{"id":9766,"date":"2026-07-18T17:36:42","date_gmt":"2026-07-18T12:36:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/?p=9766"},"modified":"2026-07-18T17:36:42","modified_gmt":"2026-07-18T12:36:42","slug":"5-brilliant-far-side-comics-starring-albert-einstein","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/?p=9766","title":{"rendered":"5 Brilliant Far Side Comics Starring Albert Einstein"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><script>\r\n  atOptions = {\r\n    'key' : '644b717812d811d6a1c1fc5b6ccd6fa6',\r\n    'format' : 'iframe',\r\n    'height' : 90,\r\n    'width' : 728,\r\n    'params' : {}\r\n  };\r\n<\/script>\r\n<script src=\"https:\/\/www.highperformanceformat.com\/644b717812d811d6a1c1fc5b6ccd6fa6\/invoke.js\"><\/script>\r\n<br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div>\n<p><em><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/screenrant.com\/tag\/the-far-side\/\" target=\"_blank\">The Far Side<\/a> <\/strong><\/em>didn&#8217;t have continuity, but it <a href=\"https:\/\/screenrant.com\/far-side-gary-larson-retire-recurring-characters-debate\/\" target=\"_blank\">did have recurring characters<\/a>, including its fair share of real historical and cultural figures who popped up repeatedly during the cartoon&#8217;s run. One of those was Albert Einstein, the famous scientist, who starred in several unquestionably iconic <em>Far Side <\/em>panels. <\/p>\n<p>    <!-- No AdsNinja v10 Client! --><!-- No AdsNinja v10 Client! --><\/p>\n<p>It makes sense. <a href=\"https:\/\/screenrant.com\/far-side-comics-gary-larson-science-obsession\/\" target=\"_blank\">Gary Larson was obsessed with science<\/a> and pop culture, and Einstein represented arguably the greatest intersection of the two. The most recognizable scientist of the 20th century, and one of the most consequential minds in human history. Einstein was a serious figure who did serious work, which made him the perfect target to be lightly, lovingly lampooned by <em>The Far Side<\/em>. <\/p>\n<p> Technically speaking, this should be &#8220;4 1\/2 <em>Far Side <\/em>Comics Starring Einstein,&#8221; because as you&#8217;ll see, one of the cartoons below was never actually published as a <em>Far Side <\/em>cartoon. Call it &#8220;The Far Side That Never Was,&#8221; or &#8220;The Far Side That Could Have Been.&#8221; It is a Gary Larson joke only the most hardcore fans will know about, and looking at it alongside his published Einstein cartoons speaks volumes about the making of <em>The Far Side<\/em>. <\/p>\n<p>    <!-- No AdsNinja v10 Client! --><\/p>\n<h2 id=\"einstein-formulates-the-hard-truth-of-modern-life\">\n            <span class=\"item-num\">5 <\/span><br \/>\n        <span><br \/>\n                            Einstein Formulates The Hard Truth Of Modern Life<br \/>\n                    <\/span><br \/>\n       <\/h2>\n<h3 id=\"first-published-january-8-1985\">\n            First Published: January 8, 1985<br \/>\n    <\/h3>\n<div class=\"body-img portrait \">\n<div class=\"responsive-img  image-expandable  img-article-item-portrait\" style=\"padding-bottom:130.26666666667%\" data-img-url=\"https:\/\/static0.srcdn.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/far-side-january-8-1985-einstein-discovers-time-is-money.jpg\" data-modal-id=\"single-image-modal\" data-modal-container-id=\"single-image-modal-container\" data-img-caption=\"&quot;&quot;\">\n<figure><picture><source media=\"(max-width: 480px)\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/static0.srcdn.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/far-side-january-8-1985-einstein-discovers-time-is-money.jpg?q=49&amp;fit=crop&amp;w=360&amp;dpr=2\" srcset=\"https:\/\/static0.srcdn.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/far-side-january-8-1985-einstein-discovers-time-is-money.jpg?q=49&amp;fit=crop&amp;w=360&amp;dpr=2\"\/><source media=\"(max-width: 767px)\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/static0.srcdn.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/far-side-january-8-1985-einstein-discovers-time-is-money.jpg?q=49&amp;fit=crop&amp;w=600&amp;dpr=2\" srcset=\"https:\/\/static0.srcdn.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/far-side-january-8-1985-einstein-discovers-time-is-money.jpg?q=49&amp;fit=crop&amp;w=600&amp;dpr=2\"\/><source media=\"(max-width: 1023px)\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/static0.srcdn.