This joke is a pun that plays on the similarity in sound between the word “gobble,” which is the characteristic sound a turkey makes, and “Google,” the name of the well-known internet search engine. The humor lies in the turkey seemingly attempting to communicate with the computer in its own language — saying “gobble” — which humorously comes out sounding like “Google,” a word associated with computers and searching the internet.

This joke uses a rhetorical device where the punchline is deliberately delayed, creating suspense for the listener. It’s a meta-joke, in which the method of keeping someone in suspense is to literally keep them waiting for the answer. By saying “I’ll tell you next week,” the speaker is enacting the very suspense they’re purportedly going to explain how to create. It’s a play on the listener’s expectation for an immediate punchline, which is a common structure in joke-telling.

This joke is a pun that combines the word “yams,” which sweet potatoes are often confused with or colloquially referred to, and “jammies,” a colloquial term for pajamas. The humor comes from the playful use of language, taking the familiar concept of wearing pajamas to bed and applying it whimsically to sweet potatoes, which obviously do not wear clothing. By creating the portmanteau “yammies,” the joke playfully suggests that if sweet potatoes did wear bedtime attire, it would be something akin to pajamas but with a name that reflects their identity as yams (sweet potatoes), hence “yammies.”

This joke relies on sarcasm and plays on the dual meanings of the physical design of Crocs (the footwear) and a figurative commentary on fashion sense. Crocs are known for their distinctive holes on top, which are there for ventilation and decoration. The joke subverts the practical purpose of these holes by suggesting that they allow for the escape of one’s dignity, implying that wearing Crocs is a fashion faux pas that undermines one’s self-respect. It’s a humorous critique of the shoes, suggesting that to wear them is to willingly participate in a questionable fashion choice.

The opening joke of Matt Rife’s Netflix special, “Natural Selection,” uses shock value and subversion of expectations as its primary humor device. Set in Baltimore, which Rife describes as “ratchet,” the joke begins with a seemingly ordinary observation: a hostess at a restaurant with a black eye. The expectation is that the joke might revolve around the hostess’s appearance being an odd choice for a welcoming face of a company. However, Rife takes a dark turn by suggesting, through his friend’s comment and his own response, that domestic violence could be the reason behind her black eye.
The punchline, “Yeah, but I feel like if she could cook, she wouldn’t have that black eye,” is a jarring and controversial comment implying that domestic violence could be avoided if the victim had better domestic skills. This is a form of dark humor, which finds comedy in topics that are generally considered serious, distressing, or taboo.
Rife’s follow-up, “Testing the water, seeing if y’all are gonna be fun or not. Just wanted to see,” acknowledges the edginess of the joke and serves as a gauge for the audience’s reaction to controversial humor. It suggests an understanding that such humor can be divisive and is being used to test the boundaries of the audience’s sensibilities.