Get Smart's "Ship of Spies", 3

This post discusses some of the jokes in the Ship of Spies episodes from season 1 of Get Smart. The jokes below all come from part 1.

Joke: The Bartender brings Maxwell Smart a bowl of clear soup.

BARTENDER
Hey, Mack, here's your soup.

SMART
Hey, this isn't tomato soup.

The Bartender takes a catsup bottle and plops some into the soup bowl.

BARTENDER

Now it is.

This is an example of a redefinition/retitling joke. It's also an example of sarcasm/irony.

Joke: Having been shot just outside, an Old Sailor stumbles back into the bar, drops to the ground,
almost dead. He has a clue needed by Control. The Chief and Smart rush over to him.

CHIEF

Who did this? Can you tell us? Who stole the plans?

OLD SAILOR

Drink, please. Drink.

Smart runs over to a table and returns with a glass of milk.

SMART

Here you are, fella. Drink this milk.

OLD SAILOR

Is it regular or skim?

Smart sips it.

SMART

It's regular. Go ahead, drink it.

OLD SAILOR

Strict diet. Only drink skim.

The Old Man dies.

CHIEF

He's dead, Max. Do you know what this means?

SMART

Yes, Chief. Too much dieting can be a very dangerous thing.

This type of joke is Definition Through Obvious Exclusion.

Joke: Max is briefed by the Chief and Professor Parker on his upcoming trip about the Evening Star freighter.

CHIEF

Max, when you get beyond the three-mile limit, this case automatically falls under the jurisdiction of our international control section. You'll be contacted by an agent who'll give you further instructions.

SMART

How, Chief?

PROFESSOR PARKER

Possibly with this.

Professor Parker holds up a radio telephone very cleverly disguised as a revolver.

SMART

Oh, well, I certainly hope the message doesn't reach me.

This type of joke is Underplaying Damage With Understatements.

Joke: Max accidentally enters a passenger cabin that is not his own. The lights are out. As Max backs of the strange room, a gun points to his face from behind a door. Max grabs it with both hands and twists.

SMART
There's only one way to break this hold.

A second gun points to his face from behind a door.

SMART

That's the way.

I think this is an example of slap-stick, as it involves physical comedy. Max grabs the gun with a 2-handed motion, thinking his quick reflexes have subdued his opponent. In his mind, there is no way his opponent will get out of that hold. But the other hand has another gun. Instead of saying, " didn't even think of that", Max says "That's the way." It can also think of it as Definition Through Obvious Exclusion.