# How obvious (or not) is this visual joke? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [June 7, 2012, 1:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-obvious-or-not-is-this-visual-joke/624342 "2012-06-07T01:30:01Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![njtt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ecd19e/32.png) [@njtt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/njtt)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2012, 2:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-obvious-or-not-is-this-visual-joke/624342/21 "2012-06-07T02:36:49Z")
I get it, but then I am a lover of awful puns (as, I suspect, are a disproportionate number of Dopers). People are not going to get this at all unless they know the original (verbal pun) joke, and love it enough to remember it well. It is an old joke, but not everyone will have heard it despite that, and many of those who have will probably have long forgotten it. Also, although I got it from your description, I am not entirely sure that I would have got it from actually seeing it. I suspect it would have taken me longer, at any rate, perhaps too long for it to seem funny (rather than merely clever). ---
**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2012, 2:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-obvious-or-not-is-this-visual-joke/624342/22 "2012-06-07T02:53:55Z")
I’ve never heard that joke before, and I like puns. I think this would work in like an Animaniacs cartoon, which I find hilarious. I like the joke. However it would be impossible to visually show “nine inch” so you’re going to lose a lot of people there because at first it’s going to be a “tiny pianist” which is what I thought at first, even though I had the words “nine inch” right there. ---
**Author:** ![Maserschmidt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/maserschmidt/32/18829_2.png) [@Maserschmidt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maserschmidt)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2012, 2:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-obvious-or-not-is-this-visual-joke/624342/23 "2012-06-07T02:57:00Z")
> [@Ethilrist](#): > > Yah, but some people just can’t do an Italian accent. This, and its predecessor posts, for the win. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2012, 3:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-obvious-or-not-is-this-visual-joke/624342/24 "2012-06-07T03:16:31Z")
A very, very old joke. I thought everyone had heard it by now. ---
**Author:** ![thelurkinghorror](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7c8e57/32.png) [@thelurkinghorror](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thelurkinghorror)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2012, 3:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-obvious-or-not-is-this-visual-joke/624342/25 "2012-06-07T03:47:00Z")
It would give me pause for a sec because I’ve only heard it as “12 inch pianist,” not 9. I like it. Not everybody will get it, but some might chortle, kind of like _The Simpsons_ “Sneed’s Feed and Seed (Formerly Chuck’s).” A Google Fight suggests 12 is more prevalent, several times over. Would a ruler next to him help? ---
**Author:** ![Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mean_mr.mustard/32/3865_2.png) [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mean_Mr.Mustard)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2012, 3:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-obvious-or-not-is-this-visual-joke/624342/26 "2012-06-07T03:50:03Z")
I’d get it, but I’d be pissed off that you couldn’t be bothered to write something original. mmm ---
**Author:** ![cappi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ea666f/32.png) [@cappi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cappi)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2012, 4:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-obvious-or-not-is-this-visual-joke/624342/27 "2012-06-07T04:21:54Z")
> [@Chef\_Troy](#): > > Those of you who pointed out that the pianist’s height needs to be spelled out are completely right… the sight gag totally fails otherwise, which is something I didn’t realize because IN PRINT it works, at least if you know the joke it’s based on. > > . There’s that. I have also never heard that joke before, so I didn’t get it. Also, I don’t think a genie could pretend to mishear a word (assuming the wishes are spoken, rather than texting?). If he pretended to mishear something like that, he wouldn’t be truly honoring his obligation, would he? I think a genie would have to hold true to the actual words of the wish, but he would manifest it in a more “unexpected” way, like you said. Know what I mean.? Maybe I’m just being too nit-picky technical about a little joke though, hehe 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Taomist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/53a042/32.png) [@Taomist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Taomist)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2012, 4:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-obvious-or-not-is-this-visual-joke/624342/28 "2012-06-07T04:27:16Z")
I don’t think _a_ joke scene would play badly, but it’d probably be better to use some kind of joke relating to the time-period. Now we just need to find Persian jokes! ---
