Just for Laughs!

When was the last time you really laughed? I mean, you laughed so hard your sides started aching? We interviewed our classmates to find out what they find funny. Most admit that they laugh when someone is clumsy (think of how we laugh when we see the old slip-on-a-banana-peel gag!). Some of us laugh when other people are laughing, or when someone is being silly. Some people laugh when they are nervous, or don't know what to say. Tickling makes most of us laugh too. Almost everyone agreed that jokes make us laugh--even if the joke is corny (meaning very silly!).

But, what is it that makes a joke funny?

In a famous study, Professor Richard Wiseman, in cooperation with The British Association for the Advancement of Science, set out to discover the funniest joke in the world. You can read more about it here on his LaughLab website (and download lots of funny jokes!). Here is the joke which they rated as the funniest one of all:

Two hunters are out in the woods when one of them collapses. He doesn't seem to be breathing and his eyes are glazed. The other guy takes out his phone and calls the emergency services.
He gasps: "My friend is dead! What can I do?" The operator says: "Calm down, I can help. First, let's make sure he's dead." There is a silence, then a gunshot is heard. Back on the phone, the guy says: "OK, now what?" 

Did that make you laugh, or at least chuckle? What is it about this joke that makes people find funny? Most likely it is the surprise ending!

Now watch this video about a guy who is trying to find the best joke ever. You will be aware of a series of puns, clichés, double meanings, and play on words.

 Quite clever isn't it? Many of these jokes are visual. Did you catch them all?  How often did you laugh?


 There are actually formulas for creating good jokes, and every joke should have at least one of these elements:

1. They make use of words that have double meanings (puns, play on words, homonyms)
2. The answer is something you weren't expecting.
3. They create a funny picture in your head.

Using the criteria above, look at this video and determine what element (or elements) each joke has.

Now, read each joke below (it's better if you have friend to tell them to!), and use these criteria to categorize them. Some could fit more than one element. (For those of you who did these in class, I've added a few new jokes!)
D= Double meaning
U= Unexpected (ending)
P= (creates a funny Picture in your head)

_________1. Why did the chicken cross the road?
To get to the other side

 

_________2. Why is the sky so high?
So the birds don't bump their heads

_________3. What did one traffic light say to the other traffic light?
Don't look at me, I'm changing

 

_________4. Why don’t you ever see hippopotamus hiding in trees? 

Because they’re really good at it.

_________5. What do you call a dog without legs?
Anything you like. It won't run after you 

_________6. Patient: doctor, doctor, I feel like a bridge.
Doctor: what came over you?
Patient: two cars and a bus

 

__________7. What do you get if you cross a sheep with a kangaroo?
A woolly jumper 

__________8. Why do cows have bells?
Because their horns don't work

 

__________9. Why do golfers wear two pairs of pants? 

In case they get a hole in one.

_________10. A man walked into a hospital and said: "Doctor, doctor, I've grown curtains." The doctor said: "Calm down man and pull yourself together."

 

_________11. Why can't a car play football?
Because it has only got one boot (in UK English, cars have "boots" not "trunks")

_________12. Why wasn't Cinderella allowed to be in the soccer team?
Because she runs away from the ball

_________13. Why did the boy take the pen and paper to bed?
So that he could draw the curtain

 

________14. What does the secretary do to old nails?   

 File them

________15. Why don't aliens starve in space?
Because they can find mars, a milky way, and a galaxy.

 

_______16. Two fish are in a tank. One turns to the other and asks “How do you drive this thing?”

______17.  Why can’t a bike stand on its own?
 It’s two tired.

______18.  When you get a bladder infection, urine trouble.

______19. You want to hear a pizza joke? Never mind, it’s pretty cheesy.

______20.  What time is it when you have to go to the dentist? 
Tooth-hurtie.
 Answers: 1-U, 2-UP, 3-D, 4-UP, 5-UP, 6-DP, 7-D, 8-D, 9-D, 10-D, 11-D, 12-DP, 13-D, 14-D, 15-D, 16-DP, 17-D, 18-D, 19-D, 20-D

And now for something completely different... it's time for US to tell a few jokes!