Radiolab: Science Vs – "The Funniest Joke in the World"

Release Date: November 22, 2024

Hosts: Wendy Zuckerman and Latif Nasser
Guest: Professor Richard Wiseman, Cognitive Neuroscientist at University College London
Additional Contributions: Various comedians and researchers

Introduction: The Quest Begins

The episode kicks off with Wendy Zuckerman expressing her disappointment with the plethora of mediocre jokes found through a simple Google search. Determined to elevate the standard, she invites Radiolab’s Latif Nasser to join her on an ambitious journey: to scientifically uncover the funniest joke in the world.

Wendy Zuckerman [05:10]: “Google’s funniest jokes were absolute trash. Did you hear about the rancher who had 97 cows in his field? When he rounded them up, he had 100.”

Gathering Expert Opinions: Comedy is Subjective

Wendy and Latif consult several comedians to gauge the feasibility of their mission. The consensus is unanimous: comedy is inherently subjective, varying greatly across different cultures and individuals.

Comedian Takashi Wakasugi [06:31]: “Comedy is subjective. People have different opinions. That’s why being a comic is so hard.”

Even award-winning comic Penny Greenhalge remains skeptical about finding a universally accepted funniest joke, underscoring the challenge ahead.

Penny Greenhalge [07:37]: “No, I don’t think you will.”

The Scientific Blueprint: Richard Wiseman’s Experiment

To bring scientific rigor to their quest, Wendy introduces Professor Richard Wiseman, who shares his groundbreaking project aimed at identifying the world’s funniest joke. Wiseman recounts his initial pitch to the University of Hertfordshire, which led to the establishment of an online platform where individuals worldwide could submit and rate jokes.

Richard Wiseman [19:38]: “We’re going to search the world's funniest joke.”

Development of the Gigalometer

Wiseman’s team developed the “gigalometer,” a rating system ranging from 1 (not very funny) to 5 (absolutely hilarious), to quantify humor objectively.

Richard Wiseman [22:05]: “We refer to it as a gigalometer.”

Data Collection and the Rise of Dirty Jokes

As the experiment gained traction, an influx of entries followed. However, the team had to moderate submissions to maintain a family-friendly environment, removing overtly dirty jokes to preserve the study’s integrity.

Wendy Zuckerman [22:35]: "Richard had to remove the dirty jokes because this was a big family experiment."

Uncovering Patterns: The Science of Funny Words

Delving deeper, Wiseman’s research revealed fascinating patterns about what makes words and jokes funny. Certain sounds, particularly those with hard 'K' sounds like "clown" and "duck," were consistently rated as funnier. Additionally, words with unusual sound combinations or those that are less common tended to elicit more laughter.

Wendy Zuckerman [24:44]: “Certain sounds are funny, like anything with a hard K. So clown and duck and quack.”

Further studies by linguists showed that meanings also play a crucial role in humor. Words related to bodily functions or insults often ranked higher in funniness, aligning with global comedic trends where jokes frequently revolve around universal themes like sex, bodily functions, and family dynamics.

Wendy Zuckerman [30:28]: “It's not just the sounds; it's also the meanings. Rude words, words about body parts, and insults tend to be funnier.”

Cultural Perspectives: Humor Across the Globe

Understanding that humor varies across cultures, Wendy and Latif engage with international comedians to explore funny words in different languages. Egyptian comedian Mohammed Magdi highlights "kawka," the Arabic word for shell, noting its humorous phonetic composition.

Mohammed Magdi [28:03]: “If you just have two K's, like kawka, it’s funny.”

Similarly, Indian comedian Rooja Shvak discusses words like "chinchpokli," a neighborhood in Mumbai, emphasizing how the juxtaposition of sounds contributes to their humor.

Rooja Shvak [30:13]: “Chinchpokli is so funny because it combines thin and wide sounds in a unique way.”

Cross-Cultural Similarities and Differences

Wendy references a comprehensive study surveying humor across 28 countries, revealing both differences and surprising similarities. While certain cultures prefer self-deprecating humor or aggressive teasing, the overarching conclusion was that more similarities than differences exist in what people find funny globally.

Wendy Zuckerman [34:28]: “There are some differences, but ultimately, there are more similarities than differences in humor across countries.”

