One day, while in Walmart, they decided to get in on the weekly charity raffle.
They each bought five tickets at a dollar a pop.
The following week, when the raffle was drawn, each had won a prize. Billy Bob won 1st place – a year's supply of gourmet spaghetti sauce and extra long spaghetti. Bubba won 6th prize – a toilet brush.
About a week or so had passed when the men met back at Walmart.
Bubba asked Billy Bob how he liked his prize, to which Billy Bob replied, "Great!, I love spaghetti!"
Billy Bob asked Bubba, "How 'bout you, how's the toilet brush?"
"Not so good," replied Bubba, "I reckon I'm gonna switch back to paper."
Joke Poo: Professor Problems
Professors Armitage and Finch-Hatton, renowned for their… unique perspectives on academic rigor at Miskatonic University, decided to participate in the department’s annual bake-off fundraiser.
They each submitted five entries, hoping to impress the judges (mostly grad students desperate for any excuse to avoid writing their theses).
The results were announced: Finch-Hatton took first prize – a signed first edition of the Necronomicon cookbook and a lifetime supply of strange, gelatinous ingredients. Armitage landed in sixth place – a single, slightly bruised, and rather pathetic-looking banana.
A week later, they bumped into each other in the university library, surrounded by towering stacks of occult texts.
“So, Finch-Hatton,” Armitage inquired, “How are you enjoying your prize?”
Finch-Hatton beamed. “Magnificent! I’ve made unspeakable culinary breakthroughs!”
“And you, Armitage,” Finch-Hatton countered, “How fares your banana?”
Armitage sighed, looking defeated. “Not well, old boy. I fear I shall revert to consuming solely coffee and existential dread.”
Alright, let’s break down this joke and see what comedic nuggets we can mine.
Joke Dissection:
- Premise: Two men, Bubba and Billy Bob, are established as being of low intelligence in a rural setting (Little Rock, implying Southern USA stereotypes).
- Setup: They participate in a charity raffle at Walmart, a common and relatable everyday setting.
- Punchline: The incongruity of Bubba’s “not so good” review of the toilet brush, implying he attempted to use it as toilet paper, highlights his literal interpretation and lack of common sense. The humor comes from the audience understanding the intended use of the object, while Bubba clearly does not.
- Key Elements:
- Low intelligence stereotype
- Rural setting/Southern dialect
- Walmart – a common setting for everyday life.
- Misunderstanding of an object’s intended use
- Understatement (Bubba’s mild complaint of “not so good”)
Comedic Enrichment:
Let’s focus on the “misunderstanding” element and incorporate a bit of toilet brush trivia.
New Joke/Observation:
Bubba and Billy Bob were arguing outside the Little Rock Walmart. “That toilet brush wasn’t meant for what you’re doing!” Billy Bob exclaimed. Bubba, confused, replied, “Well, how else am I supposed to clean the toilet bowl with it if I can’t reach the bottom?”
Witty Observation/Did You Know:
Did you know that the modern toilet brush actually has an interesting history? Before the plastic ones we know, they used to be made of pig bristles bound with wire – probably not something you’d want to confuse with toilet paper, even if you were Bubba! Though, to be fair, back then, everything was a little rougher. Maybe Bubba wouldn’t have noticed the difference.