It was a Skype from New York.
Okay, here’s the original joke:
“Snake Plissken joined a teleconference. It was a Skype from New York.”
And here’s my attempt at a “Joke Poo” version:
Title: Data Backup
“HAL 9000 joined a meeting on network security. It was a cloud storage solution.”
Alright, let’s break down this joke:
Original Joke: Snake Plissken joined a teleconference. It was a Skype from New York.
Analysis:
- Core Element 1: Snake Plissken: This refers to the iconic, eye-patch-wearing anti-hero from the Escape from New York (and Escape from L.A.) movies. The humor relies on the audience’s knowledge of this character’s cynical, dangerous, and distinctly un-teleconference-friendly persona.
- Core Element 2: Teleconference: A modern method of communication, implying a professional or collaborative setting.
- Core Element 3: “Skype from New York”: This is the punchline. It creates a double entendre. On one hand, it is the Skype call from New York. But it’s also a pun on “Escape From New York,” immediately connecting the teleconference to the setting of the film and the ridiculousness of Snake Plissken participating in one.
- The Humor: The joke’s funny because of the incongruity. Snake Plissken, a hardened criminal navigating a dystopian New York, is juxtaposed with the mundane normalcy of a teleconference. The pun seals the deal.
Now, for the Comedic Enrichment!
Let’s focus on Escape From New York for inspiration.
Option 1: A New Joke
Why did Snake Plissken refuse to install Zoom on his wrist-mounted computer?
Because he heard it was a total lockdown.
Explanation: This joke plays on the “lockdown” concept associated with the movie’s setting, using a modern tech buzzword to amplify the disconnect between Snake’s world and ours.
Option 2: Witty Observation
You know, it’s ironic that Snake Plissken, a man famous for escaping virtual imprisonment in New York, would be trapped in actual Zoom meetings during the pandemic. It just goes to show, no one escapes mandatory attendance.
Explanation: This connects the fictional dystopia with a very real, relatable modern annoyance. The added layer of “mandatory attendance” is the punchline.
Option 3: Amusing “Did You Know?”
Did you know that John Carpenter originally wanted Charles Bronson to play Snake Plissken? Imagine that teleconference! Instead of gruff one-liners, it would have been 90 minutes of him staring intensely at the camera without saying a word, punctuated by the occasional harmonica solo.
Explanation: This is interesting because it adds a hypothetical scenario that’s inherently funny due to the imagined personality clash with the modern teleconference.
Option 4: Pushing the Original Joke Further
Snake Plissken joined a teleconference. He muted his microphone and set his background to a picture of the Statue of Liberty’s severed head. The HR department was not amused.
Explanation: This expands on the original joke by adding a visual gag and a more relatable, modern-day context for his actions, highlighting his disregard for typical professional etiquette.
Hopefully, one or all of these is helpful. Happy to provide more!