Skip to main content

That's Funny

In this episode – That’s Funny . . .

My boss said, “Dress for the job you want, not the job you have.”

So - I went to work as Batman.

This week, we tackle a topic that (hopefully) tickles your funny bone: What makes something funny?

Have you had a good laugh recently? Why not? In today’s critical, cynical world of stupid politics, with Trump on the news day after day and protests at many Universities, we need a break from all this strife and tension. I’m here to say we need a good laugh.

Lately, I've been rolling with laughter while watching stand-up comedians like Jim Gaffigan, Jerry Seinfeld, Jeff Foxworthy, and Trevor Noah on Netflix. Laughter has been hailed as the best medicine, but not everyone finds the same things funny. What one person finds hilarious, another might find dull. For example, check out the new Netflix movie Unfrosted, directed by Jerry Seinfeld.

My listening friends, there is hope for those seeking comic relief.

Let’s face it: humor is a fascinating part of the human experience. We all love a good laugh, but have you ever thought about why we find certain things funny? What makes you crack up? It turns out there's some science behind that belly laugh! Huh–my first thought was, let’s ask AI, why not?

Today, we invite Dr. Sammy Smiles, our virtual laughter expert, to explain popular humor theories.

“Welcome, Dr. Smiles. What is it that makes people laugh?”

Dr. Smiles–“Our brains love patterns and expectations. When something unexpected happens harmlessly, it throws us for a loop, and that surprise can trigger laughter.”

“Imagine opening the fridge for a milk bottle and finding your pet goldfish swimming happily inside—it shouldn't fit. Surprise, harmless, and voila—funny!”

“Another interesting theory suggests humor taps into something mischievous.”

Do you mean like finding something enjoyable that's slightly naughty or wrong?

“Exactly! In Jerry Lewis movies, his exaggerated facial expressions, the way he contorts his body, and the sounds he makes all contribute to the humor. He sells the fall completely, making it even funnier.”

A joke might also play with words or twist things around, surprisingly.

For example, A detective is standing outside a house with a bunch of witnesses.

"Alright, everyone," he says, "we've got reason to believe there's a mime living here. Has anyone seen any suspicious activity?"

There’s a prolonged silence, and then one woman raises her hand.

"Well?" the detective asks.

The white-faced woman covers her mouth, her eyes widen like saucers, and she shrugs!

Dr. Smiles: “So, humor is a blend of surprise, a touch of naughtiness, and a feeling of safety. It's like a mental rollercoaster that takes you up and down but leaves you happy. Like our tastes in music or movies, our sense of humor can evolve. Jokes that were funny in the past might not hit a home run today."

Dr. Smiles: “Here's the best part—laughter is good for us! It reduces stress, boosts our mood, and strengthens our immune system.

It sounds like the doctor's order is to find more humor in your life.

“Absolutely!”

“But remember, humor can be subjective. What tickles your funny bone might leave someone else scratching their head. And guess what? Jokes can age like milk! What was hilarious in the 80s might be cringe-worthy today.”

So, where do you find your funny fix?

Streaming services offer standup specials galore. Podcast fans, there's a hilarious world out there waiting to be explored. Live comedy clubs are a great way to catch rising stars. And don't forget award shows – Grammys for Best Comedy Album, Emmys for Outstanding Comedy Series – they're a good starting point to find phenomenal funny people.

So, the next time you find yourself laughing, take a moment to appreciate the cleverness behind it. A whole world of science and psychology is at play in that belly laugh! And, the next time you feel miserable after seeing Trump's face on the evening news, don't forget the healing power of laughter. Look for something humorous that resonates with you, share a good laugh with a neighbor or friend close to you, and remember–laughter is often the best medicine. However, if it's a medical emergency, please seek professional help.


We'd love to hear from you! Who are your favorite comedians, or what kind of humor makes you howl? Click the link to leave us a voicemail or a funny joke.


