Just Something To Keep In Mind

Just because you can already hear the laugh track in your head as you’re getting ready to say your line, before you say the line out loud, do keep in mind how cruel audience laughter can be. They may be laughing because you are about to make a horrible mistake!

So I’m Just Going To Say Congratulations!

The Voice of Humor: He’s engaged to someone named Miranda? So . . . many Miranda Rights jokes . . .

The Voice of Experience: . . . that she, at least, has already heard way too many times before.

We Can Cover “Be Prepared to Duck” In A Future Lecture

So today is April Fools’ Day here, and in honor of that I held a special “The Science of Humor and Pranking” class with my son. We covered topics from “The Rule of Three” to “Practical (Joke) Applications of the Blown Out Egg Shell,” but the most important thing we covered is “Be Prepared to Apologize if a Joke Falls Flat.”

When You Find Yourself Setting Yourself Up For A Surprise Joke, That’s Pretty Ingrained

While it’s true I was having difficulty coming up with what I wanted to write yesterday, that wasn’t the only reason I ended up posting what I did. It’s actually a pretty good example of just how ingrained “going for the joke” is for me.

Well It Is!

Sometimes I feel like the unspoken exchange between me and someone I haven’t connected with in a while goes like:

Them: You haven’t changed, I see.

Me: I really have, and I hope mostly for the better.

Them: You just made a joke that pushed the envelope.

Me: Well, yeah, I still do that, but I’m more discerning about it these days, and the moment I realize I’ve misjudged my audience, I stop. That’s better!

I’d Have Declared Her The Winner Too

I’m 80 years old. I need one more cheap thrill, since my doctor told me I only have another 25 years left.

Miskel Spillman‘s winning entry (in 25 words or less) in Saturday Night Live‘s “Anyone Can Host” contest

When He’s Right, He’s Right

Today my son asked if he could have some more orange slices, but this time could I “set them closer to him.”

“Okaaaay!”  I gleefully told him, which really should have warn him, then I carefully balanced the plastic bowl with the orange slices on top of his head so he wouldn’t forget about them like he had the previous slices.

He sighed softly.  “This is a one time joke, right?” he asked me.  “Because it wouldn’t be funny a second time.”

And I Relearn That Lesson On A Regular Basis

Years ago I watched a stand-up comedian tell a joke that made the entire audience groan, and his response was, “I know, but I don’t care.  It’s my favorite joke, it stays in the act.”

I learned a lot that day.

He’s A Bright Kid

Yesterday I was in the process of walking into a room when I found an inflatable sun blocking the doorway.  Things like this happen with children in the house, so I just moved it out of my way and didn’t give it a second thought.

Until later when I found it in the doorway again.

“Why is this toy in my way after I’ve already moved it once?” I asked my son.

“Because it’s a sunblock!” he answered with a cheesy grin.

I Walked Into That One So Hard My Nose STILL Hurts

And to wrap up the week, a quick joke from my son:

We were going over some of his classwork earlier this week, and I made the mistake of telling him that something was the “same principle” as something else.

“Of course it’s the same principle!” he said with a grin.  “Every school only has one principal, you know.”