I got this from a British Web Site. I think they're serious...either way, they sure no how to take the fun out of everything!
The mathematical equation for the perfect joke has been revealed by scientists.
The formula - c=(m+nO)/p - was worked out by Helen Pilcher and Timandra Harkness.
As well as being scientists, the pair are also stand-up comedians who make up the Comedy Research Project. They run this in collaboration with the Science Museum's Dana Centre in London.
In the formula, c is the funniness of the joke; m is the "comic moment" which is arrived at by multiplying the punchline's funniness rating by the length of the joke's buildup.
nO is the number of times the subject undergoes a pratfall, multiplied by the "ouch factor" - the social and physical pain of the indignity involved. The total is divided by the number of puns, p. According to the equation, if a joke consists of a long "shaggy dog story", it doesn't require such a funny punchline as a shorter wisecrack.
If the Brits are correct, then we can create cookie-cutter jokes by starting with a generic formula and substituting our own data...kinda sounds like most TV sitcoms!!
Here is an Example:
THE GENERIC ETHNIC JOKE
A person belonging to an ethnic group whose members are commonly
considered to have certain stereotypical mannerisms met another person
belonging to a different ethnic group with a different set of imputed
stereotypical mannerisms.
The first person acted in a manner consistent with the stereotypes
associated with his ethnic group, and proceeded to make a remark which
might be considered to establish conclusively his membership in that
group, whereupon his companion proceeded to make a remark with a double
meaning, the first meaning of which could be interpreted to indicate his
agreement with his companion, but the other meaning of which serves to
corroborate his membership in his particular ethnic group.
The first person took offense at his remark, and reacted in a
stereotypical way!