Laughter is universal, but what makes a joke truly great? What is the world’s funniest joke? Humour blends science and art, and few jokes exemplify this better than Bradford Oakes’ ‘James Cameron’s Fish‘ joke.
Curious? Watch Brad’s joke, published on Instagram, below:Looking for the funny in science
Wendy Zukerman’s podcast Science Vs: The Funniest Jokes in the World, explored humour for its 200th episode, and it’s clear that Bradford Oakes’ joke perfectly meets the criteria uncovered. Inspired by Richard Wiseman’s early 2000s project using the internet’s “giggleometer” to collect and rank jokes, the podcast examined humour across cultures, languages, and psychological theories.
Why Bradford Oakes’ joke stands out
With views beyond 2.6 million, Bradford Oakes’ ‘James Cameron’s Fish‘ joke exemplifies the principles explored in the podcast. It’s also clearly funnier than the original Richard Wiseman’s ‘winner’ which was about a hunter that shoots his friend. In comparison, Bradford Oakes’ joke has received over 63,000 instagram ❤️s and heavy praise, such as, “That setup was masterful,” “My favourite joke,” and “I wish I could be 30 seconds younger so I could hear this for the first time again.”
So Bradford has mastered the art of stand-up comedy. But what’s the science that has Bradford Oakes’ joke so funny? According to Wendy Zuckerman, it was for four reasons:
- Shock of Recognition
The joke begins with a detailed scientific explanation about James Cameron’s deep-sea explorations, leading audiences to expect an insightful conclusion. Instead, the punchline drops a hilariously mundane truth: “How would you cook that?!” This universal twist, since most of us own or have cooked in an oven, creates a laughable jolt. - Superiority
Slighting more nuance, superiority in this case is attached to the audience enjoying a sense of superiority over Bradford and his childlike question, “How would you cook that?!” - Release of Tension
Building tension is an art, and Bradford stretches his audience’s anticipation over 50 seconds. The release when the punchline hits, mirrors what psychologists call the benign violation theory: the situation initially feels high-stakes, but ends harmlessly, allowing us to laugh freely. - The Comedy ‘K’
The word ‘cook’ features two hard ‘k’ sounds, known to enhance comedic impact. As discussed in Science Vs., the hard ‘k’ sound is inherently funny, a phenomenon reflected in jokes across languages.
Your favourite?
As Zukerman concluded in her podcast, no single joke will unite the planet in laughter. Yet Brad Oakes’ ‘James Cameron’s Fish‘ joke is both artful and scientific in its delivery. And for at least one Instagram user, it was “My favourite joke.”
Now that you’ve watched it, is it yours?