Straight Man and Wise Guy: Difference between revisions
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* In the [[Marx Brothers]] movies, Groucho was always the Wise Guy; whoever he was talking to (except for Chico) would be his Straight Man (or in Margaret Dumont's case, Straight Woman). |
* In the [[Marx Brothers]] movies, Groucho was always the Wise Guy; whoever he was talking to (except for Chico) would be his Straight Man (or in Margaret Dumont's case, Straight Woman). |
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* [[Kevin Smith]]'s [[Those Two Guys|Jay and Silent Bob]]. |
* [[Kevin Smith]]'s [[Those Two Guys|Jay and Silent Bob]]. |
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* [[Simon Pegg]] and Nick Frost, in ''[[Spaced]]'', ''[[Shaun of the Dead]]'', ''[[Hot Fuzz]]'' and anything else they do. |
* [[Simon Pegg]] and Nick Frost, in ''[[Spaced]]'', ''[[Shaun of the Dead]]'', ''[[Hot Fuzz]]'' and anything else they do. |
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* [[Blue Beetle]] and [[Booster Gold]], although that's really more of a "wise guy and wise guy" duo. |
* [[Blue Beetle]] and [[Booster Gold]], although that's really more of a "wise guy and wise guy" duo. |
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* [[Kenan and Kel]] |
* [[Kenan and Kel]] |
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* Sinterklaas and Zwarte Piet in Belgian series ''Dag Sinterklaasje'' |
* Sinterklaas and Zwarte Piet in Belgian series ''Dag Sinterklaasje'' |
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* In the early seasons of ''[[Supernatural (TV series)|Supernatural]]'', Sam often played straight man to Dean's wise guy. This happened less and less often as the show fleshed out their relationship. |
* In the early seasons of ''[[Supernatural (TV series)|Supernatural]]'', Sam often played straight man to Dean's wise guy. This happened less and less often as the show fleshed out their relationship. |
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* [[The Joker]] invariably plays the Wise Guy to [[Batman]]'s Straight Man... a psychotic, murderous, twisted genius of a Wise Guy, and an obsessive, violent, angst-ridden Straight Man. Mental health is not the strong point of the Batman oeuvre. Given that that Batman is the world's most [[Comically Serious]], he plays the straight man to all his flamboyant [[Rogues Gallery]], and other superheroes. |
* [[The Joker]] invariably plays the Wise Guy to [[Batman]]'s Straight Man... a psychotic, murderous, twisted genius of a Wise Guy, and an obsessive, violent, angst-ridden Straight Man. Mental health is not the strong point of the Batman oeuvre. Given that that Batman is the world's most [[Comically Serious]], he plays the straight man to all his flamboyant [[Rogues Gallery]], and other superheroes. |
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** [[Servile Snarker|Except Alfred]], who serves as a more snarky version of the wise guy to Master Bruce and is quite possibly one of the only level heads in Gotham. |
** [[Servile Snarker|Except Alfred]], who serves as a more snarky version of the wise guy to Master Bruce and is quite possibly one of the only level heads in Gotham. |
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* Mel Brooks and Carl Reiner, especially in their legendary "2,000 year old man" routine, which involved a news reporter (Reiner, the straight man) interviewing a Jewish fellow who happened to be 2,000 years old (Brooks, the wise guy.) This routine was actually created on the fly; the two spontaneously came up with it at a party. |
* Mel Brooks and Carl Reiner, especially in their legendary "2,000 year old man" routine, which involved a news reporter (Reiner, the straight man) interviewing a Jewish fellow who happened to be 2,000 years old (Brooks, the wise guy.) This routine was actually created on the fly; the two spontaneously came up with it at a party. |
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* On ''[[The Muppet Show]]'', [[Statler and Waldorf]] unintentionally play the Wise Guy to Fozzie's Straight Man. It's the only reason that Fozzie's act is funny. |
* On ''[[The Muppet Show]]'', [[Statler and Waldorf]] unintentionally play the Wise Guy to Fozzie's Straight Man. It's the only reason that Fozzie's act is funny. |