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/far-side-january-8-1985-einstein-discovers-time-is-money.jpg?q=49&amp;fit=crop&amp;w=750&amp;dpr=2\" srcset=\"https:\/\/static0.srcdn.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/far-side-january-8-1985-einstein-discovers-time-is-money.jpg?q=49&amp;fit=crop&amp;w=750&amp;dpr=2\"\/><img width=\"1500\" height=\"1954\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Far Side, January 8, 1985, Einstein discovers time is money\" data-img-url=\"https:\/\/static0.srcdn.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/far-side-january-8-1985-einstein-discovers-time-is-money.jpg?q=49&amp;fit=crop&amp;w=750&amp;dpr=2\" src=\"https:\/\/static0.srcdn.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/far-side-january-8-1985-einstein-discovers-time-is-money.jpg?q=49&amp;fit=crop&amp;w=750&amp;dpr=2\"\/>\n        <\/picture><figcaption style=\"display: none;\">Far Side, January 8, 1985, Einstein discovers time is money<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>This cartoon is arguably tied for &#8220;most beloved,&#8221; or &#8220;most memorable,&#8221; when it comes to Albert Einstein&#8217;s guest appearances in <em>The Far Side<\/em>. It is classic Gary Larson. Wordplay with a visual element. The cartoon features a caricature of Einstein, or at least his backside, standing with his hands on his hips, not wanting to accept the mathematical truth the formula on the chalkboard is telling him. (This was a <a href=\"https:\/\/screenrant.com\/far-side-scientific-formula-jokes-list\/\" target=\"_blank\">recurring <em>Far Side <\/em>bit<\/a>, which Einstein got caught up in several times.) <\/p>\n<p>Or, as the caption puts it: &#8220;<em>Einstein discovers that time is actually money<\/em>.&#8221; It&#8217;s the kind of <em>Far Side <\/em>where it really seems possible to trace the steps of the creative process that led to it. It&#8217;s likely Larson started with the &#8220;Einstein at the chalkboard&#8221; visual, then asked &#8220;what would it be funny for him to discover?&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>The answer? That old capitalist axiom, which this punchline converts into a universal truth, one Einstein certainly doesn&#8217;t appear to be thrilled by. <\/p>\n<p>    <!-- No AdsNinja v10 Client! --><\/p>\n<h3 id=\"first-published-january-14-1985\">\n            First Published: January 14, 1985<br \/>\n    <\/h3>\n<div class=\"body-img portrait \">\n<div class=\"responsive-img  image-expandable  img-article-item-portrait\" style=\"padding-bottom:138.02816901408%\" data-img-url=\"https:\/\/static0.srcdn.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/far-side-january-14-1985-einstein-has-a-breakthrough-thanks-to-the-cleaning-lady-organizing-his-desk.jpg\" data-modal-id=\"single-image-modal\" data-modal-container-id=\"single-image-modal-container\" data-img-caption=\"&quot;&quot;\">\n<figure><picture><source media=\"(max-width: 480px)\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/static0.srcdn.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/far-side-january-14-1985-einstein-has-a-breakthrough-thanks-to-the-cleaning-lady-organizing-his-desk.jpg?q=49&amp;fit=crop&amp;w=360&amp;dpr=2\" srcset=\"https:\/\/static0.srcdn.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/far-side-january-14-1985-einstein-has-a-breakthrough-thanks-to-the-cleaning-lady-organizing-his-desk.jpg?q=49&amp;fit=crop&amp;w=360&amp;dpr=2\"\/><source media=\"(max-width: 767px)\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/static0.srcdn.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/far-side-january-14-1985-einstein-has-a-breakthrough-thanks-to-the-cleaning-lady-organizing-his-desk.jpg?q=49&amp;fit=crop&amp;w=600&amp;dpr=2\" srcset=\"https:\/\/static0.srcdn.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/far-side-january-14-1985-einstein-has-a-breakthrough-thanks-to-the-cleaning-lady-organizing-his-desk.jpg?q=49&amp;fit=crop&amp;w=600&amp;dpr=2\"\/><source media=\"(max-width: 1023px)\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/static0.srcdn.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/far-side-january-14-1985-einstein-has-a-breakthrough-thanks-to-the-cleaning-lady-organizing-his-desk.jpg?q=70&amp;fit=crop&amp;w=750&amp;dpr=1\" srcset=\"https:\/\/static0.srcdn.