The monologue had a joke about the NBA Finals being on opposite the Tony Awards where viewers could watch a show with men running around chasing balls, or they could watch the NBA Finals.

How about the viewers having a choice between watching a program where the outcome had been determined well in advance, or they could watch the Tony Awards.

It included a joke about Bush writing a book, and not knowing kind of book it would be, just that it would be a pop-up book.

How about Bush not knowing what kind of book it would be, just that it wouldn't be one where you had to connect the dots.

That's a touch stronger, I think, although it has the problem that while I suppose the Tony Awards are determined well in advance, there isn't much thought of them being rigged, which is needed for the parallel to the (allegations about the) NBA playoffs. It's a minor but present distraction when people should be reacting to the punch line.


Mm. Seems like a lateral move to me, about as funny and making the same comic point as the original.