History Main / DramaticPause

* ''{{Avenger}}'' is notorious for these. Pauses are long and drawn out; they often switch between two character's faces for their reactions. The problem with this is that it is an Anime, and at least one such exchange occurs between the unemotional protagonist and the antagonist, whom you only see the lower face of. The worst was between the antagonist and a subordinate in another city.

* Horatio Caine from ''CSIMiami'' is ([[{{Narm}} in]])famous for doing this in the middle of his [[QuipToBlack one liners]].

* An overused running gag on ''DrawnTogether''.

* Parodied in ''ClanOfTheCats'' during a horror movie spoof where Jubal takes a dramatic pause so long, [[http://clanofthecats.com/cotc/cotc-catcreatures-21/ he stops and checks his watch during it]].
* Red Mage from ''[[Webcomic/EightBitTheater 8-Bit Theater]]'' likes to "DUN DUN DUUUN!" at moments he considers dramatic.
* A go-to pacing device in ''TheOptimist''
* Parodied in [[http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0815.html this]] [[Webcomic/TheOrderOfTheStick Order of the Stick]] strip, where [[GenreSavvy Elan]] reminds [[spoiler: his father]] to take a dramatic pause before explaining everything.

* In the TV adaptation of ''Discworld/{{Hogfather}}'', actor Marc Warren gave Mr. Teatime a VerbalTic of pausing before the last word of every sentence ("I guess I just see things...differently."). This added a level of creepiness to Teatime's soft-spoken PsychoticManchild characterization.

* Every episode of ''Justice'''s short run did this before announcing the verdict.

* ''Film/{{Dracula}}'' as played by Creator/BelaLugosi: "[[IDoNotDrinkWine I never drink ..... wine]]
*** Which is then ripped and subverted in ''Film/DraculaDeadAndLovingIt''.
--> '''Dracula:''' Oh, what the hell...Mmm! This is good!

->'''Roger:''' Are you the Piñata Man?\\
'''Stan:''' ... Sí.\\
'''Audience Member #1:''' He waited so long between words!\\
'''Audience Member #2:''' Because he's good!
-->-- ''WesternAnimation/AmericanDad'' ("A Piñata Named Desire")

* Anime/CodeGeass: Aw, look at poor, blind, disabled [[IllGirl Nunnally]]. *sad violin* [[spoiler: ...and then she opens her eyes. Sad violin theme vanishes.]]
* In ''{{Mononoke}}'' the Medicine Peddler constantly...talks like...this. Usually with the angle of the shot switching with every word.

* Music/TheHives are famous for their high octane live performaces with the Almqvist brothers (lead singer and guitarist) jumping all over the stage (and sometimes into the audience). But during performances of their song ''Tick Tick Boom'', the whole band suddenly freezes like statues for several seconds while the audience goes nuts around them. It's impressive.

* Music/TheHives are famous for their high octane live performaces with the Almqvist brothers (lead singer and lead guitarist) jumping all over the stage (and sometimes into the audience). But during performances of their song ''Tick Tick Boom'', the whole band suddenly freezes like statues for several seconds while the audience goes nuts around them. It's impressive.

* Music/TheHives are famous for their high octane live performaces with the Almqvist brothers (lead singer and lead guitarist) especially jumping all over the stage (and sometimes into the audience). But during performances of their song ''Tick Tick Boom'', the whole band suddenly freezes like statues for several seconds while the audience goes nuts around them. It's impressive.

'''Criminoligist:'''...no picnic!

** In ''Discworld/TheTruth'', scrap merchant Harry King agrees to sell some paper for cheap to William de Worde and the dwarves at the Ankh-Morpork Times, but warns them that his investment had better pay off or they'll be "in deep... trouble. Face downwards." William later mentions wanting to avoid "deep significant pause trouble" with Mr. King.

* In ''DespicableMe'', Gru tells the minions "We are going to steal...(pause for effect)...THE MOON!" Though he says the words "pause for effect" quietly to himself.

* An episode of ''WesternAnimation/BatmanTheAnimatedSeries'' had TheCreeper say "Last time I saw you, you were working for... [[LampshadeHanging dramatic pause]]... The Joker!" That's right, he actually ''said'' "dramatic pause".

** "I see you shiver with antici...................................[[hottip:.:"[[AudienceParticipation Say it! Say it master!]]"]]............................................................................pation."

* ''MySoCalledLife'': The characters often pause mid-sentence, giving the dialogue a lurching and improvisational feel, even if the line is otherwise constructed very elegantly. [[LampshadeHanging Lampshaded]] when Rickie mimicks Mr. Katimski, who is probably the most {{egregious}} offender. But all the major characters did this a lot. In the case of [[BookDumb Jordan Catalano]], it was used to highlight how he was fumbling to come up with something, anything, to say.

