# What defined your sense of humor? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [June 22, 2009, 3:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-defined-your-sense-of-humor/500591 "2009-06-22T15:31:53Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![rowrrbazzle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rowrrbazzle/32/414_2.png) [@rowrrbazzle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rowrrbazzle)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2009, 8:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-defined-your-sense-of-humor/500591/21 "2009-06-22T20:00:03Z")
Tom Lehrer Stan Freberg Beyond the Fringe/Peter Cook,Dudley Moore (which left me wide open for Monty Python) 1960s Second City ---
**Author:** ![gigi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a587f6/32.png) [@gigi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gigi)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2009, 8:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-defined-your-sense-of-humor/500591/22 "2009-06-22T20:35:26Z")
> [@ITR\_champion](#): > > Now that I think about it, I don’t really have an answer because my definition of humor has changed so much over time. When I was in high school I thought that **Seinfeld** was the most hilarious thing that the human race had ever produced. Earlier this year I watched a couple episodes and they were completely dead on arrival. Kramer slides through the door, George gets angry easily, Jerry mentions masturbation on TV … where’s the humor? I have a friend who can take the most mundane everyday things and make a hilarious story, just by her attitude and storytelling. That’s what I like about Seinfeld–stupid little things we all see but up there being told by someone funnier than me. So, definitely Seinfeld for me, and MST3K. And David Letterman back in the day for the self-deprecating but actually kind of arrogant thing. And his giggle. ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2009, 8:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-defined-your-sense-of-humor/500591/23 "2009-06-22T20:40:23Z")
Rocky and Bullwinkle Bennett Cerf’s Book of Laughs Get Smart! Roger Ramjet The Three Stooges Bob Newhart ---
**Author:** ![woodstockbirdybird](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/woodstockbirdybird/32/7905_2.png) [@woodstockbirdybird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/woodstockbirdybird)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2009, 9:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-defined-your-sense-of-humor/500591/24 "2009-06-22T21:24:30Z")
Oddly, _Creem_ magazine, which was a music monthly, probably influenced or mirrored my humor more than anything else. Other than that, the usual suspects: Mad magazine, Airplane!, Looney Tunes, and later Seinfeld. Oh, and Andy Kaufman - I always cracked up at his shit while my friends and family were scratching their heads. ---
**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 22, 2009, 10:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-defined-your-sense-of-humor/500591/25 "2009-06-22T22:32:41Z")
Chronologically: Rocky & Bullwinkle Mad magazine Bill Cosby LPs National Lampoon Mel Brooks movies Monty Python The Groove Tube Saturday Night Live (1975-79) Tom Robbins novels Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy Discworld MST3K Christopher Moore novels There were other influences, of course. But those are the ones I can return to and still enjoy to this day. ---
**Author:** ![Malleus\_Incus\_Stapes](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/malleus_incus_stapes/32/3293_2.png) [@Malleus\_Incus\_Stapes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malleus_Incus_Stapes)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2009, 10:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-defined-your-sense-of-humor/500591/26 "2009-06-22T22:35:03Z")
My holy trinity of Funny British Authors: Terry Pratchett Tom Holt Douglas Adams Also, Dave Barry. ---
**Author:** ![koeeoaddi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/koeeoaddi/32/408_2.png) [@koeeoaddi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/koeeoaddi)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2009, 10:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-defined-your-sense-of-humor/500591/27 "2009-06-22T22:52:41Z")
Firesign Theater ---
**Author:** ![MJinks](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/da6949/32.png) [@MJinks](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MJinks)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2009, 11:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-defined-your-sense-of-humor/500591/28 "2009-06-22T23:41:13Z")
I used to watch TV with my dad when I was young and so the following influenced me: Not the Nine O’clock News Drop the Dead Donkey Monty Python Blackadder The Young Ones Bottom Dad’s Army Fawlty Towers Open All Hours I developed a love for sarcasm, irony and satire. I love clever wordplay and witty put-downs. Apart form those I think Red Dwarf was the most influential to me. I still love it today. My mother prefered sitcoms like The Good Life, Butterflies, Bread, 2.4 Children ---
**Author:** ![Kozmik](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/8dc957/32.png) [@Kozmik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kozmik)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2009, 1:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-defined-your-sense-of-humor/500591/29 "2009-06-23T01:36:58Z")
All That The Simpsons Garfield SNL Leno ---
**Author:** ![waterj2](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/858c86/32.png) [@waterj2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/waterj2)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2009, 2:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-defined-your-sense-of-humor/500591/30 "2009-06-23T02:36:19Z")
In addition to many mentioned here, _The Far Side_ was a huge influence during my formative years. ---
**Author:** ![Mesquite-oh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a183cd/32.png) [@Mesquite-oh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mesquite-oh)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2009, 6:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-defined-your-sense-of-humor/500591/31 "2009-06-23T06:01:40Z")
In order of influence: 1. Mad Magazine (70’s, 80’s) 2. Letterman (80’s) 3. MASH 4. Coen Brothers Movies 5. SNL (70’s) 6. Eddie Murphy (80’s) 7. George Carlin (70’s) 8. Monty Python Movies/TV 9. Robin Williams (70’s) 10. Some parts of some Wes Anderson Movies ---