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/far-side-january-14-1985-einstein-has-a-breakthrough-thanks-to-the-cleaning-lady-organizing-his-desk.jpg?q=70&amp;fit=crop&amp;w=750&amp;dpr=1\"\/><img width=\"750\" height=\"1035\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Far Side, January 14, 1985, Einstein has a breakthrough thanks to the cleaning lady organizing his desk\" data-img-url=\"https:\/\/static0.srcdn.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/far-side-january-14-1985-einstein-has-a-breakthrough-thanks-to-the-cleaning-lady-organizing-his-desk.jpg?q=70&amp;fit=crop&amp;w=750&amp;dpr=1\" src=\"https:\/\/static0.srcdn.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/far-side-january-14-1985-einstein-has-a-breakthrough-thanks-to-the-cleaning-lady-organizing-his-desk.jpg?q=70&amp;fit=crop&amp;w=750&amp;dpr=1\"\/>\n        <\/picture><figcaption style=\"display: none;\">Far Side, January 14, 1985, Einstein has a breakthrough thanks to the cleaning lady organizing his desk.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>Here Einstein is again at the chalkboard, about to have an epiphany. This time, he&#8217;s trying to figure out his latest formula: E = mc&#8230;.something. The scribbles on the chalkboard show Albert has tried the third, fourth, fifth, and seventh powers, and looped back to the third, circling around the answer but just not getting it.<\/p>\n<p>That is, until by hilarious happenstance his cleaning lady comes in and starts talking to herself as she organizes his desk. &#8220;<em>Everything&#8217;s squared away<\/em>,&#8221; she says, &#8220;<em>yessir, squaaaaaared away<\/em>.&#8221; Einstein&#8217;s head whips around, eyes bulging out of his head. <a href=\"https:\/\/screenrant.com\/far-side-revisionist-history-comics\/\" target=\"_blank\"><em>The Far Side <\/em>has completely rewritten the history<\/a> of Einstein&#8217;s discovery of mass-energy equivalence.<\/p>\n<p>What&#8217;s notably about this <em>Far Side <\/em>Einstein cartoon is that it came within a week of the previous entry, and both clearly sprang from the same rough sketch. This feels like a revision of the &#8220;<em>time actually is money<\/em>&#8221; cartoon. Larson&#8217;s version of Einstein is slightly refined, a second character has been added, and the punchline has evolved into more of a scene. It&#8217;s a testament to just how much revision any given <em>Far Side <\/em>cartoon tended to be the product of. (As are the following two entries, in their own way.)<\/p>\n<p>    <!-- No AdsNinja v10 Client! --><\/p>\n<h2 id=\"einstein-gets-on-the-court-in-this-classic-far-side-quot-what-if-quot\">\n            <span class=\"item-num\">3 <\/span><br \/>\n        <span><br \/>\n                            Einstein Gets On The Court In This Classic Far Side &#8220;What If?&#8221;<br \/>\n                    <\/span><br \/>\n       <\/h2>\n<h3 id=\"first-published-january-21-1987\">\n            First Published: January 21, 1987<br \/>\n    <\/h3>\n<div class=\"body-img portrait \">\n<div class=\"responsive-img  image-expandable  img-article-item-portrait\" style=\"padding-bottom:147.2%\" data-img-url=\"https:\/\/static0.srcdn.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/far-side-january-21-1987-einstein-playing-basketball.jpg\" data-modal-id=\"single-image-modal\" data-modal-container-id=\"single-image-modal-container\" data-img-caption=\"&quot;&quot;\">\n<figure><picture><source media=\"(max-width: 480px)\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/static0.srcdn.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/far-side-january-21-1987-einstein-playing-basketball.jpg?q=49&amp;fit=crop&amp;w=360&amp;dpr=2\" srcset=\"https:\/\/static0.srcdn.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/far-side-january-21-1987-einstein-playing-basketball.jpg?q=49&amp;fit=crop&amp;w=360&amp;dpr=2\"\/><source media=\"(max-width: 767px)\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/static0.srcdn.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/far-side-january-21-1987-einstein-playing-basketball.jpg?q=49&amp;fit=crop&amp;w=600&amp;dpr=2\" srcset=\"https:\/\/static0.srcdn.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/far-side-january-21-1987-einstein-playing-basketball.jpg?q=49&amp;fit=crop&amp;w=600&amp;dpr=2\"\/><source media=\"(max-width: 1023px)\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/static0.srcdn.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/far-side-january-21-1987-einstein-playing-basketball.jpg?q=49&amp;fit=crop&amp;w=750&amp;dpr=2\" srcset=\"https:\/\/static0.srcdn.