# Do you think Who's on First is funny? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [March 6, 2020, 4:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-think-whos-on-first-is-funny/849018 "2020-03-06T16:21:07Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 16\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![davidm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/davidm/32/225_2.png) [@davidm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davidm)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2020, 2:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-think-whos-on-first-is-funny/849018/81 "2020-03-10T14:43:02Z")
> [@Gyrate](#): > > “Who’s on first?” > > “The Aristocrats!” Have we ever done a thread on “The Aristocrats”? I suppose it would be difficult to stay within the board rules. ---
**Author:** ![DesertDog](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/desertdog/32/11503_2.png) [@DesertDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DesertDog)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2020, 3:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-think-whos-on-first-is-funny/849018/82 "2020-03-10T15:12:04Z")
> [@BigT](#): > > I agree it goes on too long, but the issue for me is that, to have it extend that long, the confused character has to go way overboard. There’s also the point where he starts saying the answer at the same time as the other guy, which falls flat for me. Third base. That’s the best part. The poor guy’s able to predict the answer but _still_ doesn’t get what’s going on. **Costello:** Now how did I get on third base? **Abbott:** Why you mentioned his name. I can get not finding the routine’s not funny in the first place but not because you’ve heard it so many times. It’s like not being fond of Shakespeare because it’s nothing but a bunch of cliches. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_other_waldo_pepper/32/12370_2.png) [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Other_Waldo_Pepper)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2020, 3:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-think-whos-on-first-is-funny/849018/83 "2020-03-10T15:21:45Z")
> [@DesertDog](#): > > Third base. > > That’s the best part. The poor guy’s able to predict the answer but _still_ doesn’t get what’s going on. **Abbott** : You ask me. **Costello** : I throw the ball to who? **Abbott** : Naturally. **Costello** : Now you ask me. **Abbott** : You throw the ball to Who? **Costello** : Naturally. **Abbott** : That’s it! **Costello** : SAME AS YOU! ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2020, 3:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-think-whos-on-first-is-funny/849018/84 "2020-03-10T15:35:35Z")
> [@davidm](#): > > Have we ever done a thread on “The Aristocrats”? I suppose it would be difficult to stay within the board rules. More than once ---
**Author:** ![Daithi\_Lacha](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/daithi_lacha/32/5430_2.png) [@Daithi\_Lacha](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Daithi_Lacha)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2020, 4:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-think-whos-on-first-is-funny/849018/85 "2020-03-10T16:51:11Z")
A co-worker and I used to get very very good at, in meetings, throwing out all sorts of made-up jargon and then saying “Third base!” synchronously. Bosslady would roll her eyes and shake her head but her lips would be twitching as she tried to keep a straight face for decorum’s sake. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2020, 5:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-think-whos-on-first-is-funny/849018/86 "2020-03-10T17:09:27Z")
I think it’s funny, but hearing it once every decade or so is enough for me. It’s played on a continuous loop in one of the galleries of the Baseball Hall of Fame, I saw when I was there. ---
**Author:** ![N9IWP](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/n9iwp/32/3154_2.png) [@N9IWP](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/N9IWP)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2020, 10:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-think-whos-on-first-is-funny/849018/87 "2020-03-10T22:27:23Z")
The part that bothers me is the confusion could be minimized “the payer on first base has a surname that is spelled double you - aych - oh” Yes I know that isn’t the point but it still irks me Brian ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2020, 10:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-think-whos-on-first-is-funny/849018/88 "2020-03-10T22:31:56Z")
> [@N9IWP](#): > > The part that bothers me is the confusion could be minimized “the payer on first base has a surname that is spelled double you - aych - oh” > Yes I know that isn’t the point but it still irks me > > Brian It seems you should check out the Kids in the Hall sketch linked to above in post #19. But [here it is again](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jFhvmCgs_L4&feature=youtu.be&t=140). ---
**Author:** ![BlueInfinity](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/9e8a1a/32.png) [@BlueInfinity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BlueInfinity)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2020, 1:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-think-whos-on-first-is-funny/849018/89 "2020-03-11T13:10:53Z")
I still enjoy it, but if you want another twist on the material, the [Shakespearean Version](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BaGHVWKrcpQ). ---
**Author:** ![solost](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/solost/32/11776_2.png) [@solost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/solost)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2020, 1:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-think-whos-on-first-is-funny/849018/90 "2020-03-11T13:43:54Z")
I was reintroduced to the routine recently when my son and a school partner performed it well enough in his Middle School drama class to win a chance to perform in a statewide Forensics competition (Forensics in this sense is a form of acting using minimal or no props and no personal interaction such as eye contact, just pure “acting”). My son was in the Lou Costello role, and his timing and sense of mounting frustration was terrific. They got a lot of laughs. As thoroughly mentioned already, the basic setup is very contrived; it’s all a study in timing and delivery. ---
