# McMahon vs. Fozzie vs. Leghorn vs. others **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [September 20, 2011, 10:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mcmahon-vs-fozzie-vs-leghorn-vs-others/596923 "2011-09-20T10:02:42Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 18\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![enomaj](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/59ef9b/32.png) [@enomaj](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enomaj)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2011, 10:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mcmahon-vs-fozzie-vs-leghorn-vs-others/596923/1 "2011-09-20T10:02:42Z")
What do you prefer to punctuate a joke? ---
**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:** [September 20, 2011, 10:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mcmahon-vs-fozzie-vs-leghorn-vs-others/596923/2 "2011-09-20T10:06:14Z")
I think the [Muppet Wiki](http://muppet.wikia.com/wiki/Muppet_Wiki) ought to be renamed _Wakawakawakapedia_. ---
**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:** [September 20, 2011, 10:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mcmahon-vs-fozzie-vs-leghorn-vs-others/596923/3 "2011-09-20T10:50:02Z")
I’ve never understood the need to punctuate a joke. Sure, add something that actually makes it a joke, but not add something to an already completed joke when that something adds no meaning. And, anyways, isn’t the whole point of “Waka waka waka” to point out that a joke isn’t funny, so you can laugh at how lame it is? ---
**Author:** ![enomaj](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/59ef9b/32.png) [@enomaj](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enomaj)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2011, 11:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mcmahon-vs-fozzie-vs-leghorn-vs-others/596923/4 "2011-09-20T11:19:31Z")
I forgot about “Get it?!”. And **Big T** , I think punctuation is usually for groaners except for hiyo which is usually uttered by someone other than the joke teller… ---
**Author:** ![WordMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e8c25b/32.png) [@WordMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WordMan)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2011, 11:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mcmahon-vs-fozzie-vs-leghorn-vs-others/596923/5 "2011-09-20T11:36:45Z")
[Jon Stewart after telling a joke that gets weak laughs] Really? Not workin’ for you - the man-sized safe has lost its funny? [/Jon Stewart after telling a joke that gets weak laughs] I like the meta-commentary. ---
**Author:** ![DrFidelius](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/drfidelius/32/3447_2.png) [@DrFidelius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrFidelius)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2011, 12:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mcmahon-vs-fozzie-vs-leghorn-vs-others/596923/6 "2011-09-20T12:15:26Z")
Foghorn Leghorn, but only if I can add something like “The kids about as sharp as a bag of wet mice.” ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2011, 3:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mcmahon-vs-fozzie-vs-leghorn-vs-others/596923/7 "2011-09-20T15:39:02Z")
What about the good old rimshot? ---
**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2011, 3:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mcmahon-vs-fozzie-vs-leghorn-vs-others/596923/8 "2011-09-20T15:40:22Z")
I rely heavily on “Humor! Ar ar ar,” but that’s more in response to someone else’s joke. Mine never fail. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Labdad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/439d5e/32.png) [@Labdad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Labdad)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2011, 3:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mcmahon-vs-fozzie-vs-leghorn-vs-others/596923/9 "2011-09-20T15:45:33Z")
> [@Thudlow\_Boink](#): > > What about the good old rimshot? That’s mine - “buh-da-boomp” ---
**Author:** ![TreacherousCretin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/treacherouscretin/32/476_2.png) [@TreacherousCretin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TreacherousCretin)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2011, 5:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mcmahon-vs-fozzie-vs-leghorn-vs-others/596923/10 "2011-09-20T17:44:31Z")
“That’s a joke, son” but in my mind I’m quoting “The Hunter” from the old King Leonardo cartoons (early 60’s), specifically this exchange: The Hunter, talking to King Leonardo, ends a statement with _“That’s a joke, son.”_ KL, irritated: _“Don’t call me ‘Son’ - - don’t you know I’m the King?”_ TH, unfazed: _“I call everybody ‘Son’, Sire. That’s a joke, son.”_ Loved it as a kid, and loved it more as an adult when I finally got the double meaning of the word “sire” as it related to “son.” And I realize that both Foghorn Leghorn and The Hunter (and others?) are parodies of Senator Claghorn. Whoever he was. . ---
