Deadpan Humor
Deadpan humor is humor presented without emotion, the lack of emotion serves to make the joke funnier.
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In this clip from "The Office", Michael, the boss, tries to teach the employees the fundamentals of business.
Script: Michael seriously: The fundamentals of business. The fundamentals of buisiness. Mental is a part of the word, I have underlined it. Because you're mental if you don't have a good time. You have to enjoy it. Employee: Well fun is in it. General murmur of agreement Michael: get out ... Michael's explanation of the fundamentals of business sounds very funny. However, Michael teaches the humorous fundamentals with a straight face. His deadpan expression serves to make the humorous situation even funnier. Because of this, this clip characterizes deadpan humor.
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Example above.
Important part of script:
Raj (to Howard) : Give it up dude, you're arguing with a crazy person.
Sheldon: I'm not crazy, my mother had me tested.
Sheldon states that his mother tested him for insanity but found none. That itself contains lots of humor. To amplify that humor even more, Sheldon says it with a straight face which exemplifies deadpan humor.
Raj (to Howard) : Give it up dude, you're arguing with a crazy person.
Sheldon: I'm not crazy, my mother had me tested.
Sheldon states that his mother tested him for insanity but found none. That itself contains lots of humor. To amplify that humor even more, Sheldon says it with a straight face which exemplifies deadpan humor.