C'est l'expression type de n'importe quel comique des années 1930-1960. P.ex :
A funny thing happened to me on my way to the theatre/studio. A man came up to me and said: "Which is the way to the doctor's? I don't like the look of my wife." I said "I'll come with you, I can't stand the sight of mine."
Copié dans le titre du spectacle (1962) et du film (1966) "A funny thing happened on the way to the Forum". Se traduit quasiment mot à mot, je pense.