# Explain this joke: "The rabbit got better"
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/explain-this-joke-the-rabbit-got-better/427364
**Category:** Cafe Society
**Created:** [November 21, 2007, 8:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/explain-this-joke-the-rabbit-got-better/427364 "2007-11-21T20:50:30Z")
**Posts on this page:** 20
**Page:** 2
### Author:  [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)
#### Post date: [November 21, 2007, 11:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/explain-this-joke-the-rabbit-got-better/427364/21 "2007-11-21T23:34:12Z")
I didn’t see the episode, but I am familiar with the rabbit legend and got the joke from the OP. I always thought it was based on truth. I’m glad to see the rabbit test didn’t necessitate the rabbit’s death eventually.
---
### Author:  [@psychonaut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/psychonaut)
#### Post date: [November 21, 2007, 11:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/explain-this-joke-the-rabbit-got-better/427364/22 "2007-11-21T23:39:03Z")
[QUOTE=elfkin477]
So… how old are you guys? Too young to remember when the show was actually on the air, I’m betting. I think I’ll ask my little brother (24) tomorrow if he gets the joke.
[/QUOTE]
The show premiered before I was born, but ran long enough that I I used to watch new episodes as a little kid. Of course, I enjoyed it then on a rather superficial level, laughing at John Ritter’s pratfalls and Don Knotts’s hammy acting but completely missing all the sexual double-entendres.
Interestingly, one of the friends I asked is in her 60s or 70s, and she didn’t get the rabbit joke.
---
### Author:  [@guizot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/guizot)
#### Post date: [November 21, 2007, 11:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/explain-this-joke-the-rabbit-got-better/427364/23 "2007-11-21T23:39:58Z")
[QUOTE=Roland Orzabal]
This has to be some kind of record for “most simulposts”.
[/QUOTE]
It’s lunch break. What else are they going to do while they eat their tuna sandwiches?
---
### Author:  [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)
#### Post date: [November 21, 2007, 11:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/explain-this-joke-the-rabbit-got-better/427364/24 "2007-11-21T23:57:45Z")
However, the cliche “The rabbit died” is pure UL. Back when they used to do [the rabbit test,](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rabbit_test) the rabbit **always** died. There was no other way to get the results.
Well, there was in theory – you could surgically remove the rabbit’s ovaries to examine their reaction to the woman’s urine without killing the rabbit – but few doctors would go to the trouble. That was the basis of a _M.A.S.H._ plot, once: Hot-Lips Houlihan was concerned her husband might have gotten her pregnant (and she was already having serious doubts about the marriage, to say nothing of what this would mean for her precious Army career). Radar had a pet female hamster or guinea pig, who could be used for a test, but he was loath to sacrifice her. Finally Hawkeye and B.J. offered to do the test, and an ovariectomy, without killing the animal. They succeeded, and HLH was knot knocked up – happy ending all around (save for that poor little animal now forever deprived of her chance at motherhood).
---
### Author:  [@Argent\_Towers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Argent_Towers)
#### Post date: [November 22, 2007, 12:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/explain-this-joke-the-rabbit-got-better/427364/25 "2007-11-22T00:01:25Z")
The Nazis used to do a similar test, but instead of a rabbit, they used a rabbi.
---
### Author:  [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)
#### Post date: [November 22, 2007, 12:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/explain-this-joke-the-rabbit-got-better/427364/26 "2007-11-22T00:28:13Z")
[QUOTE=Argent Towers]
The Nazis used to do a similar test, but instead of a rabbit, they used a rabbi.
[/QUOTE]
That makes me think of the late Jewish comedian Alan King. He said he went home one day, and his wife told him the rabbit died (meaning she was pregnant). He got all upset and started carrying on, “Oh, that’s terrible, that’s terrible!” And the wife asked him why? Said she thought he wanted another child and would have been happy to hear that the rabbit died when she went to the doctor. He said, “Rabbit? Oh thank God! I thought you said the rabbi died.”
Except he told it funnier.
---
### Author:  [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)
#### Post date: [November 22, 2007, 12:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/explain-this-joke-the-rabbit-got-better/427364/27 "2007-11-22T00:43:58Z")
Even though it’s not strictly necessary at this point, I feel compelled to link to Cecil’s column: [In old-time pregnancy tests, did the rabbit really die?](http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a970704.html)
---
### Author:  [@askeptic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/askeptic)
#### Post date: [November 22, 2007, 12:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/explain-this-joke-the-rabbit-got-better/427364/28 "2007-11-22T00:55:01Z")
[QUOTE=Argent Towers]
The Nazis used to do a similar test, but instead of a rabbit, they used a rabbi.
[/QUOTE]
In what version of reality is this even remotely appropriate?
---
### Author:  [@Argent\_Towers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Argent_Towers)
#### Post date: [November 22, 2007, 1:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/explain-this-joke-the-rabbit-got-better/427364/29 "2007-11-22T01:05:02Z")
I don’t know, version 1.0.4? But then again, I haven’t installed the latest patch, so my reality might be out of date.
