A retired Twin Cities educator out-yukked two competitors and came away Thursday as the winner on the "Today" show's funniest dad competition.
M. David Ricks, of Maple Grove, spun a quick yarn on NBC-TV about a visit to a cave and how he flapped his hand behind his son's head to make him think it was a bat.
Comedian Jim Gaffigan hemmed and hawed, and hemmed and hawed some more before turning to the sidewalk spectators for guidance.
"I'm going to have to go with David," Gaffigan said.
With that, Ricks was congratulated and awarded a trophy — a golden plunger.
"Don't drink champagne out of that like they do with the Stanley Cup," said "Today" host Matt Lauer.
Ricks is no stranger to the joke game, having performed last summer at the Acme Comedy Co. in Minneapolis.
And the 67-year-old Ricks has also been around the block on television, having appeared on "Today" in 2014 with his wife, Gail. The couple enthusiastically participated in a segment titled "Is Sex Better After 50?"
Paul Walsh • 612-673-4482