Why is this Joke funny? (The Big Bang Theory)

[kaylasdad99]

Kayla and I were watching a rerun of The Big Bang Theory last night. The guys were sitting around the apartment discussing who id the bravest person in the Marvel Universe. Raj said, "whoever does She-Hulk's bikini waxing." This got a laugh from the audience.

Then Howard said "Captain America's undocumented Mexican gardener," and got a big laugh. Kayla turned to me and said, "Why is that funny?"

And I had no answer. I'm her FATHER, and I couldn't answer a SIMPLE question for my child! I felt like a failure as a man. (NOTE: I did feel a LITTLE better when I said "Go ask your mother," but not very much) I contemplated going with "Because Captain America is such a law-abiding do-gooder that he would deport the gardener personally," but that seemed like a bit of a stretch, even for a joke by Howard.

So, I know we have at least one Hollywood writer on the Dope, and we have even more Marvel Comics readers. Why was that joke funny a joke?

TIA.

[Glory]

Probably because Captain America is such a paragon of justice he would NEVER allow an undocumented Mexican gardener?

[Justin_Bailey]

Originally Posted by kaylasdad99

I contemplated going with "Because Captain America is such a law-abiding do-gooder that he would deport the gardener personally," but that seemed like a bit of a stretch, even for a joke by Howard.

You got it.

[astorian]

The writers of the show probably never read Captain America comics, but ASSUMED (wrongly) that Cap is a super-patriotic, ultra-nationalistic vigilante who would hate Mexicans and personally grab all illegal aliens and throw them back over the Rio Grande.

[Thudlow Boink]

Anything can be funny if you have a laugh track. ::canned laughter::

[Dr_Doom]

Neither of those jokes are even remotely funny.

She-Hulk is pretty much invulnerable; I doubt she would feel anything at all from being waxed. Even if she did, why would she have any worse a reaction than any other normal woman? (I'm making the assumption that women who undergo the procedure do not consider it unbearably painful.)

So a gardener working illegally in the US would have to be incredibly brave, on a (Marvel) universal scale to accept employ from Captain America? Not funny.

I'm glad I don't watch this show.

[silenus]

We're glad you don't watch it either.

[Dr_Doom]

Thank you for sharing.

[Happy Lendervedder]

No thank you.

[Enright3]

Originally Posted by Dr_Doom

Neither of those jokes are even remotely funny.

She-Hulk is pretty much invulnerable; I doubt she would feel anything at all from being waxed. Even if she did, why would she have any worse a reaction than any other normal woman? (I'm making the assumption that women who undergo the procedure do not consider it unbearably painful.)

So a gardener working illegally in the US would have to be incredibly brave, on a (Marvel) universal scale to accept employ from Captain America? Not funny.

I'm glad I don't watch this show.

Wow, you're a tough sell. I think both of those jokes are funny when you imagine the superhero behaving like a normal human. IOW if you bikini wax She Hulk, but she behaves like you imagine an ordinary woman could react then it's funny because of the hilarity that ensues.
The Captain America is funny for similar reasons. For one, thinking about the absurdity of Captain America hiring a gardener, let alone an illegal one. Then if he discovers it... uh oh. more wackiness undoubtedly ensues.

It's the situation that's funny; not "In real life how would a super hero react?"

[Dr_Doom]

My pleasure.

[Sailboat]

Yeah, we don't tolerate undocumented Latverians here!

[Dr_Doom]

Originally Posted by Enright3

Wow, you're a tough sell. I think both of those jokes are funny when you imagine the superhero behaving like a normal human. IOW if you bikini wax She Hulk, but she behaves like you imagine an ordinary woman could react then it's funny because of the hilarity that ensues.
The Captain America is funny for similar reasons. For one, thinking about the absurdity of Captain America hiring a gardener, let alone an illegal one. Then if he discovers it... uh oh. more wackiness undoubtedly ensues.

It's the situation that's funny; not "In real life how would a super hero react?"

I suppose if one is completely horrified at the prospect of the immense pain involved with bikini waxing, and the utterly incredible outburst of violence expected of an "ordinary woman" (otherwise why bother with the She-Hulk reference?), then the hilarity of the situation and the assumed bravery involved in administering said procedure is clear. I concede this to you.

Captain America needing a gardener? Har-de-har. Why not an accountant? Why not a motorcycle mechanic? Oh, that's right, because there is much more humour to be found in the stereotype that Mexicans are more apt to be employed in a menial labour setting. I also concede this to you.

[Dr_Doom]

Originally Posted by Sailboat

Yeah, we don't tolerate undocumented Latverians here!

[Yllaria]

Originally Posted by Enright3

Wow, you're a tough sell. I think both of those jokes are funny when you imagine the superhero behaving like a normal human . . .

There's a Shortpacked! comic about that. Batman is comedy gold.

