# What's the origin of the phrase "Funny you don't look Jewish?" **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [October 29, 2010, 6:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-origin-of-the-phrase-funny-you-dont-look-jewish/558797 "2010-10-29T18:21:03Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![samclem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a9a28c/32.png) [@samclem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/samclem)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2013, 12:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-origin-of-the-phrase-funny-you-dont-look-jewish/558797/41 "2013-02-27T00:10:59Z")
> [@Leo\_Bloom](#): > > I miss that show. Did Mel Brooks write for it, or was he already independent by then? Which show? ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2013, 12:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-origin-of-the-phrase-funny-you-dont-look-jewish/558797/42 "2013-02-27T00:27:33Z")
\*Get Smart \*was created by Mel Brooks and Buck Henry, though Brooks was [not involved after the pilot.](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mel_Brooks) ---
**Author:** ![Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/elmer_j.fudd/32/1211_2.png) [@Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elmer_J.Fudd)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2013, 12:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-origin-of-the-phrase-funny-you-dont-look-jewish/558797/43 "2013-02-27T00:35:16Z")
> [@Leo\_Bloom](#): > > I miss that show. Did Mel Brooks write for it, or was he already independent by then? I think Mel Brooks was only directly involved in the pilot episode, but the show’s writers clearly stuck with his brand of humor, which included an unmistakable Jewish-American sensibility. ---
**Author:** ![Leo\_Bloom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leo_bloom/32/10377_2.png) [@Leo\_Bloom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leo_Bloom)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2013, 12:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-origin-of-the-phrase-funny-you-dont-look-jewish/558797/44 "2013-02-27T00:57:50Z")
Specifically Jewish jokes in mass media deserves a thread and then some. Jews write comedy for Hollywood. Even the simple declaration that someone unexpectedly is Jewish is often used for humor: eg, Mel Brooks as Indian (above). **Top Secret** –second aonly to _Airplane_ in my book–offhand, has too many too count: the opening speeches by the train conductor in East Germany is completely in Yiddish; the hotel is Geh Schlafen (Yid. “Go to Sleep”); the Hero expresses shock at finding out an event is on Simchas Torah (a-not-so-well-known Jewish holiday); the mayor who leads the crowd in the absurd national anthem, sung in sort-of German with English subtitles, has the strongest Yiddish-German accent possible. Truly, a list of examples would be awesome. The reasons for why Jews would do this are quite interesting, with long and unique historical/sociological components. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2013, 3:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-origin-of-the-phrase-funny-you-dont-look-jewish/558797/45 "2013-02-27T03:50:46Z")
> [@Leo\_Bloom](#): > > Specifically Jewish jokes in mass media deserves a thread and then some… Truly, a list of examples would be awesome… Here you go: [Jewish jokes in mass media - Cafe Society - Straight Dope Message Board](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=683621) ---
**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:** [February 27, 2013, 4:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-origin-of-the-phrase-funny-you-dont-look-jewish/558797/46 "2013-02-27T04:18:36Z")
> [@Leo\_Bloom](#): > > Simchas Torah (a-not-so-well-known Jewish holiday) Hey, that was my bar-mitzvah! (54 years ago). ---
**Author:** ![Leo\_Bloom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leo_bloom/32/10377_2.png) [@Leo\_Bloom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leo_Bloom)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2013, 10:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-origin-of-the-phrase-funny-you-dont-look-jewish/558797/47 "2013-02-27T10:36:35Z")
Wow, they decided to start reading the Bible all over again just for you! ---
**Author:** ![Leo\_Bloom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leo_bloom/32/10377_2.png) [@Leo\_Bloom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leo_Bloom)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2013, 10:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-origin-of-the-phrase-funny-you-dont-look-jewish/558797/48 "2013-02-27T10:40:13Z")
> [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](#): > > Here you go: [Jewish jokes in mass media - Cafe Society - Straight Dope Message Board](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=683621) Heh. Thanks for the cite, also. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-origin-of-the-phrase-funny-you-dont-look-jewish/558797.md?page=2)