(no subject)
A few episodes ago, on Studio 60, Harry spent pretty much the entire episode trying to tell a joke. The same joke. And failing every single time. She'd start off with the wrong part, or get confused about who said what, or mangle the punchline, or whatever. Could not tell the joke for the life of her.
And, when I watched this episode, I found it unlikely but amusing.
It has come to my attention that my mother cannot tell a joke.
I mean, I knew she doesn't tell jokes. I can't remember her ever telling one. It's just not her. But it has become clear that she, in fact, CANNOT tell one.
For Christmas, we got a six CD set of Prairie Home Companion joke shows. My mom's been listening to them in the car. At this point, she has listened to about four CDs worth. She then tries to relay these jokes to us over the dinner table.
And she CAN'T. It is simultaneously horrifying and hilarious.
For instance.
One of the jokes goes like this (it was also in the movie):
So, there's these two penguins standing around. And the one penguin says to the other penguin, "Hey, you kind of look like you're wearing a tuxedo!" And the second penguin goes, "What makes you think I'm not?"
Okay. Here's the thing. This is a joke. It's not a particularly good joke, though I happen to think it's pretty funny (And, actually, it gets funnier when everyone in your family knows it and has taken to just saying "What makes you think I'm not?" in response to random statements. At least, it does if you're my family. Which, I am. Anyway.). But it has a set up, and a punchline, and it makes internal sense of a kind, and all that jazz.
And then here's the conversation we had last night...
Mom: So, I was in this classroom all day, blah blah blah, and I told them the penguin joke!
Dad and I: *exchange glances*
me: How did you tell it?
Mom: Well, the first penguin says to the second penguin, "Hey, nice tuxedo!" and then he says, "What makes you think I'm not?" Wait, that's not right. Okay, the two penguins are standing around on the ice, and the first penguin says, "Your feathers look like a tuxedo!" and he says, "What makes you think I'm not?" Wait...
AND SO ON. All of her versions contain the important components of penguins, tuxedo, and punchline. But none of them actually works as a joke unless you already know the joke!
Seriously, though, if you ever need a good laugh, come see my mom NOT TELL JOKES.
Because it's hilarious.
And, when I watched this episode, I found it unlikely but amusing.
It has come to my attention that my mother cannot tell a joke.
I mean, I knew she doesn't tell jokes. I can't remember her ever telling one. It's just not her. But it has become clear that she, in fact, CANNOT tell one.
For Christmas, we got a six CD set of Prairie Home Companion joke shows. My mom's been listening to them in the car. At this point, she has listened to about four CDs worth. She then tries to relay these jokes to us over the dinner table.
And she CAN'T. It is simultaneously horrifying and hilarious.
For instance.
One of the jokes goes like this (it was also in the movie):
So, there's these two penguins standing around. And the one penguin says to the other penguin, "Hey, you kind of look like you're wearing a tuxedo!" And the second penguin goes, "What makes you think I'm not?"
Okay. Here's the thing. This is a joke. It's not a particularly good joke, though I happen to think it's pretty funny (And, actually, it gets funnier when everyone in your family knows it and has taken to just saying "What makes you think I'm not?" in response to random statements. At least, it does if you're my family. Which, I am. Anyway.). But it has a set up, and a punchline, and it makes internal sense of a kind, and all that jazz.
And then here's the conversation we had last night...
Mom: So, I was in this classroom all day, blah blah blah, and I told them the penguin joke!
Dad and I: *exchange glances*
me: How did you tell it?
Mom: Well, the first penguin says to the second penguin, "Hey, nice tuxedo!" and then he says, "What makes you think I'm not?" Wait, that's not right. Okay, the two penguins are standing around on the ice, and the first penguin says, "Your feathers look like a tuxedo!" and he says, "What makes you think I'm not?" Wait...
AND SO ON. All of her versions contain the important components of penguins, tuxedo, and punchline. But none of them actually works as a joke unless you already know the joke!
Seriously, though, if you ever need a good laugh, come see my mom NOT TELL JOKES.
Because it's hilarious.