* JackPalance's distinctively breathy delivery when he hosted the original ''RipleysBelieveItOrNot'' provided a sort of ellipsis: "Believe it ''[hhhaahh ...]'' or not!"

Pretty self explanatory, the DramaticPause is a beat or two of silence with no dialogue and little or no music/background sound. Usually done to heighten the anticipation before TheReveal. Also called a "Pregnant Pause", it can also ''follow'' the reveal... it's just ''that'' shocking! It's fairly common in situations where it [[DelayedReaction takes a moment for the joke to sink in.]] In sequential art, it is often depicted by a BeatPanel.

A classic of mystery serials and soap operas would be to follow with a three-note sequence heralding TheReveal. As in, "Nobody leaves! There's been ...(DramaticPause)... ''a murder!''" '''(DUN-DUN-DAAAH!)''' Basically, the dramatic equivalent of an "Applause" sign in a [=TV=] studio. {{Soap Opera}}s often use a version of this called the MelodramaticPause.

The DramaticPause itself will likely remain a live trope for a long, long time; it's rather hard to overdo silence, after all. Stilted delivery, on the other hand...

(DramaticPause, shot of concerned host, shot of nervous guest, shot of terrified loved one in audience, another shot of nervous guest)\\

--> '''Angela-V.O.''': I felt like a really shallow person, because I ''was''. (long DramaticPause) Hungry.

* "[[Wrestling/TheUndertaker Rest.]][[DramaticPause ...]][[CatchPhrase In.]][[DramaticPause ...]][[PunctuatedForEmphasis PEAAAAACE]]."

* A common variation (in e.g. Adrian Plass, and also TruthInTelevision) is for an actor in a play to use a DramaticPause, only for the clueless prompter to think he's forgotten his next line and loudly speak it for him.

* Kefka in ''DissidiaFinalFantasy'' emphasises the "dramatic" in DramaticPause. "I'm afraid the mouse is '''SMACK'''...dabinthemiddleofenemyterritory."

* "I am the terror that flaps in the night! I am [insert something hilarious]! I am [DramaticPause]: ''WesternAnimation/DarkwingDuck''!"

* Used for completely non-dramatic reasons in an episode of ''WesternAnimation/DaveTheBarbarian''. At the end of the story, Dave appears, BehindTheScenes style, and, referring to [[NoodleImplements something]] he'd done during the episode, says, "I bet a lot of you are wondering why I tied a squirrel to a megaphone." DramaticPause "Well, bye!"

* Also done to death on "results shows" for talent (or any other reality) programming. You can just tune in in the last five minutes of ''AmericanIdol'' to see who's going home, and even then, Ryan's going to say "The person going home this week is..."

** Quoth the Raven gets fussed at by Death of Rats for giving the "DUN-DUN-DUNNNNNN!" stinger before telling Susan Sto Helit who her grandfather is.
*** Angua is sometimes used to deliver this a a sort of running joke, although it also appears in Discworld/MonstrousRegiment
** ''Discworld/GoingPostall'' has the Smoking Gnu's secret weapon, "... The Woodpecker."

* An episode of ''WesternAnimation/BatmanTheAnimatedSeries'' had ''TheCreeper'' say "Last time I saw you, you were working for... [[LampshadeHanging dramatic pause]]... The Joker!" That's right, he actually ''said'' "dramatic pause".

* [[WesternAnimation/AquaTeenHungerForce Gentlemen...behold! I have created another...TROPE EXAMPLE!]] [[EvilLaugh Mwahahahahaha!]]

* Obligatory ''WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagic'' example:

--> '''Rainbow Dash''' *turns around, looks at camera* [[LampshadeHanging pause for dramatic effect]]
--> '''Rainbow Dash''': A race against me! Through Ghastly Gorge! Dun dun duuuuuun!

* Creator/WilliamShatner is ''famous''... for ''putting in lots''... of dramatic... ''pauses''... ''even in'' the... ''same''... ''sentence''. He is ''frequently''... lampooned ''for this''. This... ''may be'' related to his... ''constant'' need to... ''be''... a ''LargeHam''.
** When called on this trait by ''Series/TheDailyShow''[='=]s Jon Stewart, he explained that he adopted the mannerism because "I kept forgetting my lines." (Specifically, he had trouble remembering the {{technobabble}} on ''Series/{{Star Trek|The Original Series}}''.
** The urban legend in theatre circles is that he was the understudy in a production of (insert famous play here), but didn't expect to be called in, so didn't bother studying his lines to the degree he should have. He was called in and performed with his now famous pauses. The review the next day praised his performance (specifically the pauses) and he's been doing it intentionally ever since. The tale is in all likelihood completely false, but still worth retelling.