Deadpan

Deadpan is a form of comedic delivery in which something humorous is said or done by a person, while not exhibiting a change in emotion or facial expression.

Related Topics:
Comedic - Humor

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One notable trait of Australians (perhaps inherited from the British) lies in their use of deadpan humour, in which the joker will make an outrageous or ridiculous statement without giving any explicit signs of joking. Americans visiting Australia have gained themselves a reputation for gullibility and a lack of a sense of humour by not recognising that tales of kangaroos hopping across the Sydney Harbour Bridge and drop bears exemplify the propensity for this style of leg-pulling.

Related Topics:
Australia - Kangaroo - Sydney Harbour Bridge - Drop bear

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TV sitcoms of today always features characters with deadpan expressions like Friends, Boy Meets World, Brotherly Love, According To Jim, Everybody Hates Chris, or That's So Raven.

Related Topics:
Friends - Boy Meets World - Brotherly Love - According To Jim - Everybody Hates Chris - That's So Raven

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• Buster Keaton, known as the "Great Stone Face," became famous for never cracking a smile in any of his films.
• Daniel Davis's role in The Nanny as Niles, who always makes a one-liner with a blank look.
• Jack Benny and Johnny Carson were famous for their "takes," blank stares toward the camera in response (or nonresponse) to something funny that had just happened.
• Pat Paulsen spoke in a blank monotone with heavy eyelids, usually opening with, "Good evening, I'm really excited to be here."
• Jackie Vernon caricatured the typically boring slide-projector presentation of vacation photos.
• Ben Stein, a university professor in real life, found a new career as a comedy actor by exploiting the stereotype of the dull academic, often acting as a straight man.
• Mandy from The Grim Adventures of Billy and Mandy
• Roger Moore, during his tenure as James Bond, was known for his deadpan delivery of one-liners found throughout the series.
• Paul Merton of Have I Got News For You.
• Monty Python were known for their sincere performances of utter lunacy.
• Daria Morgendorffer, the star of the animated TV show Daria, is known for her monotone voice and expressionless face.
• Wayne Brady, a guest on Chappelle's Show as he says his infamous catchphrase, "Is Wayne Brady gonna have to choke a bitch?".
• Dave Chappelle, on Chappelle's Show, Dave always used a deadpan expression in most of his sketches such as "The Playa Hater's Ball" skit.
• Leslie Nielsen progressed from being a dramatic actor in films such as The Poseidon Adventure to a comedic actor due in large part to his seriousness as he delivers nonsensical lines in movies such as Airplane! ("Surely you can't be serious!" "I am serious. And don't call me Shirley.") and The Naked Gun series.
• Matthew Lawrence always deliver a joke with no expression, like his Brotherly Love character who thinks he has compulsive disorder.
• Kevin Nealon consistently used an expressionless delivery for his characters on Saturday Night Live.
• Bob Newhart is known for his deadpan delivery and his slight stammer, as featured on The Bob Newhart Show and Newhart, and in classic standup routines.
• Mark Twain is as saying, "The humorous story is told gravely; the teller does his best to conceal the fact that he even dimly suspects that there is anything funny about it."
• Raven from Teen Titans
• Stephen Colbert is one of today's most noted deadpan comedians for his performances as a correspondent on The Daily Show.
• Steven Wright is an American stand-up comedian whose act is filled with deadpan.
• Dennis Miller, another SNL member.