History Main / InhibitionDestroyingPuppet

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Sometimes, when someone is given a puppet, it doesn't take them over; instead, it causes them to say things that they wouldn't say otherwise. Usually, this is PlayedForLaughs, but sometimes it can be cathartic for someone who has been keeping something bottled up.

While rarely as dramatic as the fictional form, the idea has enough TruthInTelevision to be used in certain forms of [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Expressive_therapies Expressive Therapy]] - a couple in counseling might be asked play out an argument with puppets to add a layer of disarming playfulness and objectivity, or a therapist might ask a child about the feelings and actions of a doll in a representation of a stressful situation.

* [[MultipleChoicePast While it tends to be ambiguous or depend on the story he's in]], ''ComicBook/{{Batman}}'' villain Arnold Wesker, aka Ventriloquist, has sometimes been depicted as this, having a Dissonant Personality Disorder that he vents through his dummy Scarface. Given that Scarface is a hot-tempered and violent mob boss, he defintely presents a stark contrast to the normally meek and submissive Wesker.

* ''Series/ArrestedDevelopment'' has Franklin, an African-American puppet which causes everybody who puts it on their hand to immediately start speaking in a stereotypical [[JiveTurkey 70s jive style]].

* In ''Series/EverybodyLovesRaymond'', Robert gets fed up with how he's being treated when he tries to give Ray, Frank, and Debora a driving class, and brings in a ventriloquist dummy, which allows him to say things to Marie and Frank that he normally wouldn't have the courage to do so.

* The primary suspect in the ''Series/MurderSheWrote'' episode "Where Have You Gone, Billy Boy?" (one of the Dennis Stanton episodes) is a nervous ventriloquist who finds it easier to let the dummy (the eponymous Billy Boy) do the talking. When Billy goes missing shortly before the murder, the only way he can explain the situation is by phoning Stanton as Billy.

* In the Jim Henson pilot ''Puppetman'', set behind the scenes on a children's puppet show, one of the puppeteers uses his snarky character to make comments about the human host, even (or especially) when the cameras aren't running. At one point he tries to apologise to her, and the puppet calls him a hypocrite.

* Mr. Garrison's puppet Mr. Hat serves this function in the early seasons of ''WesternAnimation/SouthPark'', with Mr. Hat openly expressing Garrison's perverted, sociopathic tendencies he tries to keep suppressed. As Garrison becomes more comfortable being his true repulsive self, he eventually ditches Mr. Hat.
* In ''WesternAnimation/TheSimpsons'' episode "Burns Verkaufen Der Kraftwerk", Mr. Burns is reluctant to open up to Smithers, but he can pour his soul out to "Snappy the Alligator".
* In ''WesternAnimation/{{Disenchantment}}'' season 4 King Zøg's mental state devolves to a point where he can only speak through a hand puppet.
* ''WesternAnimation/FamilyGuy'': In "You Can't Do That on Television, Peter", Peter creates a puppet character named "Saggy Naggy", who is an unflattering caricature of Lois, for his TV show. While operating the puppet, Peter's performance grows angrier as he makes it say things that Lois specifically said to him, making it clear he's blowing off some pent-up steam.
* ''WesternAnimation/{{Arthur}}'': In "Arthur's Dummy Disaster", George shows his friends Wally, the dummy that he and his dad have built together. Until now George has been [[AscendedExtra a minor background character]], but when "Wally" starts cracking jokes George finds himself to be quite popular suddenly. He begins bringing it everywhere, to the point that he begins to irritate the others. Eventually, he learns to speak for himself without the crutch of Wally, although Wally does make periodic appearances throughout the rest of the series.

* Mr. Garrison's puppet Mr. Hat serves this function in the early seasons of 'WesternAnimation/SouthPark'', with Mr. Hat openly expressing Garrison's perverted, sociopathic tendencies he tries to keep suppressed. As Garrison becomes more comfortable being his true repulsive self, he eventually ditches Mr. Hat.

* ''VisualNovel/PhoenixWrightAceAttorneyJusticeForAll'' has Ben Woodman and his puppet, Trilo Quest. Ben is very meek, while Trilo is everything but.

[[folder:Comic]]
* While it tends to be ambiguous or depend on the story he's in, ''ComicBook/{{Batman}}'' villain Arnold Wesker, aka Ventriloquist, has sometimes been depicted as this, having a Dissonant Personality Disorder that he vents through his dummy Scarface. Given that Scarface is a hot-tempered and violent mob boss, he defintely presents a stark contrast to the normally meek and submissive Wesker.

* ''WesternAnimation/FamilyGuy'': In "You Can't Do That on Television, Peter", Peter creates a puppet character named "Saggy Naggy", who is an unflattering caricature of Lois, for his TV show. While operating the puppet, Peter's performance grows angrier as he makes it things that Lois specifically said to him, making it clear he's blowing off some pent-up steam.

* ''WesternAnimation/FamilyGuy'': In "You Can't Do That on Television, Peter", Peter creates a puppet character named "Saggy Naggy", who is an unflattering caricature of Lois, for his TV show. While operating the puppet, Peter's performance grows angrier as he makes it things that Lois specifically said to him, making it clear he's letting off some pent-up steam.