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** And Kermit was the [[Straight Man]] to the rest of the cast's general zaniness, although he was often the [[Deadpan Snarker]] too. |
** And Kermit was the [[Straight Man]] to the rest of the cast's general zaniness, although he was often the [[Deadpan Snarker]] too. |
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* [[The Daily Show|Jon Stewart]] and [[Stephen Colbert]], which overlaps with the outdated Vaudeville act of [[An Irishman And A Jew]]. |
* [[The Daily Show|Jon Stewart]] and [[Stephen Colbert]], which overlaps with the outdated Vaudeville act of [[An Irishman And A Jew]]. |
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* ''MASH'', which had one wise guy (mostly Alan Alda) for every straight-man (or woman). |
* ''MASH'', which had one wise guy (mostly Alan Alda) for every straight-man (or woman). |
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* Of course [[Perfect Strangers|Balki and Larry]] deserve to be listed here, [[Catch Phrase|don't be ridiculous]]. |
* Of course [[Perfect Strangers|Balki and Larry]] deserve to be listed here, [[Catch Phrase|don't be ridiculous]]. |
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Walter: [[Who's on First?|Nowhere.]]<br /> |
Walter: [[Who's on First?|Nowhere.]]<br /> |
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(beat) Tiren: Walter, I will beat you to [[Cut His Heart Out with a Spoon|death with a coconut]]! }} |
(beat) Tiren: Walter, I will beat you to [[Cut His Heart Out with a Spoon|death with a coconut]]! }} |
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* In ''[[ |
* In ''[[Thalia's Musings]]'', Apollo often ends up playing the Straight Man to Thalia's Wise Guy. |
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** Though, strictly speaking, he's not a [[Bi the Way|straight]] [[Incredibly Lame Pun|man]]. |
** Though, strictly speaking, he's not a [[Bi the Way|straight]] [[Incredibly Lame Pun|man]]. |
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* ''Everyone'' and everyone else at various points in ''[[Dragon Age]]: Origins''. That the entire cast is composed of [[Deadpan Snarker|sarcastic people]] doesn't help. [[Player Character|The Warden]] and [[Deadpan Snarker|Alistair]] is probably the most notable example. |
* ''Everyone'' and everyone else at various points in ''[[Dragon Age]]: Origins''. That the entire cast is composed of [[Deadpan Snarker|sarcastic people]] doesn't help. [[Player Character|The Warden]] and [[Deadpan Snarker|Alistair]] is probably the most notable example. |
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* KyleJCrb is the [[Straight Man]] to Liontamer's Wise Guy on the video game music podcast [[Nitro Game Injection]]. |
* KyleJCrb is the [[Straight Man]] to Liontamer's Wise Guy on the video game music podcast [[Nitro Game Injection]]. |
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* In ''[[Tiger and Bunny]]'', Barnaby serves as the [[Straight Man]] to Kotetsu's Wise Guy. |
* In ''[[Tiger and Bunny]]'', Barnaby serves as the [[Straight Man]] to Kotetsu's Wise Guy. |
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* Lorenzo (Straight Man) and Launcelot (Wise Guy) in ''[[The Merchant of Venice]]''. |
* Lorenzo (Straight Man) and Launcelot (Wise Guy) in ''[[The Merchant of Venice]]''. |
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* Andy Griffith and Don Knotts were like this in [[The Andy Griffith Show]]. Andy's Andy Taylor was the straight man and Knotts' Barney was the wise guy. Although it was originally to be the other way around. |
* Andy Griffith and Don Knotts were like this in [[The Andy Griffith Show]]. Andy's Andy Taylor was the straight man and Knotts' Barney was the wise guy. Although it was originally to be the other way around. |
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* [[Wallace and Gromit]], notable in that the Straight Man (Gromit) is completely mute and only expresses himself through pantomime. Their exchanges are usually along the lines of: |
* [[Wallace and Gromit]], notable in that the Straight Man (Gromit) is completely mute and only expresses himself through pantomime. Their exchanges are usually along the lines of: |