They spend the day exploring the sights of San Antonio. After walking around the city, they sit down at a local diner and enjoy a delicious American meal of buffalo wings and burgers.
As they’re finishing up, their waitress, speaking in a warm Southern drawl, comes over and says,
“Y’all want some dessert? My pie is to die for.”
The man says, “Sure, I’ll have a slice of apple.”
The wife adds, “Just a coffee for me.”
The man continues, “Oh, and a scoop of ice cream with that pie.”
The waitress nods and repeats the order as she scribbles on her notepad:
“Okay, a coffee for the lady, and some apple pie for the gent.”
She turns to leave.
The man calls after her, “Wait! What about my ice cream?”
The waitress keeps walking, unfazed.
Frustrated, the man stands up and yells:
“REMEMBER THE À LA MODE!”
Joke Poo: Remember the Algorithm!
Two tech bros, Chad and Brad, are on a pilgrimage to Silicon Valley. They spend the day soaking in the "disruptive innovation" and attending a Ted Talk on blockchain technology. Exhausted and inspired, they enter a trendy vegan cafe.
After consuming overpriced avocado toast and kale smoothies, their server, sporting a perfectly ironic mustache, approaches. "Yo, dudes, you want anything else? Our artisanal kombucha is, like, totally transformative."
Chad says, "Yeah, I’ll grab a shot of wheatgrass."
Brad adds, "Just some purified water for me."
Chad continues, "Oh, and make that a triple shot!"
The server nods, meticulously logging everything on his tablet. "Word. Water for dude one, wheatgrass for dude two." He starts to wander off.
Chad, suddenly anxious, calls after him, "Wait! What about my triple?!"
The server, eyes glued to his screen, keeps walking.
Frustrated, Chad jumps to his feet and shouts:
"REMEMBER THE ALGORITHM!"
Okay, let’s dissect this Texan joke!
Key Elements:
- Setting: Texas (San Antonio), a place often associated with pride, hospitality, and a certain ‘larger than life’ attitude.
- Characters:
- A couple, seemingly tourists.
- A waitress with a strong Southern drawl.
- Humor: Relies on the historical significance of the Alamo ("Remember the Alamo!") being twisted into a plea for ice cream on apple pie ("Remember the à la mode!"). This contrast is inherently absurd. It’s a pun on a well-known phrase.
- Assumptions/Expectations: The joke assumes the audience is familiar with the phrase "Remember the Alamo!" and its historical context.
Analysis:
The joke is effective because it takes a serious, historically resonant phrase and applies it to something utterly trivial: a request for ice cream. The humor lies in the incongruity. The fact that the waitress remains unfazed adds another layer of comedic effect, suggesting the tourist’s reaction is disproportionate.
Comedic Enrichment – "Did You Know" & New Joke Ideas:
1. Did You Know? About Historical Slogans and Desserts:
"Did you know that "Remember the Alamo!" wasn’t even the first "Remember the…" rallying cry in Texan history? No, long before that, Texans were desperately whispering "Remember the Sopapillas!" every time a batch was late to the table. You see, in those days, a delayed sopapilla was considered an act of war by the indigenous population of sweet tooths. It’s a little known fact that’s almost as delicious as the sopapillas themselves."
2. New Joke Idea:
A Texan is giving a tour of the Alamo to a group of international tourists. He dramatically recounts the battle, culminating in the famous cry of "Remember the Alamo!"
One tourist raises their hand. "Excuse me, sir, but I am a bit confused. Was there a pastry chef among the defenders?"
The Texan looks puzzled. "A pastry chef? I don’t follow."
"Well," the tourist says, "why else would they be so insistent on remembering… Almond?"
3. Witty Observation:
"I’ve often wondered if the Texans at the Alamo were thinking ahead. ‘Remember the Alamo!’ is a great battle cry, but ‘Remember the Alamo and get me some queso!’? Now THAT’S a complete strategy."
Explanation of Choices:
- The "Did You Know?" piece plays on the absurdity of attaching such importance to food, mirroring the original joke.
- The "New Joke Idea" is a slightly subtler pun that twists a word.
- The witty observation leans on the Texan stereotype of loving food, offering a humorous "what if?" scenario.
These examples leverage the original joke’s components and the historical context to create fresh humor, expanding on the initial concept.