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/far-side-january-21-1987-einstein-playing-basketball.jpg?q=49&amp;fit=crop&amp;w=750&amp;dpr=2\"\/><img width=\"1500\" height=\"2208\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Far Side, January 21, 1987, Einstein playing basketball\" data-img-url=\"https:\/\/static0.srcdn.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/far-side-january-21-1987-einstein-playing-basketball.jpg?q=49&amp;fit=crop&amp;w=750&amp;dpr=2\" src=\"https:\/\/static0.srcdn.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/far-side-january-21-1987-einstein-playing-basketball.jpg?q=49&amp;fit=crop&amp;w=750&amp;dpr=2\"\/>\n        <\/picture><figcaption style=\"display: none;\">Far Side, January 21, 1987, Einstein playing basketball<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>Okay, this is the other fan-favorite <em>Far Side <\/em>Einstein cartoon. It is up for debate if it is the funniest, but it is almost certainly the silliest. Which is what makes it among Gary Larson&#8217;s most memorable references to <a href=\"https:\/\/screenrant.com\/funniest-far-side-comics-real-people-celebrities\/\" target=\"_blank\">real-life individuals in <em>The Far Side<\/em><\/a>. The panel strikes a chord with readers by taking the famous scientist out of his familiar milieu, the laboratory, or classroom, and putting him in an unexpected position: star on the basketball court.<\/p>\n<p>The caption explains that &#8220;<em>Einstein started down the road of professional basketball before an ankle injury diverted him into science<\/em>,&#8221; with a corresponding image of an Einstein caricature going hard in the paint, driving toward the net on his way to make a sick layup. This is what <em>The Far Side <\/em>at its most blissfully goofy looks like.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;B-ball Einstein&#8221; is a certified classic <em>Far Side<\/em>, which is why it will surprise fans to learn that it is actually a compromised version of the joke Gary Larson originally started out with. Larson&#8217;s vigorous revision process produced this cartoon, but as the next entry shows, <em>The Far Side&#8217;s <\/em>creator later admitted he &#8220;<em>preferred<\/em>&#8221; an earlier version that didn&#8217;t make the cut. <\/p>\n<p>    <!-- No AdsNinja v10 Client! --><\/p>\n<h2 id=\"the-far-side-einstein-joke-gary-larson-rejected-explained\">\n            <span class=\"item-num\">2 <\/span><br \/>\n        <span><br \/>\n                            The Far Side Einstein Joke Gary Larson Rejected, Explained<br \/>\n                    <\/span><br \/>\n       <\/h2>\n<h3 id=\"first-published-the-prehistory-of-the-far-side\">\n            First Published: <em>The Prehistory Of The Far Side<\/em><br \/>\n    <\/h3>\n<div class=\"body-img portrait \">\n<div class=\"responsive-img  image-expandable  img-article-item-portrait\" style=\"padding-bottom:126.07142857143%\" data-img-url=\"https:\/\/static0.srcdn.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/the-far-side-einstein-4.jpg\" data-modal-id=\"single-image-modal\" data-modal-container-id=\"single-image-modal-container\" data-img-caption=\"&quot;&quot;\">\n<figure><picture><source media=\"(max-width: 480px)\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/static0.srcdn.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/the-far-side-einstein-4.jpg?q=49&amp;fit=crop&amp;w=360&amp;dpr=2\" srcset=\"https:\/\/static0.srcdn.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/the-far-side-einstein-4.jpg?q=49&amp;fit=crop&amp;w=360&amp;dpr=2\"\/><source media=\"(max-width: 767px)\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/static0.srcdn.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/the-far-side-einstein-4.jpg?q=49&amp;fit=crop&amp;w=600&amp;dpr=2\" srcset=\"https:\/\/static0.srcdn.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/the-far-side-einstein-4.jpg?q=49&amp;fit=crop&amp;w=600&amp;dpr=2\"\/><source media=\"(max-width: 1023px)\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/static0.srcdn.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/the-far-side-einstein-4.jpg?q=70&amp;fit=crop&amp;w=750&amp;dpr=1\" srcset=\"https:\/\/static0.srcdn.