[pancakes3]

Originally Posted by Thudlow Boink

Anything can be funny if you have a laugh track. ::canned laughter::

I laughed.

[Intergalactic Gladiator]

I'm having trouble believing this is the real Dr. Doom. He hasn't once referred to himself in the third person.

[Lightnin']

Originally Posted by Enright3

Wow, you're a tough sell. I think both of those jokes are funny when you imagine the superhero behaving like a normal human. IOW if you bikini wax She Hulk, but she behaves like you imagine an ordinary woman could react then it's funny because of the hilarity that ensues.
The Captain America is funny for similar reasons. For one, thinking about the absurdity of Captain America hiring a gardener, let alone an illegal one. Then if he discovers it... uh oh. more wackiness undoubtedly ensues.

It's the situation that's funny; not "In real life how would a super hero react?"

To be fair, Dr_Doom's comment is pretty funny if you read it in Sheldon's voice.

[cmkeller]

Dr Doom:

She-Hulk is pretty much invulnerable; I doubt she would feel anything at all from being waxed.

I don't think the invulnerability applies here. Her skin is impenetrable, but she probably still has nerve endings and pain receptors, and I imagine that pulling out hairs will cause those to react. (Unless her follicles are invulnerable and make her hair un-pluckable? But generally, yanking on hair is painful even when it's unsuccessful.)

Even if she did, why would she have any worse a reaction than any other normal woman?

Because if she's unhappy with the sensation, she can punch you through a wall. Whereas the worst a normal woman could do would be less deadly.

[njtt]

Originally Posted by Lightnin'

To be fair, Dr_Doom's comment is pretty funny if you read it in Sheldon's voice.

You win the thread!

[grude]

Originally Posted by Dr_Doom

Captain America needing a gardener? Har-de-har. Why not an accountant? Why not a motorcycle mechanic? Oh, that's right, because there is much more humour to be found in the stereotype that Mexicans are more apt to be employed in a menial labour setting. I also concede this to you.

Um because it is easier to work undocumented as a gardener? They are more likely to work there because lack of documented status is barrier in other jobs.

How do you become a CPA with no identity documents?

[Derleth]

Originally Posted by grude

How do you become a CPA with no identity documents?

By doin' it in da hood, yo!

CPA-ONE: Miss ya till I'm with ya.

[standingwave]

Originally Posted by Lightnin'

To be fair, Dr_Doom's comment is pretty funny if you read it in Sheldon's voice.

I had the same thought reading this thread just now.

[guizot]

Originally Posted by Dr_Doom

Captain America needing a gardener? Har-de-har. Why not an accountant? Why not a motorcycle mechanic? Oh, that's right, because there is much more humour to be found in the stereotype that Mexicans are more apt to be employed in a menial labour setting. . .

But that's not why it isn't funny.

It isn't funny because it's overly contrived--the usual reason for lame sit-com jokes.

[Jonathan Chance]

Originally Posted by cmkeller

I don't think the invulnerability applies here. Her skin is impenetrable, but she probably still has nerve endings and pain receptors, and I imagine that pulling out hairs will cause those to react. (Unless her follicles are invulnerable and make her hair un-pluckable? But generally, yanking on hair is painful even when it's unsuccessful.)

Although imagine it. Really strong waxer...absolutely invulnerable follicles...She-Hulk pulled across the room by her muff?

That, my friends, is comedy gold.

[Gagundathar]

I have heard that if you roam around in the seedier districts of cyberspace you will find remarkably realistic 3D models of She-Hulk doing absurd things well beyond your prior imaginings.
Poser is pretty awesome.
Or so I have heard.

[corkboard]

I don't think the She-Hulk joke has anything to do with any pain she might feel from the waxing; I think the source of the humor comes from the bravery the waxer must possess to witness up close and first hand what's going on... down there.



It can't be pretty.

[Snickers]

Originally Posted by Thudlow Boink

Anything can be funny if you have a laugh track. ::canned laughter::

Originally Posted by pancakes3

I laughed.

As did I. Good lord, I hate laugh tracks.

[willthekittensurvive?]

wait.....I read a bit of Marvel Civil war,

I thought that Captain Amercan was against registration and sutch

[NoClueBoy]

Originally Posted by astorian

The writers of the show probably never read Captain America comics, but ASSUMED (wrongly) that Cap is a super-patriotic, ultra-nationalistic vigilante who would hate Mexicans and personally grab all illegal aliens and throw them back over the Rio Grande.

But, where over the Rio Grande? It starts in southern Colorado, no?

Over Macho Grande?

[slitterst]

Originally Posted by NoClueBoy

Over Macho Grande?

I'll never be over Macho Grande.

[Munch]

Originally Posted by Snickers

As did I. Good lord, I hate laugh tracks.

I'm just going to pre-empt the inevitable "BBT doesn't have a laugh track - here's a photo of their live studio audience!" post, and mention that you can manipulate the audio from a live studio audience any way you want, as well as direct them when to laugh, how long to laugh, and how loud to laugh.