**Author:** ![KneadToKnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kneadtoknow/32/3999_2.png) [@KneadToKnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KneadToKnow)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2011, 6:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mcmahon-vs-fozzie-vs-leghorn-vs-others/596923/11 "2011-09-20T18:05:21Z")
I can’t believe no one’s mentioned “Is this thing on?” yet. ---
**Author:** ![JThunder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e95f7d/32.png) [@JThunder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JThunder)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2011, 6:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mcmahon-vs-fozzie-vs-leghorn-vs-others/596923/12 "2011-09-20T18:06:40Z")
“I don’t care who ya are, that’s funny right there.” ---
**Author:** ![astorian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ad7895/32.png) [@astorian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astorian)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2011, 3:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mcmahon-vs-fozzie-vs-leghorn-vs-others/596923/13 "2011-09-21T15:28:44Z")
“Thank you, I’ll be here all week.” “Thank you, try the veal…” “Good night, drive safely.” “Thank you, good night, be sure to tip your waitress.” ---
**Author:** ![Brown\_Eyed\_Girl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/brown_eyed_girl/32/3574_2.png) [@Brown\_Eyed\_Girl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Brown_Eyed_Girl)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2011, 4:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mcmahon-vs-fozzie-vs-leghorn-vs-others/596923/14 "2011-09-21T16:21:42Z")
> [@TreacherousCretin](#): > > And I realize that both Foghorn Leghorn and The Hunter (and others?) are parodies of Senator Claghorn. Whoever he was. Thank you for this. I was previously unacquainted of [Beauregard Claghorn](http://youtu.be/fQ35Ajus7MU). ---
**Author:** ![Doug\_K](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b5ac83/32.png) [@Doug\_K](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doug_K)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2011, 4:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mcmahon-vs-fozzie-vs-leghorn-vs-others/596923/15 "2011-09-21T16:29:06Z")
> [@TreacherousCretin](#): > > “That’s a joke, son” but in my mind I’m quoting “The Hunter” from the old King Leonardo cartoons (early 60’s), specifically this exchange: > > The Hunter, talking to King Leonardo, ends a statement with _“That’s a joke, son.”_ > > KL, irritated: _“Don’t call me ‘Son’ - - don’t you know I’m the King?”_ > > TH, unfazed: _“I call everybody ‘Son’, Sire. That’s a joke, son.”_ > > Loved it as a kid, and loved it more as an adult when I finally got the double meaning of the word “sire” as it related to “son.” > > And I realize that both Foghorn Leghorn and The Hunter (and others?) are parodies of Senator Claghorn. Whoever he was. > . Not so much parodies as homages. [Senator Claghorn](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Senator_Claghorn) was a radio character on The Fred Allen Show. The mannerisms of the cartoon characters were not exaggerated in the least, they were pretty much dead-on impressions. ETA: [Archive.org](http://Archive.org) has the only movie Senator Claghorn appeared in. [It's A Joke, Son : Bryan Foy : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming : Internet Archive](http://www.archive.org/details/its_a_joke_son) ---
**Author:** ![SiXSwordS](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/49beb7/32.png) [@SiXSwordS](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SiXSwordS)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2011, 5:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mcmahon-vs-fozzie-vs-leghorn-vs-others/596923/16 "2011-09-21T17:05:57Z")
rimshot. ---
**Author:** ![TreacherousCretin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/treacherouscretin/32/476_2.png) [@TreacherousCretin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TreacherousCretin)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2011, 5:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mcmahon-vs-fozzie-vs-leghorn-vs-others/596923/17 "2011-09-21T17:58:25Z")
> [@Brown\_Eyed\_Girl](#): > > Thank you for this. I was previously unacquainted of [Beauregard Claghorn](http://youtu.be/fQ35Ajus7MU). You’re welcome, and thanks right backatcha. I knew nothing about the original character beyong the name, and the video you linked is great. . Edit: thanks also to DougK ---
**Author:** ![TreacherousCretin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/treacherouscretin/32/476_2.png) [@TreacherousCretin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TreacherousCretin)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2011, 8:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mcmahon-vs-fozzie-vs-leghorn-vs-others/596923/18 "2011-09-21T20:20:31Z")
Ignorance Fought !! I decided to see if any of the episodes of “The Hunter” are available (as part of the old “King Leonardo And His Short Subjects” cartoons), did some Google-Fu, and learned that the voice actor who played The Hunter was none other than Kenny Delmar, the original Senator Claghorn of radio and screen. So The Hunter wasn’t a parody, or even an homage to Senator Claghorn- he WAS the Senator. I guess I’m getting such a kick out of this because that “I call _everybody_ ‘son’, Sire” exchange is one of my funniest childhood memories. .