History Main / ClassClown

->'''Mr. Hammond''': Seeing that we're dissecting animals today, class, I'd like everyone to take a look at this one: James Dunn ... Notice the brain, devoid of all intelligent thought. Capable of only a C- average, baring passing high school. The mouth, big and loud, always running with nothing to say ... You may be seated.\\
'''Jimmy''': Uh... Mr. Hammond, you forgot one organ. And I think you know what you can do with that! See you in detention.
-->--'''Film/DanceOfTheDead''

* Zane, in ''{{Literature/Dinoverse}}'', takes this role but abandons it after [[TimeTravel returning from the Cretaceous]] - it never really fit him anyway, and he's much smarter than he'd wanted to let on before.

* ''WesternAnimation/GravityFalls'' episode "[[Recap/GravityFallsS2E12ATaleOfTwoStans A Tale of Two Stans]]" implies that [[Characters/GravityFallsGrunkleStan "Grunkle" Stan Pines]] was one in his youth, supported by clips of him fooling around at school during the growing-up montage. However, this trope is deconstructed- Stan spent more time clowning around than studying, his future plans summed up as "Let my smarter [[spoiler: twin brother]] do the heavy thinking", and when his family got fed up with this attitude and cut him off, found himself without any serious skills to get by in the world.

* Benjamin from ''Series/{{Kindergarten}}'' is a goofy kid who is always making trouble and annoying his classmates.

* Sid the InvisibleMan {{expy}} in ''WesternAnimation/GravedaleHigh'' describes himself as the class clown, as a side effect of being invisible (and thus often ignored).

** Bart is sometimes portrayed this way. Milhouse once told him that the world needs a clown. In one episode, he even expresses disdain about this role:

* ''WesternAnimation/GravityFalls'' episode "A Tale of Two Stans" implies that Stan was one in his youth, supported by clips of him fooling around at school during the growing-up montage. However, this trope is deconstructed- Stan spent more time clowning around than studying, his future plans summed up as "Let my smarter [[spoiler: twin brother]] do the heavy thinking", and when his family got fed up with this attitude and cut him off, found himself without any serious skills to get by in the world.

* ''Franchise/SpiderMan'':

* ComicBook/{{Iceman}} was the original Class Clown of the ''Comicbook/XMen'', but when he left, ComicBook/{{Nightcrawler}} took over that role.
* ''Comicbook/ZipiYZape'': The twins are portrayed this way sometimes.

''The ClassClown is...yes, Bobby?''

* Sousuke of ''LightNovel/FullMetalPanic'' doesn't ''try'' to be one. In fact, he takes his class duties very seriously and strives to be as helpful and productive as possible, even joining the student council as the Head of Security. It's just that he [[HeroWithAnFInGood has no idea how to act like a good student]] instead of the CrazySurvivalist {{Child Soldier|s}} he grew up as, so he winds up disrupting class in absolutely absurd ways such as releasing smoke bombs in class (obstinately to calm the class down) or systematically dismantling his teacher's brand new Mini Cooper (suspecting the unfamiliar vehicle might be a CarBomb). Ms. Kagurazaka has [[MyFriendsAndZoidberg taken to addressing him separately from the rest of the class]] just to remind him how done she is with his "assistance".

They're frequently TheNicknamer and PluckyComicRelief, and may end up as a NonIronicClown. In more serious works they're almost certainly a SadClown or StepfordSmiler. Sometimes some of them can be a little rough with their humour, skirting the line with TheBully at times.

[[folder: Anime and Manga ]]

[[folder: FanWorks]]
* ''Fanfic/BecomingLifprasir'': According to Camicazi, there is ''always'' a student in a dragon-taming class that thinks that they have a better method that Hiccup/Cattongue's and generally causes trouble. [[BullyHunter Hiccup/Cattongue has a method for dealing with every one of them]], whether its Snotlout who he singles out to tame the Monstrous Nightmare ([[{{Pride}} Snotlout forced to go through with it lest he look like a coward]]) or Gustav forced to carry three heavy buckets of fish for picking on younger students.

** Dido Castameri, victor of the 39th Hunger Games was pulling pranks and cracking jokes at the expense of her instructors throughout most of her career training, and even the three days of Tribute Training. Just some of the things she was reprimanded for over the years include drawing rude stick figures in the boys dormitory, spitting on the nice carpets, pulling a LaxativePrank on a special guest speaker, doing a victory jig on the lunch table after being selected as tribute, painting a penis on the camouflage instructors forehead (and another one on the floor when he left to clean up), calling the fire and shelter trainer Davy Crockett and the archery instructor Pocahontas, playing King of the Mountain on the official climbing wall and starting a food fight.

