I asked the judge, "Your Honor, will you marry me to this woman even though I'm already married to somebody else?"
The judge said, "That would be bigamy!"
I replied, "Well, it wouldn't be that big of you, I'm just asking you to do your job."
Joke Poo:
Title: The Astronaut’s Audition
I went to NASA to audition for a trip to Mars. I asked the head of the program, “Sir, will you send me on this mission even though I’ve never been off Earth before?”
The NASA head said, “That would be unprecedented!”
I replied, “Well, it wouldn’t be that precedented, I’m just asking you to consider my application.”
Alright, let’s dissect this joke and then fertilize it with some comedic growth hormones.
Joke Analysis:
- Core Concept: The joke relies on a misunderstanding (or feigned misunderstanding) of the term “bigamy.” The comedian uses the literal size connotation of “big” to deflect the serious accusation of illegal behavior.
- Target: The “target” of the humor is primarily the judge, who is presented as potentially taking the request personally. It also satirizes the speaker’s blatant disregard for the law and social norms.
- Structure: The joke follows a classic setup-punchline structure:
- Setup: Going to the courthouse for a marriage license, then posing a seemingly outlandish question to the judge.
- Punchline: The “bigamy” misinterpretation and the implication that the judge would be making a big deal out of something simple.
- Humor Type: The humor is a blend of:
- Absurdity: The premise itself is inherently absurd.
- Wordplay: The pun on “bigamy” is central to the joke’s effectiveness.
- Satire: It subtly mocks the speaker’s (and perhaps, by extension, society’s) casual attitude towards marriage and the law.
Comedic Enrichment: A New Joke/Observation based on “Bigamy” and Legal Loopholes:
Approach: Let’s leverage the “bigamy” concept and play on the technicalities and potential loopholes that occasionally arise in marriage laws.
The New Joke:
I was reading up on the intricacies of marriage law to make sure my second wedding goes off without a hitch. Did you know that technically, if your first wife declares you legally dead, you can remarry? It’s not bigamy, it’s… big mistake on her part. Apparently, she’s going to be really surprised at the reception.
Comedic Rationale:
- Builds on the Original: The new joke directly references the themes of bigamy and multiple marriages from the original.
- Twist: The “legal death” loophole creates a darkly humorous twist.
- Character Development: The joke implies the speaker is actively looking for ways to exploit legal loopholes, adding another layer of character absurdity.
- Satire: It satirizes the perceived coldness and formality of the legal system by making light of what amounts to fraud, or something akin to fraud.
Bonus Factoid (that could also be used in a routine):
Did you know that there are certain cultures and historical periods where polygamy was accepted or even encouraged? So, technically, if you can find a judge from 14th century Outer Mongolia… you might be in the clear! (Disclaimer: Don’t actually try this. Modern law frowns upon time-traveling polygamy).
This information provides a historical/cultural context to the joke, making it slightly more erudite while still retaining the absurdist humor. It also allows for comedic exaggeration of the speaker’s desperate measures to circumvent the law.