
Shortly after, the head instructor arrives, eager for the evaluation’s results. “Sorry I’m late, how’s he doing, how’s the training progressing?” He watches as the recruit types furiously on the computer console:
“I’m trying to poop.”
Alright, let’s break down this joke and then see if we can enrich the comedic experience.
Joke Dissection:
- Setup: Establishes an elderly woman in a nursing home, physically incapacitated (wheelchair, inability to speak), and relying on writing for communication. This creates an image of frailty and dependence. The 100th birthday and family visit adds to the expectation of a gentle, heartfelt scene. The late grandson creates a small amount of anticipation.
- Rising Action: The repetitive leaning and pillow-propping. This is key because it sets up a specific physical problem that seems to demand the carer’s attention. We, as the audience, assume the old woman is uncomfortable, perhaps weak, or ill.
- Punchline: “They won’t let me fart.” The humor comes from the subversion of expectations. We anticipate a serious complaint about care or loneliness, but it’s a basic bodily function being suppressed. The contrast between the setup (fragile old woman, solemn occasion) and the punchline (flatulence) is the source of the laughter. The punchline reveals that the leaning was related to an attempt to, shall we say, alleviate some gas.
Key Elements:
- Elderly Woman: Vulnerable, physically limited.
- Nursing Home: Connotes restriction, institutional care, loss of independence.
- Subversion of Expectations: Serious scenario + trivial, slightly vulgar problem.
- Physical Comedy: The leaning and propping adds a visual element.
- Word Play – Subtle: the ‘propping up’ could be a double entendre, to prop someone up mentally or physically.
Comedic Enrichment:
Let’s leverage some fun facts about flatulence and elderly care to craft a new joke or observation:
Joke Idea #1: Observational Humor & Alternative Punchline
An old woman is in a nursing home for her 100th birthday. Her family is gathered around, and she’s clearly trying to communicate something by leaning left, then right. Her grandson, finally arriving, asks, “Granny, what’s wrong? Are you in pain?” She scribbles on her notepad: “The beans from lunch are attempting a hostile takeover!”
Why it works:
- Maintains the subversion of expectations.
- Plays on the association of beans and flatulence.
- More colorful language, adding slightly more humor.
Joke Idea #2: Absurd ‘Did You Know’
Did you know that in some nursing homes, staff are trained in “therapeutic flatulence management”? It’s a delicate balance: you want to avoid any unintentional ignitions (nursing homes, oxygen tanks, and static electricity are a surprisingly volatile combination), but you also don’t want to cause distress by denying someone their natural…decompression. So, remember to be mindful of your elders and their farts; it may be more important than you realize.
Why it works:
- The initial “did you know” premise is absurd and funny.
- Combines the idea of flatulence with the environment of a nursing home.
- The “ignition” line adds a touch of dark humor, while still remaining lighthearted.
Joke Idea #3: Combining Observations
My grandma’s in a nursing home. She communicates via notepad now. It’s a bit like playing charades with bodily functions. Last week, she drew a picture of a balloon with a needle poking it and the word “plumbing.” Turns out, the prune juice wasn’t working fast enough. Nursing home charades – it’s a humbling experience.
Why it works:
- Extends the idea of the joke by adding another similar ‘problem’
- The charades analogy adds to the comedy.
- The prune juice element enhances the original premise.
Hopefully, these ideas offer some suitable enrichments!