The straight man usually isn't funny. That's the point
this post was submitted on 30 Mar 2025
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No they're typically funny but never give away that they're trying to be funny.
"Let's get Phil-sical."
It's one of my favorite lines from him.
What? Phil’s whole character is him trying to be funny and quirky.
But he's funny by being corny and "unfunny" in the reality that is tne TV show if that makes any sense. It's similar to how the Michael Scott character is played
Micheal Scott’s passion is comedy. He is obsessed with it. Mentions it a lot in the first few seasons.
But he's really terrible at it. He constantly quotes comedians out of context in ways that are categorically unfunny to the people around him. Like when he calls Dwight an "ignorant slut" or says "and don't call me Shirley" when no one has said the word "surely". He copies the punchlines but forgets the setups.
He envies comedians because he wants to be able to make people laugh, but he has a very poor understanding of comedy itself.
"That's what she said!"