A joke I don't get. . .

Ok, I am aware of most if not all of the jokes and references made within the Friends television show, but one has me a little stumped:

In 105 - TOW The East German Laundry Detergent:

[Scene: The fancy restaurant. Angela has her hand in Bob's shirt, and Monica is very uncomfortable.]

MNCA: Something went wrong with Underdog, and they couldn't get his head to inflate. So anyway, um, his head is like flopping down Broadway, right, and I'm just thinking... how inappropriate this is. Um, I've got something in my eye, uh, Joey, could we check it in the light, please?

[Her and Joey walk away from the table.]

MNCA: Oh my god.

JOEY: What?

MNCA: Hello! Were we at the same table? It's like... cocktails in Appalachia.

JOEY: Come on, they're close.

MNCA: Close? She's got her tongue in his ear.

Where is Appalachia? Are they referring to the Appalachian "mountains" on the East coast? (Sorry for the quotes, but, well, I live near the Rockies. . .and, well, you know. . . )

Anyway, is there something unique (i.e. "weird") about communities in and around "Appalachia" or the Appalachian mountains? Is this even what they are referring to?

Yes.

The joke is that folks that live in those parts are hillbillies that are prone to severe in-breeding.

It's like the Jeff Foxworthy joke: "If you go to the family reunion to meet women.... you might be a redneck." Or: "If your family tree does not fork.... you might be a redneck."

-Richard

Richard Lawson wrote:

Ok. Got it. For a while, I thought Monica was referring to some film or play named "Cocktails In Appalachia". I didn't know that area of the US was known as "Appalachia".

Interesting.

Thanks all.

I live about 20 minutes away from Columbus, Indiana (Indianapolis). Sometimes for work related reasons my co-workers and I have to travel down I-65 thur Columbus. Between Indianapolis and Louisville, KY, there are just mostly small towns.

When I-65 hits Columbus there is this bridge where there is this huge (but scenic) red steel structure that goes over the highway.

A co-worker of mine refers to it as The Gateway to Appalachia.

<g>

Randy Hinds wrote:

Yet another incest joke. The stereotype is that folks in the Appalachian mountains tend to like their sisters and first cousins very very very very much. This is probably a lot less true than it used to be.

In article , Randy Hinds wrote:

Yes.

Well Randy, the idea is that Monica assumes that incestuous sexual liaisons are commonplace & tolerated in remote mountain communities.

Tennant