Two nuns, Bridget and Theresa, were on their bikes heading back to the convent in Dublin one night.

Joke Poo: Two Janitors

Two janitors, Earl and Gus, were pushing their cleaning carts through the empty office building late one night.

“Holy moly, Gus, look at the clock! The boss is gonna have our hides if we’re late finishing up again!”

“Relax,” Gus said, “I know a shortcut,” and he pushed his cart down a rarely-used, dimly lit hallway.

They’re pushing along for a while when Earl says, “Man, this hallway smells awful…”

“Ah,” says Gus, “that’ll be the mop water.”

Alright, let’s break down this nun-on-bikes joke and see what comedic fuel we can extract.

Joke Analysis:

• Setup: Two nuns, Bridget and Theresa, are late for curfew in Dublin. This immediately establishes a relatable scenario (being late) and a specific setting (Dublin, nuns). The conflict is clear: avoiding Mother Superior’s wrath.
• Misdirection: Theresa claims to know a shortcut, which implies a practical solution to the lateness problem.
• Punchline: The punchline hinges on a double entendre. Bridget’s statement “I’ve never come this way before” is taken literally by Theresa, who attributes the unfamiliar feeling to the cobblestones. The humor comes from the implied sexual innuendo that Bridget’s statement suggests, contrasted with Theresa’s innocent, literal interpretation. The cobblestones themselves become a metaphor for the unfamiliar or uncomfortable.
• Key Elements: Nuns, Dublin, Latent sexual innuendo, Literal interpretation, Cobblestones, and Authority (Mother Superior)

Comedic Enrichment & New Material:

Here are a few ways we can play with these elements:

1. The “Did You Know?” Approach:

Did you know that Dublin’s cobblestones, particularly those found in historic areas like Temple Bar, are often made of granite imported from places like Wicklow? Which makes you wonder, were Bridget and Theresa pondering the geological origins of their discomfort rather than… other things? It would certainly make Mother Superior’s lecture about tardiness slightly less awkward.

This is funny because it adds a layer of intellectual humor while juxtaposing the serious topic with the suggestive joke.

2. The Reverse Punchline:

Two nuns, Bridget and Theresa, were on their bikes heading back to the convent in Dublin one night.

“Oh my God Theresa, will ye look at the time! Mother Superior will kill us if we’re late back again!”

“Don’t worry,” said Theresa, “I know a shortcut,” and she turned down an old dark side street.

They’re riding along for a while when Bridget says, “I’ve never come this way before.”

“Really?” says Theresa. “I use it all the time when I need to… ahem… reflect.”

This subverts the original joke by having Theresa aware of the double entendre and using it slyly.

3. Mother Superior’s Perspective Joke:

Mother Superior, sipping her tea, sighed. “Another late night. And every time, every time, it’s the cobblestones. Honestly, I think they’re deliberately riding through the roughest parts of the city. Perhaps a mandatory class on the proper appreciation of Dublin’s urban planning is in order? Or… perhaps a change in bicycle seat. But don’t let me hear them complaining about the cobblestones again!”

This shifts the perspective and adds a layer of absurdity to the situation. Mother Superior’s frustration with the repeated excuse becomes the humor.

4. The Dublin Tourism Ad:

[Voiceover with a lilting Irish accent] “Come to Dublin! Experience the vibrant nightlife, the historic streets… and the cobblestones! So bumpy, they’ll make you question everything you thought you knew about yourself. [Wink to the camera] Book your trip today!”

This is a self-aware, ironic joke that capitalizes on the city’s charm and the original joke’s suggestion.

The key to expanding on the joke is to play with the ambiguity and double entendre, inject some Dublin-specific context, and consider the situation from different angles. By enriching the joke with factual elements and ironic commentary, we can create new, equally amusing material.