“Why did the newspaper blush?”/“It saw the comic strip.”

A pun about the “comic strip” is:
 
Q: Why did the newspaper blush?
A: It saw the comic strip.
 
The joke has been cited in print since at least 2004.
 
 
Google Groups: alt.humor.puns
Kids Puns of the Weak 06-08-04
Stan Kegel
6/8/04
(...)
Why did the newspaper blush?
It saw the comic strip! (Sam, 11)
 
10 June 2004, New Castle (PA) News, pg. A8, col. 2:
Smile of the Day
Q: Why did the newspaper blush?
A: It saw the comic strip!
 
Google Books
Jokelopedia:
The Biggest, Best, Silliest, Dumbest, Joke Book Ever
Edited by Ilana Weitzman
New York, NY: Workman Publishing
2006
Pg. 38:
What made the newspaper blush?
It saw the comic strip.
 
Google Books
Laugh and Learn Grammar: Grades 4-6
By Debra J. Housel
Westminster, CA: Teacher Created Resources, Inc.
2006
Pg. 29:
Why did the newspaper blush?
It saw the comic strip.
     
Google Groups: Sailor’s Clean Humor
Wednesday Clean
stewburner
8/28/08
(...)
Why did the newspaper blush?
It saw the comic strip!
 
Twitter
ΡΡΠΛΓΤ!Ν
‏@ppmartin
Why did the newspaper blush? It saw the comic strip!  -  Source: Sunday Morning Post’s Comics, Just for a laugh.
12:21 AM - 22 Feb 2009
 
Twitter
This Guy
‏@imperiumrex9
Why did the newspaper blush? It saw the comic strip!
12:32 PM - 16 Mar 2010
 
Facebook
‎Emily Griffiths‎ to Stampylongnose
October 19, 2013 ·
Why did the newspaper blush?
Because it saw the comic strip!
 
Google Books
1001 Kid’s Jokes
By Kay Barnham
London: Arcturus Publishing
2016
Pg. ?:
Why did the newspaper blush?
It saw the comic strip.