Dark Humor: 1986
10 Curated Routines1. Shock Comic
Challenger/Shock"What does NASA stand for? Need Another Seven Astronauts. (Too soon? It’s been twelve minutes.)"
2. Gallows Humor
Chernobyl/Radiation"The good news about Chernobyl is that the residents don’t need to buy flashlights anymore. They just hold up their hands and wait for the glow."
3. Standard Satire
Parenting/Dark"I saw a "Baby on Board" sign today. It’s a great idea; it lets me know exactly which car to avoid hitting so I don’t have to deal with the paperwork of a miniature lawsuit."
4. Medical Wit
Health/Addiction"I told my doctor I was addicted to caffeine. He told me to stop. I told him I’d stop when my heart stopped vibrating fast enough to pick up local radio stations."
5. Political Dark
Politics/Corruption"The Iran-Contra affair is confusing. We sold weapons to our enemies to fund a war we weren’t supposed to be fighting. It’s like stealing from your wife to pay for your girlfriend’s divorce lawyer."
6. Suburban Dark
Suburban/Absurd"My neighbor is so obsessed with his lawn that he put up a sign saying "Keep off the Grass." I put up a sign on my lawn saying "The Grass is Lava." We don’t talk anymore."
7. Era One-Liner
Sports/Dark"Mike Tyson became the youngest heavyweight champion. He’s a man of few words, mostly because he’s usually busy eating someone else’s vocabulary."
8. Charles Addams Style
Misanthropy"I don’t need a security system. I just leave a half-finished chalk outline on the driveway every Monday morning."
9. Existentialism
Aging/Dread"Life is a series of distractions designed to keep you from noticing that you’re slowly turning into your parents."
10. Dark Wit
Economics/Fate"If you want to make God laugh, tell Him you have a five-year plan that involves staying solvent."