* In ''WesternAnimation/TheSimpsons'' episode "Burns Verkaufen Der Kraftwerk", Mr. Burns is reluctant to open up to Smithers but he can pour his soul out to "Snappy the Alligator".

[[quoteright:350:[[VisualNovel/PhoenixWrightAceAttorney https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/benandtrilo.png]]]]

* In ''Series/EverybodyLovesRaymond'', Robert gets fed up with how he's being treated when he tries to give Ray, Frank, and Debora a driving class, and brings in a ventriloquist dummy, which allows him to say things to Marie and Frank that he normaly wouldn't have the courage to do so.

'''Neal''' ''[speaking through "Morty", a ventriloquist dummy]'': Nice head, does it come with a neck?\\
'''Neal''' ''[as himself]'': Sorry, I can't control him sometimes.

[[folder:Stand-Up Comedy]]
* If his lone stand-up routines are taken as his regular personality, Creator/JeffDunham features this as his main shtick. Jeff by himself is a mild critic of his own life and usually won't go into anything controversial unless it personally affects him. His puppets are a stark contrast in different ways. Walter represents his gripes about everyday life, including dealing with the outrageous elements of society and family. Achmed is a rip on terrorists and their beliefs, indicated by Achmed's miserable "death", with hints of sexism. Peanut is racist and loathsome of the rest of the group (with José serving as a foil and counterpoint to Peanut's bigotry). The rest of his puppets aren't this so much, although they do get in a jab or two on Jeff's behalf.
[[/folder]]

* ''VisualNovel/PhoenixWrightAceAttorneyJusticeForAll'' has Ben Woodman and his puppet, Trilo Quest. Ben is very meek, while Trilo is everything but.

* ''Series/ArrestedDevelopment'' has Franklin, an African-American puppet which causes everybody who puts it on their hand to immediately start speaking in a stereotypical [[JiveTrukey 70s jive style]].

* ''Series/ArrestedDevelopment'' has Franklin, an African-American puppet which causes everybody who puts it on their hand to immediately start speaking in a stereotypical ghetto style.

[[quoteright:350:[[Series/MalcolmInTheMiddle https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/schlupi_4.jpg]]]]
[[caption-width-right:350:Otto might not want to discuss the issue of his estranged son with Francis, but Schlupi is perfectly willing to do so.]]

->'''[[FatBastard Seidelman]]:''' Nice doll, does it come with a dress?\\

[[AC:Comedians]]
* If his lone stand-up routines are taken as his regular personality, Creator/JeffDunham features this as his main shtick. Jeff by himself is a mild critic of his own life and usually won't go into anything controversial unless it personally affects him. His puppets are a stark contrast in different ways. Walter represents his gripes about everyday life, including dealing with the outrageous elements of society and family. Achmed is a rip on terrorists and their beliefs, indicated by Achmed's miserable "death", with hints of sexism. Peanut is racist and loathsome of the rest of the group (with José serving as a foil and counterpoint to Peanut's bigotry). The rest of his puppets aren't this so much, although they do get in a jab or two on Jeff's behalf.

[[AC:Live-Action TV]]

[[AC:Video Games]]

[[AC: Western Animation]]
* In ''WesternAnimation/TheSimpsons'' episode "Burns Verkaufen Der Kraftwerk", Mr. Burns is reluctant to open up to Smithers but he can pour his soul out to "Snappy the Alligator".

->'''[[FatBastard Seidelman]]:''' "Nice doll, does it come with a dress?"
->'''Neal''' ''[speaking through "Morty", a ventriloquist dummy]'': Nice head, does it come with a neck?
->'''Neal''' ''[as himself]'': Sorry, I can't control him sometimes.

* ''Series/ArrestedDevelopment'' has Franklin, an African-American puppet which causes everybody who puts it on their hand to immediately start speaking in a stereotypical 70s jive style.

* ''Series/ArrestedDevelopment'' has Franklin, an African-American puppet which causes everybody who puts it on their hand to immediately start speaking in a stereotypical ghetto style.

[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/schlupi_4.jpg]]
[[caption-width-right:350:Otto might not want to discuss the issue of his estranged son with Francis, but Schlupi is perfectly willing to do so]]
->''FatBastard Seidelman: "Nice doll, does it come with a dress?"''
->''Neal (speaking through "Morty", a ventriloquist dummy): "Nice head, does it come with a neck?"''
->''Neal (as himself): "Sorry, I can't control him sometimes."''

* In ''VideoGame/EnsembleStars'', JerkWithAHeartOfGold Shu sometimes uses his puppet Mademoiselle to say the genuinely kind things he feels too awkward to express as himself.
* ''VisualNovel/PhoenixWrightAceAttorneyJusticeForAll'' has Ben Woodman and his puppet Trilo Quest. Ben is very meek, while Trilo is everything but.

* ''WesternAnimation/TheSimpsons'' episode "Burns Verkaufen Der Kraftwerk", Mr. Burns is reticent to open up to Smithers but he can pour his soul out to "Snappy the Alligator".