[[folder: Film: Live Action ]]
* ''Film/{{Clueless}}'': Travis isnt exactly a serious person in class, even giving a thank you speech after being told he has the worst attendance record in the class. Given how he's TheStoner some of it might be unintentional spaciness though,
* ''Film/DanceOfTheDead:'' Jimmy, the main character. During biology class he's seen playing with the frogs.

[[folder: Literature ]]
* Lucas Cott in Johanna Hurwitz's ''Class Clown''. Eventually he grows out of this role and his SlapSlapKiss PuppyLove relationship with Cricket Kaufman becomes friendly as he demonstrates how smart he really is.

* Leo in ''Literature/TheHeroesOfOlympus'' admits to being this. Something of a StepfordSmiler, as he only acts likes a goof to protect himself and hide his dark past.

[[folder: Live Action Television ]]

* Xander in ''Series/BuffyTheVampireSlayer''. He hoped to be named official class clown at graduation but it went to another student who Xander dismissed as a mere 'prop comic'.
* ''Series/NedsDeclassifiedSchoolSurvivalGuide'' had an episode about this, with the plot being that the up-to-this-point-unseen class clown character is leaving. As a Class Clown is needed to avoid the students falling into depression, they seek someone to replace them. Gordy reveals he was once a class clown when he was younger, and tries to help Ned take on this role (As Ned was just unable to be funny by himself). Eventually a DeadpanSnarker is picked to take their place, who was unwilling as he didn't want to get in trouble.

* ''Series/{{Friends}}'': Chandler mentioned he was voted class clown in high school. In present day he's the reigning DeadpanSnarker of the gang, sometimes lapsing into SadClown / StepfordSnarker territory.

[[folder: Music ]]

* Music/ToddRundgren's "Piss Aaron".
* Music/{{Eminem}} self-describes as one on multiple songs. He developed this personality trait in school as a way of compensating for his shyness, and has been a goofy [[TheGadfly wind-up]] comedian ever since, often lapsing into silly accents and cracking ridiculous puns.

[[folder: Stand Up Comedy ]]

* A joke that had made the rounds awhile back dealt with a boy at school who made bad grades because he couldn't answer any questions right. One day, he brought a bag of marbles and emptied them all over the floor. The teacher sternly intoned, "Okay, who's the comedian with the colored balls?" The boy piped up "Flip Wilson!"

[[folder: Video Games ]]

[[folder: Visual Novels ]]

[[folder: Web Comics ]]
* In ''Webcomic/MaxOveracts'' the main character Max thinks the whole world is a stage, and sees his 3rd grade class as his audience. Results are [[http://occasionalcomics.com/690/latest-comic-139/ predictable]].

[[folder: Web Original ]]

* Deconstructed by Website/{{Cracked}}'s John Cheese in his articles [[http://www.cracked.com/blog/5-things-you-dont-learn-about-high-school-until-too-late/]] and [[http://www.cracked.com/blog/5-reasons-you-dont-miss-your-20s-when-theyre-over/]]. In them he explains what happens when you try to keep on being the class clown in the workplace or in college.

[[folder: Western Animation ]]

* Sid the InvisibleMan {{expy}} in ''WesternAnimation/GravedaleHigh'' describes himself as the class clown, as a side effect of been invisible (and thus often ignored).

* The Coasters' song "Charlie Brown", written by Music/LeiberAndStoller, is about one of these [[note]]And [[NamesTheSame NOT about]] the [[RefrainFromAssuming main human]] protagonist of ''Franchise/{{Peanuts}}'' as it's often assumed[[/note]].

* Christopher in ''Literature/{{Everworld}}'' is like Marco taken UpToEleven. His clowning borders on the obnoxious and offensive, because he is ''very'' sad. Like, on-the-path to juvenile alcoholism sad.

* Lucas Cott in Johanna Hurwitz's ''Class Clown''. Eventually he grows out of this role and his FoeYay SlapSlapKiss PuppyLove relationship with Cricket Kaufman becomes friendly as he demonstrates how smart he really is.

** [[BreakTheCutie Before winning the 55th Hunger Games]] Mitt Compton was one, always disrupting class with jokes back in District 6, painting mustaches on the training dummies and treating his interview with Caesar.

* Creator/MarvelComics' character ComicBook/TheAwesomeSlapstick'' is a ClassClown who became a living {{Toon}}.

''"Is it because it [[AddedAlliterativeAppeal alliterates]], miss?"''

* ''VisualNovel/{{Grisaia No Kajitsu}}'': Michiru fills this role with her [[TheDitz ditzy]] personality often lending her as the [[ButtMonkey butt of most jokes]]. It is however [[spoiler:a [[SadClown sad]] [[ObfuscatingStupidity act]], as there is a genuinely depressing [[HeroicSelfDeprecation reason]] why she acts like this.]]

