| 1 | %%% |
| 2 | %% |
| 3 | %% This page has been alphabetized. Please add new examples in the correct order. Thanks! |
| 4 | %% |
| 5 | %%% |
| 6 | |
| 7 | %% |
| 8 | %% |
| 9 | %% Administrivia/ZeroContextExample entries are not allowed on wiki pages. All such entries have been commented out. |
| 10 | %% Add context to the entries before uncommenting them. |
| 11 | %% |
| 12 | %% |
| 13 | %% Image selected per Image Pickin' thread: https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/posts.php?discussion=1482792049001211800 |
| 14 | %% Please do not replace or remove without starting a new thread. |
| 15 | %% |
| 16 | [[quoteright:350:[[ComicBook/CableAndDeadpool https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/rsz_cable_and_deadpool_tall_dark_and_stupid.jpg]]]] |
| 17 | |
| 18 | -> '''Boomstick:''' Wiz, I'm the funny one. Just stick to being boring.\ |
| 19 | '''Wiz:''' Aww.... |
| 20 | -->-- ''WebAnimation/DeathBattle'', [[Recap/DeathBattleS02E27WolverineVsRaiden Wolverine vs. Raiden]] |
| 21 | |
| 22 | An oft-recurring trope in comedy. The Straight Man and Wise Guy are an inseparable OddCouple duo who play off each other for comedy. The StraightMan approaches everything seriously ([[TheComicallySerious even things that are patently ludicrous]]) and presents a straightforward, sane, conventional point of view. The Wise Guy is a jokester who answers the Straight Man's stodgy pronouncements with [[PluckyComicRelief puns, wisecracks, and wackiness.]] |
| 23 | |
| 24 | Oftentimes, this will involve one bringing up a topic of discussion, only to have the other interrupt, correct, or otherwise play foil to him. Traditionally the Straight Man brings up a serious topic and the Wise Guy riffs on it, but sometimes the Wise Guy brings up a loony topic, the Straight Man objects to its lunacy, and the Wise Guy riffs on ''that''. Though often misunderstood, the point is for the Straight Man to "set up" a situation which the Wise Guy can joke about. The Straight Man typically isn't much of a DeadpanSnarker, though he may have his moments. |
| 25 | |
| 26 | Note that “wise guy” in this case doesn’t mean [[JustForFun/IThoughtItMeant those kind of]] [[TheMafia wiseguys]]. Although the wise guy could also be an actual wiseguy. |
| 27 | |
| 28 | See also BokeAndTsukkomiRoutine, where a foolish character sets up the jokes for a straight man to correct, often violently, and {{Bathos}}, where mundane and wacky elements, and not just characters, are contrasted with each other for comedic effect. Compare SmartJerkAndNiceMoron, a similar comic contrast pair where no one character is the straight man, and HammyVillainSeriousHero, where such a pair is between a hero and villain. Often paired with FatAndSkinny; usually, the skinny one's the straight man but not always. Sister trope to HamAndDeadpanDuo and GleefulAndGrumpyPairing. |
| 29 | ---- |
| 30 | !!Examples: |
| 31 | [[foldercontrol]] |
| 32 | |
| 33 | [[folder:Anime & Manga]] |
| 34 | * ''Franchise/DragonBall'': The IdiotHero Son Goku primarily acts as the Wise Guy while anybody who plays off him acts at the Straight Man. In most of her appearances, [[OnlySaneMan Bulma]] acts as the Straight Man to the wackier characters. |
| 35 | ** When Bulma isn't around, [[TheRival Vegeta]] tends to act as TheComicallySerious Straight Man to Goku's Wise Guy. |
| 36 | ** [[LoserDeity Beerus]] alternates between acting as the Straight Man and the Wise Guy. When he's around Goku he's the Straight Man, trying to serve as the CloudcuckoolandersMinder. When he's not around Goku, his childish tendencies leave him as the Wise Guy and whoever he is playing off acts as the Straight Man, ussually the above mentioned Bulma, or Beerus' ServileSnarker servant Whis, who is the CloudcuckoolandersMinder to Beerus. |
| 37 | ** During the Namek Saga, [[EvilOverlord Frieza]] acted as TheComicallySerious Straight Man to his QuirkyMiniBossSquad the Ginyu Force's Wise Guy. Occessionally he also acts in this role towards Goku. |
| 38 | ** [[FakeUltimateHero Mr. Satan]] initially acted as the Wise Guy in the Cell Saga, but during the Buu Saga he took up the role of the Straight Man to Majin Buu's Wise Guy. Mr. Satan isn't the brightest person in the series, but Majin Buu is [[TheDitz even dumber than Goku]], to the point where he [[ObliviouslyEvil didn't even understand right from wrong until Mr. Satan taught him]]. |
| 39 | * ''Anime/KillLaKill'': The entire series is set in a bizarre {{Cloudcuckooland}} city ruled by a AbsurdlyPowerfulStudentCouncil, and the main character Ryoko Matoi is the Straight Man the only person who thinks any of it is weird. Her best friend Mako Mankanshoku is someone who is considered a loony even by the standards of the series who manages to baffle everyone with her InsaneTrollLogic. The result is that she not only acts the Wise Guy to Ryoko's Straight Man, but also anybody else. |
| 40 | * ''Manga/MissKobayashisDragonMaid'': the titular [[TheStoic stoic]] human protagonist Koboyashi is the Straight Man to Tohru, a dragon from another world whose lack of familiarity with the human world leaves her a {{Cloudcuckoolander}} when living among humans. She is also in love Koboyashi ever since she saved her life, even though Tohru [[FantasticRacism doesn't even like humans]], something Koboyashi is oddly indifferent to. |
| 41 | * ''Manga/MyHeroAcademia'': Endeavor plays the serious and stoic -- if hot-headed -- Straight Man to Hawks eccentric and pun-making Wise Guy. |
| 42 | * ''Anime/TigerAndBunny'': Barnaby serves as the StraightMan to Kotetsu's Wise Guy. |
| 43 | [[/folder]] |
| 44 | |
| 45 | [[folder:Comedians and Comic Duos]] |
