A woman walks into a bar …

Joke Poo: A Comedian’s Lament

A comedian walks into a writers’ room and pitches a joke about wordplay… so the showrunner told him it was too derivative.

Alright, let’s break down this joke:

Core Elements:

• Setup: “A woman walks into a bar…” This is a classic joke opening, immediately setting a familiar scene.
• Wordplay: The punchline relies entirely on the ambiguity of “double entendre.” The woman literally asks for one, and the bartender provides it, implying he gives her some kind of sexual innuendo or suggestive comment.
• Expectation Subversion: The humor comes from the unexpected literal interpretation of “double entendre” as something that can be served, like a drink. The audience expects the result of a double entendre, not the double entendre itself.

Now, let’s leverage these elements to create some comedic enrichment:

1. A “Did You Know?” Playing Off the Joke:

“Did you know the longest double entendre ever recorded was delivered by Winston Churchill? While accepting an award for public speaking, he allegedly leaned into the microphone and said, ‘I have always been a firm believer in the power of words to… well, let’s just say move mountains… and, more importantly, stir them.’ The speech went on for 45 minutes, and no one was entirely sure what mountains he was referring to.”

Why it works: This takes the “double entendre” concept and attributes it to a well-known figure, adding a layer of historical amusement. It also plays on the idea of excessive or unclear innuendo.

2. A Related Joke:

“A man walks into a library and asks the librarian for books about paranoia. The librarian whispers, ‘They’re right behind you!'”

Why it works: This has a similar structure to the original joke (walks into a place, asks for something, literal interpretation as the punchline).

3. A Witty Observation:

“The woman in the bar joke is a reminder that some people think ‘double entendre’ is a sophisticated skill. Others think it’s just a way to be inappropriate with plausible deniability, especially after one or two vodka and tonics.”

Why it works: This observation comments on the cultural perception of double entendres, linking it to humor and social situations.

4. Another joke that builds on the idea of asking for a figure of speech.

“A linguist walks into a coffee shop and asks for a metaphor. The barista says ‘Sorry, we don’t serve things that aren’t literally here.'”

Why it works: This keeps the same structure as the original, and highlights the literal vs. figurative use of language.

In summary: The key to enriching the original joke is to either lean further into the literal interpretation of a linguistic concept, or to make meta-commentary on the joke’s structure and the cultural implications of double entendres. By combining wit with a dash of factual or plausible information, you create more engaging and thought-provoking humor.