Deadpan Delivery Technique

A Deadpan Delivery Technique is an emotionless performance technique that presents deadpan comedic material through deadpan deliberately flat affect.

• AKA: Dry Delivery Method, Monotone Comedy Technique, Flat Affect Performance, Stone-Face Comedy.
• Context:
  • It can (typically) maintain Deadpan Emotional Neutrality during deadpan absurd statements.
  • It can (typically) create Deadpan Comedic Contrast between deadpan content and deadpan delivery.
  • It can (typically) employ Deadpan Monotone Voice for deadpan ironic effect.
  • It can (often) utilize Deadpan Minimal Facial Expression with deadpan maximum verbal absurdity.
  • It can (often) enhance Deadpan Observational Comedy through deadpan detached perspective.
  • It can (often) amplify Deadpan Surreal Content via deadpan matter-of-fact presentation.
  • It can range from being a Subtle Deadpan to being an Extreme Monotone, depending on its flatness degree.
  • It can range from being a Slow Deadpan Delivery to being a Rapid-Fire Deadpan, depending on its pacing speed.
  • It can range from being a Minimalist Deadpan to being a Verbose Deadpan, depending on its word density.
  • It can range from being a Pure Deadpan to being a Deadpan with Breaks, depending on its consistency level.
  • ...
• Example(s):
  • Pioneering Deadpan Comedians, such as:
    • Buster Keaton (1920s), establishing deadpan silent film comedy with deadpan stone face.
    • Jack Benny (1940s-1960s), perfecting deadpan radio and deadpan television delivery.
  • Modern Deadpan Stand-Up Comedians, such as:
    • Steven Wright (1980s+), pioneering deadpan surreal observations with deadpan monotone delivery.
    • Mitch Hedberg (1990s-2000s), combining deadpan absurdist one-liners with deadpan laid-back flatness.
    • Tig Notaro (2000s+), delivering deadpan personal narratives with deadpan emotional distance.
  • Deadpan Television Performances, such as:
    • Norm Macdonald Talk Show Appearances (1990s-2010s), maintaining deadpan flat affect through deadpan elaborate storys.
    • Todd Barry Crowd Work (2010s+), using deadpan minimal energy for deadpan maximum effect.
  • Deadpan Characters, such as:
    • Ron Swanson in Parks and Recreation, expressing strong opinions emotionlessly.
    • April Ludgate in Parks and Recreation, embodying perpetual disinterest.
  • ...
• Counter-Example(s):
  • Animated Delivery Technique, which uses excessive emotion.
  • Physical Comedy Performance, which relies on expressive movement.
  • Energetic Comedy Style, which employs high enthusiasm.
• See: Performance Technique, Comedy Technique, Anti-Humor Technique, Shaggy Dog Storytelling Technique, Ironic Performance Style, Comedic Timing Technique, Observational Comedy Method, Minimalist Performance Art, Emotional Restraint Technique, Surreal Comedy Delivery, Comedy Show Host, Physical Comedy Technique, Character Comedy Technique.

---