(Seriously, if I was out of line with that joke, I apologize.)
---
### Author:  [@wring](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wring)
#### Post date: [November 22, 2007, 1:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/explain-this-joke-the-rabbit-got-better/427364/30 "2007-11-22T01:08:01Z")
[QUOTE=psychonaut]
I was watching _Three’s Company_ today and observed the following joke which seemed to get quite a laugh:
[/QUOTE]
remember when the show was made? We were **all** drunk/high at the time. _Air_ was funny.
---
### Author:  [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)
#### Post date: [November 22, 2007, 1:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/explain-this-joke-the-rabbit-got-better/427364/31 "2007-11-22T01:20:52Z")
Do you remember the opening bit of the show? And the part where Jack is riding a bicycle toward the camera, and a girl in a bikini is walking toward him away and from us, and he falls over on the bike because he was paying too much attention to her? That girl was actually Suzanne Somers wearing a wig.
Cite: Joyce DeWitt. I heard her tell that to Larry King on his television show. She was his guest shortly after John Ritter died.
---
### Author:  [@shamrock227](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/shamrock227)
#### Post date: [November 22, 2007, 2:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/explain-this-joke-the-rabbit-got-better/427364/32 "2007-11-22T02:00:07Z")
[Here](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=296939&highlight=duran) is the link to the infamous “Rio” thread for those still interested.
---
### Author:  [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)
#### Post date: [November 22, 2007, 2:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/explain-this-joke-the-rabbit-got-better/427364/33 "2007-11-22T02:02:19Z")
[QUOTE=Argent Towers]
The Nazis used to do a similar test, but instead of a rabbit, they used a rabbi.
[/QUOTE]
That makes no sense at all. The test only works with placental mammals. Jews lay eggs.
---
### Author:  [@askeptic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/askeptic)
#### Post date: [November 22, 2007, 2:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/explain-this-joke-the-rabbit-got-better/427364/34 "2007-11-22T02:42:03Z")
[QUOTE=BrainGlutton]
That makes no sense at all. The test only works with placental mammals. Jews lay eggs.
[/QUOTE]
WTF?
---
### Author:  [@psychonaut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/psychonaut)
#### Post date: [November 22, 2007, 2:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/explain-this-joke-the-rabbit-got-better/427364/35 "2007-11-22T02:50:39Z")
[QUOTE=BrainGlutton]
That makes no sense at all. The test only works with placental mammals. Jews lay eggs.
[/QUOTE]
:eek: 😃
Haven’t wheezed and laughed so much in a long time—thanks for that! This is the sort of thing Sarah Silverman would probably say if she were actually funny…
---
### Author:  [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)
#### Post date: [November 22, 2007, 3:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/explain-this-joke-the-rabbit-got-better/427364/36 "2007-11-22T03:19:07Z")
[QUOTE=askeptic]
WTF?
[/QUOTE]
It was extremely over the top racial humor played so over the top that even a Neo-Nazi would not find it funny. In theory this was suppose to make it a joke. I thought it worked.
Well played **BrainGlutton**.
---
### Author:  [@Argent\_Towers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Argent_Towers)
#### Post date: [November 22, 2007, 5:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/explain-this-joke-the-rabbit-got-better/427364/37 "2007-11-22T05:36:36Z")
[QUOTE=BrainGlutton]
That makes no sense at all. The test only works with placental mammals. Jews lay eggs.
[/QUOTE]
You got to wrestle them to the ground first. It helps if you grab 'em by the horns.
---
### Author:  [@pricciar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pricciar)
#### Post date: [November 22, 2007, 5:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/explain-this-joke-the-rabbit-got-better/427364/38 "2007-11-22T05:39:50Z")
[QUOTE=What Exit?]
It was extremely over the top racial humor played so over the top that even a Neo-Nazi would not find it funny. In theory this was suppose to make it a joke. I thought it worked.
Well played **BrainGlutton**.
[/QUOTE]
Why would you go and call **askeptic** a Neo-Nazi? That’s not very appropriate for the Thanksgiving holiday.
pat
---
### Author:  [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)
#### Post date: [November 22, 2007, 6:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/explain-this-joke-the-rabbit-got-better/427364/39 "2007-11-22T06:06:09Z")
[QUOTE=askeptic]
WTF?
[/QUOTE]
It’s a reference to the Borat movie.
---
### Author:  [@KGS](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KGS)
#### Post date: [November 22, 2007, 7:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/explain-this-joke-the-rabbit-got-better/427364/40 "2007-11-22T07:44:48Z")
[QUOTE=Roland Orzabal]
This has to be some kind of record for “most simulposts”.
[/QUOTE]
I think the record is 12. But an “Octopost” is indeed impressive, good work guys. 🙂
[Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/explain-this-joke-the-rabbit-got-better/427364.md?page=1)
[Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/explain-this-joke-the-rabbit-got-better/427364.md?page=3)