NOT HARDLY:

Psychiatrist's joke 'world's funniest': Dr Wiseman said the joke appealed to young and old (BBC, 3 October, 2002)

A UK psychiatrist has provided the world with its funniest joke, according to scientists. [...]

"Two hunters are out in the woods when one of them collapses. He doesn't seem to be breathing and his eyes are glazed. The other guy whips out his
phone and calls the emergency services. He gasps: "My friend is dead! What can I do?" The operator says: "Calm down, I can help. First, let's make
sure he's dead." There is a silence, then a shot is heard. Back on the phone, the guy says: "OK, now what?"

This is, of course, ridiculous. There are just two contenders for the world's greatest joke:

Did you hear what happened to the Pope when he went to Mount Olive?

Popeye beat the tar out of him.

or

A guy walks into a Drug Store. He says: "Do you do urinalysis here?"

Fella behind the counter says: "Sure."

So the guy says: "Okay, wash your hands and make me a cheese sandwich."

What makes these jokes classic is that they are simple but elegant. Each relies on the quality that great humor shares with magic: misdirection. Though not precisely subtle, they do provide a thrilling little frisson when you realize you've been had and that the set-up wasn't leading where you thought it was.
Posted by Orrin Judd at October 4, 2002 12:11 AM