People are really impressed when I tell them I go to the Jim every morning.
Okay, here’s my attempt at a “Joke Poo” version, titled “Brewing Excuses”:
Brewing Excuses
I named my coffee pot “The Boardroom” instead of just “Coffee Pot.”
People are really impressed when I tell them I’m heading to The Boardroom for a serious meeting every morning, and ask if they can join.
Alright, let’s break down this joke and flush out some new humor (pun intended!).
Analysis of the Original Joke:
- Premise: The humor relies on a clever misdirection/double entendre. “Jim” and “John” are common names, but also common slang terms for a toilet.
- Punchline: The punchline reveals the misdirection. The speaker is going to the toilet (Jim) every morning, but leading people to believe they are going to a fitness center (also often called ‘The Jim’).
- Humor Type: Wordplay, irony, and slight absurdity. It’s a short, observational joke relying on a common understanding of slang.
Key Elements:
- Names: Jim, John (common names, easily associated with people).
- Slang: John/Jim (toilet), Jim (gym/fitness center).
- Activity: “Going to” – implying a destination.
- Deception: The joke works because of the implied deception of exercise
New Humor Ideas:
Here are a few directions we can take this:
1. The “Did You Know?” Approach:
“Did you know that the term ‘John’ as slang for toilet might originate from Sir John Harington, who invented a flushing lavatory for Queen Elizabeth I in the late 16th century? So, naming your toilet John is actually honoring plumbing royalty. Now, I just need to figure out how to spin naming my toilet ‘Kevin’…”
2. The Anti-Joke:
“I named my toilet Jim. You know, after my uncle. He visits every morning… to use the bathroom. It’s a real time saver.”
3. The Absurdist Extension:
“I named my toilet Jim. I even got him a membership card to the real gym. He mostly uses the sauna. It’s a really hot seat in there, you know?”
4. The Dark Humor Twist:
“I named my toilet Jim. I tell everyone I go there every morning to work on my… releases. They seem oddly concerned.”
5. The “Meta” Observation:
“I named my toilet Jim, which is a terrible joke. The real comedy is trying to explain to my plumber why I keep asking him to spot ‘Jim’ while I’m ‘squatting’ over him.”
The best new joke, in my opinion, is the “Meta” Observation:
This one continues the misdirection in the original, it also adds another layer of humor to the idea as it is now a joke about a joke!