Two Irish guys walk out of a bar……..Hey, it could happen! ” what is this a joke?” well not really it is serious science according to Jim Wilson and Popular Science Magazine. What makes people laugh is the Mount Everest of neuroscience. Neurologists understand the auditory system well enough to restore hearing with cochlear implants. Biomedical engineers have successfully implanted vision chips. Brain surgeons know that poking the brain in one place will conjure an image of your third-grade teacher,while prodding elsewhere can evoke the aroma of her perfume. Neuropsychologists have gone as far as isolating a cluster of brain cells that become active when deeply religious people pray. Yet the knock knock joke remains as mysterious as area 51.

The difficulty in comprehending how humor works reflects the complexity of the task. The subject intrigues scientists because understanding jokes could ultimately explain how the brain works, and provide insights to repairing damage inflicted by a stoke or disease. Recently scientists who take jokes seriously reported some interesting findings. With the help of the Internet and volunteers from around the world, British researchers identified and ranked the world’s funniest joke. Then using a brain scanner identified the part of the brain that becomes active when we laugh. In a separate experiment, Canadian and British scientists made an equally astounding discovery: different types of jokes tickle different parts of the brain.

The perfect joke

” Past research into humor has revealed important insights into brain functioning” says Richard Wiseman, A psychologist at the University of Hertfordshire near London. About this time last year, he created a project called Laugh Lab. It’s mission find the world’s funniest joke. Wiseman’s quest for the funniest joke began with a call for jokes put out over the Internet. After his staff weeded out the obscene submissions and edited away racial epithets, he recorded the most poplar jokes and posted audio files on a website. Visitors were asked to rate what they heard. Last fall, a computer picked a joke that was most appealing to both sexes, in all age groups, in all countries. It was submitted by Gurpal Gosalla 31 year old middle act from Manchester. No, I a just kidding the guy was a psychiatrist from England. Perhaps you heard it, the joke goes like this:

A couple of New Jersey hunters are out in the woods when one of them falls to the ground. He doesn’t seem to be breathing , his eyes are rolled back in his head. The other guy whips out a cellphone and calls emergency services. He gasps to the operator: “My friend is dead! what can I do?” the operator in a calm soothing voice says : “just take it easy. I can help. First, Let’s make sure he’s dead.” There is a silence, then a shot is heard. The guy’s voice comes back on the line. He says: “Okay, now what?”

Wiseman said the winner as well as the runner up joke and country by country favorites, which you will find on the PM. zone, fits a pattern. ” We find jokes funny for lots of different reasons”, he says. ” They sometimes make us feel superior to others, reduce the emotional impact of anxiety provoking events, or surprise us because of some kind of incongruity. The hunter joke contains all three elements-we feel superior to the stupid hunter, realize the incongruity of his misunderstanding the operator, and the jokes helps us laugh about our own concerns about our own mortality.

Wiseman concluded his experiment by putting volunteers in a functional magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) machine and watching the blood flow change in different parts of their brains they listened to jokes. “The ( test results) show that there is a very precise area of the brain involved in understanding why a joke is funny,” he says. ” It is mainly located toward the back of the frontal lobes. Interestingly, this fits in with other research suggesting that people who have damaged this part of the brain often lose their sense of humor.”

Into the Brain

Vinod Goel of York University in Toronto and his colleague Raymond Dolan at the institute of Nuerology in London focused their search on what happens inside the brain as it processes a joke. Like Wiseman, Goel placed each of his volunteers in an MRI device. Here they listened to prerecorded puns: ” Why did the golfer wear two pairs of pants? He got a hole in one” ( which by the way is the lowest form of comedy) They also heard Goel describes semantic jokes, such as: “Why don’t sharks bite lawyers? Professional courtesy.” Goel limited his jokes to a format in which the set up line is couched as a question, and the answer is the payoff line. He also threw in fake jokes as controls. In drug research, controls are sugar pills. In comedy research, controls are jokes with a bland payoff line: ( which would include any joke from Argus Hamilton’s act) “Why did the Golfer wear two pairs of pants? It was a cold day.” Good night Ladies and Gentlemen! Try the veal ! You have been a wonderful audience!

When Goel analyzed his data, he found that both puns and semantic jokes activated the medial ventral prefrontal cortex. The part of the brain involved with reward and control behavior resides her, so the finding was not expected. The second discovery was a surprise, and my favorite part of the article, The brain did not treat all jokes equally. Puns and semantic jokes traveled through different neural circuitry. The golfer’s pun stimulated a structure called Broca’s area, which is associated with speech. The semantic joke about lawyers, however, increased oxygen flow in both temporal lobes. This was unexpected because language processing is believed to be confined to the left temporal lobe. Lawyers in seems are really turning up everywhere.

