Or not Tubi?
Okay, here’s my “Joke Poo” version:
Joke Poo: Have You Fed It?
Have you walked past the cat’s bowl today? Every day it’s the same philosophical quandary: Fill?
…Or not fill?
Okay, let’s break down this joke.
Elements of the Original Joke:
- Subject: Tubi (the free, ad-supported streaming service).
- Structure: A parody of Shakespeare’s famous “To be or not to be” soliloquy from Hamlet.
- Humor: Derives from the contrast between the high-brow, philosophical weight of the original soliloquy and the mundane, everyday decision of whether or not to watch Tubi. The repetition highlights the routine nature of the decision.
Underlying Assumptions/Implications:
- The person has Tubi readily available.
- They likely have a vast selection of options on Tubi (or elsewhere).
- They are suggesting there is an ambivalence about choosing it for entertainment, and it’s not an automatic ‘yes’ every night.
Let’s add some comedic enrichment!
Here’s a new joke riffing on the Tubi/Shakespeare angle, incorporating a “Did You Know” element:
New Joke:
“My roommate just got a Tubi tattoo. It’s a stylized ‘Tubi’ with the tagline ‘To stream, perchance to scream… with ads.’ The artist tried to convince him to add a skull, but he said, ‘No, that’s too premium for Tubi. Maybe just a really long, unskippable car insurance commercial.'”
Did You Know? Enhancement:
Did you know that the phrase “To be or not to be” is so ubiquitous, it’s been referenced in countless films, TV shows, and even video games? Interestingly, many early adaptations of Hamlet actually omitted the soliloquy entirely, fearing it was too philosophical for the audience. They probably wouldn’t be thrilled to see it repurposed for a free streaming service full of B-movies and public domain content, though, I bet Hamlet would enjoy the irony in a good exploitation film. Perhaps even a Tubi Original adaptation of Hamlet, but with werewolves. Or aliens. Or werewolf aliens.
Why this works:
- The tattoo is inherently absurd, highlighting the slightly obsessive nature of Tubi enjoyment.
- The “to stream, perchance to scream…” tagline connects back to Shakespeare but with a Tubi twist.
- The ad comment plays on a common complaint about free streaming services.
- The “Did You Know?” gives a real fact about Hamlet while playfully contrasting it with the very downmarket content on Tubi and the possibilities of updating the classic tale with horror tropes. It adds a touch of (mildly) intellectual humor.
By understanding the elements of the original joke and then layering in related factual details and observations, we can create new, hopefully amusing, pieces of content that enhance the comedic potential.