Shtick - Wikipedia

For the game, see Schtick (disc game). A shtick (Yiddish: שטיק) is a comic theme or gimmick. ... The English word "piece" is sometimes used in a similar context ( ... Shtick FromWikipedia,thefreeencyclopedia Jumptonavigation Jumptosearch Comicthemeorgimmick Forthegame,seeSchtick(discgame). Ashtick(Yiddish:שטיק)isacomicthemeorgimmick.ThewordenteredtheEnglishlanguagefromtheYiddishshtik(שטיק),inturnderivedfromGermanStückandPolishsztuka(bothultimatelyfromProto-Germanic*stukkiją),allmeaning"piece","thing"or"theatreplay";notethat"Theaterstück"istheGerman wordforplay(theatre)(andisasynonymof"Schauspiel",literally"viewingplay" incontrasttothe"Singspiel"). TheEnglishword"piece"issometimesusedinasimilarcontext(e.g.,amusicalpiece). Instand-upcomedycontextanearequivalenttermisa"bit".Anothervariantis"bitsofbusiness"orjust"bits".Shtickmayrefertoanadoptedpersona,usuallyforcomedyperformances,thatismaintainedconsistently(thoughnotnecessarilyexclusively)acrosstheperformer'scareer.Inthisusage,therecurringpersonalitiesadoptedbyLaurelandHardythroughalloftheirmanycomedyfilms(althoughtheyoftenplayedcharacterswithdifferentnamesandoccupations)wouldqualifyastheirshtick.Acomedianmightmaintainseveraldifferentshticksofthissort,particularlyifappearinginavarietyshowencouragingdevelopmentofmultiplecharacters,suchasSaturdayNightLive. Incommonusage,thewordshtickhasalsocometomeananytalent,style,habit,orothereccentricityforwhichapersonisparticularlywell-known,evenifnotintendedforcomedicpurposes.Forexample,apersonwhoisknownlocallyforanabilitytoeatdozensofhotdogsquicklymightsaythatitwashisshtick.AmongOrthodoxJews,"shtick"canalsorefertoweddingshtick,inwhichweddingguestsentertainthebrideandgroomthroughdancing,costumes,juggling,andsilliness. Manyfictionalcharactershavemorethematicshticks.Thisisparticularlytrueofcomicbookvillains,whoarealmostalwaysseenwearingaparticularcostumeandbehavinginwaysthatareconsistentwithabizarreandpsychoticobsession.ThesupervillainsofBatman(collectivelyknownastheRoguesGallery)areespeciallynotoriousforthis(seebelow).Therearealsomanyprofessionalwrestlerswhodelivermemorablecatchphrases,and/orenterarenasperformingsignaturegesturestothetuneofthematicallyappropriatesongs,causingcrowdstolaughandcheer(seebelow). Becauseofitsrootsinshowbusiness,shtickhastakenonconnotationofacontrivedandoftenusedact.Forthisreason,journalistsandcommentatorsoftenapplytheworddisparaginglytostockrepliesfrompoliticians.[1] Contents 1Notableexamples 2Batmanvillainexamples 3Professionalwrestlingshticks 4Seealso 5References Notableexamples[edit] CharlieChaplincreatedoneoftheearliestofmoderncomedyshticks:bowlerhat,toothbrushmustache,bamboocane,baggypants,floppyshoes,andawaddlingwalk. BusterKeatonsportedarobotic,never-changingfacialexpression. HaroldLloydworethickglassesandaboaterhat. MarcelMarceau,thearchetypalmimeartist,wasfamousfor"Bip":awhite-facedclowninatophatandsailorsuit.Hisactincludedpretendingtowalkagainstastiffwindandbehavingasifhewereenclosedbywalls. LucilleBall'sshtickincludedimitatingababy'scryandwrinklingupherface.Moreelaborateroutinesincludedgettingdrunkwhileadvertisingavitaminsyrupandgobblingchocolateswhileworkingontheassemblylineatacandyfactory. JackBenny'scharacteronhisradioprogramwasnotoriouslybothstingyandabadviolinplayer,aswellasbeingperpetually39yearsold.Inreallife,Bennywasknownasacompetentviolinistandlavishtipper,andkeptcelebratinghis39thbirthdayeachyearpubliclybecause"there'snothingfunnyabout40". BillCosbybecamefamousfordeliveringsatiricalmonologues(oftenabouthishumbleupbringing)andcomplainingabouttheyoungergenerationinanexasperateddrawl. ThreeoftheMarxBrothers,Groucho,ChicoandHarpo,hadwell-honedshticksbythetimetheystartedmakingmovies. Groucho,withhisstoopedwalk,greasepaintmoustache,lasciviouseyebrowraising,andhiscigar; Chico,withhisfakeItalianaccent,his"shootingthekeys"styleofpianoplaying,andborderlinemoronicbehavior;and Harpo,withhispantomimeroutines,theseeminglybottomlesspocketsofhistrenchcoat,andhisabilitytoplaytheharp. Thefourthperformingbrother,Zeppo,neverdevelopedashtickandwasastraightmanintheirmovies—thoughsomehavearguedthatblandnessand"normality"wasindeedhisshtick. W.C.Fieldsnurturedacharacterthatwasnotfarfromhimselfinreallife,beingmisanthropic,misogynistic,andaharddrinker,aswellastheuniquebellowofhisvoiceandhisfamousbulbousnose. ManyoftheperformersoverthecourseofSaturdayNightLive'slongbroadcasthistoryhavedevelopedshticksthatwerepopularenoughtobedevelopedintofeaturefilms.TheearliestofthesewasTheBluesBrothers,thedark-suitedalteregosofDanAykroydandJohnBelushi,whichspawnedtwomoviesandseveralactualbluesalbums.Ofthemoviesthatfollowedinlateryears,somemetwithsimilarsuccess(suchasMikeMyers'Wayne'sWorld),whileothersareregardedascriticalandcommercialdisasters(JuliaSweeney'sIt'sPat!). HennyYoungman'sstandardline"Takemywife —please!"waspartofhisshtick.Itconsistedofseveralone-linersdeliveredinrapid-firesequence. JohnnyCarson'smanyshticksincludehisroleas"CarnactheMagnificent",anIndianfortunetellerwhocoulddivineanswerstoquestionssealedinenvelopesand"keptinahermeticallysealedmayonnaisejaronthefrontporchofFunk&Wagnallssincenoontoday".Hissignatureimaginarygolfswingattheendofhismonologuewouldalsoqualify. ChrisBerman'sshtickinhisESPNcommentarywashistendencytogiveadditionalnicknamestoplayersbasedontheirlastnames(oftenintendedaspunsorpopculturereferences).Bermanwasalsoknowntooftensayafootballplayer"could —go —all —the —way"onlongtouchdownplays(parodyingHowardCosell'sdelivery). ComedianGeorgeCarlincreatedafamouslybannedshtick,"FilthyWords",a/k/a"Sevendirtywords."[2] AndrewDiceClay'sshtickinhiscomedyroutinesishiscrude,misogynistthemedhumor,andsometimesvulgarreinterpretationsofnurseryrhymes. RodneyDangerfield'sshtickwascenteredaroundhisfamouscatchphrase,"Idon'tgetnorespect,"accompaniedbyhischaracteristicfacialgestureandyankingorstraighteninghisscarletnecktie. StephenColberthasreferredtohischaracterfromhisshowTheColbertReportasashtick. AndyKaufmanwasaparticularlyrigorouspractitionerofshtick.Kaufmanalmostneverappearedinpublic,otherthanasoneofhisshtickcharacters,suchas"ForeignMan"orTonyClifton.Whenhedidappearashimself,hestillactedoutsomeshtickroutine,withonenotableexamplebeingalong-runningprofessionalwrestlingfeudwithJerryLawler. TheRubberbanditsareIrishcomedianswhowearplasticbagsovertheirfacesasshtick. YakovSmirnoff'sshtick,attheheightofhiscareer,involvedcomparisonsbetweentheUnitedStatesandtheSovietUnion,punctuatedbythecatchphrase"Whatacountry!". LewisBlack'sshtickisthecrescendoofrageuponwhichhisroutinesarebuilt;anotherisbewailingtheriseinhisbloodpressureduetothepresumedstrainoftheseoutbursts. SamKinison'sshtickwashisincreasinglyemotional,high-stressvocaldelivery,oftenleadingtoactualshoutingorscreaming,tothepointwherehisvoicebecamehoarse. BobNewhart'sshtickishislongphonecallswithimaginaryorhistoricalpersons.HearingonlyNewhart'sdeadpancomments,theaudienceislefttoinferwhattheotherpersonissaying.[3] AlloriginalmembersofTheWiggleswereknownforhavingshticks.JeffFatt'swasfallingasleepatoddtimes,leadingtheotherWigglesandtheaudiencetocalloutthecatchphrase"WakeUpJeff!",AnthonyField'swaseatingtoomuchfood,GregPage'swasdoingmagictricks,andMurrayCook'swasanobsessionwithplayingtheguitar. PennandTeller'sshtickfocusesmainlyonwhichpartoftheduodoesthetalking;Pennprovidestheonlyon-stagenarrationandistheonlypublicvoiceoftheact,whereasTellerneverspeaksonstageoroncamera.Inon-camerainterviews,Tellerremainsinshadow,andinrarecircumstanceswhenTellerspeakson-stage,hisfaceisobscured. GilbertGottfried'sstagepersona,withhisperpetuallyhigh-pitchedsqueakyvoiceandpinchedface,isashtickthathasbeenmaintainedthroughalmostallofhispublicappearancesandtelevisionandfilmroles. LarrytheCableGuy'sstagepersona,developedduringhisdaysasamemberofamorningradiozoocrew,isconsideredashtick.DespitehispublicappearancesasahillbillywithadeepSouthernaccent,propensityforwearingsleevelessflannelshirtsandhissignature"Git-R-Done!"catchphrase,thecomedian,whoserealnameisDanielWhitney,isanativeofNebraska. JerryLewisplayedanerdcharacterwithanasalvoiceandoverexcitedmannerisms. FlipWilsonhadashiscatchphrase"Thedevilmademedoit!" Pee-weeHermanisrecognizableforhistight-fittinggraysuit,redbowtie,shortblackhair,paleface,androugedcheeks.Healsodeliversahigh-pitchedlaugh,andisoftenseenridingacolorfulbicycle.Histrademarkcomebackis"Iknowyouare,butwhatamI?" AdamSandleronceperformedtheshtickofplayingsimpledittiesonhisguitar(mostfamouslyhis"Hanukkah"song)whileawkwardlysinginglyricsinawhinyvoice. ChrisFarleywasalarge,heavyset,clumsyman,withaloudandsometimeswheezyvoice.Hismostfamoussketchcharacter,MattFoley,wouldwarnothercharacterstobehave,lesttheywindup"livinginavandownbytheriver,"beforefallingandcrashingintosomething. JulieBrownwasknownforherstereotypical"dumbblonde"character,andherlisp. JaleelWhitewasknownasSteveUrkel,anerdyboywhoworeglassesandsuspenders,playedtheaccordion,anddeliveredasnortinglaugh.Hismostnoteworthyshtickwasaccidentallydestroyingsomethingandthenaskingguiltily,"DidIdothat?" Batmanvillainexamples[edit] TheJoker(realnameunknown):Thispsychopathickillernaturallyresemblesaclown,wearsapurplesuit,andcommitscrimesthatoftenreferencehumorousentertainments,suchasthecircus,vaudeville,stand-upcomedy,orcartoons.HispartnerHarleyQuinnperformsasimilar,thoughoftenfeminized,shtick. Catwoman(realnameSelinaKyle):Abeautifulcatburglarwhoimitatesanactualcatwithherclaws,pointed-earedmask,andskintightbodysuit. ThePenguin(realnameOswaldCobblepot):Hasafascinationwithbirds,andpenguinsinparticular.Alsowearsatuxedoandtophat,andusesanumbrellaforvariouspurposes. Two-Face(realnameHarveyDent):Halfhisfaceishideouslyscarred,andheisobsessedwiththedualityofhumannature.Hismoralityisdeterminedbytheflipofacointhathasscratchmarkscarvedintooneside. TheRiddler(realnameEdwardNigma;sometimesNashton):Leavescluestohiscriminalcapersintheformofriddles. TheMadHatter(realnameJervisTetch):Commitscrimesthematicallybasedeitheronhatsoronthechildren'sstoryAliceinWonderland. Mr.Freeze(realnameVictorFries):Ametahumanwhocansurviveonlyinacyberneticsuitthatkeepshisbodyatsubzerotemperatures.Usesanice-sprayinggunashisweapon. PoisonIvy(realnamePamelaIsley):Afanaticalbotanist,sheconsidersplantstobemoreworthyoflifethanhumans.Dressesinfoliageandcommitscrimeswiththehelpofmutated,oftencarnivorousplants.Shecankillavictimwiththetoxinsinherbodyviaakiss.HarleyQuinnishersidekickandsame-sexlover,despitethedifferencesbetweentheirshticks. TheScarecrow(realnameJonathanCrane):Dressesashisnamesake.Infectshisvictimswithahallucinogenicgasthatcausesthemtoseetheirworstfearscometolife. Bane(realnameEduardoDorrance):Hewasaformerprisonersubjectedtoadangerousmedicalexperimentthatgavehimsuperiorphysicalstrengthandnear-invulnerability.Usuallyseenwearingafrighteninghoodedmask,towhichisattachedanimplantthatpumpsVenom,apowerfulsteroid,directlyintohisbloodstream. Ra'sAl-Ghul:HeisawealthyMiddleEasternlordwhosefacialhairgiveshimtheappearanceofadevil.HeiscenturiesoldduetoregularimmersionsintherejuvenatingchemicalsoftheLazarusPit.Agenocidallunatic,hisobjectiveistodestroyeverythingintheworldheconsidersevil. TheVentriloquist(realnameArnoldWesker):Heisskilledatthrowinghisvoice,andexpressesanalternatepersonalitythroughScarface,awoodendummydressedasagangster. MaxieZeus(realnameMaxZlotski):BelieveshimselftobetheGreekgodofthunder,andusuallyseenwearingatogaandsandals. Clayface(realnameMattHagen):Aformeractorwhosebodychemistrywasmutatedbyaputty-likesubstance,heisabletoreshapehisbodyintotheformofanyhumanhewishes,aswellasbeingabletomimichisorhervoice. KillerCroc(realnameWaylonJones):Suffersfromadiseasethathaslefthimwithscalygreenskin,andbelieveshimselftobeanactualcrocodile. TheFirefly(realnameGarfieldLynns):Anarsonistarmedwithaflamethrower,dressedinmetalarmorthatmakeshimresembleahumanoidinsect. Abbatoir(realnameArnoldEtchison):Thiscannibalisticserialkillerslaughteredandatemembersofhisfamily,believingthattheir"souls"wouldkeephimaliveindefinitely.HewasoneofthefewBatmanvillainswhowaskilledandstayeddead. BabyDoll(realnameMaryDahl):Bornwithachronicconditionthatleftherwiththephysicalproportionsofatoddler,shebelievesherselftobeliterallyatoddler,albeitanevilone. RoxyRocket(realnameRoxanneSutton):DressesasaWorldWarIfighterpilotandridesamissile-shapedaircraft. Hush(realnameThomasElliot):Thisvillainworkedbehindthescenes,secretlymanipulatingothervillains.Hisfacewasalwaysswathedinbandages.HewasfondofquotingthephilosopherAristotle. Deadshot(realnameFloydLawton):Knownastheworld'sgreatestsharpshooterandassassin-for-hire. BlackMask(realnameRomanSionis):Thismobbosshasamaniaformasks,andconcealshisburnedfacewithonethatisblackandterrifying.Hisminions,collectivelyknownastheFalseFacesociety,alsowearmasks. VictorZsasz:Aknife-wieldingmurdererwhousuallyappearsstrippedtothewaistoralmostnaked,displayingthetallymarkscarvedintohisskinforeveryvictimwhosethroathehasslit. ThePhantasm(realnameAndreaBeaumont):AnassassinwhodressesinafuturisticsuitthatmakesherresembletheGrimReaper. Cap'nFear:Looks,talks,andactslikeacolonial-erapiratecaptain. TheRatcatcher(realnameOtisFlannegan):Aformerexterminator,heinsteadcametoseehimselfastheleaderofallsewerrats.Hesummonstheratsbyblowingintoa"silent"whistle. Azrael(realnameJean-PaulValley):Moreofanantiherothanavillain,Azraelworethedisguiseofamurderousknightwithafierysword.TheAzraelpersonawaspasseddownfromfathertosonforseveralcenturies. Mr.Nice:Thismild-mannered,bespectacledmanstagesviolentrobberies,butalsoattemptstobepoliteandevenkindtohisvictims. TheGeneral(realnameUlyssesArmstrong):Achildprodigyobsessedwithmilitaryhistory. TheTroika:Threeex-Sovietspies(DarkRider,Romana,ColonelVega)turnedterrorists,theycontinuedtooperateafterRussia'scommunistgovernmentfell.TheywereassistedbytheKGBeast,ahulkingcyborg. TheCondimentKing(realnameBuddyStandler):Oneofthemosthumorous(andharmless)membersoftheRoguesGallery.Allhewascapableofdoingwassquirtingmessycondimentsatpeople.Hewasrevealedtobeastand-upcomedianwhomtheJoker,inafitofjealousy,droveinsaneusingamindchip. Professionalwrestlingshticks[edit] "GorgeousGeorge"Wagnerdevelopedoneoftheearliestwrestlinggimmicks:thatofaneffeminatewrestlerwithcurledblondhair,whohadaphobiaofgermsandwouldbeaccompaniedtotheringbyaservantsprayingantisepticperfume. "NatureBoy"BuddyRogerswasoneofthefirst"arrogantheel"characters.Hewasknownforsaying,"Toanicerguy,itcouldn'thappen." HulkHogan:Knownforflexinghisbicepswhileflashingawild-eyedexpression.Toldchildrento"eattheirvitaminsandsaytheirprayers." RicFlairsportedanelaboraterobeandlongblondhair,anddeliverednumerouscatchphrases,suchas"Woo!"and"Tobetheman,yougottabeattheman."Duringhismatcheshewouldsometimes"strut,"walkinginanexaggeratedlyslowmannerwhilepointinghisindexfingers. Sting:Heentersringsdressedallinblackandwithhisfacepaintedwhiteandblack,oftenwithabaseballbat.Healsohowlswhilecuppinghishandsaroundhismouth. CMPunk:PerformsagestureverysimilartoSting's,exceptthatheshouts,"IT'SCLOBBERIN'TIME!" StoneColdSteveAustin:Hismainshtickiscrashingtwoopenedbeercanstogetherbeforegulpingdownbothofthematonce.Hismostcommoncatchphraseis"Gimmea'Hellyeah!'" TripleH:Uponreachingthering,hewouldtakeasipfromawaterbottleandthenspewthewaterstraightupintotheair.Atspecialevents,hewasknowntoenterarenaswearingametalcrownandoftenamatchingskullmask,intributetohis"KingofKings"nickname. ShawnMichaels:Knownforavarietyofdistinctivegestures:throwinghisheadbackandspreadinghisarmsoutaspyrotechnicsexplodeinthebackground;squattingsidewaysonhishauncheswhileflexinghisbiceps;dramaticallyspringingtohisfeetafterbeingknockeddown;tumblingostentatiouslyoverringturnbuckleswhenheisthrownintothem;andstompinghisfootrepeatedlybeforekickinganopponentintheface. TheUndertaker:Believinghimselftobeundead,hewalkedtowardtheringthroughbluishmistataforebodingtread,wearingablackhatandtrenchcoat.Anothersignaturegimmickofhiswascrossinghiseyesandstickingouthistongueashe"killed"(pinned)anopponent. Kane:Supposedlypyrokinetic,hewouldangrilylifthishandsabovehisheadbeforebringingthemdownwithaviolentmotion,apparentlycausingtheturnbucklestoburstintoflame. JohnCena:Amongthegesturesheperformedwerethe"Five-KnuckleShuffle"(bouncingofftheropesbeforefallingtothematwithapalmstriketothefaceofadownedopponent)andthe"YouCan'tSeeMe"(wavinghishandinfrontofhisface).Hisgreatestcatchphrasewas"Thechampishere!"Earlierinhiscareer,hetauntedhisopponentswithinsultingraplyrics. Batistawouldcrouchontheentrancerampand"fire"imaginarymachinegunswithhisfistsassmokebombswentoffbehindhim,thenstandupandthrusthispalmdownintandemwithafinalexplosion.Duringmatcheshewasknowntoexperiencearushofadrenalinethatinspiredhimtograbtheringropesandshakethemfuriouslywhile"roaring." RandyOrtonstandsatoptheturnbucklewhileposingnarcissistically,onehandraisedhigherthantheother. KurtAngle,areal-lifeOlympicgoldmedalist,worehismedalaroundhisneckconstantly.Thewordshelivedbywere"intensity,""integrity,"and"intelligence."Hiscatchphrasewas"Oh,it'strue.It'sdamntrue." "Mr.Anderson,"bornKenAnderson:Aloudmouthknownforperforminghisownringintroduction,loudlyintoninghislastnametwice. BobbyRoode:Atcertaintimesinhiscareer,hehaswornafancybathrobeandnotonlybraggedaboutbeingselfish,butclaimingtoleadthe"SelfishGeneration."Alsohasnicknamedhimself"Glorious." JamesStorm:ASouthernredneck.Catchphrase:"Sorryaboutyourdamnluck." MaxwellJacobFriedman(MJF)isaNewYorkCitysocialitewithsomeMobcharacteristics,famousforsportinganoversizeddiamondringandaplaidscarfwornaroundhisshoulders.Useshisfortunetohiregoonsandtobribeothersintogivinghimwhathewants.Claimstobe"betterthanyou,andyouknowit." Seealso[edit] Trope References[edit] LookupshtickinWiktionary,thefreedictionary. ^Ayers,MichaelD.TheWhiteStripesandTheirOne-NoteShtick,NewYorkMagazine,July18,2007.RetrievedJanuary24,2008. ^"GeorgeCarlin,FilthyWords".ExploringConstitutionalConflicts.RetrievedDecember18,2016.Thefollowingisaverbatimtranscriptof"FilthyWords"(theGeorgeCarlinmonologueatissueintheSupremeCourtcaseofFCCv.PacificaFoundation)preparedbytheFederalCommunicationsCommission... ^Zinoman,Jason(May26,2014)."NoRealHurrytoTelltheJoke:BobNewhart,MasteroftheOne-SidedConversation".NewYorkTimes.Retrieved30October2014.Mr.Newhartbecamefamousthroughstand-uproutinesthatwereone-sidedtelephoneconversationsinwhichhiscomicpartnerwasneitherseennorheard. 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