Let's cut to the chase. These muhfukkas make funny ass faces in front of that camera. Sounds simple enough, but as CBS primetime comedies have shown, it's not as easy as it sounds. A good team consists of starters and a couple role players. Here's our funky five plus four squad consisting of the best good face makers in Hollywood.
Omar Gooding
My earliest memory of Omar Gooding is from Wild & Crazy Kids, some game show on Nickelodeon, I’m sure J.D. Roth now owns the rights to. Anyway, if I’m not mistaken, kids and their parents competed in contests and kid hosts would get feedback from them throughout. Omar walks up to a lady and says, “That was great, Mom,” to which she responds, “Hey, I’m not your mother!” O made this face that I still can’t quite explain. It was in between “Oh no, my check!” and “Oh, you mad cause I’m stylin’ on you?” Probably the best thing to ever happen to him. Since then, he’s been the most consistent good face maker in the business, with roles on The Smart Guy, Playmakers and the instant hood classic Baby Boy.
David Alan Grier
The most underrated In Living Color cast member, next to J-Lo’s ass. Jim Carey is a good face maker, but his shit is forceful. Like he’ll keep making the same face, exaggerating it until you laugh. Grier’s brilliance comes from his gesturing. His Uncle Luke Skywalker is legendary and his Della Reese stands as the ugliest impersonation to ever grace network television. Also, no one on the planet can portray an incoherent old black man better. No one.
Keenan Thompson
I had been on the fence with this guy, because I thought he was just a Martin swagger-jacker, which he was, but as I later realized, I was merely distracted from his genius because of that other wack dude, Kel. Now, Good Burger is one of my favorite Good-Bad Movies (GBM), and I guess that’s what turned the tide, but since Keenan has been on SNL, I haven’t had a favorite cast member since the Norm MacDonald days. His Star Jones faces are nothing short of brilliant and he doesn’t even need a speaking part to make it magical. Now that’s talent. Those dumb ass scared faces on Snakes On A Plane solidified Mr. Thompson’s spot as the hottest up and coming good face maker on the scene.
Norman Fell
If this was The actual Matrix machine world, Norman would be in a room full of TV’s, dressed like Colonel Sanders. He’s the emperor and architect of good face making. Three’s Company was a pretty good show, but there was nothing better during those 30 minutes, every week than Mr. Roper making that gay joke then turning to the camera and shooting a sly smile. How do you decide you’re going to break character and acknowledge the camera and then sell it so flawlessly? HOW?! Goddamn, I’m laughing right now.
Erik King
If you haven’t seen Showtime’s newest original program, Dexter, then find a way to…immediately. It’s a great show, but moreover, it’s a great introduction to the newest member of the Good Face roster. I look for big things from this little muscle headed dude. Erik’s role as Sgt. Doakes was the best character on the small screen in 2006. On a Drama-Thriller show, his dumb ass faces were the only source of comic relief and were they ever comedy. Simply put, he’s extra as shit. Everything is exaggerated, but in a good way. I haven’t seen an eye buck that effective since Tim Moore’s reoccurring role as The Kingfish on Amos ‘n Andy. And his eye-bucking. Oh Lord. Kim from The Parkers would be envious.
Tommy Davidson
Another In Living Color alum. He has this shit he does, where he locks his jaw and makes his eyes crooked. I call it the Cleedus face. Amazingly dumb and equally funny. Another funny Color moment is when Homey Da Clown poured milk over Tommy’s head. That borderline crying face made me kick my feet it was so good. One of the best ignorant kid sketch dudes in the business.
Leonard Lightfoot
Silver Spoons was on the air over 20 years ago and Leonard still holds the title for the best blank stare in television history. His soul looked empty. But as I looked back for footage of the show I found out he was kicked off the hit program after only one year because he was really a crazy ass nigga that brought a gun to the set. Don’t be thinking Leonard ain’t gully because he makes them dumb faces. He will shoot your ass.
Ed O’Neil
I’ve come home from a bad day at work horny and hungry to find out my girlfriend is on her period and didn’t go food shopping and still haven’t been able to make such and successful miserable face as Al Bundy. I think what makes Ed’s faces that much more funny is the fact that he seems like such a serious guy in real life. He acted so asinine for them checks. You wanna talk about black people cooning, now that’s some cooning. It’s also some dedication.
Martin Lawrence
He’s spawned more potential good face niggas than anyone, the past 15 years. Look no further than his disciple, Keenan, on this very list. The dignified-smirk look-away face is the most used comedic tool in sitcom today, dominating the “deliver” scene in white, black and brown comedies on every major network and Martin is king of its castle. Respect his house.
