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Reserch a few years ago found that this is supposedly the world's funniest joke:
A couple of New Jersey hunters are out in the woods when one of them falls to the ground. He doesn't seem to be breathing, his eyes are rolled back in his head. The other guy whips out his cell phone and calls the emergency services. He gasps to the operator: "My friend is dead! What can I do?" The operator, in a calm soothing voice says: "Just take it easy. I can help. First, let's make sure he's dead." There is a silence, then a shot is heard. The guy's voice comes back on the line. He says: "OK, now what?"
It later emerged that credit should be given to the once very mighty and now very dead Spike Milligan, since he wrote the joke (set in an English country house) for inclusion in an episode of The Goon Show where it was read by Michael Bentine and Peter Sellers:
Bentine: I just came in and found him lying on the carpet there
Sellers: Oh, is he dead?
Bentine: I think so
Sellers: Hadn't you better make sure?
Bentine: Alright. Just a minute
(Sound of two gun shots)
Bentine: He's dead.
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