Explain SMBC — the wiki for Saturday Morning Breakfast Cereal

2011-02-08

2011-02-08 View on smbc-comics.com → 1 revision
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2011-02-08
Votey panel for 2011-02-08
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Explanation

This single-panel comic shows a nerdy-looking man using a pickup line on an unimpressed woman: "Hey baby, are you Star Trek? Because I watch you every night in the darkness." The joke subverts the typical pickup line format, which normally transitions from a flattering comparison to a compliment.

Instead, the line takes a creepy turn by implying the man watches the woman in the dark, just as he watches Star Trek alone at night. The humor comes from the man's complete obliviousness to how unsettling his line sounds -- he thinks he is being charmingly geeky by referencing Star Trek, but the actual content of the statement describes stalker-like behavior. The woman's blank, unamused expression completes the gag.

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