| 46 | * Creator/AbbottAndCostello: The classic American comedic duo played off of this almost exclusively, with Abbott serving as the StraightMan to Costello's Wise Guy. Their WhosOnFirst routine is a classic example. |
| 47 | * Creator/GeorgeBurns and Creator/GracieAllen used a variant: StraightMan And TheDitz. Interestingly, Gracie Allen was initially the StraightMan in their comedy act...until George Burns realized her set-up lines got more laughter than the actual jokes. He switched roles with her and spent the next several decades as one of the classic straight men. |
| 48 | * Music/DeanMartin served as the StraightMan to Creator/JerryLewis's Wise Guy in their collaborations. |
| 49 | * Creator/LaurelAndHardy: They mixed Straight Man and Wise Guy with slapstick physical comedy. In either case, Oliver Hardy (the fat one) was the straight man. However, Stan is unintentionally the wise guy most of the time resulting from him [[TheDitz generally just being stupid]], and Ollie isn't anywhere near as unflappable and smart of a straight man as he [[KnowNothingKnowItAll believes he is]]. |
| 50 | * Creator/MelBrooks 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. |
| 51 | * ''The Mark & Brian Radio Program'': |
| 52 | ** Mark Thompson and Brian Phelps often had this dynamic during the twenty-five year run of this show, with Mark as the Straight Man & Brian as the Wise Guy. Often during sketches, it's Brian who would perform whatever outlandish character they needed while Mark interviewed him [[{{Corpsing}} and tried to keep a straight face]]. |
| 53 | ** When Mark retired from radio, Brian also left their radio station and joined with longtime friend Jill Whelan to produce ''Podcast/TheBrianAndJillShow.'' However, as self-described "Comedy Soul Mates", Brian & Jill are often both wise guys and rely on staff members Donnie and Kathy to provide the Straight Men. |
| 54 | * Creator/MarxBrothers: In the 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). |
| 55 | %%* ''Mike & Mike in the Morning'': Mike Greenberg and Mike Golic on this ESPN Radio show. |
| 56 | * ''Creator/MorecambeAndWise'': Morecambe (wise guy) and Wise (straight man). However, they are often cited as a SubvertedTrope in their later (and funniest) years--one description was "Ernie Wise is a wise guy who isn't funny, Eric Morecambe is a straight man who is". |
| 57 | * Traditional clown routines often would work in pairs where one -- typically in whiteface -- would act as the straight man to the wilder, more obviously silly other. In circuses, the part of the straight man could also e. g. be taken by the ringmaster. |
| 58 | * ''Creator/PennAndTeller'' have a variation on this setup - in terms of the spoken comedy, Penn is the Wise Guy. However, in the physical acting and trickery, it's Teller who's the wise guy while Penn guides us through the trick. |
| 59 | * The Pork Chop: This duo plays with this trope, alternating between the roles of Straight Man and Wise Guy after every punchline is delivered. |
| 60 | * In Sweden, Henrik Schyffert made a highly successful career playing the straight man to Johan Rheborg's and Robert Gustafsson's Wise Guys, cutting his teeth as the show host in ''I manegen med Glenn Killing'' and as the radio DJ in ''[=NileCity=]'' |
| 61 | [[/folder]] |
| 62 | |
| 63 | [[folder:Comic Books]] |
| 64 | * ''Franchise/{{Batman}}'': |
| 65 | ** ComicBook/TheJoker 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 Batman is the TheComicallySerious of the entire DC universe, he plays the straight man to the more flamboyant of his RoguesGallery, and often other superheroes such as the wisecracking ComicBook/TheFlash as well. |
| 66 | ** [[ServileSnarker Alfred]] also 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. |
| 67 | ** Harley Quinn, being not PsychopathicManchild but also a full blown {{Cloudcuckoolander}} act as the Wise Guy to most other characters, even if they would otherwise act as the Wise Guy themselves like the Joker. |
| 68 | * ''ComicBook/CableAndDeadpool'': This is the main focus of this comic book series. ComicBook/{{Deadpool}} is a crazy, NoFourthWall character who loves pop-culture references and extreme violence. ComicBook/{{Cable}} is a serious leader who barely tolerates Deadpool's antics. |
| 69 | * ''ComicBook/QuantumAndWoody'' is built entirely on this trope. The CrazyPrepared straight-laced serious Quantum is paired with the irreverent street-smart DeadpanSnarker Woody. And they're ''forced'' to stay paired up to prevent discorporating into pure energy, no matter how much they get on each other's nerves. |
| 70 | * ComicBook/SpiderMan is the wise guy to most of his villains, much to their annoyance, and ''almost'' any hero [[https://davidmann95.tumblr.com/post/146981189181 when they team up]]. The exceptions are the Human Torch, where they basically take turns annoying each other, and Deadpool, who's so out there it gives even Spidey a headache. |
| 71 | * In the ''ComicBook/StarWarsDarthVader'' comics, this is basically the dynamic between Vader and Dr. Aphra. She's a snarky, adaptable archaeologist/thief, he's a 7" impassive BlackKnight. |
| 72 | * ''ComicBook/SunnyvilleStories'': Samantha plays the straight role to Rusty; essentially, Rusty says or does something funny and Sam reacts. |
| 73 | * ''ComicBook/{{WITCH}}'': Has Cornelia as the Straight Girl to Irma's Wise Girl. They're also each other's SitcomArchNemesis. |
| 74 | [[/folder]] |
| 75 | |
| 76 | [[folder:Fan Works]] |
| 77 | * Yukari and Yuyuko are these respectively in ''FanFic/FantasyOfUtterRidiculousness''. The former's a Chessmaster par excellence who never stops thinking about Gensokyo's safety, and the latter is her ghost princess best friend who trolls her even during completely serious moments. |
