Not So Above It All: Difference between revisions

 

* J'onn J'onzz often played [[The Stoic]] and [[The Comically Serious]] in ''[[Justice League of America|Justice League International]]''. While it was a good act, it was just that, and he would occasionally break character.

'''[[Martian Manhunter]]''': Screaming. }}

** On the rare occasions [[Batman]] has displayed a sense of humor, the rest of the League find it unsettling.

* In the episode of ''[[The King of Queens]]'' "American Idle", Carrie says that she needs time to find herself after losing her job. But (as the title suggests) it seems to Doug that she just sits around watching TV all day - the very things she often criticizes him for doing.

* In an episode of ''[[Frasier]]'', let's just say the Crane Boys aren't the only ones who make quick, rash decisions. In this particular episode, since Daphne has married Niles earlier and will thus be moving out of the condo, Frasier is looking for a replacement housekeeper but has trouble finding a suitable one. One of the candidates turns out to be a major sports fan, and for this reason Martin hires her on the spot in spite of Frasier's objections (it's usually the other way around). Unfortunately, the lady turns out to be very irresponsible, and some days doesn't even show up for work. Martin takes it upon himself to clean up the place because he doesn't want to admit that Frasier was right.

'''Lemon''': That... was surprising. }}

* James May, [[Deadpan Snarker]] and resident [[Straight Man]] on ''[[Top Gear]]'', gripes that co-presenters Jeremy Clarkson and Richard Hammond are too loud, too careless, and too obsessed with power and winning. Doesn't stop him from jumping up and down and shouting on the occasions when ''he'' wins, though...

* When ''[[Roseanne]]'' and family go to Disneyworld, Darlene maintains her sulky-teenage-girl front of being determined not to enjoy it, but it instantly cracks when she meets [[Winnie the Pooh]].

* In one episode of ''[[Stargate SG-1]]'', Teal'c (usually [[The Stoic]] and [[The Comically Serious]]) reveals that the mask of a Setesh guard is the butt of many jokes amongst other Jaffa. When O'Neil expresses surprise that Jaffa have a sense of humor, Teal'c helpfully translates one such joke:

[[Chirping Crickets|[The others stare blankly] ]] }}

* On ''[[Boy Meets World]]'', Mr. Feeny puts up with Eric's wacky treatment of him (including the vaunted [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m-BB-Xk9xYY Feeny Call] for years. Finally, at the end of the show, Eric gets him to admits he enjoys the Feeny Call.

 

* In ''[[Super Robot Wars]]: Original Generation'', Raidiese F. Branstein, the team straight man, ends up falling prey to his friend's wackiness. At one point, when the protagonist tells him his idea for the name of their new [[Limit Break]], he realizes he can't think of anything better:

'''Ryu:''' Okay, okay, forget I said anything... }}

** In Original Generation Gaiden, when Ryusei asks him a name for his new move, he dubs it ''Galaxy Phantom Explosion'' (constituting a very easy seiyuu joke)

** In "The Father, the Son, and the Holy Guest Star," in a refreshing twist, it is Marge, not Homer, who learns a lesson about tolerance. (Though less satisfyingly, Marge's [[Compressed Vice|dislike of Catholics]] is [[Take Our Word for It|never fully explained]]).

** When the family has Mr. Burn's teddy bear [[Number One Dime|Bobo]].

'''Family''': Huh?<br />

'''Marge''': [[Lampshade Hanging|Well, why can't I be greedy once in a while?]] }}

* Dr Quinn of ''[[Sealab 2021]]'' tries in vain to avoid this, but especially as the series went on, would eventually succumb.

* Rebecca Cunningham of ''[[Tale Spin]]'', though somewhat [[Women Are Wiser]] and more educated than Baloo, shared his ego and stubbornness as well as lacking the latter's streetwise aspects and thus fell into this trope a frequent amount of times. Sometimes even he could be surprised how [[Cloudcuckoolander|out of her mind]] Rebecca acted at times.

* Aunt Amy of ''[[Daria]]'' was once brought in to settle a dispute between her sisters, with the expectation that, as a the smart, detached outsider of the family she could easily resolve the petty conflict without getting drawn in. It took her all of thirty seconds to join the bickering, leaving Daria and Quinn to solve the problem themselves.

* Twilight Sparkle from ''[[My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic|My Little Pony Friendship Is Magic]]'' likes to regard herself as the [[Only Sane Man|Only Sane Mare]]: her first impression of the citizens of Ponyville is "All the ponies in this town are ''crazy!''" However, Twilight frequently displays lapses in judgement either due to her social awkwardness or her almost-obsessive need to make a good impression on her mentor, Princess Celestia.

** In "The Ticket Master", Spike calls the Gala "girly frou-frou nonsense," but once everyone is out of sight, is upset at being the only one without a ticket. Celestia sends down one for him, and he immediately [[Squee|Squees]], only to be caught by Applejack.

** Both Spike and Twilight tend to backhand this role onto ''each other'' since they so often play [[The Straight Man]] to each other's shortcomings. ''Both'' characters neared outright [[Anti-Villain]] territory after going off the deep end at separate points, and ''both'' had to snap the other out of it. Note worthy for the over the top manner both took their respective breakdowns (Twilight became outright [[Laughing Mad]], while Spike turned into a [[Harmless Villain]], complete with [[Dastardly Whiplash]] mannerisms and attire).

** Applejack tends to act as [[The Straight Man|The Straight Mare]] whenever these two are out of the picture, however having the key traits of a rowdy cowgirl, she naturally plays up at times. She can be rather over assertive and is apparently [[Stubborn Mule|stubborn enough to make a mule look rashional]].