# Explain to me why "Pants on the Ground" is funny. **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [January 21, 2010, 11:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/explain-to-me-why-pants-on-the-ground-is-funny/525822 "2010-01-21T11:03:09Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Cubsfan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f4b2a3/32.png) [@Cubsfan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cubsfan)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2010, 11:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/explain-to-me-why-pants-on-the-ground-is-funny/525822/1 "2010-01-21T11:03:09Z")
So I’m over in Afghanistan and I don’t watch American Idol. I also have EXTREMELY limited bandwidth and can’t stream video and it takes a good 25 minutes to buffer a 3 minute low res Youtube video and that’s only if the connection doesn’t fail in the process. I was reading [CNN.com](http://CNN.com) though and apparently this AI audition is all the rage in the states, or at least that’s what I assume seeing as it’s front page news on CNN. I also saw it mentioned on a few other new sites as the “viral hit of 2010” etc… So I decided to take a stab and waste 25 minutes of internet time buffering a clip of this on Youtube thinking it must be hysterical right? Wrong. It wasn’t really funny at all. And I have a pretty good sense of humor. I didn’t even chuckle. So what is it that’s making this thing “the viral hit of 2010” in the states? I have no TV so maybe it’s common knowledge there, but from where I’m sittin it’s really not funny. Maybe the part where he starts doing the splits but otherwise I don’t get it. ---
**Author:** ![An\_Arky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/87869e/32.png) [@An\_Arky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/An_Arky)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2010, 12:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/explain-to-me-why-pants-on-the-ground-is-funny/525822/2 "2010-01-21T12:35:25Z")
Come, my son; lend me your ear. The Great Oracle will now share his timeless wisdom on this matter. The answer to your question, O faithful one, is thus: _People are stupid._ Whenever you are puzzled about the popularity of lowbrow entertainments, you’ll often find this short, simple pharase to be the answer. ---
**Author:** ![GuanoLad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guanolad/32/42_2.png) [@GuanoLad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuanoLad)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2010, 12:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/explain-to-me-why-pants-on-the-ground-is-funny/525822/3 "2010-01-21T12:49:53Z")
1. He had no chance of passing the audition, as he wasn’t even eligible. 2. It was a catchy and original song, which isn’t too common to see at Idol auditions I don’t think (though I don’t watch the show as a rule). 3. He sung it well, for an old dude who looked like he staggered into the auditorium accidentally. 4. The sentiment in the song is one we are all thinking: With their hat on sideways; looking like a fool; with their pants on the ground. 5. It was sweet, more than funny. It just makes you smile to see him make the effort, and come away from it with his dignity intact, and a worthy fifteen minutes of proverbial. ---
**Author:** ![Anne\_Elk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/22d042/32.png) [@Anne\_Elk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anne_Elk)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2010, 1:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/explain-to-me-why-pants-on-the-ground-is-funny/525822/4 "2010-01-21T13:30:49Z")
I prefer the version sung by Jimmy Fallon/Neil Young. ---
**Author:** ![Rebo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rebo/32/13005_2.png) [@Rebo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rebo)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2010, 2:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/explain-to-me-why-pants-on-the-ground-is-funny/525822/5 "2010-01-21T14:10:05Z")
I hear he didn’t patent the song, and now he’s hired a lawyer to help him recoup some money from it. I love the song, and the sentiment behind it. They do look like fools with their pants on the ground! They have to hold them up with one hand! Why does this fashion still exist? ---
**Author:** ![Jack\_Batty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jack_batty/32/3201_2.png) [@Jack\_Batty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jack_Batty)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2010, 2:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/explain-to-me-why-pants-on-the-ground-is-funny/525822/6 "2010-01-21T14:14:15Z")
What would a heart-felt, uplifting, family-friendly, inspirational season of everybody’s feel-good favorite, _American Idol_, be if we couldn’t prance the truly delusional in front of the cameras so we can all point and laugh at them? It’s not like we have geek-shows we can go to anymore. ---
