Radiolab
Science Vs: The Funniest Joke in the World
Nov 22, 2024
Wendy Zuckerman, host of Science Vs, leads the hilarious quest for the funniest joke in the world. She chats with comedy legends like Tig Notaro and Adam Conover, diving into the subjective nature of humor and the challenges of connecting with audiences. The podcast explores laughter's evolutionary roots and its role in fostering social bonds. From a Hindi joke to a global competition, listeners discover the shared threads of comedy across cultures while uncovering the science behind what makes us laugh.
42:52
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Quick takeaways
- The quest for the funniest joke illustrates humor's subjective nature, highlighted by comedians who emphasize its varying appeal to different people.
- Scientific insights reveal that laughter's contagiousness and social role significantly influence humor's perception, transcending cultural differences in comedic taste.
Deep dives
The Quest for the Funniest Joke
The podcast features a quest to find the funniest joke in the world, spearheaded by co-hosts Wendy Zuckerman and Latif Nasser. Initially sparked by Zuckerman's disappointing Google search results for the world's funniest joke, they discuss the subjective nature of humor as expressed by various comedians. Comedians like Tig Notaro emphasize that laughter varies among individuals, making it incredibly challenging to pinpoint a universally hilarious joke. With this in mind, the duo embarks on a humorous journey, gathering insights and opinions from the comedic community about what constitutes the essence of humor.
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