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/the-far-side-einstein-4.jpg?q=70&amp;fit=crop&amp;w=750&amp;dpr=1\"\/><img width=\"750\" height=\"946\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" alt=\"the far side einstein 4\" data-img-url=\"https:\/\/static0.srcdn.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/the-far-side-einstein-4.jpg?q=70&amp;fit=crop&amp;w=750&amp;dpr=1\" src=\"https:\/\/static0.srcdn.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/the-far-side-einstein-4.jpg?q=70&amp;fit=crop&amp;w=750&amp;dpr=1\"\/>\n        <\/picture><figcaption style=\"display: none;\">the far side einstein 4<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>Here&#8217;s a fascinating insight into Gary Larson&#8217;s creative process. The author\/artist shared this rough draft in <em>The Prehistory of The Far Side<\/em>, released in 1989 just ahead of the ten-year anniversary of the comic, after <em>The Far Side <\/em>had exploded as a cultural phenomenon over the preceding few years of the middle and late &#8217;80s. This is the sketch that eventually became &#8220;B-ball Einstein,&#8221; and except for the kernel of an idea, it is completely different than the end result that was eventually published. <\/p>\n<p>In the sketch, an adult Einstein hands his young son a basketball and tells him, &#8220;<em>learn to dribble this thing<\/em>,&#8221; because &#8220;<em>no kid of [his]<\/em>&#8221; is going to endure the same &#8220;<em>hell<\/em>&#8221; of an intellectual life like he did. Larson didn&#8217;t elaborate on why he rewrote the joke wholesale in <em>The Prehistory<\/em>, but it is possible to speculate why. The sketch&#8217;s punchline is about being too smart for one&#8217;s own good, <a href=\"https:\/\/screenrant.com\/far-side-smartest-jokes-gary-larson-list\/\" target=\"_blank\">something Gary Larson&#8217;s surely related to<\/a>, but in the process it implies athletes aren&#8217;t smart. <\/p>\n<p>This was a dig that Larson perhaps opted to avoid. From there, the evolution from &#8220;Einstein forces his son to play basketball&#8221; to &#8220;Einstein plays basketball&#8221; feels natural. It&#8217;s just funnier. It goes from a bit about bad parenting to a full-fledged fantasy scenario about the last power forward you&#8217;d ever expect to bring it on the court. <\/p>\n<p>    <!-- No AdsNinja v10 Client! --><\/p>\n<h2 id=\"an-einstein-cameo-helps-make-this-a-perfect-far-side-panel\">\n            <span class=\"item-num\">1 <\/span><br \/>\n        <span><br \/>\n                            An Einstein Cameo Helps Make This A Perfect Far Side Panel<br \/>\n                    <\/span><br \/>\n       <\/h2>\n<h3 id=\"first-published-june-18-1990\">\n            First Published: June 18, 1990<br \/>\n    <\/h3>\n<div class=\"body-img portrait \">\n<div class=\"responsive-img  image-expandable  img-article-item-portrait\" style=\"padding-bottom:144.93333333333%\" data-img-url=\"https:\/\/static0.srcdn.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/far-side-june-18-1990-a-regular-guy-competes-against-einstein-and-edison-on-jeopardy.jpg\" data-modal-id=\"single-image-modal\" data-modal-container-id=\"single-image-modal-container\" data-img-caption=\"&quot;&quot;\">\n<figure><picture><source media=\"(max-width: 480px)\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/static0.srcdn.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/far-side-june-18-1990-a-regular-guy-competes-against-einstein-and-edison-on-jeopardy.jpg?q=49&amp;fit=crop&amp;w=360&amp;dpr=2\" srcset=\"https:\/\/static0.srcdn.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/far-side-june-18-1990-a-regular-guy-competes-against-einstein-and-edison-on-jeopardy.jpg?q=49&amp;fit=crop&amp;w=360&amp;dpr=2\"\/><source media=\"(max-width: 767px)\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/static0.srcdn.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/far-side-june-18-1990-a-regular-guy-competes-against-einstein-and-edison-on-jeopardy.jpg?q=49&amp;fit=crop&amp;w=600&amp;dpr=2\" srcset=\"https:\/\/static0.srcdn.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/far-side-june-18-1990-a-regular-guy-competes-against-einstein-and-edison-on-jeopardy.jpg?q=49&amp;fit=crop&amp;w=600&amp;dpr=2\"\/><source media=\"(max-width: 1023px)\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/static0.srcdn.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/far-side-june-18-1990-a-regular-guy-competes-against-einstein-and-edison-on-jeopardy.jpg?q=49&amp;fit=crop&amp;w=750&amp;dpr=2\" srcset=\"https:\/\/static0.srcdn.