A man walks into his application appointment and sits down.
After peering over his resume, the hiring director asks: “well this is all in order, but how do you explain this 4 year gap in your resume?”
The man says: “Ah, that was when I went to Yale”
The hiring director says: “I see, well, I think that we could certainly use a man of those qualities on the team. Welcome aboard, you’re hired”
The man says: “Thank you, I really need the Yob”
Joke Poo: Therapy Session
A patient walks into his therapy appointment and sits down.
After reviewing the patient’s intake form, the therapist asks: “Well, this is all quite detailed, but how do you explain this recurring dream you’ve been having for four years?”
The patient says: “Ah, that’s when I went to Yale.”
The therapist says: “I see. Well, I think that we can certainly uncover the underlying anxieties contributing to the persistence of this disturbing dream. Let’s unpack the symbolism, and delve into the connection to your childhood. ”
The patient says: “Thank you, I really need the Yap.”
Alright, let’s break down this joke and see what comedic seeds we can cultivate.
Joke Dissection:
- Setup: Job interview scenario, building expectation of serious inquiry.
- Punchline Trigger: The “4-year gap” question, meant to be a problematic area.
- Misdirection: The man claims he went to Yale, creating the expectation that he was studying there.
- The Twist: He reveals he “went to Yale” to need a job, in other words he went to Yale because jail sounds phonetically similar.
- Humor Source: Pun, wordplay, ironic contrast between prestigious Yale and the undesirable reality of jail.
Key Elements:
- Yale University: Prestigious, associated with intelligence and success.
- Job Interview: High-stakes environment, requiring composure and explanation.
- 4-year gap: A common concern in resumes, implying potential inactivity or problems.
- Pun/Wordplay: The core mechanic of the joke.
New Humor Creation: “Yale: The Alumni Update You Didn’t Know You Needed”
Okay, so the joke hinged on the pronunciation trick of “Yale” and “Jail,” right? Let’s play off of Yale and their alumni relations:
Did you know? Yale University’s alumni office is notoriously persistent, relentlessly pursuing graduates for donations. Apparently, their new strategy involves a more “direct” approach to uncovering employment gaps. When asked about a four-year period of unaccounted-for time, Yale alums are now explicitly instructed to reply, “Ah, that was my advanced studies program… courtesy of the state.” Response rates have skyrocketed, but the donations have, surprisingly, decreased… mostly because everyone keeps sending Yale bills for lawyer fees. The new slogan? “Yale: We’ll find you, even if you’re laying low.”
Why this works:
- Builds on the original: The ‘4-year gap’ and Yale connection are maintained.
- Expands the comedic premise: We imagine Yale actively seeking out this specific type of “alum.”
- Irony: The idea of Yale actively trying to connect to alumni to find out that they went to jail is the punchline.
- Playful exaggeration: Alumni would not be directed to say they went to Yale due to jail time.
Let me know if you’d like another attempt! We could try taking a different angle, maybe focusing on the hiring director’s (questionable) judgment.