# So there were these two hippos. . . **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [May 15, 2001, 4:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-there-were-these-two-hippos/65477 "2001-05-15T04:45:23Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 19\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/earl_snake-hips_tucker/32/3269_2.png) [@Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Earl_Snake-Hips_Tucker)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2001, 4:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-there-were-these-two-hippos/65477/1 "2001-05-15T04:45:23Z")
And one of them says to the other, “I just can’t get it thru my head today’s Tuesday.” I’ve never actually seen this cartoon, but was told it appeared in a Playboy magazine some time in the 1970s, apparently not in one that my older brother had for me to sneak away with. It sounded like a Gahan Wilson cartoon, but who did have some very “indirect” cartoons, so I guess my question is (this is a little too mundane for GQ), "Is that all there was to the cartoon: One hippo saying to the other, “I just can’t get it thru my head today’s Tuesday,” (or something to that effect. Any Playboy aficionados??? ---
**Author:** ![lesa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/34f0e0/32.png) [@lesa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lesa)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2001, 7:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-there-were-these-two-hippos/65477/2 "2001-05-15T07:13:52Z")
This is an old joke that’s been around a while. It may have originated as a cartoon. I heard Johnny Carson tell it many years ago on the Tonight Show. I don’t remember the joke clearly, but it was either “I hate Monday” or “How long til Friday” humor. There are two hippos in a horrible swamp, and one says, “I can’t believe it’s Tuesday.” Meaning, it’s so awful, you’d think it was Monday. Or it may have been, “I can’t believe it’s only Tuesday.” Meaning, it’s awful, and the week has just started. At the time it seemed really funny, but it seems dated now. I don’t hear that many “I hate Monday” jokes anymore. ---
**Author:** ![rj74210](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/7c8e57/32.png) [@rj74210](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rj74210)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2015, 2:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-there-were-these-two-hippos/65477/3 "2015-06-25T14:28:26Z")
The joke originates with Paul Crum’s cartoon, published in the British magazine Punch in 1937. My own take on the cartoon is that it is patently absurd, since hippos likely have no inkling of the concept of days of the week. It is my all-time favorite cartoon. The cartoonist (nom de plume: Paul Crum; real name: Captain Roger Pettiward) was killed in action in 1942. The spiral at upper right was his signature. The cartoon can be seen here: [https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Bq6A010IQAAZzmo.png](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Bq6A010IQAAZzmo.png) ---
**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:** [June 25, 2015, 2:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-there-were-these-two-hippos/65477/4 "2015-06-25T14:36:05Z")
_One hippopotami cannot get on a bus, Because one hippopotami is two hippopotamus._ — Allan Sherman Irrelevant, but the thread title put it in my head > **[One Hippopotami lyrics by Allan Sherman - original song full text. Official...](https://www.lyricsmode.com/lyrics/a/allan_sherman/one_hippopotami.html)** > > Original lyrics of One Hippopotami song by Allan Sherman. Explain your version of song meaning, find more of Allan Sherman lyrics. Watch official video, print or download text in PDF. Comment and share your favourite lyrics. [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/umlBrQoG6xk/hqdefault.jpg "One Hippopotami (Allan Sherman)") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=umlBrQoG6xk) ---
**Author:** ![Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/earl_snake-hips_tucker/32/3269_2.png) [@Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Earl_Snake-Hips_Tucker)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2015, 2:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-there-were-these-two-hippos/65477/5 "2015-06-25T14:39:18Z")
We just might have set a record for a factual response. 14 years and one month (and some change). Thanks! ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2015, 2:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-there-were-these-two-hippos/65477/6 "2015-06-25T14:39:20Z")
> [@rj74210](#): > > The joke originates with Paul Crum’s cartoon, published in the British magazine Punch in 1937. > My own take on the cartoon is that it is patently absurd, since hippos likely have no inkling of the concept of days of the week. > It is my all-time favorite cartoon. > The cartoonist (nom de plume: Paul Crum; real name: Captain Roger Pettiward) was killed in action in 1942. > The spiral at upper right was his signature. > The cartoon can be seen here: [https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Bq6A010IQAAZzmo.png](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Bq6A010IQAAZzmo.png) Thanks for that history! (I love this board.) Actually \*seeing \*the cartoon made me laugh right out loud. I think it was the expression in the hippo’s eyes (the hippo on the right). In fact, just thinking about it is making me laugh all over again. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2015, 4:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-there-were-these-two-hippos/65477/7 "2015-06-25T16:48:51Z")
never mind ---
**Author:** ![TroutMan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/troutman/32/6721_2.png) [@TroutMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TroutMan)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2015, 4:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-there-were-these-two-hippos/65477/8 "2015-06-25T16:58:48Z")
Awesome update. **rj74210** , I have to ask, what googling led you to this question? Were you just randomly looking for other people who appreciate hippo jokes? ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2015, 5:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-there-were-these-two-hippos/65477/9 "2015-06-25T17:58:46Z")
> [@Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](#): > > We just might have set a record for a factual response. 14 years and one month (and some change). Thanks! Let this be a warning to ignorance. ---
**Author:** ![janeslogin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/df788c/32.png) [@janeslogin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/janeslogin)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2015, 10:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-there-were-these-two-hippos/65477/10 "2015-06-25T22:14:42Z")
_Punch_ was good. I really miss it. ---
