“A Jew, a Catholic and a penguin walk into a bar.”

That right there is the setup to the greatest joke ever told. Honest truth, no fooling, best damned joke ever.

How do I know this joke reigns supreme? What knowledge do I draw upon to imply with such audacity that this joke is the funniest from all antiquity?

Well, other than my certificate for successfully completing an improv comedy course, I recently watched the History Channel’s “History of the Joke.”

It’s a brilliant two-hour munch on all things funny. Although it’s been out since February, I just got around to it. Hosted by esteemed grumpy comedian Lewis Black, the show chronicles the evolution of mankind’s humor, from the earliest bawdy cave drawings of human/animal sexcapades to Carrot Top and Kathy Griffin. It’s all there.

And while the concept of a caveman slipping on a banana peel does not easily translate well from an ancient Norwegian cave painting, the joke comes full circle when you realize there were no bananas in northern Europe 7,000 years ago. It’s a punch line that has taken several millennia to culminate, but, damnit man, what a joke. And that is just what you’ll find yourself deconstructing during this special, jokes and what makes people laugh.

This laughamentary (sorry, had to it) features insights from more than 50 stand-up comedians as they try to explain what makes funny, funny and how you go about doing funny.

The historical elements of the show detail the type of humor prevalent and specific to its place in the human timeline, whether it is Spartan street performers or Italian harlequins. Heck, even Roman graffiti was a form of comic-strip funny.
But the history doesn’t drag down the topic, as this is not the average documentary hobbled by monotone narration and dry subject matter. At least until they get to the English humor portion. Other than that, it’s all pretty lively.

With the likes of Black, George Carlin and Robin Williams, how can it not be?

Seriously, when you sit with your corner-store burrito, soft drink and chips to watch back-to-back Cheech & Chong movies, you never stop to think, “Wow, why is some guy smoking a cucumber-sized joint funny?” Or, “Why am I watching this at the 24-hour Wal-Mart at 2:30 in the morning?” “What the hell does that big yellow smiley face want from me?” And, “Where the hell are my pants?” Nope, you don’t ask, you just do, and you laugh. This show will help clear up some of those questions.

Now, about that greatest joke I opened with. So, why did they walk into the bar? Three words, Hindu donkey show. That, and they were trying to get away from the Baptist.

I’ll be here all night, folks, or until a penguin complains about this column and I get canned.