but, no, somehow unbidden, or not unbidden but somehow brought in voluntarilien and that's how it always happens, even in our time. advertisers had pen traited into the inner sank -- sanctum with the idea that black people are funny, and right after they did amos and andy, the successor chas the goldbergs a show premised on the idea that jewish people or funny. and another comedy. and then there was an irish show. all of the early capture of attention in the united states, the protestant majority, wars based on the idea that either irish, black 0, jewish people were funny ask that's how the west was won or the home was conquer. >> host: we have moved far beyond those ideas of what is funny. perhaps not. hit the rewind button for me on tim wu of -- tell me bat was your first experience that you recall with mass need gentleman what captured your attention as a kid? >> guest: a great question. the other day i was sitting there and i realized that somehow i had memorial rise ofized every sing up one after the sugar cereal jingles, frosty lucky charges, the honey comb kid. sugar -- snack crac