Why is deadpan humor so hilarious? You might think that delivering a joke with a completely straight face would backfire and confuse an audience. Ironically, it often has the opposite effect, sometimes making the joke even funnier.
The subtlety and the invitation for the audience to engage their wit in figuring out a punchline can make deadpan jokes hit even harder. But what are the components that make deadpan delivery work?
What is Deadpan Humor?
First, let’s define deadpan
Deadpan is mainly associated with stand-up comedy but can be used to describe a range of performances. Let’s start our analysis with the deadpan definition.
DEADPAN DEFINITION
What is deadpan?
Deadpan humor is a form of delivery, often in comedy, characterized by the deliberate absence of emotion or enthusiasm in the delivery of a joke. Comedians, performers and actors with a deadpan delivery usually have a neutral, impassive expression, which contrasts directly with what they are saying. Deadpan delivery usually includes a monotonous voice, an expressionless face, and minimal body language.
When compared with other types of humor, deadpan stands out due to its subtlety. Unlike slapstick comedy, which utilizes physical exaggeration and absurdity, or satire, which employs wit and irony to criticize, deadpan humor delivers jokes in a straightforward, seemingly serious manner. This can make the humor more surprising and, to some, more satisfying, as it often requires a moment of reflection to understand the joke.
Characteristics of Deadpan Delivery:
- Minimal expression
- Monotone voice
- Static body language
Deadpan Meaning
The Art of Deadpan
Deadpan humor might sound like a hard thing to pull off because it is. Delivering a joke with a deadpan expression can backfire quickly. For deadpan delivery to be impactful, it relies on a few things other than the joke itself.
Timing
Timing is crucial in all of comedy; however, for deadpan humor, it's everything. The comedian needs to deliver lines at the perfect moment, balancing the audience's anticipation and their ability to grasp the punchline of the joke. One of the masters of this is stand-up comedian Steven Wright.
Steven Wright • Deadpan jokes
This skill demands a thorough understanding of pacing as well as the willingness to test and tweak jokes as you work them with a crowd.
Context
Context creates the backdrop that sets the tone and stage of a joke. Deadpan humor often relies on the discrepancy between the delivery and the situation or setup.
Deadpan relies heavily on the unexpected and context is important in creating then subverting the audience's expectations, leading to a great deadpan punchline. The contrast between the context or setup and the seriousness of the delivery is the humor's core.
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Examples of Deadpan Comedians
Famous Deadpan Personalities
Let's take a look at some of the greats when it comes to deadpan performances and comedy. These performers have mastered the craft while also putting their own style on it.
Bill Murray: One of the most beloved actors, Bill Murray is known for his deadpan delivery. He has a knack for delivering lines with perfect timing and minimal expression, making even the most mundane scenarios hilarious.
The Best of Bill Murray • Ultimate Movie Mashup
Aubrey Plaza: With her deadpan delivery and sarcastic wit, Aubrey Plaza has become a fan favorite in comedy. She has played the role of April Ludgate on Parks and Recreation and voiced the iconic character Grumpy Cat. Her deadpan humor when delivering some of the most sarcastic or blunt insults has given us iconic characters and quotes.
Best of April Ludgate • Parks and Recreation
Anthony Jeselnik: Known for his dark and offensive humor, Anthony Jeselnik delivers his jokes with a calm, deadpan expression that adds an extra level of shock to the punchline. His delivery is so straight-faced that it often catches audiences off guard, making audiences question if they should laugh or not.
Anthony Jeselnik • The best opening joke of all time
These comedians and performers are great proof that deadpan works. It’s important to think of deadpan not as a gimmick for a cheap laugh, but as a style of comedy that trusts an audience’s wit to get the joke.
Up Next
Best Comedy Movies of All Time
Some of the best comedic actors are known for their deadpan performances and they’ve contributed to some of the funniest movies ever. What are the best comedy movies of all time? Find out in the next article.
