After play was over, I asked him what he thought of the show.
And he said he didn't like it because he hates off the wall comedy.
Joke Poo: The Construction Foreman
I took a coworker to observe the construction team building a brick wall as a favor for Habitat for Humanity.
After the wall was finished, I asked him what he thought of the building process.
And he said he didn’t like it because he hates seeing people put up walls.
Alright, let’s crack this Humpty Dumpty joke open and see what comedic yolk we can extract.
Joke Dissection:
- Core Concept: The humor hinges on the double meaning of "off the wall." Literally, Humpty Dumpty fell off the wall. Figuratively, "off the wall" means unconventional or eccentric. The friend pretends to dislike the play because of the literal interpretation.
- Key Elements:
- Humpty Dumpty: A well-known nursery rhyme character, instantly recognizable as an egg who fell off a wall.
- "Off the Wall": The pun!
- Charity Play: Adds a layer of (slightly dark) humor since one would normally be supportive of this type of event.
- Misunderstanding: The friend’s pretended misunderstanding drives the joke.
Humorous Enrichment – Option 1: "Did You Know?" Fact Twist
Okay, instead of a new joke, let’s create a "Did You Know?" segment designed to make the joke even funnier when you do know it.
"Did you know that the earliest known version of the Humpty Dumpty rhyme (published in 1810) doesn’t actually mention an egg? It describes Humpty Dumpty as a ‘great personage’ who fell off a wall and couldn’t be put back together. The egg interpretation didn’t become popular until much later. So, technically, your friend’s criticism could be based on historical accuracy! He was expecting a story about a disgraced politician, not a giant yolk with issues!"
Why this works:
- Subverts expectations: The "Did You Know?" seems like it will offer straightforward information, but instead it emphasizes the absurdity of the joke by presenting a historical interpretation.
- Elevates the original joke: It adds a layer of intellectual humor, making the person who understands the "Did You Know?" feel a little bit smarter.
- Enhances the pun: Now "off the wall" also applies to the fact the the whole egg interpretation wasn’t the original point of the rhyme at all!
Humorous Enrichment – Option 2: A New, Related Joke
Here’s a joke that builds on the "off the wall" concept related to nursery rhymes:
"I tried to stage a production of ‘Jack and Jill’ using only modern dance. Critics said my choreography was… downright terrible."
Why this works:
- Mirrors the structure: It utilizes a nursery rhyme and a pun involving physical movement (down the hill).
- Thematic Connection: It stays within the realm of nursery rhyme adaptations gone wrong.
- Slightly More Obvious: It’s perhaps a little less subtle than the Humpty Dumpty joke, but the "downright" pun is still quite effective.
I hope this helps! Let me know if you’d like another round of joke enrichment!