**Author:** ![amarinth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3be4f8/32.png) [@amarinth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/amarinth)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2020, 11:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-think-whos-on-first-is-funny/849018/91 "2020-03-11T23:23:44Z")
I think it’s funny. It is all about the timing and if the timing is wrong it drags awfully - but when the two speakers are going, it’s hilarious (to me). I’ve even seen a version in ASL and it worked there. It matches my sense of humor. ---
**Author:** ![Paxx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/50afbb/32.png) [@Paxx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Paxx)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2020, 2:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-think-whos-on-first-is-funny/849018/92 "2020-03-12T14:03:17Z")
> [@notfrommensa](#): > > I vote FUNNY > > Oh there is no poll? Why is there no poll? I did a quick count and I get this: Hate it, think it’s not funny: 3 Kinda, sorta funny: 8 Funny: 24 Hilarious, great: 12 Whoops! Left out my opinion: It’s amusing but it goes on too long. Costello is funny but I find Abbott irritating. ---
**Author:** ![E-DUB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/e-dub/32/403_2.png) [@E-DUB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/E-DUB)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2020, 2:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-think-whos-on-first-is-funny/849018/93 "2020-03-12T14:41:22Z")
Humor is very time specific. Rewatched “Stalag 17” recently. The dramatic stuff held up great. The parts that were supposed to be funny weren’t. Given how time specific humor is, the miracle is that this bit, which is so old, is still found to be funny by _anybody_. Anyway that’s what Anybody told me when I talked to him the other day. ---
**Author:** ![CarnalK](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnalk/32/486_2.png) [@CarnalK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CarnalK)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2020, 4:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-think-whos-on-first-is-funny/849018/94 "2020-03-12T16:01:05Z")
I reject that it is clever wordplay. It’s made up names that sound like questions. That’s not playing with words. And as a GenX, I’m not jaded. It was never funny to me. Even as a kid I thought “so the whole joke is made up names that sound like questions and the guy is confused because they sound like questions? Wtf?” “I just need your last name for the registration, sir” “Certainly, it’s Nonofyerbiznezz” “I’m sorry, it’s required for the checkin” :🔁: ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2020, 4:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-think-whos-on-first-is-funny/849018/95 "2020-03-12T16:34:01Z")
> [@DesertDog](#): > > Third base. > > That’s the best part. The poor guy’s able to predict the answer but _still_ doesn’t get what’s going on. > > **Costello:** Now how did I get on third base? > > **Abbott:** Why you mentioned his name. My thing is that I can’t buy he can predict the answer and not understand it. He has to be incredibly stupid to begin with for the whole premise to work as long as it does. There’s no reason someone with even a modicum of intelligence wouldn’t change how they ask the question. Predicting the answer makes him too smart for me to buy it. > [@](#): > > I can get not finding the routine’s not funny in the first place but not because you’ve heard it so many times. It’s like not being fond of Shakespeare because it’s nothing but a bunch of cliches. 😕 But that’s how humor works. Anything, even the most funny thing in existence, gets less funny the more you hear it. Humor works largely on expectations and surprise. Sure, if something was really funny before, nostalgia can pump it up. And simply not listening to it for a while can help Shakespeare’s plays don’t require surprise, so the experiment doesn’t get worse over time. But, even then, it’s normal to get tired of watching the same thing. The only way I’ve ever found a joke as funny as the first time is if it had been so long that I’d forgotten at least parts of it. And it diminishes rapidly, to where the third time, it’s hardly funny at all if I still remember all of it. And it’s not just me. There’s a trope called “Seinfeld is Unfunny” which occurs because so many of their gags have been done elsewhere so they’re not longer fresh. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_other_waldo_pepper/32/12370_2.png) [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Other_Waldo_Pepper)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2020, 12:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-think-whos-on-first-is-funny/849018/96 "2020-03-13T00:04:12Z")
> [@BigT](#): > > My thing is that I can’t buy he can predict the answer and not understand it. He has to be incredibly stupid to begin with for the whole premise to work as long as it does. There’s no reason someone with even a modicum of intelligence wouldn’t change how they ask the question. To be fair, he _does_ change how he asks the question. He asks: _Who’s the guy on first base?_ As this gets him nowhere, he sensibly changes things up by asking: _What’s the guy’s name on first base?_ Problem is, that’s when the other guy seems to give up on the whole thing in favor of discussing the second baseman. “The left fielder’s name?” “Why?” “…I just thought I’d ask you.” “Well, I just thought I’d tell you.” [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-think-whos-on-first-is-funny/849018.md?page=4)