**Author:** ![NDP](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ndp/32/55_2.png) [@NDP](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NDP)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2012, 5:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-obvious-or-not-is-this-visual-joke/624342/29 "2012-06-07T05:15:17Z")
> [@thelurkinghorror](#): > > It would give me pause for a sec because I’ve only heard it as “12 inch pianist,” not 9. I like it. Not everybody will get it, but some might chortle, kind of like _The Simpsons_ “Sneed’s Feed and Seed (Formerly Chuck’s).” Speaking of which: > [@](#): > > _[Marge is taking some home movies, and asks Krusty to say something funny.]_ > **Krusty** : Gee a joke…oh…umm…oh funny…OK, this guy walks into a bar and takes out a tiny piano, and a 12 inch pianist…Ooh - no, wait! I can’t tell that one! Oh-Hoh! > **The Black Widower** (#8F20) ---
**Author:** ![Jragon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e19b73/32.png) [@Jragon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jragon)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2012, 5:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-obvious-or-not-is-this-visual-joke/624342/30 "2012-06-07T05:28:47Z")
I got it, but I don’t think it’s a very good joke, especially visually. The absolute worst way for a genie to be a jackass is the “mishearing” trick, it’s boring, and it feels unfair. Now, if the genie was kindhearted and did it accidentally, that’d be one thing, but there’s a lot of better jokes you can make, even punny ones. For instance, one million male deer running him over (a million bucks), because at least that one keeps the same wording, just with a different interpretation of the key word. The best way, of course, if for the genie to exploit a loophole (you never said the dragon you wished for had to be FRIENDLY), but that’s harder to convey in a voiceover. ---
**Author:** ![Happy\_Lendervedder](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/happy_lendervedder/32/8488_2.png) [@Happy\_Lendervedder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Happy_Lendervedder)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2012, 5:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-obvious-or-not-is-this-visual-joke/624342/31 "2012-06-07T05:31:05Z")
I think if it’s meant as a major punchline with a long beat, it fails; it comes off as trying too hard. As a one-off sight gag that happens quickly and then moves on just as quickly, it works. Timing is everything. The people who know the joke will get the reference, everyone else will still understand that this had to be some sort of miscommunication because who the hell would wish for a tiny man playing the piano? Not every joke or visual joke needs to be “gotten” by everyone in your audience. Lord knows I loved “Arrested Development,” but I guarantee a good 1/3 of the jokes went right past me-- either because of the breakneck speed of the delivery, or because I just didn’t get the reference. ETA: Or you could even change the joke up and have the pianist be especially small. The punchline is the genie saying “What’s the problem, you said five and three-quarter inches, right?” ---
**Author:** ![Jragon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e19b73/32.png) [@Jragon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jragon)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2012, 5:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-obvious-or-not-is-this-visual-joke/624342/32 "2012-06-07T05:38:19Z")
> [@Jragon](#): > > I got it, but I don’t think it’s a very good joke, especially visually. The absolute worst way for a genie to be a jackass is the “mishearing” trick, it’s boring, and it feels unfair. Now, if the genie was kindhearted and did it accidentally, that’d be one thing, but there’s a lot of better jokes you can make, even punny ones. For instance, one million male deer running him over (a million bucks), because at least that one keeps the same wording, just with a different interpretation of the key word. > > The best way, of course, if for the genie to exploit a loophole (you never said the dragon you wished for had to be FRIENDLY), but that’s harder to convey in a voiceover. Er, when I say “unfair” I mean that the genie isn’t following the rules. That feels cheap, what I mean is that it’s better when the genie is willfully defiant, but never technically breaks any rules. ---
**Author:** ![nivlac](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/3bc359/32.png) [@nivlac](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nivlac)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2012, 6:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-obvious-or-not-is-this-visual-joke/624342/33 "2012-06-07T06:47:07Z")
Visually, all the audience can see is a small pianist. So the joke fails. ---
**Author:** ![standingwave](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9de0a6/32.png) [@standingwave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/standingwave)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2012, 6:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-obvious-or-not-is-this-visual-joke/624342/34 "2012-06-07T06:53:55Z")
It’s funny but it is [an old joke](https://www.google.com/search?q=genie+joke+pianist+inch&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&client=ubuntu&channel=fs). I’d heard it years ago. Seems to me that puns are so easy to write that it would be straightforward to simply come up with something original. ---
