Light Bulb Jokes: Why Are They Funny?

In Five Jokes Explained: Why is it funny? I looked at a broad spectrumhich of jokes and asked why they were funny. Now, I will look at a subset of jokes: Light bulb jokes.

Light bulb jokes: The archetype

Light bulb jokes, like knock knock jokes and mommy mommy jokes and some others, have an archetypical form. It is
How many _______ does it take to change a light bulb?

an alternative is

How many _______ does it take to screw in a light bulb?


The blank is filled in by some group of people, and the answer starts with a number and then an explanation; in the archetypical form, the number is greater than 1. Which archtype you choose will depend on the answer that you are planning.

Note: Many light bulb jokes are also ethnic jokes. These are not my style. I find them offensive.

Light bulb joke number 1

How many idiots does it take to change a light bulb?
Five. One to hold the bulb and four to turn the ladder.
Why is this funny? Who turns a LADDER? This is more or less the iconic light bulb joke.

Light bulb joke number 2:
How many psychiatrists does it take to change a lightbulb?
Only one. But the light bulb has to want to change.

Why is this funny?
First of all, it violates the form. The answer is 1! It's supposed to be more than 1.
Second, it makes fun of the idea that, in therapy, the patient has to do a lot of work. Of course, light bulbs can't do anything, including wanting to change.

Light bulb joke number 3:

How many egomaniacs does it take to change a light bulb?
Only one. He holds the bulb and waits for the world to revolve around him.

Why is this funny?
Again, like the first light bulb joke, it has the wrong answer. And don't we all know people like this? They're obnoxious. So the image of one of them holding a bulb waiting, and waiting and waiting ... it's delightful!

Light bulb joke number 4:

How many mothers does it take to change a light bulb?
None! Darling, you go. Have a good time. I'll sit in the dark, it's alright. I don't mind. It's more important for you to enjoy yourself

Why is this funny? First, instead of being an answer from the joke teller, it becomes an answer from a person inside the joke. This is surprising, and surprise is an element of humor. Second, the answer is double edged. It starts out seeming like the mother is being nice, but then ..... GUILT! Third, everyone has a mother, and while not all mothers are like this, enough of them (and of EVERY ethnic group) are like this that we can relate.

Light bulb joke number 5:

How many spoiled brats does it take to change a light bulb?
Two. One to hold the bulb and the other to call daddy.

Why is this funny? First off, we all know spoiled brats who, even in adulthood, rely on their parents (or other people) to do all sort of things for them that they really good do themselves. Second, why do they need to hold the bulb while calling for help? Not only is it ridiculous, but it adds to the "spoiled" nature because it implies that daddy will rush right over while the bulb is being held.