McMahon had often said the key to being a good straight man was merely to echo what the comic just said and echo it right. And you know? He's right. A comedy duo needs the right person to set the comic up for the punchline, and move on to the next joke.
Anyway, McMahon told the story of a straight man walking down the beach one day when he spotted a woman flailing about in the surf.
"Help! Help!" she yelled. "I'm drowning!"
To which the straight man immediately replied, "You mean to say you're drowning?"
THESE ARE THE JOKES, FOLKS