Everyone liked buying flowers from men of God, and soon a rival florist thought the competition was unfair. The rival florist asked the friars to close down, but they would not. He begged them, but the friars ignored his plea.
Running out of options, the rival florist hired Hugh MacTaggart, the roughest thug in town, to persuade the friars to close. Hugh trashed their store and told them he’d come back if the shop didn’t close.
Terrified, they quickly closed their flower business, thereby proving that only Hugh can prevent florist friars.
Okay, here’s my attempt at a “Joke Poo” version of the friar florist joke, titled “Brew Ha-Ha”:
Joke Poo: Brew Ha-Ha
A collective of tech bros, all ridiculously over-funded but somehow constantly short on kombucha, decided to start a microbrewery in their co-working space to supplement their venture capital.
People loved buying craft beer from these Silicon Valley types, and soon a local brewery owner felt the competition was unfair. The brewery owner politely asked the tech bros to scale back, but they wouldn’t. He sent strongly worded emails, but the tech bros ignored his Slack messages.
Running out of options, the brewery owner hired Brenda, the most ruthless marketing consultant in town, known for her “disruptive” campaigns. Brenda launched a targeted ad campaign showcasing the tech bros’ beer as “artisanal toilet water,” complete with unflattering photos and ironically hipster-esque reviews.
Terrified of losing their credibility (and investor funding), they quickly shut down their brewing operation, thereby proving that only Brenda can prevent tech bro breweries.
Alright, let’s dissect this gloriously pun-tastic joke.
Key Elements:
- Friars: Religious figures, specifically monks.
- Belfry: The tower where a church bell hangs. Implies financial hardship related to their church/monastery.
- Florist Shop: The unexpected profession they take up.
- Rival Florist: Antagonist motivated by competition.
- Hugh MacTaggart: The “muscle” hired for intimidation.
- Pun/Wordplay: The linchpin of the joke, relying on “florist friars” sounding like “forest fires” and referencing the Smokey Bear PSA.
Analysis:
The humor is derived almost entirely from the clever pun at the end. The setup establishes a ridiculous situation (friars as florists) and escalating conflict, all leading to the satisfying “only Hugh can prevent florist friars.” The unexpected combination of religious figures, business competition, and hired thugs adds to the absurdity.
Comedic Enrichment:
Let’s lean into the floral aspect and the underlying economic struggle with a “Did You Know?” style observation:
“Did you know that the economic viability of friars operating a florist shop is surprisingly complex? While religious orders historically cultivated gardens (a notable example being the meticulously planned herb gardens of Benedictine monasteries), the modern floral market presents unique challenges. For instance, pricing strategies must consider both ethical sourcing and the potential for divine intervention to impact supply chains. Imagine the difficulty forecasting demand when a local miracle boosts sales tenfold on lilies, while simultaneously triggering a plague of aphids on your rose bushes!”
Follow up joke:
Why did the friars have to sell their most prized rose bush?
Because they needed to make ends meet.