Here’s one–“An Irishman walks out of a bar.” Hey, it could happen . . .


I'm Patrick Ball; thanks for listening. I'll see you in the next episode.

Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Most Popular of All Time

The Language of Home: Building a Sanctuary

This episode is  for anyone trying to find their footing in a new place—whether it’s a new city, a new job, or a new country. The light in Florence, Italy, has a way of making everything feel like a Renaissance painting—the golden hue on the stone, the steady rhythm of the Arno River, and the feeling that you are walking through a history much larger than yourself. I was there to give a presentation to a class of Gemology students. I was prepared to discuss color grading and refractive indices, but not to be outed as a language tutor . Feeling very much like a guest in a storied land, a hand shot up enthusiastically. "You’re the guy on the podcasts," the young woman said, her eyes bright with recognition. "You’re the one teaching us English." I laughed nervously. If you know my flat Midwestern accent, you know the irony here. I am hardly an Oxford professor. But later, as I wandered the cobblestone streets beneath the shadow of the Duomo, the humor faded into a powe...
Post a Comment
Read more

Practiced Hands: The 50-Year Warranty

What Doc Burch Taught Me About Staying Active. We talk a lot about "life hacks" these days, but most of them don’t have a very long shelf life. Usually, they’re forgotten by the next app update. But back in 1972, I received a piece of advice that came with a 50-year warranty. It’s the reason I’m still on my bike today, still chasing a golf ball around Carlsbad, and still—mostly—in one piece. The Kick That Changed Everything It started with a literal kick in the pants. A kid at school in Cuba, Illinois, was joking around and caught me just right. By the next morning, my lower back was screaming. My mom didn’t reach for the Tylenol; she reached for her car keys. "Let’s go see Doc Burch," she said. "He’ll fix you right up." Harry E. Burch, D.C., was a fixture in Lewistown. He’d graduated from Palmer College in ’59 and had been our family’s go-to for years. He was a man of practiced hands and steady eyes. After a quick exam and an X-ray, the mood in the room s...
Post a Comment
Read more

On the Fly–Taking Flight

In this special 500th episode,  On the Fly  is moving to a new home. Here’s why—and what’s staying the same. For a very long time (since April 2012),  On the Fly  has lived on  Blogger . Blogger has been a reliable host—dependable, quiet, and never complaining when I arrived late with another half-baked idea, a guitar riff, or a story that needed a little air. It faithfully archived my thoughts, my music, and more than a decade of curiosity. But the internet has changed. It’s louder now. Flashier. More insistent. Every thought is nudged to perform. Every sentence wants to be optimized, monetized, or interrupted by something that really wants your attention right this second. I’ve been craving the opposite. So today, On the Fly is moving to Substack . If you’ve been with me for a while, you know my quiet obsession: the A rt of Seeing . I’m interested in the moments we rush past—the Aversion Trap, the discipline hidden inside a guitarist’s daily practice, t...
Post a Comment
Read more

Chasing 70

In this episode,  Chasing 70: A Respectful Negotiation with Gravity They say golf is a game of misses. If that’s true, my first round of the year at Rancho Carlsbad was a masterclass in missing efficiently . After a four-month hiatus—during which my golf clubs quietly evolved into a self-sustaining garage ecosystem—Lori and I returned to our local par-three proving ground. Rancho Carlsbad is a par-54, just 1,983 yards long. That sounds forgiving until it exposes every weakness you’ve been politely ignoring during the off-season. I finished with a 78. In most contexts, 78 is respectable. On a par-54, it means I spent a fair amount of time “getting my steps in.” But here’s the real motivation: I turn 70 this August. As a core principle of my Great Un-Working Lifestyle, I’m putting it in writing: I want to shoot my age by my birthday. The Bald-Headed Man Course Around here, we have a nickname for Rancho Carlsbad. We call it the Bald-Headed Man Course. First, because there are no woods...
Post a Comment
Read more