| 78 | * In ''Fanfic/TheStoryOfApolloDaphneAndLucaAnItalianTragedy'' we have a [[PlatonicLifePartners platonic]] example with Bianca and Carlos. [[OnlySaneWoman Bianca]] is calm, cool-headed and reserved, while [[TheGadfly Carlos]] is mischievous, cheeky and outgoing. |
| 79 | * ''FanFic/WatchDogsSINsurrection'': [[Literature/MyYouthRomanticComedyIsWrongAsIExpected Hachiman Hikigaya]] and [[Literature/{{Shimoneta}} Ayame Kajo]] respectively fit into these roles rather well. In the story, Hachiman is a [[TheCynic cynical]], [[DeadpanSnarker snarky]] PlayfulHacker who throws shade at the public moral laws and how they affect Japan. Ayame, on the other hand, is a [[LoveableSexManiac perverted]], [[SirSwearsALot profanity-spewing]] [[YourTerroristsAreOurFreedomFighters terrorist/freedom fighter]] who can't go one full minute without cracking a dirty joke. Despite the above quirks, their goals more or less align and agree to work together to take down the oppressive and counterproductive laws. |
| 80 | [[/folder]] |
| 81 | |
| 82 | [[folder:Film]] |
| 83 | * The V film in ''Film/ABCsOfDeath2'' is a {{Deconstruction}} of this trope; a man is on a Skype call with his girlfriend while on vacation with his best friend. Said sleazy best friend, however, starts to show and tell her what they had been doing that night, including sleeping with two prostitutes, with the StraightMan trying to stop him throughout. |
| 84 | * Creator/JackLemmon (straight man) and Creator/WalterMatthau (wise guy): From ''Film/TheFortuneCookie'' to ''Film/GrumpyOldMen''. |
| 85 | * Stephen Fry often plays (ironically) straight man to Hugh Laurie's wise guy whenever they are in the same production. |
| 86 | * ''WesternAnimation/TheLEGOBatmanMovie'' reimagines Batman as a ManChild EmoTeen (despite not even being a teenager) who acts the Wise Guy of the movie, while Alfred instead acts as the Straight Man and the CloudcuckoolandersMinder. |
| 87 | * Creator/SimonPegg and Nick Frost: In ''Series/{{Spaced}}'', ''Film/ShaunOfTheDead'', ''Film/HotFuzz'' and anything else they do. In ''Film/TheWorldsEnd'', however, these roles are reversed. |
| 88 | * Creator/HaroldRamis (straight man) and Creator/BillMurray (wise guy) in ''Film/{{Stripes}}'' and the ''Franchise/{{Ghostbusters}}'' films. |
| 89 | * Rowan and Martin also used this in a straightforward way. Dan Rowan was the straight man; Dick Martin, the Wise Guy. |
| 90 | * Creator/DavidSpade (straight man) and Creator/ChrisFarley (wise guy) on ''Series/SaturdayNightLive'' and their films ''Film/TommyBoy'' and ''Film/BlackSheep1996''. |
| 91 | * ''Franchise/{{Shrek}}'' has Shrek & Donkey, with Shrek as the cynical and pragmatic Straight Man to Donkey's CloudCuckooLander Wise Guy. |
| 92 | * [[Film/TheViewAskewniverse Most]] of Creator/KevinSmith's films have [[ThoseTwoGuys Jay and Silent Bob]], with Silent Bob being the Straight Man. |
| 93 | * ''Film/HaroldAndKumar'': The eponymous pair, Harold (straight man) and Kumar (wise guy). |
| 94 | * ''Franchise/MenInBlack'': Agents Kay (straight man) and Jay (wise guy). |
| 95 | * In ''[[Film/ImNotRappaport I'm Not Rappaport]]'', when Nat Moyer introduces Midge Walters to the comedy routine that's the subject of the film's title, he explains it this way, telling Midge that he should be the straight man who no matter what he says replies with "I'm not Rappaport." More generally, within the film itself, this is for the most part the two's dynamic. Boht are old men past their prime, but Nat likes to play things fast and wild, but Midge is a straight-shooter who has rarely risked anything until meeting Nat. |
| 96 | [[/folder]] |
| 97 | |
| 98 | [[folder:Literature]] |
| 99 | * ''Literature/{{Animorphs}}'' |
| 100 | ** Jake is the team's natural leader as he is brave, responsible, cool under pressure, and able to take charge during a crisis. His best friend is Marco who throughout the war always maintains a sense of humor, able to crack jokes and make sarcastic remarks in the midst of battle. |
| 101 | ** On some occasions, Jake cracks a joke... and no one laughs. |
| 102 | ** Ax ends up being the StraightMan more often than not due to being TheSpock. |
| 103 | ** On one occasion it's mentioned that if Marco ended up in the Hork-Bajir refuge for a day he'd end up screaming for someone, ''anyone'', who'd understand one of his jokes. |
| 104 | * ''Jackrabbit Messiah'': Jackrabbit is the wise guy to, of all people, God as the straight man. (God is [[spoiler: actually the predominant [[HelpfulHallucination voice in Jack's head]] -- Jack is schizophrenic]]). |
| 105 | * ''Literature/KovacAndLiska'': Sam Kovac is a gruff and mostly serious police detective with some soft spots. Nikki Liska is a big mouth detective in a small package. |
| 106 | * ''Literature/{{Psmith}}'': Creator/PGWodehouse's original wise-guy Psmith has Mike Jackson as his straight man. |
| 107 | * ''Literature/ReignOfTheSevenSpellblades'': Vera Miligan's tournament match in volume 10 pits a very conventional dueling team led by Gwenaël Deschamps against 1) our friendly neighborhood MadScientist Miligan who deliberately [[LiteralDisarming gets her own hand cut off again]] to smuggle Milihand into the arena, 2) Lynette Cornwallis, who prefers spells to swordplay and conjures what amounts to a magical AttackDrone to split the other team's attention, and 3) Zoe Colonna, a girl on the verge of being [[MagicMisfire consumed by the spell]] who fights by submerging herself in the ground like a LandShark. Between Miligan and Lynette playing a ShellGame with Milihand and its basilisk eye so the other team can't keep track of it [[spoiler:and [[KansasCityShuffle doesn't realize that Miligan had Katie move her OTHER basilisk eye to her back]]]], DeathFromAbove from Lynette's drone, and Zoe literally breaking chunks off the arena floor to reduce the maneuvering room and cause a RingOut, the whole match ends up resembling a screwball physical comedy routine with Deschamps's team as the StraightMan. |
