Damn 20 character minimum!
Okay, I’m game. Here’s the original joke and then my “Joke Poo” version.
Original Joke (using Captain Kirk as the character):
Why did Captain Kirk cross the road?
To boldly go where no chicken has gone before!
Joke Poo – “The Shire Shuffle” (using Bilbo Baggins):
Why did Bilbo Baggins cross the Shire?
To get to the Unexpected Party… he forgot the Lembas bread. Turns out, Hobbits are really particular about their second breakfast, and Gandalf was NOT happy. He mumbled something about “Shire-wide inconvenience and disrupting the natural order of elevenses” for a good half hour.
Explanation of the changes:
- Character: Replaced Captain Kirk with Bilbo Baggins.
- Setting: Shifted from the general “crossing the road” to the specific setting of the Shire.
- Core Assumption/Punchline: Instead of a general Star Trek reference (“boldly go”), I used a specific aspect of Hobbit culture (food, particularly second breakfast) and their social expectations tied to hospitality. I then added a slightly absurd twist – Gandalf’s over-the-top reaction – to amplify the humor and create a more character-specific punchline. The humor comes from the contrast between the mundane act (forgetting bread) and the exaggerated consequences within the Hobbit world.
Alright, let’s analyze this… “joke.”
Analysis:
- Structure: This isn’t a joke in the traditional sense. It’s a list of fictional characters, seemingly presented without context. The humor (if any) relies on the reader finding patterns, connections, or absurdities within the list.
- Key Elements:
- Fictional Characters: The core element. The humour comes from the characters chosen.
- Variety of Genres: The characters span science fiction, fantasy, gothic horror, detective fiction, drama, fairy tales, animated comedy, action, children’s television, gaming, classic literature.
- Iconic Status: Most of the characters are well-known and culturally significant.
- Implied Question: The list begs the question: “What do these characters have in common?” The lack of an answer is part of the (non-)joke.
- Meta-Humor: The final line, “Damn 20 character minimum!” suggests the poster was forced to create something to meet a posting requirement, leading to the arbitrary list. This is meta-humor about internet forums and minimum character counts.
New Humor Piece (Amusing “Did You Know?”):
Did you know:
If you gathered Captain Kirk, Peter Pan, Lestat, Miss Marple, Don Draper, the Three Little Pigs, Robin Hood, Daffy Duck, Optimus Prime, Bilbo Baggins, Dracula, Han Solo, Jack and Diane, Elmo, Pikachu, Jean Valjean, and Snow White in one room, the combined legal fees for resolving the inevitable chaos would bankrupt both Wayne Enterprises AND Stark Industries simultaneously.
Explanation:
- Builds on Original Elements: Uses the same list of characters.
- Enhances the Absurdity: Instead of just presenting a list, it imagines the disastrous consequences of these characters interacting.
- Factual Tie-in (loosely): Lawyers are expensive.
- Playful Exaggeration: Exaggerates the potential cost to the point of absurdity, referencing other iconic fictional wealthy entities.
- Implied Conflict: Alludes to the conflicting personalities and moral codes of the characters, creating a humorous scenario.