Are you giving them a bit too much credit? It's essentially a pie in the face gag or flower that squirts water gag. Those aren't things you would describe at genius.
I think the difference the commenter is describing though is between any pie-in-the-face gag and this particular pie-in-the-face gag. What is the nuance that gives this particular one such extra broad appeal and replay value.
Not that pie-in-the-face gags don't generally have broad appeal, but this one is arguably on a different level.
Can you argue why this on a different level? It's the same joke but a more violent version. I'm not arguing that it's not funny but that it's not that unique and isn't genius by any definition.
A raunchy teen fan message in some random hotel with a boxing glove going through the wall. That is unique. Hell, my first thought was who was going to patch that hole they just made. Then I thought, oh they have millions of dollars. But the approach, to get them to read closer and closer then pop. Way better than any dumb pie in the face, an crusty old idea that was only funny in the 1920s.