The Climactic Outcome: The "World’s Funniest Joke"

After a rigorous year-long experiment, Wiseman’s team amassed over 40,000 jokes with hundreds of thousands of ratings from 70 countries. The competition culminated in the selection of what was deemed the world’s funniest joke:

Richard Wiseman [37:23]: “There are two hunters out in the woods. One of them collapses. He doesn't seem to be breathing. His eyes are glazed. His friend whips out his phone, calls emergency services. He says, ‘My friend is dead. What can I do?’ The operator says, ‘Calm down. I can help. First, let’s make certain he’s dead.’ There’s a silence, then a gunshot. And then the guy’s back on the phone. He says, ‘Okay, now what?’”

Mixed Reactions and Critical Insights

Upon sharing the joke with comedians, the feedback was mixed. While some found it passable, others criticized it for lacking genuine humor, highlighting the complex nature of comedic appreciation.

Comedian Jason Leong [38:03]: “That was a great joke.”

Comedian Jason Leong [38:03]: “But try harder.”

Wiseman himself expressed discomfort with the outcome, recognizing that the chosen joke did not align with traditional notions of humor despite its high ratings.

Richard Wiseman [38:50]: “It was living hell. After a while, I just refused to tell it.”

Analyzing the Winner: Theories of Humor

Despite its low entertainment value for some, the winning joke complies with several scientific theories of humor:

1. Surprise and Incongruity: The punchline presents an unexpected twist that defies the initial setup.

   Latif Nasser [40:11]: “Two fish in a tank. One turns to the other and says, ‘Do you know how to drive this?’”

2. Conceptual Bifurcation: This moment occurs when combining two unrelated contexts creates humor.

3. Superiority Theory: Although receptive to being somewhat “petty,” this theory suggests that laughter stems from feeling superior to the joke's subject.

4. Benign Violation Theory: The joke touches on threatening themes (death and murder) but presents them in a harmless context, making the violation benign.

Wendy Zuckerman [45:46]: “It was the joke that most people didn't hate. It’s so you can look at any one group... but the average joke is the average joke.”

Reflecting on the Experiment: Lessons Learned

Wendy and Latif discuss the limitations of Wiseman’s approach. The averaged joke, while statistically significant, failed to capture the essence of what makes a joke genuinely funny to diverse audiences. This underscores the inherent challenge in quantifying humor.

Wendy Zuckerman [46:45]: “Where we went wrong was starting that little downhill from there.”

Conclusion: Embracing Subjectivity in Humor

In the end, Wendy and Latif acknowledge that while the experiment provided valuable insights into the mechanics of humor, the subjective nature of comedy makes it elusive to universal capture. They conclude by embracing their personal favorite joke, appreciating the journey over the destination.

Latif Nasser [47:05]: “I'm very happy with, um. Take your face. I'm going to take out the garbage. Take your face.”

Wendy Zuckerman [47:22]: “We found your joke. We fulfilled our quest.”

Key Takeaways

• Subjectivity of Humor: Comedy varies widely across cultures and individuals, making a universal funniest joke nearly unattainable.

• Scientific Theories: Several theories, including surprise, incongruity, and benign violations, help explain why certain jokes elicit laughter.

• Cultural Nuances: While certain sounds and word combinations have universal appeal, cultural contexts heavily influence comedic preferences.

• Limitations of Quantification: Statistical methods can identify trends but may fail to capture the nuanced, emotional essence of humor.

Notable Quotes with Timestamps

• Wendy Zuckerman [05:10]: “Google’s funniest jokes were absolute trash. Did you hear about the rancher who had 97 cows in his field? When he rounded them up, he had 100.”

• Richard Wiseman [37:23]: “There are two hunters out in the woods. One of them collapses...”

• Richard Wiseman [38:50]: “It was living hell. After a while, I just refused to tell it.”

• Wendy Zuckerman [45:46]: “It was the joke that most people didn't hate. It’s so you can look at any one group... but the average joke is the average joke.”

Final Thoughts

"The Funniest Joke in the World" episode of Radiolab's Science Vs masterfully blends humor with scientific inquiry, exploring the intricate dynamics that make us laugh. While the quest to find the ultimate joke concludes with unexpected challenges, it beautifully illustrates the complexity and diversity of human humor.