"If variety is the spice of life, marriage is the big can of leftover Spam"

Johnny Carson’s witticism draws a playful contrast between the notions of excitement and routine, using culinary metaphors as vehicles for his critique. The phrase “variety is the spice of life” emphasizes the joy and excitement found in experiencing new things, suggesting that unpredictability and diversity are central components of an engaging, fulfilling existence. Spices enhance and enliven meals, just as variety enlivens daily life.

Contrastingly, equating marriage to “the big can of leftover Spam” humorously frames it as monotonous, unappetizing, and repetitive. Spam is often considered bland, processed, and utilitarian, a food associated less with pleasure than with necessity or frugality. Referring to it as “leftover” implies not just sameness, but also the feeling of something being reheated, worn out, or losing its appeal after repeated exposure. The “big can” amplifies the image, suggesting abundance, but not of something desirable. Instead, it’s a surplus of the mundane, no matter how much adornment one tries to add.

The joke serves as a satirical commentary on how, for some, the institution of marriage can devolve into routine, predictability, or even boredom, a stark departure from the excitement and spontaneity found in single life or in exploration. At a deeper level, Carson is poking fun at a cultural narrative where marriage, ideally regarded as a source of companionship and comfort, may also come to represent convention, restraint, or the loss of novelty.

Embedded in the humor is an affectionate jab at the realities of long-term partnership: even as marriage offers stability and reliability, it can lack the unexpected thrills that spice up life. Yet, by couching this idea in lighthearted exaggeration, Carson invites laughter while also provoking thought about the trade-offs between stability and variety, routine and excitement, in human relationships.