The World of Dad Jokes

Note: This is all generated by Artificial Intelligence. I wrote a lengthy prompt and asked an AI to create a blog post about the history of dad jokes, how they became popular and how they’re used in pop culture. The I headed over to Google Notebook LLM, plugged in the text below and had it create a podcast. There are a few mistakes in the podcast, but the dialogue it creates is fairly impressive for being machine generated. The podcast is immediately below and you can check out the “article” it’s based on.

The History of Dad Jokes: From Groan-Worthy Gags to Internet Royalty

If you've ever heard a joke that made you sigh, roll your eyes, and laugh all at the same time, chances are you've been hit with a dad joke. These short, pun-filled one-liners have become an iconic form of humor, instantly recognizable for their cringe-worthiness and groan-inducing punchlines. But where did dad jokes come from? How did they become such a ubiquitous part of pop culture? And why do we love them so much—even when we pretend we don’t?

Let’s take a deeper dive into the history, evolution, and cultural impact of the dad joke.

What Exactly Is a Dad Joke?

A dad joke is typically a short, pun-based joke that’s deliberately uncool, often delivered with unwavering confidence by someone—usually a father figure—who thinks they’re far funnier than the audience does. These jokes are known for their simplicity, wordplay, and predictability. Some examples include:

• “I only know 25 letters of the alphabet. I don’t know y.”

• “Why don't skeletons fight each other? They don't have the guts.”

• “What time did the man go to the dentist? Tooth-hurty.”

Part of what makes a dad joke so unique is the delivery. The joke is usually served with a straight face, a knowing grin, and zero shame. It’s not just the words—it’s the moment, the context, and the dad-ness of it all.

The Roots of the Dad Joke

While the term dad joke is relatively new, the style of humor it represents has been around for centuries. Puns and simple wordplay date back to ancient times. Shakespeare, for instance, was famously fond of puns—many of which are as groan-worthy as anything you’d hear at a family barbecue today.

But the concept of the “dad joke” as a cultural archetype began to take shape in the 20th century. As sitcoms and family television shows became popular in the 1950s and 60s, the trope of the cheesy, pun-loving father emerged. Think of shows like Leave It to Beaver, The Brady Bunch, and Full House, where the dad character would often drop in with a one-liner that made the kids groan and the laugh track roll.

The term "dad joke" itself was first used in print in the 1980s. A notable mention comes from a 1987 Gettysburg Times article that urged readers to “preserve the ‘dad joke,’” already recognizing it as a distinct and endearing form of humor.

Why Are Dad Jokes So Popular?

Despite—or perhaps because of—their cheesiness, dad jokes are deeply relatable. They're:

• Wholesome: Dad jokes are almost always clean, making them safe for all ages and settings.

• Accessible: They’re easy to understand, requiring little context or setup.

• Nostalgic: For many, dad jokes evoke memories of growing up, family dinners, or road trips with a father or father figure.

• Groan-tastic: That cringe factor? It’s part of the charm.

Psychologists have even suggested that dad jokes play an important social function. According to some research, when fathers tell cheesy jokes, it’s a subtle way of helping kids learn to deal with embarrassment and awkwardness in a safe environment. Cringe builds character, apparently.

Popular Dad Jokes: Internet Favorites

The internet has elevated dad jokes to a whole new level. Here are a few that have stood the test of time (and social media):

1. “I’m reading a book on anti-gravity. It’s impossible to put down.”

2. “Did you hear about the restaurant on the moon? Great food, no atmosphere.”

3. “I asked my dog what’s two minus two. He said nothing.”

4. “Want to hear a joke about construction? I’m still working on it.”

5. “I used to play piano by ear, but now I use my hands.”

These jokes circulate endlessly on Twitter, Reddit, and Instagram, often accompanied by a caption like, “My dad just said this unironically.”

Dad Jokes in Common Language

Dad jokes have become such a staple of modern humor that they've seeped into our everyday language. People now regularly preface a pun with, “Okay, here’s a dad joke,” or mock themselves by saying, “Total dad joke, but…” even if they're not parents.

The phrase dad joke has become shorthand for any joke that's punny, predictable, or just a little bit corny. Even young people—especially those in their 20s and 30s—proudly adopt the “dad joke” mantle, seeing it as a badge of nerdy, self-aware humor.

Dad Jokes in the Digital Age: Facebook & YouTube Favorites

Thanks to social media, dad jokes have gone from kitchen-table chuckles to viral content empires. Here are some platforms and creators who specialize in this beloved genre:

YouTube Channels

1. Dad Jokes (by All Def Digital)

   • This wildly popular series pits comedians against each other in a dad joke face-off. The goal: make your opponent laugh first. The dry delivery and hilarious jokes have earned millions of views.

2. The Holderness Family

   • Known for their musical parodies and family-friendly skits, they often incorporate dad jokes into their content—especially from dad and co-star Penn Holderness.

3. ItsADadThing

   • This channel leans hard into “dad life” humor, with relatable parenting content that often includes classic dad jokes in sketches and skits.

Facebook Pages & Groups

1. Dad Jokes Daily

   • A highly active Facebook page sharing one or more dad jokes a day. Followers contribute their own favorites, making it a crowdsourced pun machine.

2. The Dad

   • A humorous brand and media site that produces content specifically aimed at dads. They blend memes, jokes, and videos, often featuring dad jokes front and center.

3. Dad Jokes Group (Public Group)

   • An enormous, user-driven group where members post daily jokes, vote on the best ones, and challenge each other with pun duels.

These platforms have helped dad jokes evolve into a full-fledged genre of internet comedy. Whether it's a 10-second TikTok or a viral meme, dad humor continues to thrive in the digital age.

The Future of Dad Jokes

With the rise of AI-generated humor, memes, and short-form content, dad jokes are poised to keep evolving. But at their core, they'll always be about simplicity, relatability, and that little eye-roll of affection.

Expect to see them more in branded content, greeting cards, and even stand-up comedy. As long as there are people willing to groan, there will be dads—and dad joke aficionados—ready to deliver the punchlines.

Conclusion

Dad jokes have gone from corny punchlines at the dinner table to beloved staples of modern humor. They're part of our shared language now, a symbol of wholesome fun and generational bonding. Whether you're a new dad, a veteran of the pun wars, or just someone who appreciates a good groan, there's always room for one more dad joke.

So here’s one to end on:

What do you call someone who tells dad jokes but isn’t a dad?
A faux pa.

Share Your Favorites!
Got a great dad joke? Drop it in the comments or tag us on social media—we’re always collecting the best (and worst) of the bunch.

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More Articles about AI. The Arccos Driving Report contains another AI generated podcast with excellent dialogue given the lack of text in the source document.