What’s an excellent bit of dramatic acting in an otherwise comedic show?

Submitted by unitedfan6191 t3_11a8s9q in television

Hi.

Hope everyone’s doing well.

I’ve always thought in order to best connect to a comedic performance, it probably needs at least a little bit of a dramatic tension in the background (or foreground) in order to make the comedy even funnier but also to create a more three-dimensional picture of the character and scene. If it’s just jokes, jokes, jokes, then I think it’s harder to connect and relate to the heart and soul of the character delivering them.

The Office has many examples of this but one is when in the season 4 episode “Money” Michael Scott is very tired, dejected and lacking focus and it’s just a very different Michael Scott and Steve Carell depicts this very well and the conversations seem even more natural and the episode as a whole has less hijinks than usual (aside from Mose Schrute, mainly) and I feel Steve had to carry it more on the dramatic acting side than usual and I felt for Michael and the predicament he and Dwight was in that episode, who, by the way, also shined in that episode.

Dr. Cox’s best friend Ben (played by Brendan Fraser) had a very gut-wrenching three episodes in Scrubs and in My Screw Up in particular was very moving and if that doesn’t make you tear up at least a little, you’re a heartless, soulless monster. “Where do you think we are?”

Will’s father abandoning him again on The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air I thought was another very good example of dramatic acting by Will and James, especially in that last scene of that episode. "How come he don't want me, man?" What a tearjerker, sitcom or not.

What are your favorites?

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SurrealRaypissed t1_j9r1j35 wrote

Fresh Prince and its not the "Why He Dont Want Me Man" scene

its actually a performance from Alfonso Ribiero after Will is shot and Carlton is ready to go get revenge. This scene and the weight of it always stuck with me.

a shame to be typecast because Alfonso is an incredible actor

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TootieSummers t1_j9qjqf2 wrote

The episode of Roseanne where Jackie’s boyfriend is discovered to be physically abusing her.

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masimone t1_j9sq8ql wrote

Didn't Dan kick his ass?

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Roook36 t1_j9tupq6 wrote

Yeah. He just walked out of the room when he heard about it. Came back with a sore hand and bruised knuckles. Cops picked him up and on the way to the station they stop at a light and he looks over and sees his kid's school principal who he had to meet with earlier to discuss the kid's bad behavior at school. He smiles at him and waves with the handcuffs on lol.

One of my favorite scenes that takes place while the credits are rolling

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IndyRevolution t1_j9r13hu wrote

David Brent getting fired in the UK Office and begging to keep his job (he "breaks character" and you realize that beneath all the on-camera quirkiness is a man with nothing in his life except his position) is more poignant than anything in the US version (even if the UK version is droll and un-engaging at various points).

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Pineapple996 t1_j9tevbd wrote

Ricky Gervais is a really good actor. His monologue at the end of Extras is amazing.

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Perfect_Ad_505 t1_j9se1nl wrote

Ted Lasso telling the story of his dads suicide

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Doc_coletti t1_j9t2b2l wrote

Rob McElhenney as Mac in “Mac finds his Pride”.

THe character started as a womanizer, before eventually coming out of the closet after about 12 seasons. In the episode I’m talking about, he decides to tell his imprisoned father that he is gay, by doing an interpretive dance for the whole prison, as well as Danny Devito’s character.

Anyone familiar with the show might be waiting for the joke, but there isn’t one. He and his partner do a five minute uninterrupted dance, in water, representing the storm swirling inside the character, as a catholic man coming to terms with his sexuality. It’s really beautiful and powerful.

Iirc Rob spent the better part of a year training and practicing for it. It’s pretty surprising coming from a show with an episode called “who pooped the bed”.

https://youtu.be/3J6urFp8YZ0

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37Schmeckles t1_j9wkfh7 wrote

I dunno why man - like, i cant stand interpretive dance in general, and this felt so weird and out of place in iasip, but that fucking scene man….i always end up crying a bit.

Its absolutely fucking beautiful. Everything about it. They nailed that song choice and Im so glad they released it to them as it fits, PERFECTLY. The female co-dancers frickin amazing as well.

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IndyRevolution t1_j9r20xn wrote

Fun fact about the Fresh Prince, that scene was based in reality. Will Smith never met his father, and the line above was unscripted, as was the hug with his uncle.

Lmao nope, Will Smith knows his parents and has a tumultuous relationship with a father that very much raised him. The story above is posted fucking everywhere online though, despite being patently false and racially stereotypically. Gotta love the internet.

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meatball77 t1_j9v9yh3 wrote

I love how you corrected yourself. You were all coming for yourself in your own comment.

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AmnesiaInnocent t1_j9rm5t7 wrote

The end of Psych S04E16 "Mr. Yin Presents..." One of the main characters is put in serious danger and the end scene with her breaking down is very serious and moving...

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spiderlandcapt t1_j9rxvp8 wrote

Charlie in the most recent season finale of Its always Sunny. I don't think I've ever gone from 0-100 in emotions that quickly ever.

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KnotSoSalty t1_j9x4usl wrote

I’ve watched that scene an absurd number of times.

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anasui1 t1_j9qx8xx wrote

the entirety of The Office OG, especially the final episode (before the special)

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nomorepartiezz t1_j9rlt0r wrote

the parts of the office that show Michael’s more honest or serious sides are part of what makes it special in my opinion. steve carrell was excellent at making this annoying buffoon sympathetic at times. he was actually an empathetic and kind person at heart lol

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minishaq5 t1_j9skxqa wrote

Dr Cox in My Lunch and My Fallen Idol

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WhyDoIGiveAToss96 t1_j9v9skd wrote

Marshall finding out his dad died in How I Met Your Mother. Lily struggling to tell him because she's so upset makes it more painful, come to think of it. The chemistry was great.

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Latter_Feeling2656 t1_j9qsvbh wrote

Honeymooners: Ralph fears Norton has been injured in a sewer accident; Blackadder Goes Forth: final episode; Cheers: Diane and Sam share their thoughts on Coach's death

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MrX16 t1_j9r29pu wrote

Blackadder Goes Forth is the gold standard for this

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