History Main / SmarmyHost

* Frequently mocked on ''ABitOfFryAndLaurie'', including various real-life targets such as Noel Edmonds.

* ''TheJoeSchmoShow'' had a cast of RealityTV archetypes, with the hosts' being that of "smarmy host".

A related trope to KentBrockmanNews and HatesTheJobLovesTheLimelight, this is the game show or sport event counterpart. You know the type, slicked hair and an equally slick personality. He will crack lots of jokes of the WittyBanter type, but you always suspect he;s really a JerkAss, and you're often proved correct in that assumption.

[[folder:Web Video]]
* Played for increasingly dark laughs in ''WebVideo/SexHouse''. When [[NoNameGiven The Host]] comes into the show for the first time, he's way too personal with everybody, and Derek notes he looks 'dead-behind-the-eyes'. Over the course of the show, he goes [[DrivenToMadness just as insane as everybody else]].

A related trope to KentBrockmanNews and HatesTheJobLovesTheLimelight, this is the game show or sport event counterpart. You know the type, slicked hair and an equally slick personality. They'll crack lots of jokes of the WittyBanter type, but you always suspect they're really a JerkAss, and you're often proved correct in that assumption.

* In a BLAM Episode of ''Anime/ErgoProxy'', Vincent and co. end up trapped by a Proxy who acts as a gameshow host and has this personality to a t, and delivers exposition in the form of quiz questions.

* The jerkass Millionaire host in ''SlumdogMillionaire''
* Subverted with Corny Collins in ''{{Hairspray}}''. He has the hair for it, is somewhat self-absorbed, but he is wholly redeemed by the fact he's not a racist and in fact very open to racial desegregation. In the end, he openly defies the villain and generally functions as a ReasonableAuthorityFigure.
* Damon Killian of ''Film/TheRunningMan'' who is a VillainWithGoodPublicity.

* ''TheJoeSchmoShow'' had a cast of RealityTv archetypes, with the hosts' being that of "smarmy host".

* On December first, 1976, the notorious broadcast of Thames Television's ''Today'' show aired in the London region, featuring Siouxie Sioux and members of TheSexPistols. During what was apparently thought to be pre-show banter, host Bill Grundy, apparently drunk, made a rather explicit pass at Sioux. The resulting wordplay, which included guitarist Steve Jones [[PrecisionFStrike swearing at Grundy]], resulted in the famous "The Filth and the Fury!" headline in ''The Daily Mirror'', and effectively ended Grundy's career.

* Chris on ''TotalDramaIsland'' to humorously sociopathic levels
* Beaux Handsome in ''WordGirl''. There's also Seymour Orlando Smooth. One of the villains, he's not only smarmy, but skeezy-- a corrupt host who rigs all of his game shows so that none of the real contestants have an actual shot at winning. Oh, and he uses his dazzling white teeth to stun his opponents.

* In an episode of ''MartianSuccessorNadesico'', the various female characters on the show participated in a fashion show to be the [[strike: new captain]] [[BlatantLies captain for a day]], and Jun and Nagare acted in the role of commentators. The latter fit into this role like a glove, being a rather jerkish {{casanova}}.

* Damon Killian of ''Film/TheRunningMan'' who is a CompleteMonster and VillainWithGoodPublicity.

* In a BLAM Episode of ''ErgoProxy'', Vincent and co. end up trapped by a Proxy who acts as a gameshow host and has this personality to a t, and delivers exposition in the form of quiz questions.

* ''TheJoeSchmoShow'' had a cast of RealityTv archetypes, with the hosts' being that of "smarmy host".

* ''MontyPythonsFlyingCircus'' has a lot of sketches based on this trope.

* Guy Smiley from ''SesameStreet''.

* Damon Killian of ''The RunningMan'' who is a CompleteMonster and VillainWithGoodPublicity.

* Fred Willard often plays this type, especially in Christopher Guest's movies, with''Best in Show'' being a good example.

A related trope to KentBrockmanNews and TheKrusty, this is the game show or sport event counterpart. You know the type, slicked hair and an equally slick personality. They'll crack lots of jokes of the WittyBanter type, but you always suspect they're really a JerkAss, and you're often proved correct in that assumption.

* Somewhat Corny Collins in ''{{Hairspray}}'', who has the hair for it, and is kind of a jerk (he's implied to regularly impregnate the girls on his show); somewhat redeemed by the fact he's not a racist.
** Woah, woah, woah. WHERE is it implied he impregnates anyone? His songs are really braggy but that could be his persona. When he's being himself he's a proactive, confident man.
** One of the dancers on the show is pregnant, but it's never really said or even implied that Corny is the father.

* On December first, 1976, the notorious broadcast of Thames Television's ''Today'' show aired in the London region, featuring Siouxie Sioux and members of TheSexPistols. During what was apparently thought to be pre-show banter, host Bill Grundy, apparently drunk, made a rather explicit pass at Sioux. The resulting wordplay, which included guitarist Steve Jones swearing at Grundy, resulted in the famous "The Filth and the Fury!" headline in ''The Daily Mirror'', and effectively ended Grundy's career.

A related trope to KentBrockmanNews and TheKrusty, this is the game show or sport event counterpart. You know the type, slicked hair and an equally slick personality. They'll crack lots of jokes of the Witty Banter type, but you always suspect they're really a JerkAss, and you're often proved correct in that assumption.

* On December first, 1976, the notorious broadcast of Thames Television's ''Today'' show aired in the London region, featuring Siouxie Sioux and members of TheSexPistols. During what was apparently thought to be pre-show banter, host Bill Grundy, apparently drunk, made a rather explicit pass at Sioux. The resulting wordplay, which included guitarist Steve Jones swearing at Grundy, resulted in the famous "The Filth and the Fury!" headline in ''The Daily Mirror'', and effectively ended Grundy's career.

[[folder:Manga and Anime]]
* In a BLAM Episode of ''ErgoProxy'', Vincent and co. end up trapped by a Proxy who acts as a gameshow host and has this personality to a t, and delivers exposition in the form of quiz questions.
* In an episode of ''MartianSuccessorNadesico'', the various female characters on the show participated in a fashion show to be the [[strike: new captain]] [[BlatantLies captain for a day]], and Jun and Nagare acted in the role of commentators. The latter fit into this role like a glove, being a rather jerkish {{casanova}}.
[[/folder]]

* In a BLAM Episode of Ergo Proxy, Vincent and co. end up trapped by a Proxy who acts as a gameshow host and has this personality to a t, and delivers exposition in the form of quiz questions.

* Somewhat Corny Collins in ''{{Hairspray}}'', who has the hair for it, and is kind of a jerk (he's implied to regularly impregnates the girls on his show); somewhat redeemed by the fact he's not a racist.