As he goes through customs, the officer asks him what's in his two big bags.
"Mobile phones," the man replies.
The officer opens the bags, and sure enough, both are packed with phones.
"What are you doing with all these?" the officer asks.
"Oh, they're not for me. I'm helping out a friend. He's starting a band."
"But phones? Who needs phones when starting a band?"
The man pulls a crumpled piece of paper out of his pocket to double check. "Yeah, this is exactly what he asked for — two saxophones."
Joke Poo: The Potting Mix Mix-Up
A woman is returning from a gardening convention. As she goes through airport security, the officer asks her what’s in her two large duffel bags.
“Potting mix,” the woman replies.
The officer opens the bags, and sure enough, both are packed to the brim with soil, peat moss, and vermiculite.
“What are you doing with all this potting mix?” the officer asks, raising an eyebrow.
“Oh, it’s not for me,” the woman explains. “I’m helping out a friend. She’s starting a new business.”
“Potting mix? What kind of business needs THAT much potting mix?” the officer inquires, clearly confused.
The woman pulls a crumpled order form out of her purse to double-check. “Yup, this is exactly what she ordered – two lotting fixes.”
Alright, let’s dissect this joke.
Core Elements:
- Misunderstanding/Pun: The core humor hinges on the misinterpretation of “saxophones” as “two saxophones” spelled phonetically.
- Customs Setting: The setting of customs adds a layer of potential tension and suspicion, which amplifies the absurdity.
- Trusting but Naive Character: The man is portrayed as earnestly trying to help a friend, making him appear somewhat naive and trustworthy despite carrying a suspicious amount of phones.
Analysis:
The joke works because of the unexpected twist. We expect a reasonable explanation for carrying a large quantity of mobile phones, perhaps a business venture. The punchline subverts this expectation with a ridiculous, albeit phonetically plausible, misunderstanding. The officer’s skepticism is relatable, heightening the comedic effect.
Comedic Enrichment:
Let’s capitalize on the mobile phone and musical instrument elements.
Witty Observation:
Did you know the first mobile phone call was made on April 3, 1973, by Martin Cooper of Motorola? If he had tried to play a jazz solo on that DynaTAC, he’d have needed a much better ringtone. I guess that’s why they invented the saxophone a century prior!
New “Did You Know” Joke:
Did you know there’s a musical instrument called a “lithophone” that uses naturally resonant rocks to create sound? Imagine trying to smuggle that through customs. The officer: “What’s in the bag, sir?” You: “Just a few rock and roll essentials.”
Explanation of the new content:
The Witty Observation uses the history of the first mobile call to draw a fun comparison about how the saxophone came way earlier than the phone, thus implying the man in the joke needs to get his dates right.
The New “Did You Know” Joke plays on the “unusual item to smuggle” theme, replacing the phones with a lithophone. The punchline uses the term “rock and roll” both literally (rocks) and metaphorically (the music genre).