2014-09-18
Explanation
The Joke
An older man performs the classic "magic trick" for his grandson, pretending to find a dollar behind the boy's ear: "What's this behind your ear? A dollar! Oh boy, lucky day!" The grandson exclaims "Grampa?" in wonder. The final panel then cuts to the grandfather performing at a strip club, pulling money from behind his ear in the same manner, implying he has taken his "magic trick" career in a very different direction.
The Humor
The comic sets up a wholesome, nostalgic scene -- a grandfather doing the classic coin-behind-the-ear trick that many children have experienced. The humor comes from the sharp tonal shift in the final panel, where the grandfather is shown using the same trick at a strip club. The joke suggests that the grandfather's "magic" skills have found a second, much less wholesome venue, subverting the innocence of the setup. It also plays on the idea that pulling money out of thin air would indeed be a useful skill at a strip club, where patrons are expected to tip performers with cash.