Deadpan
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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.
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Examples of deadpan humour
- Actress Melissa Joan Hart, who often gives a serious look with comedic lines in TV shows.
- Dave Allen, a pessimistic Irish stand-up comedian.
- 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.
- Daniel Butler of America's Dumbest Criminals.
- Michael Ian Black, commentator on VH1's I Love the 70s/80s/90s and occasional contributor to McSweeney's
- Raven Symone in That's So Raven, where she plays a troubled, blank look psychic.
- Raven, of the animated series Teen Titans; with Beastboy usually on the receiving end.
- Sacha Baron Cohen, comedian known for his characters Ali G, Borat, and Bruno
- Stephen Colbert is one of today's most noted deadpan comedians for his performances as a correspondent on The Daily Show and host of The Colbert Report.
- Daniel Davis's role in The Nanny as Niles, who always makes a one-liner with a blank look.
- Jack Dee, a popular English stand-up comedian.
- Droopy Dog, an animated cartoon character
- David Duchovny most famous for his role as eccentric FBI agent Fox Mulder, usually delivers his lines with a blank expression on his face and in a dry, monotone voice.
- Esteban from The Suite Life of Zack And Cody, played by Adrian R'Mante.
- The characters in Fawlty Towers, especially Basil Fawlty, say outrageously funny things completely seriously.
- Matthew Lawrence's role in Brotherly Love as a mean, serious looking brother with witty lines.
- Buster Keaton, known as the "Great Stone Face", became famous for never cracking a smile in any of his films.
- Mandy from The Grim Adventures of Billy and Mandy.
- Joe Lawrence in Brotherly Love delivers a deadpan line when a scene gets serious.
- Humphrey Lyttelton, chairman of I'm Sorry I Haven't a Clue
- Paul Merton of Have I Got News For You.
- The members of Monty Python were known for their sincere performances of utter lunacy, and ability to stay calm in absurd settings.
- Roger Moore, during his tenure as James Bond, was known for his deadpan delivery of one-liners found throughout the series, breaking the ice with humour in serious settings or vice versa.
- Daria Morgendorffer, the star of the animated TV show Daria, is known for her monotone voice and expressionless face.
- Bill Murray, most of his work entails him delivering overtly humorous lines with a genuine look of disinterest or indifference on his face.
- 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.
- 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.
- Pat Paulsen spoke in a blank monotone with heavy eyelids, usually opening with, "Good evening, I'm really excited to be here."
- 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.
- Mark Twain is quoted 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."
- Jackie Vernon caricatured the typically boring slide-projector presentation of vacation photos.
- Steven Wright is an American stand-up comedian whose act is filled with deadpan.
- Gordon Strachan , the manager of the Celtic Football Club is known for his deadpan comedy in interviews
- Dave Chappelle portrays famous black people with deadpan humor.
It should also be noted that dead-pan humour is widespread throughout Australia as a basic form of comedy.
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