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/far-side-june-18-1990-a-regular-guy-competes-against-einstein-and-edison-on-jeopardy.jpg?q=49&amp;fit=crop&amp;w=750&amp;dpr=2\"\/><img width=\"1500\" height=\"2174\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Far Side, June 18, 1990, a regular guy competes against Einstein and Edison on Jeopardy\" data-img-url=\"https:\/\/static0.srcdn.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/far-side-june-18-1990-a-regular-guy-competes-against-einstein-and-edison-on-jeopardy.jpg?q=49&amp;fit=crop&amp;w=750&amp;dpr=2\" src=\"https:\/\/static0.srcdn.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/far-side-june-18-1990-a-regular-guy-competes-against-einstein-and-edison-on-jeopardy.jpg?q=49&amp;fit=crop&amp;w=750&amp;dpr=2\"\/>\n        <\/picture><figcaption style=\"display: none;\">Far Side, June 18, 1990, a regular guy competes against Einstein and Edison on Jeopardy<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>Albert Einstein isn&#8217;t the subject of this <em>Far Side <\/em>cartoon; his appearance is more like a cameo. But he&#8217;s the perfect choice for the panel, because his presence helps sell the punchline. Here, a contestant on <em>Jeopardy! <\/em>named &#8220;<em>Jones<\/em>&#8221; is sitting a -100 on the scoreboard, while his opponents have both racked up over $50,000. Jones raises his hand to complain that, &#8220;<em>just for the record, [he doesn&#8217;t] think [his] buzzer is working properly<\/em>.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>The choice of the other two players is critical to making the joke work: it&#8217;s Albert Einstein and Thomas Edison, two of the smartest people of the past two centuries. This makes it very, very clear to <em>Far Side <\/em>readers that Jones&#8217; buzzer is working just fine. He&#8217;s getting absolutely dominated by Edison and Einstein, which is exactly what anyone in their right mind would expect if they found themselves on a gameshow with two of history&#8217;s most famous geniuses. And that is precisely what elevates this <em>Far Side <\/em>joke from good to great. <\/p>\n<p>The scenario is funny enough in its own right, but the hubris of the &#8220;Jones&#8221; character is hysterical. His complete lack of self-awareness in this moment, after having played nearly a full game of <em>Jeopardy! <\/em>against Einstein and Edison, is astounding. It&#8217;s a 10\/10 perfect choice on Gary Larson&#8217;s part, which makes this a low-key <a href=\"https:\/\/screenrant.com\/far-side-firing-squad-perfect-panel-gary-larson-op-ed\/\" target=\"_blank\">perfect<strong><em> <\/em><\/strong><em><strong>Far Side <\/strong><\/em>comic<\/a>, as good as they come. And a sleeper pick for best Einstein appearance. <\/p>\n<div class=\"display-card tag type-generic small \" data-show-streamrentbuy-links=\"false\" data-include-community-rating=\"false\" id=\"a457-4c52-8e09635e019e\">\n<div class=\"display-card-main-content-wrapper\">\n<div class=\"display-card-main-content\">\n<div class=\"display-card-content image-column small\">\n<p>                        <!--  Image --><\/p>\n<div class=\"w-img \" data-stnl-group-once=\"I7xAqnBRUv\">\n<div class=\"body-img portrait \">\n<div class=\"responsive-img  img-article-square\" data-img-url=\"https:\/\/static0.srcdn.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/the-far-side-comic-poster.jpg\" data-modal-id=\"single-image-modal\" data-modal-container-id=\"single-image-modal-container\" data-img-caption=\"&quot;&quot;\">\n                                                                                                                                                            <picture><source media=\"(max-width: 480px)\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/static0.srcdn.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/the-far-side-comic-poster.jpg?q=70&amp;fit=contain&amp;w=280&amp;dpr=1\" srcset=\"https:\/\/static0.srcdn.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/the-far-side-comic-poster.jpg?q=70&amp;fit=contain&amp;w=280&amp;dpr=1\"\/><source media=\"(max-width: 767px)\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/static0.srcdn.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/the-far-side-comic-poster.jpg?q=70&amp;fit=contain&amp;w=280&amp;dpr=1\" srcset=\"https:\/\/static0.srcdn.