**Author:** ![Speak\_to\_me\_Maddie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/58956e/32.png) [@Speak\_to\_me\_Maddie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Speak_to_me_Maddie)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2010, 2:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/explain-to-me-why-pants-on-the-ground-is-funny/525822/7 "2010-01-21T14:34:28Z")
It’s not like anybody is rotfl at the bit, it is just a silly thing that is mildy amusing. Add to that _American Idol_ is the most watched show in the states and you get a cute catch phrase that people can kinda chuckle over with each other at work, school, church, and even with strangers. _Saturday Night Live_ used to be the cultural output for these little national in-jokes, but they dropped the ball and for the time being _Idol_ has picked it up. Larry Platt isn’t delusional either. Cleraly he didn’t think he would make it. Apparently he was locally known enough to get that last spot on purpose. I think the show airing on MLK day might have had something to do with it too since Platt is a known [civil right activist](http://www.usatoday.com/communities/idolchatter/post/2010/01/general-larry-platt-a-closer-look/1). ---
**Author:** ![Jack\_Batty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jack_batty/32/3201_2.png) [@Jack\_Batty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jack_Batty)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2010, 2:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/explain-to-me-why-pants-on-the-ground-is-funny/525822/8 "2010-01-21T14:47:56Z")
And what a fine way to honor Dr. Martin Luther King, jr. on his birthday, by putting an old black man on TV, dancing around and making a fool himself, while three millionaires laugh their asses off at him. ---
**Author:** ![msmith537](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d9b06d/32.png) [@msmith537](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/msmith537)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2010, 2:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/explain-to-me-why-pants-on-the-ground-is-funny/525822/9 "2010-01-21T14:54:28Z")
> [@Rebo](#): > > I hear he didn’t patent the song, and now he’s hired a lawyer to help him recoup some money from it. You copyright a song, you don’t patent it. And the copyright exists as soon as the song is written. All you need to do is establish a copyright is affix a (c) to your recording or lyrics. (c)msmith537, 2010 ---
**Author:** ![Rebo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rebo/32/13005_2.png) [@Rebo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rebo)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2010, 2:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/explain-to-me-why-pants-on-the-ground-is-funny/525822/10 "2010-01-21T14:59:41Z")
:smack: I knew that. Um - I didn’t have enough caffeine yet? 😉 I just a heard a blurb on the radio. ---
**Author:** ![Speak\_to\_me\_Maddie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/58956e/32.png) [@Speak\_to\_me\_Maddie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Speak_to_me_Maddie)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2010, 3:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/explain-to-me-why-pants-on-the-ground-is-funny/525822/11 "2010-01-21T15:05:44Z")
> [@Jack\_Batty](#): > > And what a fine way to honor Dr. Martin Luther King, jr. on his birthday, by putting an old black man on TV, dancing around and making a fool himself, while three millionaires laugh their asses off at him. Eh. Some people like to have fun though. The Idol regional auditions are essentially comedy shows. So a former activist performed a funny little song on a comedy show. The judges and the audience laughs along with him. The song contains a nugget of wisdom that rings true; a little social commentray mixed with a silly little tune. I think MLK would have liked it. ---
**Author:** ![Enderw24](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ba9def/32.png) [@Enderw24](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enderw24)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2010, 3:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/explain-to-me-why-pants-on-the-ground-is-funny/525822/12 "2010-01-21T15:14:27Z")
> [@msmith537](#): > > You copyright a song, you don’t patent it. And the copyright exists as soon as the song is written. All you need to do is establish a copyright is affix a (c) to your recording or lyrics. > > (c)msmith537, 2010 Technically you don’t need to even do that. The copyright is implied. But all you’d be able to collect on a general copyright are actual damages you can prove you suffered as a result of others using your work. If you register it with the US Copyright office, you can go for punitive damages as well. ---
**Author:** ![Rebo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rebo/32/13005_2.png) [@Rebo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rebo)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2010, 3:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/explain-to-me-why-pants-on-the-ground-is-funny/525822/13 "2010-01-21T15:18:19Z")
[On TMZ.](http://www.tmz.com/2010/01/21/pants-on-the-ground-general-larry-plat-american-idol-lawyer/) ---
