"Eat prey, love."
Okay, here’s my attempt at a “Joke Poo” version of that shark joke, titled “Emu-otional Support”:
Title: Emu-otional Support
Joke: What did the exasperated zookeeper say to the overly empathetic emu, who kept sneaking comfort snacks to the pandas?
“Emu-tional Support, be gone!”
Alright, let’s dissect this joke.
Key Elements:
- The Setup: A concerned mother shark has a vegetarian son. He’s gone to Bali to “reinvent himself.” This sets up a situation ripe with irony and conflict.
- The Pun: The punchline, “Eat prey, love,” is a play on the title of Elizabeth Gilbert’s memoir, “Eat, Pray, Love,” which documents her journey of self-discovery.
- The Conflict: The conflict lies between the natural instincts of a shark (to eat prey) and the son’s unusual vegetarianism and quest for self-discovery.
- The Humor: The humor derives from the unexpected juxtaposition of these elements. A mother shark advising her son to “eat prey” is inherently funny, especially given his attempt at vegetarianism and Balinese self-discovery, which often emphasizes peace and non-violence.
Comedic Enrichment/New Joke:
Let’s focus on the Bali aspect and the inherent absurdity of a shark seeking enlightenment there.
New Joke:
Why did the Great White Shark get kicked out of the Balinese yoga retreat?
Because during the “compassionate release” pose, he kept trying to re-release his fellow retreat participants back into the ocean! Turns out “Namaste” sounds a lot like “Nummy-tasty” when you’re underwater all your life.