**Author:** ![gravitycrash](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/977dab/32.png) [@gravitycrash](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gravitycrash)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2009, 1:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-defined-your-sense-of-humor/500591/32 "2009-06-23T13:10:28Z")
I use the Three Stooges as a dating barometer. If a woman can at least crack a genuine smile watching them then we have some potential together. Unscientific study; Women who like the Three Stooges = sexual tigress in the sack. 😉 Also: Airplane! The Naked Gun Blazing Saddles Young Frankenstein ---
**Author:** ![Student\_Driver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3da27b/32.png) [@Student\_Driver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Student_Driver)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2009, 1:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-defined-your-sense-of-humor/500591/33 "2009-06-23T13:23:01Z")
My family, and my family’s tendency toward depression are probably the main contributors of the morbid and sarcastic slants to my humor. It’s a really obvious coping technique. I’ve had to force myself to cut back on both in the last couple of decades because _surprisesurprise_ not too many people think sarcasm and morbidity is very funny. Though I do still love a good dead baby joke. In company with my family, we can let loose… and as my family ages, gatherings tend to be funerals quite a bit, which practically encourages the humor to flow more. Reading _Peanuts_ faithfully and extensively as a child probably contributed to the sarcasm, as well as the self-deprecating part of my humor. For my absurd sense of humor… God, there are so many influences. Monty Python (and imported British shows in general), Ren & Stimpy, Mad Magazine, old prank tapes, SNL skits, the RE/Search book Pranks!. Even now, things like the Ventrilo Harassment video series, 4chan and [somethingawful.com](http://somethingawful.com), Little Britain, and other influences feed and sustain it. Along the way, Henry Rollins’ spoken word bits have seeped into my brain… I find when relating humorous stories to people that I tend to mimic him a lot. ---
**Author:** ![fiddlesticks](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fiddlesticks/32/18129_2.png) [@fiddlesticks](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fiddlesticks)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2009, 2:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-defined-your-sense-of-humor/500591/34 "2009-06-23T14:17:17Z")
No one’s going to admit to _You Can’t Do That On Television!_? Ok, then I will. Other 1980s Nickelodeon shows that shaped my sense of humor include _Turkey Television_ (which among other things endlessly repeated Dana Carvey’s “Chopping Broccoli” bit) and _Out of Control_, with “Uncle Joey” before he became “Uncle Joey”. Later in life I found Monty Python. I’ll never forget how hard I laughed the first time I saw _Holy Grail_. In high school, I brought in a Python Hollywood Bowl video to my speech class (for a “visual aid” or something). I thought it’d be a hit, but 80% of the class didn’t find it funny or refused to admit that they found it funny. Jerks! 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2009, 7:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-defined-your-sense-of-humor/500591/35 "2009-06-23T19:46:15Z")
[ul] [li]_Bill Cosby’s comedy albums_ (Mom bought every single album he released)[/li][li]_The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy_[/li][li]_Monty Python’s Flying Circus_[/li][li]_A Night at the Opera_ and other Marx Bros. movies for their slapstick and physical comedy.[/li]_1960s BC comic collections_ for visual gags.[/ul] ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2009, 7:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-defined-your-sense-of-humor/500591/36 "2009-06-23T19:48:06Z")
> [@fiddlesticks](#): > > No one’s going to admit to _You Can’t Do That On Television!_? I was more interested in watching Moose. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Floppy\_Joe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/3bc359/32.png) [@Floppy\_Joe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Floppy_Joe)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2009, 8:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-defined-your-sense-of-humor/500591/37 "2009-06-23T20:42:04Z")
Bill Cosby Albums Dr. Demento George Carlin Cheech & Chong Rocky & Bullwinkle Tom Lehrer Allen Sherman Little Rascals W.C. Fields Laurel & Hardy The Marx Brothers The Three Stooges Edgar Bergan & Charlie McCarthy Stan Freberg Fritz the Cat The Fabulous Furry Freak Brothers Hans Conreid (Fractured Flickers) All in the Family ---
**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 23, 2009, 10:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-defined-your-sense-of-humor/500591/38 "2009-06-23T22:25:11Z")
I tend to prefer situational comedy, immature humor, black comedy, and dry or geeky humor. I even like bad puns. I don’t like purely slapstick or overly mean comedy like the three stooges, and I generally don’t like stand up comedians, although if forced to watch one I manage to enjoy myself. Probably the biggest influences: 1. The dry, clever, geeky humor of Douglas Adams, Monty Python, Big Bang Theory etc. 2. The sophomoric humor of teen & gross out comedies - American Pie, HIMYM. 3. The black humor of my father’s side of the family - Death at a Funeral, 9 Dead Gay Guys, Killer Condom ---
**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 23, 2009, 10:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-defined-your-sense-of-humor/500591/39 "2009-06-23T22:26:44Z")
> [@fiddlesticks](#): > > No one’s going to admit to _You Can’t Do That On Television!_? I was a big fan of the show, and enjoyed it for it’s general entertainment value, but I didn’t find it actually all the funny, at least not laughing out loud funny. ---
**Author:** ![VarlosZ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/d78d45/32.png) [@VarlosZ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VarlosZ)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2009, 12:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-defined-your-sense-of-humor/500591/40 "2009-06-24T00:13:05Z")
_Calvin & Hobbes Simpsons MST3K_ > [@ITR\_champion](#): > > Now that I think about it, I don’t really have an answer because my definition of humor has changed so much over time. When I was in high school I thought that **Seinfeld** was the most hilarious thing that the human race had ever produced. Earlier this year I watched a couple episodes and they were completely dead on arrival. Kramer slides through the door, George gets angry easily, Jerry mentions masturbation on TV … where’s the humor? It’s likely not about your idea of humor being so different, but more about Seinfeldian humor having been [done to death](http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/SeinfeldIsUnfunny). [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-defined-your-sense-of-humor/500591.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-defined-your-sense-of-humor/500591.md?page=3)