Dave's ESL Cafe's Student Discussion Forums

[Tony 1963]

I read the following joke from How to be Funny on Purpose:

"The comedian Marty Allen once said of his wife, "She looks as if she just stepped out of Playboy, at the publisher's request."

I don't understand what's the point of laughing. I'm not a native English speaker. Please help.
Thank you .
Tony

[chai3720]

I don't understand too.
but I think he describe his wife as a unpleasant woman.
Did it sarcastically sentence?

[pugachevV]

Playboy is a man's magazine, published in the USA, that is famous for its centerfold - A large photo of a naked, beautiful, young woman in the center pages.
When Marty Allen says his wife looks as if she has just stepped out of Playboy, you are expecting it to be a compliment, but when he adds, "at the publisher's request" it means the publisher had her picture removed because she's not beautiful, or young.

[Tony 1963]

Thank you so much pugachevV. U R always so helpful!

[pugachevV]

You're welcome Tony.
Sometimes humour does not travel well between cultures.