| 108 | * ''Literature/ThaliasMusings'': Apollo often ends up playing the Straight Man to Thalia's Wise Guy. Though, strictly speaking, he's not a straight [[{{Pun}} man]]. |
| 109 | [[/folder]] |
| 110 | |
| 111 | [[folder:Live-Action TV]] |
| 112 | * ''Series/TheAndyGriffithShow'': Andy Griffith and Don Knotts were like this. 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. |
| 113 | * ''Series/BattlestarGalactica1978'': Boomer is often stuck in the StraightMan role to Starbuck's (and sometimes Apollo's) risky antics. |
| 114 | * ''Series/{{Burnistoun}}'': Recurring characters Paul and Walter have this dynamic. Walter is extremely childish and constantly causing trouble for Paul by doing things such as splashing water on him, calling him gay, and in general, indulging in all sorts of whimsical and antisocial fantasies. Meanwhile, Paul is just trying to run the ice cream stand and is constantly exasperated by Walter, trying to keep him under control. |
| 115 | * ''Series/TheDailyShowWithJonStewart'': Part of Stewart's reformulation of the show from the Kilborn years is that, instead of the correspondents playing the Straight Man part to the antics of the subject, who are cast as oblivious Wise Guys, Stewart himself plays the Straight Man to the correspondents' antics. Most often, the correspondents take on the role of a StrawMan version of whatever (usually conservative) political ideology or position the segment is meant to skewer. Creator/StephenColbert was successful enough at this that his conservative-pundit-Wise-Guy persona was spun off onto [[Series/TheColbertReport its own show]]. |
| 116 | * ''Series/HomeImprovement'': Al and Tim usually seem to pull off this dynamic in [[ShowWithinAShow Tool Time]], with Tim as the bumbling-but-wisecracking Wise Guy and Al as his competent-but-long-suffering Straight Man sidekick, but at one point they switch roles accidentally and have Tim play the straight man when they do a cooking show. |
| 117 | * ''Series/HomicideLifeOnTheStreet'''s PluckyComicRelief Detectives Lewis and Crosetti form this duo. Crosetti is an rambling {{Cloudcuckoolander}} obsessed with the Lincoln assassination and constantly goes on tangents about his numerous bizarre conspiracy theories about it, while Lewis is a comparatively more strait-laced and competent wisecracker who frequently snarks at his partner's antics though he's just as prone to getting up to his own shenanigans. |
| 118 | * ''Series/KamenRiderExAid'': Jerkish, calm-to-apathetic [[DoctorJerk Taiga]] is stuck with the bratty, overly cheerful [[MoralityPet Nico]]. His attempt at acting like proper [[PerpetualFrowner brooding]] TokenEvilTeammate are followed either by her trolling him or trying to act tough herself. Both ways usually [[NotSoStoic ruin]] his efforts, much to his dismay. |
| 119 | * ''Series/KamenRiderBuild'': The quirky ComicallySerious snarker Sento tends to poke the more grounded DumbMuscle Ryuga to get a reaction out of him, usually to a great succes. Their conversations often have the dynamic resembling BokeAndTsukkomiRoutine as a result. |
| 120 | * ''Series/KamenRiderSaber'' usually has easily annoyed ConsummateProfessional Tetsuo Daishinji get teased by [[NoIndoorVoice rambuctious]], fun loving Ryo Ogami. |
| 121 | * ''Series/{{MASH}}'': Early episodes were mainly multiple wise guys (Hawkeye and Trapper, with occasionally Col. Blake or Radar) against straight men (Frank and Margaret). Later on, though, Hawkeye and BJ comprised one of these duos, with clean-cut BJ as the straight man (most of the time). |
| 122 | * ''Series/MostExtremeEliminationChallenge'' has Kenny Blankenship play Wise Guy to the snarky Vic Romano. |
| 123 | --> '''Kenny:''' Heh, that Troper just called me a wise guy. |
| 124 | --> '''Vic:''' Right you are, Ken. |
| 125 | * ''Series/TheMuppetShow'': |
| 126 | ** JustForFun/StatlerAndWaldorf unintentionally play the Wise Guy to Fozzie's Straight Man. It's the only reason that Fozzie's act is funny. |
| 127 | ** And Kermit was the StraightMan to the rest of the cast's general zaniness, although he was often the DeadpanSnarker too. |
| 128 | * ''Series/MythBusters'': Adam, the gleeful, prank-loving Wise Guy and Jamie, the no-nonsense, ComicallySerious Straight Man. |
| 129 | ** Turns out to be an InvokedTrope: the show was originally going to star Jamie as its only host, but he asked Adam to be his co-host since Jamie thought he was too boring to host it on his own. |
| 130 | %%* ''Series/PerfectStrangers'': Of course Balki (Wise Guy) and Larry (Straight Man) deserve to be listed here, don't be ridiculous. |
| 131 | * ''Series/{{Psych}}'': Gus and [[PluckyComicRelief Shawn]]! Or Juliet and Shawn. Or Lassiter and [[TheComicallySerious Shawn]]. Or Shawn's father Henry and Shawn. Or pretty much any other character is the Straight Man to Shawn's Wise Guy. |
| 132 | * Alex Trebek and Sean Connery form such a duo in the ''Series/SaturdayNightLive'' "Celebrity Jeopardy" sketches. Trebek wants to conduct a normal game show, while Connery would rather make jokes about [[YourMom Trebek's mother]]. |
| 133 | * ''Series/SesameStreet'': The other Muppet show has Bert being the Straight Man to Ernie's Wise Guy. |
| 134 | ** In the original season, a ''non-muppet'' sketch series starred Buddy, (Wise Guy) and Jim (Straight Man). |
