# Why is this Joke funny? (The Big Bang Theory) **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [August 29, 2012, 1:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-this-joke-funny-the-big-bang-theory/633029 "2012-08-29T13:55:43Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 12\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Irishman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/b487fb/32.png) [@Irishman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Irishman)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2012, 9:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-this-joke-funny-the-big-bang-theory/633029/41 "2012-11-01T21:05:51Z")
> [@Dr\_Doom](#): > > Captain America needing a gardener? Har-de-har. Why not an accountant? Why not a motorcycle mechanic? Oh, that’s right, because there is much more humour to be found in the stereotype that Mexicans are more apt to be employed in a menial labour setting. I also concede this to you. I can’t justify the supposed humor, but _illegal_ Mexicans take menial jobs where they can get paid in cash and not have to provide documentation. Kinda hard to be an accountant, though I suppose he could be a motorcycle mechanic. But the joke relies on common expectation. Illegal Mexican gardener is common concept, whereas illegal Mexican motorcycle mechanic is a “wait, what?” moment. You have to spend too much brain power on the second part for the first part to have a chance at being funny. Illegal Mexican gardener or landscaper is a known thing. Illegal Mexican motorcyle mechanic is not. Any humor is contrasting Mr. Law and Order Captain American with having anything illegal. Plus, he’s Captain _America_, why would he have a _Mexican_? ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2012, 9:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-this-joke-funny-the-big-bang-theory/633029/42 "2012-11-01T21:15:55Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > In at least some runs, she’s tried court cases while big, green, and ugly. [I question one third of your adjectives.](http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-u7xTE6sUeu0/UEJzyfUYp_I/AAAAAAAAC9I/CQJeiS0a_pY/s1600/SheHulk3.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![asterion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/4da419/32.png) [@asterion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/asterion)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2012, 9:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-this-joke-funny-the-big-bang-theory/633029/43 "2012-11-01T21:21:28Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > Although, she actually prefers to be in her Hulk form, since it helps her deal with a lack of assertiveness and self-esteem in her mortal form. In at least some runs, she’s tried court cases while big, green, and ugly (her day job is as a lawyer). Any chance the writers can get her admitted to the Supreme Court bar? ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2012, 9:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-this-joke-funny-the-big-bang-theory/633029/44 "2012-11-01T21:29:22Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > In at least some runs, she’s tried court cases while big, green, and ugly (her day job is as a lawyer). > [@Miller](#): > > [I question one third of your adjectives.](http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-u7xTE6sUeu0/UEJzyfUYp_I/AAAAAAAAC9I/CQJeiS0a_pY/s1600/SheHulk3.jpg) Yeah, but you know what’s weighing down the left side of that scale? Muff. ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2012, 10:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-this-joke-funny-the-big-bang-theory/633029/45 "2012-11-01T22:15:09Z")
> [@Bryan\_Ekers](#): > > Muff. TOUGH muff… ---
**Author:** ![Nzinga\_Seated](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/b5ac83/32.png) [@Nzinga\_Seated](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nzinga_Seated)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2012, 10:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-this-joke-funny-the-big-bang-theory/633029/46 "2012-11-01T22:20:18Z")
> [@Thudlow\_Boink](#): > > _Anything_ can be funny if you have a laugh track. ::canned laughter:: And anything can be awesome when posted by a sweety like you! :canned “awwww”: ---
**Author:** ![Lust4Life](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ecc23a/32.png) [@Lust4Life](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lust4Life)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2012, 9:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-this-joke-funny-the-big-bang-theory/633029/47 "2012-11-03T21:01:41Z")
> [@Dr\_Doom](#): > > Neither of those jokes are even remotely funny. > > She-Hulk is pretty much invulnerable; I doubt she would feel anything at all from being waxed. Even if she did, why would she have any worse a reaction than any other normal woman? (I’m making the assumption that women who undergo the procedure do not consider it _unbearably_ painful.) > > So a gardener working illegally in the US would have to be incredibly brave, on a (Marvel) universal scale to accept employ from Captain America? Not funny. > > I’m glad I don’t watch this show. Is this a whoosh ? Why are you commenting on a programme that you’ve never watched ? Personally I don’t think that its fair to judge a joke on how funny it is written down, when its all about the delivery. ---
**Author:** ![Slow\_Moving\_Vehicle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slow_moving_vehicle/32/291_2.png) [@Slow\_Moving\_Vehicle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slow_Moving_Vehicle)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2012, 9:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-this-joke-funny-the-big-bang-theory/633029/48 "2012-11-03T21:33:07Z")
I figured the Captain America joke was playing on nationalistic anti-immigration teabagger types - you know, 'Murikins - who employ cheap illegal labor. ---
**Author:** ![AncientHumanoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ancienthumanoid/32/278_2.png) [@AncientHumanoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AncientHumanoid)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2012, 11:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-this-joke-funny-the-big-bang-theory/633029/49 "2012-11-03T23:00:08Z")
It’s a laugh riot in the original Klingon. ---
**Author:** ![RikWriter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/49beb7/32.png) [@RikWriter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RikWriter)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2012, 12:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-this-joke-funny-the-big-bang-theory/633029/50 "2012-11-04T00:30:54Z")
> [@Slow\_Moving\_Vehicle](#): > > I figured the Captain America joke was playing on nationalistic anti-immigration teabagger types - you know, 'Murikins - who employ cheap illegal labor. So, you’re agreeing that it was unfunny, senseless and stupid? ---
**Author:** ![Sam\_A.Robrin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sam_a.robrin/32/14497_2.png) [@Sam\_A.Robrin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sam_A.Robrin)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2012, 4:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-this-joke-funny-the-big-bang-theory/633029/51 "2012-11-04T04:43:13Z")
Since the early 1970s, Captain America has been written to reflect the political sensibilities of whichever scriptwriter was assigned. He (and sometimes she) may believe them to be quintessentially American, but they’re really pretty individualized, making the character, somewhat conversely, a “Man without a Country.” This joke carries on the helter-skelter tradition. ---
**Author:** ![TBG](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c89c15/32.png) [@TBG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TBG)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2012, 10:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-this-joke-funny-the-big-bang-theory/633029/52 "2012-11-04T22:59:03Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > Although, she actually prefers to be in her Hulk form, since it helps her deal with a lack of assertiveness and self-esteem in her mortal form. In at least some runs, she’s tried court cases while big, green, and ugly (her day job is as a lawyer). She spent probably two decades (real world time, not Marvel time) permanently hulked out and unable to transform back, so for that time all her lawyering had to be big, green, and hot. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-this-joke-funny-the-big-bang-theory/633029.md?page=2)