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/the-far-side-comic-poster.jpg?q=70&amp;fit=contain&amp;w=280&amp;dpr=1\"\/><source media=\"(max-width: 1023px)\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/static0.srcdn.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/the-far-side-comic-poster.jpg?q=70&amp;fit=contain&amp;w=280&amp;dpr=1\" srcset=\"https:\/\/static0.srcdn.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/the-far-side-comic-poster.jpg?q=70&amp;fit=contain&amp;w=280&amp;dpr=1\"\/><img width=\"280\" height=\"420\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" alt=\"The Far Side Comic Poster\" data-img-url=\"https:\/\/static0.srcdn.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/the-far-side-comic-poster.jpg?q=70&amp;fit=contain&amp;w=280&amp;dpr=1\" src=\"https:\/\/static0.srcdn.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/the-far-side-comic-poster.jpg?q=70&amp;fit=contain&amp;w=280&amp;dpr=1\"\/>\n        <\/picture>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"display-card-content info-column\">\n<p>                    <!--  Display card main info widget --><\/p>\n<div class=\"w-display-card-info main-info\">\n<div class=\"w-display-card-info\">\n<dl>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<!-- div --><\/p>\n<p><dt>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<strong>Writer<\/strong> \t\t\t\t\t<\/dt>\n<dd>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span><\/p>\n<p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tGary Larson<\/p>\n<p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/dd>\n<\/p>\n<p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<!-- div --><\/p>\n<p><dt>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<strong>Colorist<\/strong> \t\t\t\t\t<\/dt>\n<dd>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span><\/p>\n<p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tGary Larson<\/p>\n<p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/dd>\n<\/p>\n<\/dl><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>                    <!--  Display card main info widget end -->\n                <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>            <!-- Default Description or Custom one added by creator ( override )--><\/p>\n<p>            <!-- Extra content section, display hidden by default --><br \/>\n            <input type=\"checkbox\" id=\"extra-content-a457-4c52-8e09635e019e\" name=\"extra-content-a457-4c52-8e09635e019e\" class=\"expand-extra-info-checkbox css-menu-checkbox\"\/> <!-- Checkbox: control the expandable behavior  of the extra info --><\/p>\n<p>            <!-- PROS and CONS section --><\/p>\n<p>            <!-- Affiliate links section --><\/p>\n<p>            <!-- Display card footer --><\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<script async=\"async\" data-cfasync=\"false\" src=\"https:\/\/pl30214220.effectivecpmnetwork.com\/9ab3d4df8a7e1a6171e16ddbf732cc19\/invoke.js\"><\/script>\r\n<div id=\"container-9ab3d4df8a7e1a6171e16ddbf732cc19\"><\/div>\r\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The Far Side didn&#8217;t have continuity, but it did have recurring characters, including its fair share of real historical and cultural figures who popped up repeatedly during the cartoon&#8217;s run. One of those was Albert Einstein, the famous scientist, who starred in several unquestionably iconic Far Side panels. It makes sense. Gary Larson was obsessed&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":9767,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/static0.srcdn.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/black-and-white-photo-of-einstein-left-and-einstein-playing-basketball-in-the-far-side-right.jpg?w=1600&h=900&fit=crop","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[19],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-9766","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-newsweek-trending"],"brizy_media":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9766","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=9766"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9766\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/9767"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=9766"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=9766"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=9766"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}