| 135 | * ''Series/TheStrangeCalls'': Officer Toby Banks and his sidekick Gregor have this dynamic. Banks is an earnest, hapless, and mildly dorky ByTheBookCop who takes everything about his job very seriously, and is always skeptical of any supernatural explanation by things. Gregor meanwhile is an old man with lots of weird fetishes and eccentricities, who constantly makes fun of Banks and ropes him into wacky adventures relating to his expertise on the town's supernatural doings. |
| 136 | * ''Series/{{Supernatural}}'': |
| 137 | ** In the early seasons, Sam often played straight man to Dean's wise guy. This happened less and less often as the show fleshed out their relationship. |
| 138 | ** [[TheComicallySerious Castiel]] and Dean also have this dynamic, with Castiel as the straight man...[[PlayingWithATrope Played with]] in that Castiel's "straightforward, sane, conventional point of view" is that of an [[OurAngelsAreDifferent angel]] and frequently quite bizarre from a human point of view, while Dean's joking represents a more typical human perspective. |
| 139 | * ''Series/Wipeout2008'' has the hosts John Anderson and John Henson. There will usually be a few scenes in between rounds or commercials where Anderson is trying to seriously discuss the game, and Henson goes off in the weeds. |
| 140 | [[/folder]] |
| 141 | |
| 142 | [[folder:Podcasts]] |
| 143 | * ''Podcast/NitroGameInjection'': [=KyleJCrb=] is the StraightMan to Liontamer's Wise Guy in this video game music podcast. |
| 144 | * ''Podcast/UnpaidProgramming'': Lawrence and John are the Straight Men to Jeff and Tim's Wise Guys. |
| 145 | [[/folder]] |
| 146 | |
| 147 | [[folder:Theatre]] |
| 148 | * ''Theatre/TheMerchantOfVenice'': Lorenzo (Straight Man) and Launcelot (Wise Guy). |
| 149 | [[/folder]] |
| 150 | |
| 151 | [[folder:Video Games]] |
| 152 | * ''VideoGame/AITheSomniumFiles:'' ZigZagged; the first game of the series stars the duo of [[Characters/AITheSomniumFilesKanameDate Kaname Date]]--a distractable and [[{{Manchild}} childish]] BunnyEarsLawyer with a massive porn addiction--and his partner Aiba--a highly advanced ArtificialIntelligence with a [[TheSpock coolheaded]] and [[SnarkyNonHumanSidekick sarcastic]] attitude. While solving high-profile crimes, the two will snark, insult, and make terrible puns at each other to no end, Aiba's cold computer logic balancing out Date's impulsiveness and immaturity. While it's usually Date as the wise guy and Aiba as the straight man (not a man though), the two can switch the dynamic up depending on context (i.e. Aiba making terrible jokes and squeeing like a fangirl at insects, Date being laser focused on public safety and showing his detective chops). |
| 153 | * ''VideoGame/BaldursGate2'': This dynamic often develops between more silly and more serious party members whenever they banter or respond to each other in conversation. Of particular note is Valygar, whose straight-laced and sour personality means he's pretty much always the Straight Man (to the point that even [[ThePaladin Mazzy Fentan and Keldorn]] can play Wise Guys to him), and Jan Jansen, whose entire party role is to be the Wise Guy to everyone: His banters mostly involve telling long and probably fake stories about his incredible life and his improbably quirky family, much to the consternation of more serious characters. |
| 154 | * ''VideoGame/CrashTagTeamRacing'' has the news reporters Chick Gizzard Lips (Straight man who does the actual reporting) and Stew (Wise Guy who typically says things that are unrelated to the issue at hand, much to his partner's chagrin). This characterization carries over into ''VideoGame/CrashTeamRacingNitroFueled'', both in the Grand Prix introductions and in their racer dialogue. |
| 155 | * ''VideoGame/DarksidersGenesis'' features SiblingTeam of War and Strife as protagonists. War is completely humorless, prone to overdramatic speech, and takes everything far too seriously. Strife is a DeadpanSnarker who loves teasing his brother and always has something funny to say. Their interactions are an endless source of comedy for the player. |
| 156 | * In ''VideoGame/DiscoElysium'', this is mostly likely the form the relationship between [[PlayerCharacter the Detective]] and his partner, Kim, will take. No matter what, Kim is always a ConsummateProfessional StraightMan who tries his damnest to keep the investigation on track, while the player will mostly likely be living it up as an [[BunnyEarsLawyer extremely eccentric]] and snarky DefectiveDetective. The game's loading screens even encourages the player to play into this dynamic. The player is, however, also free to subvert this, by playing as a ByTheBookCop. |
| 157 | * ''[[VideoGame/DotsHome Dot's Home]]'': Amos describes his dynamic with his friend Hank this way. According to him, he's the "funny guy" while Hank's the StraightMan, and the latter is [[Creator/AbbottAndCostello "the Abbott to [Amos'] Costello".]] Whenever the two are on third shift, they riff off each other as they drive to work. |
| 158 | * ''Franchise/DragonAge'': |
| 159 | ** ''Everyone'' and everyone else at various points in ''[[VideoGame/DragonAgeOrigins Origins]]''. That the entire cast is composed of [[DeadpanSnarker sarcastic people]] doesn't help. [[PlayerCharacter The Warden]] and [[DeadpanSnarker Alistair]] is probably the most notable example. |
| 160 | ** In ''[[VideoGame/DragonAgeOriginsAwakening Awakening]]'', Anders, Sigrun, and Oghren are generally the wise guys who bounce off of Nathaniel, Velanna and Justice. Nathaniel gets a little snarkier [[BelligerentSexualTension around Velanna...]] |
