Via Hit and Run, who sets it up this way:
According to the London Telegrah, via Arts & Letters Daily, Science–with a capital S–has determined that the world’s funniest joke was written by Spike Milligan, “Comic Genius!” and goes something like this:
Two hunters are out in the woods in New Jersey when one of them collapses. He doesn’t seem to be breathing and his eyes are glazed.The other guy whips out his phone and calls the emergency services. He gasps ‘My friend is dead! What can I do?’ The operator says: ‘Calm down, I can help. First, let’s make sure he’s dead.’ There is a silence, then a shot is heard. Back on the phone, the guy says ‘OK, now what?’
Funnier version: Dick Cheney and another guy are out in the woods when the other guy collapses. …