[Cliffy]

Of course we all know that Steve Rogers (a/k/a Captain America) lives in a Manhattan walk-up, and has no garden. I hope someone got fired for that blunder.

--Cliffy

[kaylasdad99]

As long s the subject of She-Hulk as been broached, who is she when she calms down?

[Ephemera]

Bruce's cousin, Jennifer. She got his powers due to a blood transfusion and she can switch between forms at will. She doesn't have to hulk out like Bruce does.

Also, neither joke is funny.

[jayjay]

I can see She-Hulk getting bikini-waxed (and threatening to pull the waxer's ears off) in the Byrne run of Sensational She-Hulk. That just seems like something that would have happened in that book...

[Johnny Q]

I think that with the She-Hulk joke, they were actually thinking about Bruce's reaction if it was happening to him.

[well he's back]

Not all the jokes work on Big Bang Theory. These didn't (tho the idea of bikini-waxing She-Hulk is funny). But many of their jokes & situations make me laugh out loud. They may have a laugh track but they also have a studio audience. Lots of the laughs are real.

[a35362]

I don't know anything about Captain America, but... why would CA have an undocumented anything in the first place?

I mean the joke doesn't even make sense.

[Chronos]

Bruce's cousin, Jennifer. She got his powers due to a blood transfusion and she can switch between forms at will. She doesn't have to hulk out like Bruce does.

Although, she actually prefers to be in her Hulk form, since it helps her deal with a lack of assertiveness and self-esteem in her mortal form. In at least some runs, she's tried court cases while big, green, and ugly (her day job is as a lawyer).

[Irishman]

Originally Posted by Dr_Doom

Captain America needing a gardener? Har-de-har. Why not an accountant? Why not a motorcycle mechanic? Oh, that's right, because there is much more humour to be found in the stereotype that Mexicans are more apt to be employed in a menial labour setting. I also concede this to you.

I can't justify the supposed humor, but illegal Mexicans take menial jobs where they can get paid in cash and not have to provide documentation. Kinda hard to be an accountant, though I suppose he could be a motorcycle mechanic. But the joke relies on common expectation. Illegal Mexican gardener is common concept, whereas illegal Mexican motorcycle mechanic is a "wait, what?" moment. You have to spend too much brain power on the second part for the first part to have a chance at being funny.

Illegal Mexican gardener or landscaper is a known thing. Illegal Mexican motorcyle mechanic is not. Any humor is contrasting Mr. Law and Order Captain American with having anything illegal. Plus, he's Captain America, why would he have a Mexican?

[Miller]

Originally Posted by Chronos

In at least some runs, she's tried court cases while big, green, and ugly.

I question one third of your adjectives.

[asterion]

Originally Posted by Chronos

Although, she actually prefers to be in her Hulk form, since it helps her deal with a lack of assertiveness and self-esteem in her mortal form. In at least some runs, she's tried court cases while big, green, and ugly (her day job is as a lawyer).

Any chance the writers can get her admitted to the Supreme Court bar?

[Bryan Ekers]

Originally Posted by Chronos

In at least some runs, she's tried court cases while big, green, and ugly (her day job is as a lawyer).

Originally Posted by Miller

I question one third of your adjectives.

Yeah, but you know what's weighing down the left side of that scale?


Muff.

[jayjay]

Originally Posted by Bryan Ekers

Muff.

TOUGH muff...

[Nzinga, Seated]

Originally Posted by Thudlow Boink

Anything can be funny if you have a laugh track. ::canned laughter::

And anything can be awesome when posted by a sweety like you! :canned "awwww":

[Lust4Life]

Originally Posted by Dr_Doom

Neither of those jokes are even remotely funny.

She-Hulk is pretty much invulnerable; I doubt she would feel anything at all from being waxed. Even if she did, why would she have any worse a reaction than any other normal woman? (I'm making the assumption that women who undergo the procedure do not consider it unbearably painful.)

So a gardener working illegally in the US would have to be incredibly brave, on a (Marvel) universal scale to accept employ from Captain America? Not funny.

I'm glad I don't watch this show.

Is this a whoosh ?

Why are you commenting on a programme that you've never watched ?

Personally I don't think that its fair to judge a joke on how funny it is written down, when its all about the delivery.

[Slow Moving Vehicle]

I figured the Captain America joke was playing on nationalistic anti-immigration teabagger types - you know, 'Murikins - who employ cheap illegal labor.

[NoClueBoy]

It's a laugh riot in the original Klingon.

[RikWriter]

Originally Posted by Slow Moving Vehicle

I figured the Captain America joke was playing on nationalistic anti-immigration teabagger types - you know, 'Murikins - who employ cheap illegal labor.

So, you're agreeing that it was unfunny, senseless and stupid?