And asks if he can stay with him for a few days, saying the missus is mad at him again.
The friend says, "Yes, of course, but do you mind if I ask what you did this time?"
"Well, she woke me up early on my day off, kissing on me and feeling me up. Then she stands up, grabs a bunch of rope, and tells me to tie her to the bed and do whatever I want."
"That sounds like the start of a great day!"
"It was! After I got her tied up, I went out fishing and caught a 9 pound bass!"
Joke Poo: Professor’s Predicament
Professor Armitage calls his TA, Beatrice, in a fluster. "Beatrice, I’m in a bit of a pickle. Could I crash at your place for a few days? My wife, Agatha, is furious with me."
Beatrice, always the composed academic, says, "Certainly, Professor. But if you don’t mind me asking, what happened?"
"Well," Armitage sighs, "she presented me with a complex, multi-variable equation this morning, written on a whiteboard, and said, ‘Solve me, and do whatever you want with the solution.’"
"That sounds like a fascinating research opportunity!" Beatrice exclaims.
"It was! After several hours of rigorous calculation, I discovered the solution represented the optimal configuration for a theoretical temporal displacement device, and I immediately built a prototype! I’m currently testing its efficacy with Agatha’s prize-winning geraniums…"
Alright, let’s dissect this Dave-in-the-doghouse joke.
Key Elements:
- The Setup: Dave is in trouble with his wife and needs a place to stay.
- The Misdirection: The wife’s amorous advances and request for bondage lead the listener to anticipate a risqué scenario.
- The Punchline: Dave prioritizes fishing and catches a bass, completely subverting the expected outcome and highlighting his obliviousness (or indifference) to his wife’s desires.
- Irony: The wife sets the stage for intimacy, but Dave takes advantage of her vulnerability for personal gain (fishing)
Analysis:
The humor comes from the unexpected juxtaposition of intense sexual anticipation with the mundane activity of fishing. Dave’s cluelessness is amplified by his enthusiasm for the fishing trip and his pride in catching a 9-pound bass. It plays on the stereotype of the man who doesn’t understand or prioritize his wife’s needs.
Now, let’s enrich the humor with some factual/interesting tidbits and a new joke!
Tidbit: The urge to fish is surprisingly primal. Studies have shown that the brain releases dopamine when anticipating a catch, similar to the release during other rewarding activities like gambling or… well, let’s just say other activities. Furthermore, the average angler spends 1000$ a year on fishing!
New Joke:
Dave is back on his friend’s couch, looking even more dejected.
"Rough week, huh?" his friend asks.
Dave sighs, "You have no idea. After the fishing incident, the missus gave me the silent treatment for three days."
"Ouch. What did you do?"
"I tried to make it up to her! I remembered reading that ‘acts of service’ are a powerful love language. So, she asks me to clean the gutters."
"That sounds like a good start."
"It was! I got up there, found a huge wad of cash someone had stashed up there, and spent it all on fishing gear! She can have clean gutters."
Why it works:
- Builds on the original: It retains the core character of Dave being oblivious and self-centered
- Incorporates the Tidbit: I make a reference to how powerful an act of service can be, but quickly subvert it, as Dave still picks fishing over the task
- Exaggeration: The outrageous luck of finding cash in the gutters further emphasizes Dave’s skewed priorities.
The combination of the original joke analysis, the interesting fishing fact, and the new joke provides a comedic enrichment of the entire scenario. We’re not just laughing at Dave; we’re also recognizing the relatable (albeit exaggerated) human tendency to prioritize personal desires, even at the expense of relationships.