**Author:** ![jackdavinci](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackdavinci/32/3259_2.png) [@jackdavinci](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jackdavinci)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2012, 7:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-obvious-or-not-is-this-visual-joke/624342/35 "2012-06-07T07:09:58Z")
For those not already familiar, they won’t get it. For those familiar, it will illicit a groan. Pick something new. > [@Ethilrist](#): > > One hopes the movie will raise “I hate autocorrect” to a new level. Do this. A lot. ---
**Author:** ![JpnDude](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/838e76/32.png) [@JpnDude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JpnDude)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2012, 7:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-obvious-or-not-is-this-visual-joke/624342/36 "2012-06-07T07:10:02Z")
> [@Chef\_Troy](#): > > Aikon’s voice continues over a montage of scenes as follows: > > aikon (V.O.) > You see, sahib, in the days of the tellers of tales, there were many genies - some benevolent, some not so much. This one was one of the worst. > > A Persian prince rubs a lamp. The lamp billows smoke. > > AIKON (V.O.) > All genies must grant wishes, but not all enjoy doing so, and some resent it very much. > > The smoke resolves into a genie, who scowls down at the prince. The prince gestures dramatically as he makes a wish (we cannot hear what he says). > > AIKON (V.O.) > This genie hated doing the bidding of humans, which it thought inferior; it got its revenge by deliberately misunderstanding its master’s wishes however it could. > > **At this point, have a shot of the Prince glancing down at his crotch area and motioning with his hands something to be elongated (in a gesture similar to how a fisherman may claim “I caught one THIS big!”) from his waist area outward. Then show him entering his wish in the cellphone with this text: “I want a 9-inch P” and cut away quickly before he is seeing adding more text.** > > The genie’s expression goes from sullen to smirking. He claps his hands and there is a blinding flash. When the flash clears, the prince is holding a man nine inches tall and a tiny piano. He looks up at the genie with a disappointed look. I skimmed through previous posts but how about this suggestion? BOLD PART mine. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Double\_Foolscap](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/85e7bf/32.png) [@Double\_Foolscap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Double_Foolscap)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2012, 8:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-obvious-or-not-is-this-visual-joke/624342/37 "2012-06-07T08:51:26Z")
Maybe the joke would work better if he created a woman holding two enormous [tits](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/29/ParusCaeruleus.jpg/220px-ParusCaeruleus.jpg). Or [boobies](http://0.tqn.com/d/animals/1/0/V/t/shutterstock_304958.jpg). Or… well, you get the idea. ---
**Author:** ![AClockworkMelon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aclockworkmelon/32/10803_2.png) [@AClockworkMelon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AClockworkMelon)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2012, 9:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-obvious-or-not-is-this-visual-joke/624342/38 "2012-06-07T09:07:57Z")
> [@Peter\_Morris](#): > > How about this instead: > > The genie’s expression goes from sullen to smirking. He claps his hands and there is a blinding flash. When the flash clears, there is a pile of glass jars. The prince picks one up and examines it. Close up of jar’s label. The label says **Honey**. I don’t get it. ---
**Author:** ![Nunzio\_Tavulari](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/b9bd4f/32.png) [@Nunzio\_Tavulari](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nunzio_Tavulari)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2012, 9:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-obvious-or-not-is-this-visual-joke/624342/39 "2012-06-07T09:18:49Z")
Pianist is one of those words like epitome. Half the people pronounce it pee-ann-ist and the other half say piano player. The gag only works if you know the joke and if you do, you’re not going to find the gag very funny. Pick a new one. ---
**Author:** ![Peter\_Morris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peter_morris/32/359_2.png) [@Peter\_Morris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peter_Morris)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2012, 10:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-obvious-or-not-is-this-visual-joke/624342/40 "2012-06-07T10:22:18Z")
> [@AClockworkMelon](#): > > I don’t get it. “I want a big pile of money” [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-obvious-or-not-is-this-visual-joke/624342.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-obvious-or-not-is-this-visual-joke/624342.md?page=3)