The Gist: South Dakota Senate races, and American Cornball.

What’s So Funny About Anvils? Why Some Jokes Fall Out of Vogue and Some Never Go Away.

What’s So Funny About Anvils? Why Some Jokes Fall Out of Vogue and Some Never Go Away.

A daily news and culture podcast with Mike Pesca.
Oct. 21 2014 6:46 PM

Soup Was Once Hilarious

And so were deliverymen, husbands doing the dishes, and corned beef hash.

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In this episode, the iceman jokes cometh.

Photo illustration by Slate. Photo Courtesy of American Cornball.

Listen to Episode 119 of Slate’s The Gist:

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Today on The Gist, David Montgomery from the Sioux Falls, South Dakota, Argus Leader explains how a close Senate race has snuck up on South Dakota voters. Plus, Christopher Miller tells us about things that used to be funny but have vanished from popular humor. He’s the author of American Cornball. For the Spiel, a pandemic is sweeping America. (Hint: It’s not Ebola.)

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Mike Pesca is the host of the Slate daily podcast The Gist. He also contributes reports and commentary to NPR.