What makes a joke lame?
Think about it. Its not a easy question to answer. Is it a joke with bad pun? Is it a joke made at an inappropriate place? Is it a joke that is needlessly naughty? Is it just a bad joke?
“No” is the answer to all above.
I think if a joke is lame or not is decided by who finds it more funny.
If the person telling the joke finds it more funny than the audience, it is a lame joke.
You can always see it, the person telling the joke starts smiling or laughing almost before he delivers the punchline. There is a slight hint of pride. There is the “Look at me, I am so smart, I made this funny joke” expression. And that’s what makes the joke lame.
Same reason, a joke can me lame to one audience and be fine for other. If the audience finds the joke as funny or more than the comic, they are too busy laughing to notice the hit of pride or the small crackle of the comic.