| 161 | ** ''VideoGame/DragonAgeII'' gives us [[LiteralMinded Merrill]] or Anders (how times change) as the StraightMan when placed opposite [[DeadpanSnarker Silly!]][[PlayerCharacter Hawke]]. Aveline and Fenris tend to act as the straight men to Isabela / Varric / Silly! Hawke (again). Especially Silly!Hawke and Aveline: |
| 162 | --->'''Silly!Hawk:''' ''[to Aveline]'' You don't want me as sour-and-dour as you. You need a counterpoint. |
| 163 | * ''Franchise/FireEmblem'': Most of these games have at least one pair: |
| 164 | ** ''[[VideoGame/FireEmblemMysteryOfTheEmblem Mystery of the Emblem]]'': Julian and Ricardo (a redeemed thief out for love and an energetic chronic kleptomaniac). |
| 165 | ** ''[[VideoGame/FireEmblemGenealogyOfTheHolyWar Genealogy of the Holy War]]'': Jamke and Dew (TheWisePrince and a LovableRogue). |
| 166 | ** ''[[VideoGame/FireEmblemTheBlazingBlade The Blazing Blade]]'': Kent and Sain (a KnightInShiningArmor and a ChivalrousPervert), Dorcas and Bartre (TheQuietOne and a HotBlooded fighter). |
| 167 | ** ''[[VideoGame/FireEmblemTheSacredStones The Sacred Stones]]'': Kyle and Forde (another KnightInShiningArmor and TheSlacker). |
| 168 | * ''VideoGame/JakAndDaxter'' fit into their respective roles quite nicely when on missions. Although, even when Daxter is the one making snide remarks about doing someone's dirty work, Jak's not above throwing some shade of his own. |
| 169 | * ''VideoGame/MutantFootballLeague'' features Grim Blitzro as the sportscaster and "Brickhead" Mulligan providing color commentary. Grim is the straight man who knows the ins and outs of the game of football and usually initiates most of the commentary. "Brickhead" Mulligan is a retired MFL player who has very clearly lost a lot of intelligence from taking a few too many hits to the head. |
| 170 | -->'''Grim:''' OHH! After a hit like that, he may not be able to comprehend math!\ |
| 171 | '''"Brickhead":''' What's math?\ |
| 172 | '''Grim:''' Exactly. |
| 173 | * ''VideoGame/NoStraightRoads'' has the leads, the laid-back Zuke and spunky rapscallion Mayday, though they take turns being the voice of reason and goofy one depending on the situation. |
| 174 | * ''Franchise/{{Splatoon}}'': |
| 175 | ** {{Idol singer}}s Callie and Marie play the parts of wise guy and straight man (respectively), both when they served as newscasters in the first game, and in their more casual conversations and radio chatter in the various story modes. Notably, they invert the usual of set-up and response format seen with this trope: jokester Callie often opens conversations with a bad joke or something ditzy, which straight woman Marie replies to with a snarky comment playing off it. |
| 176 | -->'''Callie:''' Help! I have a sudden craving for peanut butter!\ |
| 177 | '''Marie:''' Great stage tip, Callie. Really helpful. |
| 178 | ** Pearl and Marina (introduced in the second game), use the same set-up and response format, which is likewise seen both in their newscaster roles and personal lives. Pearl serves as the wise gal who says something absurd or surprising, while Marina is the straight woman who follows it up with a teasing remark. Downplayed in that the duo have a more lighthearted dynamic that occasionally allows them to swap roles depending on what's been discussed, thanks to Pearl being BookDumb, while Marina is a FishOutOfWater. |
| 179 | -->'''Marina:''' I can see it now. The sun, the breeze in my tentacles, a quick dip in the ocean...\ |
| 180 | '''Pearl:''' Marina, did you forget that we LITERALLY DISSOLVE in the ocean or somethin'? |
| 181 | [[/folder]] |
| 182 | |
| 183 | [[folder:Web Animation]] |
| 184 | * ''WebAnimation/DeathBattle'': Wiz and Boomstick are almost the epitome of this trope, Wiz is a genius MadScientist who often does the hard maths and deductions, while Boomstick is a crude [[GunNut Weapon Nut]] who makes all the jokes and one-liners. |
| 185 | * ''WebAnimation/DSBTInsaniT'': Andy is the wise guy and Martha is the straight man. Andy makes a dumb joke, and Martha sarcastically reacts. |
| 186 | * ''WebAnimation/EpithetErased'': Played with in the Western arc, where personality-wise Ramsey is the wise guy and Percy the straight man (despite being an ace woman), but Ramsey is also the OnlySaneMan and responds with bewilderment to the constant bizarre things that happen in ''Epithet Erased'' while Percy is a deeply absurd character who keeps presenting, dead seriously, a wildly unhinged perspective on the world. |
| 187 | * ''WebAnimation/LlamasWithHats'': Paul and Carl. Paul is the Straight Man by virtue of being the even-tempered and normal OnlySaneMan and is stuck reacting to the BloodyHilarious antics of Carl, the AffablyEvil (and AxCrazy) Wise Guy. |
| 188 | * In the PTA episodes of ''WebAnimation/TheMostPopularGirlsInSchool'', we have the no-nonsense wife-of-a-senator Pamela Darabond & {{Cloudcuckoolander}} [[LikeMotherLikeDaughter Trish Cappelletti]]. |
| 189 | * ''WebAnimation/CivilProtection'': The only two main characters of Ross Scott's Accursed Farms machinima are the Civil Protection cops Mike and Dave. The former is level headed and just wants a stable life, and the latter is an oddball daredevil who constantly stirs up trouble. |
| 190 | [[/folder]] |
| 191 | |
| 192 | [[folder:Web Comics]] |
| 193 | * ''WebComic/DubiousCompany'': Walter is the Wise Guy to Tiren's Straight Man. Also occasionally, Mary and Leeroy are the wise guys to Sue and Sal respectively: |
| 194 | -->'''Tiren:''' So where are we...?\ |
| 195 | '''Walter:''' [[WhosOnFirst Nowhere.]]\ |
| 196 | ''(beat)''\ |
| 197 | '''Tiren:''' Walter, I will beat you to [[CutHisHeartOutWithASpoon death with a coconut]]! |
| 198 | * In ''Webcomic/ElGoonishShive'', while doing their review show, Elliot [[https://www.egscomics.com/comic/2013-03-29 plays]] the Wise Guy to Susan's Straight Man. |
