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EGG HARBOR TOWNSHIP - On TV sitcoms, some pretty average-looking guys frequently find themselves paired with very attractive women.

Comedian Jim Belushi called Courtney Thorne-Smith his wife on "According to Jim." Comic George Lopez arranged for actress Constance Marie to portray his wife on "The George Lopez Show." Standup comic Kevin James hooked Leah Remini to play his wife on "The King of Queens."

Television leads us to believe a funny guy not only overcomes all obstacles in life, he can also land a really hot wife. In real life, a sense of humor can help a guy get the girl, but it's only part of the romantic equation.

Shanna Clayton, of Egg Harbor Township, and Ruby Lewis, of Galloway Township, sat together for a moms' night out at Chickie's & Pete's here. They each dated men who were considered less attractive than themselves, but they regarded a funny man with no ambition as a deal breaker.

"You can't just be a goof ball," Clayton said.

The importance of looks compared to a sense of humor as qualities sought out in a man varies from woman to woman. For instance, Oscar-winning actress Anne Bancroft married comedian Mel Brooks and stayed with him for more than 40 years until her death.

"A sense of humor lasts. It gets you through the good times and bad," Lewis said.

Clayton said she notices looks first. But, she added, sometimes, unattractive men are attractive in their personalities. In her past, she dated a man thought to be less attractive than her.

"He was a really cool guy. He was fun. We had a good time together," said Clayton, who is single after being married from 2000 to 2005.

Lewis also once dated a man considered less good-looking than her. She echoed Clayton's sentiments. She dated the guy because she liked his personality and enjoyed his company.

"Looks fade. Anything can happen, an acid attack, a car accident," Lewis said.

When the economy was booming, more women might have been inclined to value a man with money over a funny guy because Mr. Deep Pockets offered a greater sense of security. But Lewis said the economic downturn showed a person's money can disappear quickly.

Similar to ambition, humor doesn't trump intelligence, either.

"It has to be an equal balance. The more intelligent you are, the funnier you can be," said Lewis, who has been married for 5 1/2 years. "He (her husband, Jason) can bust my chops with the best of them. You've got to have a sense of humor."

E-mail Vincent Jackson:

VJackson@pressofac.com

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