**Author:** ![usedtobe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ec9cab/32.png) [@usedtobe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/usedtobe)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2015, 1:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-there-were-these-two-hippos/65477/11 "2015-06-26T01:26:40Z")
14 years ago, an obscure reference to a bit of offbeat humor languished and died. Today, it is not only resurrected, it is actually identified with a link to the original cartoon from 76 years ago. The web is either: 1. Incredible 2. Scary _I_ can’t call it. ---
**Author:** ![Les\_Espaces\_Du\_Sommeil](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/les_espaces_du_sommeil/32/308_2.png) [@Les\_Espaces\_Du\_Sommeil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Les_Espaces_Du_Sommeil)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2015, 8:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-there-were-these-two-hippos/65477/12 "2015-06-26T08:05:37Z")
> [@rj74210](#): > > My own take on the cartoon is that it is patently absurd, since hippos likely have no inkling of the concept of days of the week. Yeah, that’s my take, too. Similar to the Far Side cartoon with the rhinos driking coffee (“Whoa! That’s plenty.”) or the muffin joke. _So, there were two muffins in the oven. The first one says, “Man, it’s hot in here,” The other one says, “WHOA, A TALKING MUFFIN.”_ Best joke in the world if you ask me… ---
**Author:** ![Jeff\_Lichtman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jeff_lichtman/32/1531_2.png) [@Jeff\_Lichtman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jeff_Lichtman)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2015, 8:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-there-were-these-two-hippos/65477/13 "2015-06-26T08:19:07Z")
So now that the original cartoon has been identified, here’s another question: Why Tuesday? Would it be just as funny with a different day, say, Wednesday or Thursday? Wimpy always offered (falsely) to pay for hamburgers on Tuesday. Again, would a different day be just as funny? ---
**Author:** ![TroutMan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/troutman/32/6721_2.png) [@TroutMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TroutMan)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2015, 3:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-there-were-these-two-hippos/65477/14 "2015-06-26T15:39:10Z")
> [@Jeff\_Lichtman](#): > > Why Tuesday? Would it be just as funny with a different day, say, Wednesday or Thursday? IMO, just as funny but not as “poetic.” It has to be a middle-of-the-week day to avoid the suggestion that the humor is “I hate Mondays” or TGIF. Wednesday doesn’t flow as well - too much effort to transition from the ess sound to W. And Thursday is too alliterative. So Tuesday it is. I might be overthinking this. ---
**Author:** ![Musicat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/musicat/32/20189_2.png) [@Musicat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Musicat)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2016, 1:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-there-were-these-two-hippos/65477/15 "2016-05-29T13:38:02Z")
> [@Jeff\_Lichtman](#): > > So now that the original cartoon has been identified, here’s another question: Why Tuesday? Would it be just as funny with a different day, say, Wednesday or Thursday? It’s because of the “T” sound. All words with T or K sounds are funnier than others. So SaTurday would work, but not Thursday, since Thursday doesn’t have a true T sound. Sunday has religious overtones, and Wednesday is simply not funny at all, except as Hump Day. Believe me, cartoonists and comedians don’t take subjects like this lightly. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2016, 1:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-there-were-these-two-hippos/65477/16 "2016-05-29T13:48:25Z")
> [@rj74210](#): > > My own take on the cartoon is that it is patently absurd, since hippos likely have no inkling of the concept of days of the week. Agreed. There’s no specific meaning past that part. You can take your own reasons for stating what’s in the caption yourself and apply it to the hippos any way that you like. I would think the hippos are so laid back they’ve lost track of the days in the absurd situation where hippos care what day it is. ---
**Author:** ![casdave](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c6cbf5/32.png) [@casdave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/casdave)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2016, 4:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-there-were-these-two-hippos/65477/17 "2016-05-29T16:29:45Z")
A couple of other absurd points, the observer has no idea of what the actual day is supposed to be, it could be anything except Tuesday. Why would a hippo be thinking about either the actual day in the cartoon or the Tuesday? Why would the other hippo care? The picture is very sparse, there is nothing to indicate that any sort of time bound activity takes place, its just a nothing place in the middle of nowhere, so it really would not matter what day of the week it was. Which makes for delicious absurdity ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2016, 8:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-there-were-these-two-hippos/65477/18 "2016-05-29T20:46:50Z")
> [@Musicat](#): > > It’s because of the “T” sound. All words with T or K sounds are funnier than others. So SaTurday would work, but not Thursday, since Thursday doesn’t have a true T sound. Sunday has religious overtones, and Wednesday is simply not funny at all, except as Hump Day. > > Believe me, cartoonists and comedians don’t take subjects like this lightly. Uhh, it IS because of the “T” sound, but not for all of those reasons you said. It’s funny because hippos can’t MAKE the “T” sound. Well-known anthropological fact. About humor, not about hippos. That’s a well-known zoological fact. ---
**Author:** ![snfaulkner](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snfaulkner/32/433_2.png) [@snfaulkner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/snfaulkner)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2016, 1:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-there-were-these-two-hippos/65477/19 "2016-05-30T01:45:38Z")
> [@rj74210](#): > > The joke originates with Paul Crum’s cartoon, published in the British magazine Punch in 1937. > My own take on the cartoon is that it is patently absurd, since hippos likely have no inkling of the concept of days of the week. > \*\*It is my all-time favorite cartoon. \*\* > The cartoonist (nom de plume: Paul Crum; real name: Captain Roger Pettiward) was killed in action in 1942. > The spiral at upper right was his signature. > The cartoon can be seen here: [https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Bq6A010IQAAZzmo.png](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Bq6A010IQAAZzmo.png) Bolding mine. It is your ALL-TIME FAVORITE cartoon? really? I mean, it’s good, I guess. It made me chuckle a bit. But ALL-TIME FAVORITE? That seems…a bit…Hyperbolic? I admire your exact factual knowledge and response to the OP, with link and all. But even Crum himself had better. Oh well. To each their own and all…