| 199 | * ''Webcomic/ExistentialComics'': Creator/AlbertCamus and Creator/JeanPaulSartre, where the former is shown as being a superbly cool, laid-back womanizer who effortlessly picks up women, while Sartre is a stuffy intellectual, mostly the {{foil}} to Camus's barbs. This may ''some-what'' reflect their real-life relationship. Also Zeno of Citium and Zeno of Elea, depicted as roommates in the mode of ''Theatre/TheOddCouple'', the latter mostly getting on the former's nerves when he used his paradoxes as excuses. |
| 200 | * ''Webcomic/TheFourthWall:'' Foul-mouthed, perpetually disgruntled snarker Ric plays the Wise Guy to Greg's Straight Man. |
| 201 | * ''Webcomic/PennyArcade'': The straightlaced Tycho and TheDitz Gabe. |
| 202 | * ''Webcomic/{{Stairwell}}'': This webcomic is a little on the odd side as it has Norman as the Straight Man AND the Wise Guy (which is represented by a manifestation of Norman's brain) |
| 203 | [[/folder]] |
| 204 | |
| 205 | [[folder:Web Video]] |
| 206 | * Most of The Courier's companions in ''WebVideo/CouriersMindRiseOfNewVegas'' are straight man compared to him to some degree, but [[TheStoic Boone]] is easily ''the'' Straight Man to his Wise Guy. Nowhere is there a bigger contrast in personalities than between the [[TheComicallySerious No-Nonsense]] veteran ColdSniper and the [[LargeHam loud]], {{boisterous|Bruiser}}, and [[AxCrazy cheerfully bloodthirsty]] mailman. |
| 207 | * [[Creator/TheCynicalBrit John Bain]] and WebVideo/JesseCox, with the former as the straight man and the latter as the wise guy. You wouldn't think so, given Jesse's wacky and outgoing personality and {{WebVideo/WowCrendor}}'s monotone deadpan voice, but this is an InvertedTrope when the two partner up. This is because Crendor's more {{Cloudcuckoolander}} traits tend to make Jesse the straight man. |
| 208 | * WebVideo/{{Danisnotonfire}} often plays Straight Man to WebVideo/AmazingPhil's Wise Guy in their collabs. |
| 209 | * ''WebVideo/DragonBallZAbridged'': [[IdiotHero Son Goku]] acts as the Wise Guy and whoever he is playing off is the Straight Man (even if the character would normally be the Wise Guy), barring some [[DumbassHasAPoint moments where he's right]]. Either way he has a knock for driving the unlucky Straight Man insane, something that he is hinted to be doing on purpose. |
| 210 | ** Unless he's playing off Goku, season 3's BigBad Cell typically acts as the LaughablyEvil Wise Guy and whoever he's playing off serves as the Straight Man. |
| 211 | * ''WebVideo/DragonBallDC'', similar to the above mentioned ''Dragon Ball'', it's version Son Goku (called Kakarot Kent in this series) acts as the Wise Guy while whoever he plays off is the Straight Man, except for [[Franchise/GreenLantern Larfleeze]] who is a lunatic obsessed with hoarding anything of value. |
| 212 | ** In the side story "The JENNY And LARFLEEZE Show" featuring a podcast with [[Franchise/{{Superman}} Jenny Olson]] and [[Franchise/GreenLantern Larfleeze]]. Jenny is normal person, who is largely conditioned to the outlandish happenings of the Comicbook/DCUniverse, serves as the Straight Man. Larfleeze is still the Wise Guy with his continued desire to hoard anything of value, even immaterial things like views, comments, likes and subscriptions for the podcast. |
| 213 | * [[PsychopathicWomanchild Rin]] from ''WebVideo/FateStayNightUnlimitedBladeWorksAbridged'' as the wise guy to whoever she plays off, usually [[TheHero Shirou]] or [[IgnoredExpert Archer]]. |
| 214 | * ''WebVideo/GameGrumps'': When doing ''Game Grumps'', Creator/{{Egoraptor}} is the Straight Man, while WebVideo/JonTron (or [[Music/NinjaSexParty Danny]] as of June 25th, 2013) is the Wise Guy. |
| 215 | * The [[https://www.youtube.com/user/TheJeffAndDavidShow/ Jeff and David Show]]: David (Straight Man) and Jeff (Wise Guy). |
| 216 | ** "You[Wise]'ll be short and angry, and I[Morecambe]'ll be tall and stupid. And we'll ''both'' be idiots." |
| 217 | * [[Series/StarTrekTheOriginalSeries Spock]] plays straight man to [[Series/StarTrekTheNextGeneration Q]] in ''WebVideo/SpockVsQ''. |
| 218 | * Many Plush Gaming episodes of ''WebVideo/VesterAndFriends'' have different characters be the Straight Man and Wise Guy. With Link, Mario, Yellow Yoshi, Isabelle and Bowser Junior being examples of the Straight Man and Bowser, Woody, Toad, Wario and Eggman being examples of the Wise Guy. |
| 219 | [[/folder]] |
| 220 | |
| 221 | [[folder:Western Animation]] |
| 222 | %%* ''WesternAnimation/TheAmazingChanAndTheChanClan'': Brothers Henry and Stanley (though Henry is often a DeadpanSnarker and gets some funny lines). |
| 223 | * ''WesternAnimation/ChalkZone'': Rudy is the Straight Man and Snap is the Wise Guy. |
| 224 | * WesternAnimation/ChipAndDale, respectively, in most of their iterations, but especially so in the ''[[WesternAnimation/ChipNDaleRescueRangers Rescue Rangers]]'' continuity. Averted, though, in ''[[WesternAnimation/ChipNDaleParkLife Park Life]]'', which depicts both chipmunks as somewhat dimwitted goof-offs. |
| 225 | * ''WesternAnimation/GoofTroop'': [[HighSchoolHustler Max]] and [[NoRespectGuy PJ]] though which one is which depends on the episode. As a pattern, [[TheDragAlong PJ]] is more likely to be the straight man and [[FearlessFool Max]] the wise guy, but there are some episodes where the roles are reversed and others where they can switch roles in the span of a single scene. It helps that they're both in the CompetenceZone and [[DeadpanSnarker naturally snarky]]. |
| 226 | * ''WesternAnimation/HarleyQuinn2019''. The title character is as expected, an AxCrazy CloudCuckoolander. Her best friend ComicBook/PoisonIvy acts as the most common Straight Man. Poison Ivy is a murderous eco terrorist, but compared to most of the criminals in the show she's the OnlySaneMan. |
