When a candidate is down and out in the polls, there’s one tried-and-true strategy that should never be overlooked: an excellent sense of humor.

Yesterday evening, for at least the second time in his presidential campaign, Ted Cruz failed miserably when trying to deliver a lighthearted quip to a child.

Earlier this week, the New York Times reported, with studied skepticism, that “it is at least possible that Jeb Bush is funny.” In Lexington, South Carolina, tonight, the struggling scion gave Senator Katrina Shealy a “funny” nickname. Can you guess what it was?

From WCYY Radio in Portland, Maine comes what is purportedly “A Bad Encounter With Funny Man David Sedaris.” But is it?

Here in the liberal media, we all like to joke, in our little liberal elite cabal, about how dumb Republicans are. And Republicans sure are dumb! But are they dumber than Democrats?

If someone "says a curse word against my mother, he can expect a punch," [Pope Francis] joked.

I'm not "too cool" to admit that Dave Barry was funny. Dave Barry was funny. Was funny. I'm saddened to announce that Dave Barry's funny days are now over.

Last night, Jay Leno received the Mark Twain Prize for American Humor, as colleagues praised his work ethic and generosity, and called him "one of the nicest guys in the business." If only he was fucking funny.

Snickering car collector Jay Leno, America's foremost mediocrity merchant, was today named the recipient of the 17th annual Mark Twain Prize for American Humor. Perhaps there has been a mistake?

The Humor Research Lab has done the impossible and likely unnecessary, by determining through an elaborate algorithm which cities in the US are funniest. Joke's on us: Chicago is #1 and Boston is #2.

People google a lot of dumb shit over the course of a given day. Just ask Casey Anthony.

A New Jersey judge who has been moonlighting as a comedian for the past two decades has been forced to abandon his bench after the State Supreme Court ruled this week that his comedy career was "incompatible with the Code of Judicial Conduct."

The entertainment at the LA Sheriff's Department "Sheriffs Day Luncheon" yesterday was a stand-up comedian who reportedly told lots of racist jokes, and then received a plaque of appreciation from the LA Sheriff. Yes? And? Sounds like they chose the entertainment perfectly.

Jack Handey has written "Deep Thoughts" for Saturday Night Live, "Shouts and Murmurs" for The New Yorker, and last week published his first novel, The Stench of Honolulu. He is one of the funniest living writers in the world today. He spoke to us via email about comedy, the perils of notoriety, and the best nut.

This week, internet website "The Awl" sparked a minor uproar when it ran an article parodying the voice of Business Insider's Henry Blodget under Blodget's byline—when, in fact, the article was written by someone at The Awl, as a parody. It's not hard to see the potential for confusion. How is the average reader supposed to know that Henry Blodget himself did not label his own career "a testament to the total decline in the traditional concepts of personal responsibility and moral behavior?"

Mitt Romney has reportedly been offered a Saturday Night Live hosting gig by executive producer Lorne Michaels himself. The last time a candidate hosted the show was in 1996 when GOP candidate Steve Forbes hosted. (He never made it to the general election.)

Let's learn about Harvard kids and their senses of humor! A Harvard tipster sends us the following explanation for the video you see above:

Pinterest—the social network for prudes and women who knit—got its first political satire account yesterday. Within 24 hours, Mitt Romney's president campaign torpedoed it.

"Can God take a joke?" That is the rhetorical question posed by USA Today, the newspaper with the most direct link to angels of any major media outlet. The answer? "Absolutely!" (Also according to USA Today.)

Link is the strong, but silent type. Really, really silent. Like, he doesn't talk. Sometimes that's a good thing, because he's not blabbering on about stupid thing. Sometimes, it's really bad.