Punny You should Ask

Dad jokes -- the gift that keeps on giving? Today on our month-long "Odd News+" series we look at a new survey that suggests having a laugh can be good for the whole family. Plus, Warner Bros Discovery makes an announcement and a new look at a classic statue. A study conducted by both Penn State University and Columbia College in Chicago examined the use of humor in a parent/child relationship. The results seem to be good news for all those Dad jokes out there.  Warner Bros Discovery has made a name for itself – and not a good one – when it comes to their track record on films. We poke a bit of fun at that concept. Nothing says funny like a jab at a piece of sculpture. But we give it a go. >> Hear episodes from all the participants in Dog Days of Podcasting>> Support comedy4cast by becoming a patron on Patreon>> Or you can get Clinton a Dunkin' card or a cup of coffee via Ko-Fi>> Follow us on X, Instagram, Facebook, MeWe, Mastodon, and BlueSky>> Give us a call via the Super Secret Phone Line [phone]>> Drop us an email at podcast @ comedy4cast.com>> Also check out Clinton's other podcast, The Topic is Trek>> Certain sounds effects heard on comedy4cast are courtesy of freeSFX and FreeSound.org Click here for a transcript of this episode.

Episode Transcript

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Music.

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This is Comedy Forecast, Episode 812, Punny You Should Ask.
It's time once again for the Dog Days of Podcasting. For more information and
to hear all the shows, go to dogdaysofpodcasting.com.
Let's get started with Odd News Plus. us.

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Here are our odd news stories for Tuesday, August 20th, 2024.
Warner Brothers Discovery has just optioned a book from the bestseller list
and issued the following statement.
We here at Warner Brothers Discovery are very excited to be producing The Lost Flowers.
It is a timeless story that millions of readers around the world have embraced.

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Our team is in final negotiations with Steven Soderbergh to direct.
Not only that, we're also announcing today that this project will officially
be the first movie we shelve without showing in 2026, using it as a tax write-off.
Jessica Knoll is, at this moment, hard at work on the script that will be shot,

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but none of you will ever see realized on screen.
We look forward to not bringing you this movie in summer 2026.
Now let's get to our actual for real odd news story.
The relationship between a parent and a child can be a tricky one.
But do you know one thing that can help? Dad jokes.

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Or mom jokes for that matter. Sure, what exactly makes up a dad joke can be hard to define.
But when you hear one, it's a parent. It turns out these well-worn puns and
other merrymaking moments might actually be good for a parent's relationship with their child.
Recently, research was conducted by both Penn State University and Columbia

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College in Chicago on the effects of humor in parenting, and the groups have
just published their paper.
Do you want to hear a joke about the paper? Never mind. It's terrible.
Respondents to the survey... Oh, I love surveys. I recently took a poll and
found out that 100% of the people in the tent were angry when it collapsed.

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Where was I? Oh, right. The The respondents answered questions about their relationship
with the people who raised them and how they felt about the use of humor in that upbringing.
The vast majority said they believe humor had had a beneficial effect on their
upbringing and either are using or plan to use humor in parenting their own children.
Significant correlations were found between the use of humor and both the quality

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of respondents' relationships with their parents and their assessment of how
good a job their parents had done. There you have it. Break out the big puns, parents.
You are cleared to ask what has five toes but isn't your foot.
My foot, you can say that two guys walked into a bar and the third one ducked.
And you can state with confidence that of all the inventions of the last 100

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years, the dry erase board has to be the most remarkable.
Of course, if you're not a parent, please avoid making dad jokes.
That's considered a faux pas.
And finally, controversy in the art world is swirling around Rodin's sculpture
known as The Thinker. A documentary film crew worked with leading body language

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experts and came to some startling conclusions.
The new documentary claims that the seated man is not so much thinking as he
is musing. At best, he is brooding or pondering or perhaps even reflective.
But most probably, he is simply being pensive.
The documentary was funded by Thesaurus.com.

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That about wraps it up for today's Odd News Plus.
A big thanks to the Comedy Forecast patrons for helping make this show possible.
Story, voices, and original music by Clinton Alvord. Copyright 2024.
All rights reserved. Talk to you next time. But for now, that's it.

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We're done, done, done, done, done. Bye-bye.
Music.