0 In a comedy act between two people, the straight man is the more serious of the two who is often made to look stupid by his or her partner.
He was a straight man—genuine, liked and trusted by political foes and friends.
Someone has to be the straight man in this act.
The straight man leads off, then the clowns come on behind.
While the character defending the original play, a mouthpiece for the writer, is a straight man with serious and thoughtful replies.
His quick wit allowed him to hold his own against the most stubborn straight man, heckler or interviewer.
Trebek is the beleaguered straight man, and is generally the only person on stage who is interested in playing the game.
Either way, he could never be considered a "real" straight man.
Yabe is considered the straight man in the duo.