**Author:** ![JThunder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e95f7d/32.png) [@JThunder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JThunder)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2010, 3:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/explain-to-me-why-pants-on-the-ground-is-funny/525822/14 "2010-01-21T15:23:22Z")
> [@Rebo](#): > > I hear he didn’t patent the song, and now he’s hired a lawyer to help him recoup some money from it. I guarantee that he did not patent it. Songs are not inventions, and thus, not patentable. He probably didn’t copyright it either; however, according to the Berne convention, he doesn’t have to in order to legitimately claim a copyright. ---
**Author:** ![Intergalactic\_Gladiator](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/intergalactic_gladiator/32/112_2.png) [@Intergalactic\_Gladiator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Intergalactic_Gladiator)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2010, 3:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/explain-to-me-why-pants-on-the-ground-is-funny/525822/15 "2010-01-21T15:24:15Z")
> [@msmith537](#): > > You copyright a song, you don’t patent it. And the copyright exists as soon as the song is written. All you need to do is establish a copyright is affix a (c) to your recording or lyrics. > > (c)msmith537, 2010 :smack: Dangit, and I was going to reproduce what you just said without your expressed written consent. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Nzinga\_Seated](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/b5ac83/32.png) [@Nzinga\_Seated](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nzinga_Seated)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2010, 3:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/explain-to-me-why-pants-on-the-ground-is-funny/525822/16 "2010-01-21T15:42:04Z")
ETA: deleted, I see Maddie already spoke for me. ---
**Author:** ![AuntiePam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f19dbf/32.png) [@AuntiePam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AuntiePam)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2010, 3:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/explain-to-me-why-pants-on-the-ground-is-funny/525822/17 "2010-01-21T15:53:59Z")
_Pants on the Ground_ has the top three spots at [phonezoo.com](http://phonezoo.com), a website with free ringtones. The reason I know this is because I was at [phonezoo.com](http://phonezoo.com) yesterday to get the Geico boss’s ringtone (ringedy ding ding ding dong) for my husband, who thinks it’s the funniest thing he’s ever heard. I don’t think Pants is funny so much as charming. ---
**Author:** ![Abby\_Emma\_Sasha](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e68b1a/32.png) [@Abby\_Emma\_Sasha](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Abby_Emma_Sasha)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2010, 4:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/explain-to-me-why-pants-on-the-ground-is-funny/525822/18 "2010-01-21T16:42:05Z")
> [@Speak\_to\_me\_Maddie](#): > > Eh. Some people like to have fun though. > > The Idol regional auditions are essentially comedy shows. So a former activist performed a funny little song on a comedy show. The judges and the audience laughs along with him. The song contains a nugget of wisdom that rings true; a little social commentray mixed with a silly little tune. > > I think MLK would have liked it. Agreed. Say what you will about the man’s “talent”, but he makes a salient point. In fact, the next time I see some fool with his waistband hanging around his knees i’m going to be humming that little ditty. ---
**Author:** ![Philster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/13edae/32.png) [@Philster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Philster)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2010, 4:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/explain-to-me-why-pants-on-the-ground-is-funny/525822/19 "2010-01-21T16:45:16Z")
> [@Jack\_Batty](#): > > And what a fine way to honor Dr. Martin Luther King, jr. on his birthday, by putting an old black man on TV, dancing around and making a fool himself, while three millionaires laugh their asses off at him. The guy didn’t make a fool of himself in my circles. No one I know would categorize **him** as the fool. No, we like when older folks get up and have a good time w/out being fools, and communicate in a way that works. He didn’t act like a fool. He showed up; he was cool and he made a point many of us wish we could make. ---
**Author:** ![In\_Winnipeg](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/a8b319/32.png) [@In\_Winnipeg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/In_Winnipeg)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2010, 4:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/explain-to-me-why-pants-on-the-ground-is-funny/525822/20 "2010-01-21T16:48:03Z")
I bet Bill Cosby likes it. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/explain-to-me-why-pants-on-the-ground-is-funny/525822.md?page=2)