This is hidden brain.
I'm Shankar Vedantam.
One of the most famous comedy sketches of the 20th century is built on a simple misunderstanding.
We'll just pretend that we're organizing a baseball team here at the retired actors home, and I am the manager.
It's the routine from Abbott and Costello.
Who's on first?
Well, let's see now.
We have on our team.
We have who's on first, what's on second.
I don't know.
Who's on third.
That's what I want to find out.
The guy's names.
That's what I want to find out.
The guy's name.
I'm telling you.
Who's on first.
What's on second.
I don't know.
Who's on third.