They're frequently TheNicknamer and PluckyComicRelief. In more serious works they're almost certainly a SadClown or StepfordSmiler. Sometimes some of them can be a little rough with their humour, skirting the line with TheBully at times.

* Sousuke of ''LightNovel/FullMetalPanic'' doesn't ''try'' to be the ClassClown. In fact, he takes his class duties very seriously and strives to be as helpful and productive as possible, even joining the student council as the Head of Security. It's just that he [[HeroWithAnFInGood has no idea how to act like a good student]] instead of the CrazySurvivalist ChildSoldier he grew up as, so he winds up disrupting class in absolutely absurd ways such as releasing smoke bombs in class (obstinately to calm the class down) or systematically dismantling his teacher's brand new Mini Cooper (suspecting the unfamiliar vehicle might be a CarBomb). Ms. Kagurazaka has [[MyFriendsAndZoidberg taken to addressing him separately from the rest of the class]] just to remind him how done she is with his "assistance".

* [[Franchise/SpiderMan Mary Jane Watson-Parker]] ([[Comicbook/OneMoreDay just Watson now]]) was one in high school, [[AllThereInTheManual according to several Character bios]], who used it to cover up her insecurities and emotional problems.

* Iceman was the original Class Clown of the ''Comicbook/XMen'', but when he left, Nightcrawler took over that role.

* ''Film/HelloMaryLouPromNightII'' does this interestingly, having Kelly, the class clown character, also be the AlphaBitch (or LovableAlphaBitch [[AlternateCharacterInterpretation depending on which fans you ask]]). Kelly is self-aggrandizing in a playful, deliberately scene stealing way, such as doing a flamenco impression while talking about prom and playing keep away with the volleyball in gym class.

* Louis Sachar's ''Dogs Don't Tell Jokes'' is about Gary "Goon" Boone, a class clown who learns to take comedy more seriously, paradoxical as that sounds. Gary started out as the PluckyComicRelief of Sachar's less humorous preceding novel ''Someday Angeline'' before receiving a SpinOff.

* One of Creator/GeorgeCarlin's earlier routines is all about this. Namely, Carlin himself was a class clown, and in a Catholic school, no less. Which he says made it twice as fun, as "there was always the chance of being struck dead by an angry God." He also noted that laughing in places you aren't supposed to laugh makes the laughter that much better.
** His 1972 album, ''Class Clown'', won the Grammy for best comedy album. He demonstrated that the class clown was the first to discover "the artificial fart under the arm." (or as they call it in New York, "the ahtificial faht unduh de ahm!!")
* [[Series/TheDailyShow Jon Stewart]] has said that in high school, he considered it a very important distinction that he was voted funniest, not class clown, in the yearbook.

* In Webcomic/MaxOveracts the main character Max thinks the whole world is a stage, and sees his 3rd grade class as his audience. Results are [[http://occasionalcomics.com/690/latest-comic-139/ predictable]].

* Deconstructed by Cracked.com's John Cheese in his articles [[http://www.cracked.com/blog/5-things-you-dont-learn-about-high-school-until-too-late/]] and [[http://www.cracked.com/blog/5-reasons-you-dont-miss-your-20s-when-theyre-over/]]. In them he explains what happens when you try to keep on being the class clown in the workplace or in college.

* ComicBook/TheJoker was supposed to be this in the aborted animated series ''Gotham High''.

** [[BreakTheCutie Before winning the 55th Hunger Games]] Mitt Compton was one, always disrupting class with jokes back in District 6, painting mustaches on the training dummies and treating his interview with Caesar .

* ''Film/{{Hackers}}'': Emmanuel/Cereal Killer comes across a state one. He shows up for the wrong classes (possibly on purpose) and writes down an Ozzie Osborne quote referencing drugs when asked to quote a great thinker.
* ''Film/HelloMaryLouPromNightII'' does this interestingly, having the class clown character also be the AlphaBitch (or LovableAlphaBitch [[AlternateCharacterInterpretation depending on which fans you ask]]). Kelly is self-aggrandizing in a playful, deliberately scene stealing way, such as doing a flamenco impression while talking about prom and playing keep away with the volleyball in gym class.

* Jeff Spicoli in ''Film/FastTimesAtRidgemontHigh''.
* ''Film/HelloMaryLouPromNightII'' does this interestingly, having the ClassClown character also be the AlphaBitch (or LovableAlphaBitch [[AlternateCharacterInterpretation depending on which fans you ask]]). Kelly is self-aggrandizing in a playful, deliberately scene stealing way, such as doing a flamenco impression while talking about prom and playing keep away with the volleyball in gym class.