| 227 | ** The show's version of Franchise/{{Batman}} acts as the Straight Man to its Jim Gordon. Years of acting as a cop in [[WretchedHive Gotham City]] have taken their toll Gordon's mental health, making him a nervous wreck with a drinking problem. During the show's second season Batman is [[PutOnABus injured]] so Batgirl takes the role instead, acting as one of the show's few normal characters. |
| 228 | ** [[ServileSnarker Alfred]] acts as this to Batman. Batman as turns out only comes off as normal compared to everyone else in [[CloudCuckooland the crazy city]]. BeneathTheMask he's a total ManChild, albiet one trying to do good. Alfred is the DeadpanSnarker foil. Batman's attempts to return to fighting crime despite his injuries in his ADayInTheLimelight has play out like a FantasyForbiddingFather arguing with his stubborn teenage son. |
| 229 | * The hosts of ''WesternAnimation/KaBlam'' -- Henry is the Straight Man while June is the Wise Girl. |
| 230 | * ''WesternAnimation/LooneyTunes'': This dynamic is a common setup, with a designated victim like Elmer Fudd or Yosemite Sam set up as the Straight Man to Bugs Bunny's Wise Guy tomfoolery. Occasionally, Porky Pig will play a humbler, more unassuming Straight Man to Daffy Duck's even kookier Wise Guy antics. |
| 231 | ** ''WesternAnimation/BugsBunny'', of all people will occasionally play the Straight Man to Daffy's Wise Guy, while the latter lets his inner demons get the best of him and gets himself into hot water almost all the time, Bugs keeps his cool and just tries to relax or get to somewhere he can relax until Daffy's antics become his problem. |
| 232 | * ''WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagic'': |
| 233 | ** Twilight Sparkle is the Straight Mare and Pinkie Pie is the Wise Filly. |
| 234 | ** Pinkie is so [[CloudCuckoolander bizarre]] that any interaction with her tends to convert characters who would normally serve as the Wise Guy into the Straight Man, most obviously her [[OddFriendship seemingly unlikely friendship]] with BoisterousBruiser Rainbow Dash. |
| 235 | ** In fanfiction, Lyra and Bon Bon usually end up like this, with Bon Bon having to put up with Lyra's crazy antics. |
| 236 | * In ''WesternAnimation/PhineasAndFerb,'' Perry plays straight man to Dr. Doofenshmirtz's wise guy. Keep in mind, Perry's a platypus. |
| 237 | * ''WesternAnimation/PinkyAndTheBrain'': With Pinky as the Wise Guy and The Brain as the Straight Man. |
| 238 | * ''WesternAnimation/TheLegendOfKorra'': |
| 239 | ** In Book Four, straight-laced detective Mako gets assigned as the bodyguard to the foppish, hedonistic CasanovaWannabe Prince Wu. Mako doesn't make a secret of how annoying this is and takes some getting used to the whole idea. |
| 240 | ** Bolin, usually something of a wise guy himself, ends up playing the straight man to the eccentric Varrick when the two of them are on the run from Kuvira. |
| 241 | * Balthazar Cavendish and Vinnie Dakota from ''WesternAnimation/MiloMurphysLaw.'' The former embodies BritishStuffiness and is serious about his job, the latter is a fun-loving BigEater who is BrilliantButLazy. |
| 242 | * [[WesternAnimation/TheRenAndStimpyShow Ren and Stimpy]] are a subversion, with Ren as the straight man, and Stimpy as the "eediot".[[note]]Some (repeat: [[DependingOnTheWriter SOME]]) episodes DO have Stimpy acting as though he were a wise guy, but that's the joke since he's anything BUT wise...[[/note]] |
| 243 | * ''WesternAnimation/SheRaAndThePrincessesOfPower'', Catra, prior to her VillainousBreakdown, acts the Straight Man to [[TheDitz Scopia's]] Wise Guy. Catra is a dangerous, competent villain. [[DumbMuscle Scorpia is a formidable fighter, but she's a complete idiot]] who is hopelessly in love with Catra, who clearly doesn't share her feelings. |
| 244 | * ''WesternAnimation/TheSimpsons'': Early episodes had Lisa and Bart as a classic Straight Man And Wise Guy pair, especially when they investigated mysteries together. Usually, Lisa would compare the situation to some historic moment or classical literature, and Bart would make a joke about it: |
| 245 | -->'''Lisa:''' This is so cool, Bart. We're just like Woodward and Bernstein.\ |
| 246 | '''Bart:''' Yeah, except their dad wasn't waiting in the car reading Archie comics. |
| 247 | * ''WesternAnimation/WallaceAndGromit'': Notable in that the Straight Man (Gromit) is completely mute and only expresses himself through pantomime. Their exchanges are usually along the lines of: |
| 248 | -->'''Wallace:''' I know! I'll build a wacky elaborate contraption to solve this ordinary mundane problem!\ |
| 249 | '''Gromit:''' ''(gesticulates wildly)''\ |
| 250 | '''Wallace:''' Hm, you're right. It will have to be ''exceptionally'' wacky and elaborate to get the job done. Let's go!\ |
| 251 | '''Gromit:''' ''([[SilentSnarker rolls eyes]])'' |
| 252 | [[/folder]] |
| 253 | |
| 254 | [[folder:Other]] |
| 255 | * In a meta sense, [[Website/TVTropes This Very Wiki]] is the Wise Guy to the Straight Man that is [[Website/{{Wikipedia}} The Other Wiki]]. They present the facts in a matter-of-fact manner, while we provide sarcasm and humorous commentary to go with those same facts. |
| 256 | * Any Professional sports broadcast has this set-up, with a straight man announcer calling the action on the field and a "color guy" alongside him providing flavor and analysis of the action. |
| 257 | [[/folder]] |
http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/context.php
FollowingContext Main / StraightManAndWiseGuy
Go To
- Show Spoilers
- Night Vision
- Sticky Header
- Wide Load
