A 2011 Cheez-It commercial featured a “not ready” cheese telling this joke to his cheese tester:
Q: Why did the cook get arrested?
A: He was caught beating an egg.
The food joke (which sometimes has “chef” replacing “cook") has been cited in print since at least 2004.
Google Books
Really Silly Jokes
By Cyl Lee
Edina, MN: ABDO Pub.
2004
Pg. 20:
Why did the cook get arrested? Because he beat an egg!
1337.com Forum
Coolguy
October 26th, 2005
Q:Why did the cook get arrested?
A: Because he beat up an egg.
Google Books
A Recipe for Success:
Lizzie Kander and Her Cookbook
By Bob Kann
Madison, WI: Wisconsin Historical Society Press
2007
Pg. 50:
Why did the cook get arrested? Because he beat up an egg.
Karen B’s Cooking Made Easy!
Wednesday, February 2, 2011
Cooking Humor: Why did the Chef get arrested?
Why did the Chef get arrested?
Because he was caught beating an egg!
Hayya Lee
Why did the cook get arrested?
Because he beat an egg! Cheesy, yes I know, but that joke cracks me up! It’s from a Cheez-it commercial that I recently saw and absolutely love.
(...)
This entry was posted on Tuesday, March 1st, 2011 at 8:50 AM
Above, a 1934 plaque from the Big Apple Night Club at West 135th Street and Seventh Avenue in Harlem. Discarded as trash in 2006. Now a Popeyes fast food restaurant on Google Maps.
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Above, Big Apple Corner at 54th Street and Broadway in Manhattan. Google Maps.
Above, John J. Fitz Gerald, from the Aug. 15, 1931, Binghamton (NY) Press, pg. 14.
Listen to Robert Emmerich introduce "The Big Apple," a hit song from 1937. Music written by Bob and performed by Tommy Dorsey's Clambake Seven with Bob on piano. Lyrics written by Buddy Bernier and sung by Edythe Wright. Audio provided by Dorothy Emmerich.
Also listen to a 1937 "The Big Apple" song by Ozzie Nelson and his Orchestra. See a 1929 photo of John J. Fitz Gerald and a 1931 photo of John J. Fitz Gerald.
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