In conclusion there remains much about humor that has yet to be resolved. Perhaps we will never understand why women don’t get the Three Stooges. Or why, statistically speaking, ducks are the funniest animal. What the limited insights into humor have taught us is this: Jokes are more than funny, they are and expansive window into how the brain actually works and if laughter really is the best medicine then stand up comedians would be earning PhD’s that said, a smile can still be a pretty handy umbrella against a possible downpour of health problems as well, “Just the act of laughing can be beneficial from both emotional and a physiological perspective” says Joel Goodman, Ed.D., Director of the Humor Project in Saratoga Springs, New York . ” “Physically, respiration and circulation are both enhanced through the act of laughter. We oxygenate the blood, which energizes us and helps us think more clearly.” Plus, Goodman says,”Research shows that laughter stimulates chemicals in the brain that actually suppress stress related hormones. So next time you see a comedian on-stage and you feel the need to heckle….Don’t ! It probably means you really don’t have much going on between your ears and that you are probably should be wearing a helmet in your everyday life. Someone should do research on that, anyway I hope you have a new appreciation for the Art of Stand up comedy!

You want my undivided personal attention!!

I want to preface this with How much I like canadians, eh? Some of my favorite people on the planet, eh? They are good folks, they like to have a good time, drink heavily and they have an amazing sense of humor!! I speak from experience as I have performed at the Montreal Comedy Festival ( 6 times ) One of the premiere comedy festivals in the world, and I perform in Canada on a regular basis. They are apparently showing segments of my Comedy Central Presents on Canadian Television a program called “Just for Laughs Tonight” . The Program comes with a WARNING !! That the content may not be suitable for all viewers! That covers people who may be easily offended, or who may have delicate sensibilities, or who are to stupid and take comedy seriously…. missing the point entirely!! The person who wrote this e mail falls into the latter category…. to Stupid!! Not only does he have selective hearing, because obviously he did not really listen to the actual content however, I cannot speak for the editing on Canadian television, Eh? But the special ran in prime time in the United States to critical reviews and a standing ovation. I am a professional stand up comedian, it is a tough business to break into, and it is a tough business to stay in!! You have to have an edge and stay current. It is a highly competitive industry and I am constantly trying to generate original content, and stand out from the crowd of stand up comedians who flood Comedy Central and the club circuit. Anyone who knows me as a performer knows I give 100 % every time I go on stage and work to the top of my intelligence, But I am also a comedian I am supposed to say the wrong things and be outrageous it is the nature of the job!! As I read this e mail I was laughing uncontrollably for about 20 minutes my favorite line is, ” you call that comedy? I call that sick!! ” LMAO!! I may put that on a shirt. Enjoy !!

From: Brennan Enslen

Subject: Just for Laughs

This was e mail he sent directly to me

Message Body:
Hi Jimmy, I just saw you on the show “just for laughs” on the comedy network and I must say that I was very disappointed. So much so, that I felt it necessary to write to the network. below is a copy of what I sent them. I wanted you to read it, especially after I read on your website that you are proud of “GOD, My family & friends, The United States of America. In that order!!” With all due respect, if they had seen your act, I think they would be anything but proud. So this is what I wrote to the network:

for the record my Family, Friends & Fans are very proud of me and my accomplishments.

I am writing this email to express my utter shock and disgust at the behaviour of Jimmy Shubert on Just for Laughs tonight. I realize that each episode is preceded by a warning that some content may not be appropriate for all viewers but this man’s sad attempt a comedy was nothing more than personal attacks and a disgusting routine about school shootings. Foul language and sexual jokes are one thing but this man’s attempt to be funny crossed a line into something that can only be described and calloused and sick. He began his routine talking about a particular pair of conjoined twins, making fun of their situation making all sorts of disparaging remarks about them. I wonder how their family would feel if they saw this man’s routine. I wonder how he would feel if he were in those parent’s place. He directed his remarks, not just at conjoined twins in general, but at this one pair in particular. I would not be surprised if they would have a case to charge him with slander if they had
seen his routine. If this had been the only problem with the performance I would not have written in, but unfortunately he became even more disgraceful with his next bit. He proceeded to make light of the victims and perpetrators of school shootings. There are no words to express how disgusted and angry his words made me. I was actually felt physically sick hearing him make light of one of the most tragic and unthinkable events to ever happen in any school. These are not characters in some movie. Real children died in those schools. Real father’s lost their daughters. Real mother’s lost their sons. As a parent myself, I cannot imagine what it would be like to experience this and here is this man on TV making fun of this event? You call that comedy? I call that sick. I think Jimmy and those who booked him on the show should be absolutely ashamed of themselves. If I could cancel the comedy network from my cable package, I would call the cable company tomorrow. Unfortunately I the
channel comes with the package but I can tell you it is a channel I will be skipping from now on. I cannot in good conscience support a network that would air such distasteful and debased programming. I can only hope that your producers will be more careful in the future.

Critics are like eunuchs at a gangbang !!

The Retraction:

Jimmy, I’d like to apologize for several things in my email. I’ve heard it said that over half of communication is non verbal so I know that email is a poor way to communicate what can be an emotionally charged message. After reading my email again I realize that it was more of a reaction that a response and I was out of line in several areas. First, let me apologize for my remarks about family and friends being proud. It was a cheap shot and I recognize that you do have much to be proud of. You’ve built a good career and I myself have often laughed at your comedy on King of Queens. Secondly, I realize that my wording was quite strong and I understand your desire to call me all sorts of names and blast me in your blog after my remarks about your career. We’ve all read the guys in blogs and forums who go on angry un-informed rants, only to make themselves appear to be ignorant jerks and I’m afraid this is what I may have come off sounding like.
Since you’ve identified my citizenship I feel a responsibility to make things right so as not to give Canadians a bad name. While I stand by my opinion that some things are too painful to be discussed with humor (even shock humor), I should have formulated more calm and mature response. Also, you are right, those twins are fair game after their public attempts at fame and so you don’t deserve to be criticized for using them as comedy material. Basically I wanted to say that it was not my intention to start an internet war of words. Though I may disagree with you on some points, I apologize for my lack of respect and I do wish you well in your career.
and all is right with the world again can’t we all just get along

I Killed

Hello everyone, Thanks for stopping by, My site is under going some renovations. After two days of Co hosting the Bob & Tom show, as Tom was out with a shoulder injury. I was Happy to help out. I love those guys, and I love doing the show. I am on my way to Nashville to do a one-nighter at Zanies Comedy Club. Come on out and see my show. Anyway here is something for your reading pleasure. This story originally appeared on my website but made it into “I killed,” true stories of the road from America’s top Comedians People always want me to tell this story it is much funnier when I tell it in Person.

Motorcycles & Mayhem

The year was 1987, I had recently moved to Los Angeles the previous year. I was working on becoming a paid regular at the comedy store, but until that happened I opted for a job as a doorman. It was not a bad place to pass the time as I worked on my craft. It was just before the huge comedy explosion of the eighties and the Comedy Store was a hot bed of activity. I was starting over, basically, and I spent most of my free time there hanging and making new friends. Watching and learning from the likes of Jim Carrey, Damon Wayans, and of course Sam Kinison. I knew them, but it was just casually… that was about to change. Monday night at the Comedy Store was a freak show, a real carnival of souls that all seemed lost. The Original room was packed, the Belly Room was filled with people and in the main room they were at capacity. The place had an energy about it. It was alive and buzzing. The stand up comedians went on to a very hungry comedy audience. The crowd stayed, basically to see the last act of the night which was Sam Kinison, he had a cult following of porn stars, celebrities and was not even close to being famous yet.

I showed up at the Comedy Store late. Sam was already on stage and had been on for a while, I showed up on my motorcycle and wheeled it into the backstage area, behind the curtain and I was sitting on it smoking a cigarette, talking with two other comedians. The manager was running around backstage screaming and yelling (he was from Thailand), “he get off now!” “It getting too rate!” He was oblivious to the fact that a comedy genius was working his trade. One of the other comedians looked at me on my motorcycle and said, “Why don’t you ride out there and tell them it’s last call” and then he said, “you know it’s never been done before!” That was all he needed to say to a young comedian eager to prove himself. Then the other comedian said, ” Just drive out, say it’s last call, and tell Sam, ‘by the way your rides here’.” I started my bike and gunned the engine several times as I worked up the nerve, “Was I really going to do this!” I said to myself.

They pulled the curtain back and down three little steps I went skidding to and abrupt stop at the edge of the stage I had a long trench coat on and mirrored sunglasses, I looked at the audience and said, “It’s last call and then I turned to Sam and said, “By the way your rides here!” Now, I did not know this at the time but Sam was deftly afraid of motorcycles. But, we were in front of an audience that was going nuts and I have to give him credit he didn’t even bat an eye. He said in his signature scream, “LET’S DO IT!! AAAURGHHHH! AAAAAAUUUURGGH!” And he mounted the motorcycle. I turned the bike and gunned the engine… popped it into first gear… and hit those three steps and just had enough juice to climb them and we were through the curtain. I could have stopped there but I dropped it into second gear and I keep on going through the doorway and down the hallway that had three dressing rooms on my right side and screaming comedians diving for cover. I was yelling, “Get out of the way!” I never saw so many middle acts move that fast. Sam had a death grip on my ribcage as we barreled out the back door and onto Sunset Blvd. off the curb and onto the street and still I kept going West on Sunset to La Cienga, and as I made my U-turn, Sam finally loosened his grip and screamed above the loud engine, “You’re a crazy motherfucker!” As we drove down Sunset past the Comedy Store about twenty people had come running out to see where we went, and as we drove by, they applauded and waved. I pulled over and Sam got off the bike and gave me a look like he was sizing me up. I said, “goodnight” and drove off towards home.

I didn’t see Sam for about two weeks until I showed up at the Comedy Store on a Monday night, walked into the back bar and someone Yelled, “Jimmy Shubert, You crazy mother fucker! Get over here!” it was Sam. He wa s standing with Randy Quaid, and Loraine Neuman from Saturday Night Live. He introduced me and told them the story of how I drove him offstage on my motorcycle. I didn’t realize how cool it was until I heard him tell the story. I had made a new friend! I have never met anyone like Sam Kinison before or since. He was a true American original and a crazy mother fucker himself.