# Yes. It’s called acting. **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [March 2, 2006, 11:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yes-it-s-called-acting/346836 "2006-03-02T23:23:52Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Plynck](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/3e96dc/32.png) [@Plynck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Plynck)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2006, 11:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yes-it-s-called-acting/346836/1 "2006-03-02T23:23:52Z")
From [this gem](http://www.parade.com/articles/editions/2006/edition_02-26-2006/Personality_Parade), found in Sunday’s Personality Parade: > [@Personality Parade](#): > > Q. Is there a reason why David Caruso tilts his head and talks hesitantly on CSI: Miami? > —Jan L., Saginaw, Mich. > > A. Yes. It’s called acting. This is proof, if proof be needed, that newsprint cannot fully express sarcasm without emoticons. I, however, am not so restricted. Therefore: :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![anyrose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/54ee81/32.png) [@anyrose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/anyrose)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2006, 3:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yes-it-s-called-acting/346836/2 "2006-03-03T03:35:52Z")
could it be that Jan L. of Saginaw, Michigan meant to imply that Caruso does this all the time? Any student of theatre arts will tell you that’s not acting - that’s indicating. The (frowned upon) practice of going thru particular body movements often associated with particular emotions in place of actually feeling them. It often produces a shallow and often substandard performance (and it got me a D in Acting 203) ---
**Author:** ![Omniscient](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/omniscient/32/3290_2.png) [@Omniscient](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omniscient)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2006, 3:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yes-it-s-called-acting/346836/3 "2006-03-03T03:43:34Z")
Alternatively, could it be that there is no sarcasm and simply a snotty, abrupt response? ---
**Author:** ![DonCorleone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/58f4c7/32.png) [@DonCorleone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DonCorleone)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2006, 3:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yes-it-s-called-acting/346836/4 "2006-03-03T15:45:49Z")
You know, I didn’t really want to reply to this post… _puts sunglasses on, turns to look wistfully into the distance_ …but I just promised that dead little girl’s parents that I would. _takes sunglasses off and looks thoughtfully out to sea_ ---
**Author:** ![Ponder\_Stibbons](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ponder_stibbons/32/343_2.png) [@Ponder\_Stibbons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ponder_Stibbons)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2006, 3:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yes-it-s-called-acting/346836/5 "2006-03-03T15:47:40Z")
Wow, **DonCorleone** , that was really good! You should be a print actor! ---
**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2006, 3:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yes-it-s-called-acting/346836/6 "2006-03-03T15:57:12Z")
> [@Ponder Stibbons](#): > > Wow, **DonCorleone** , that was really good! You should be a print actor! Heh. He should cough up the $15 so he can continue sharing quality snark with us. Bravo! ---
**Author:** ![Greenback](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/2bfe46/32.png) [@Greenback](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Greenback)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2006, 3:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yes-it-s-called-acting/346836/7 "2006-03-03T15:58:20Z")
> [@DonCorleone](#): > > You know, I didn’t really want to reply to this post… > > _puts sunglasses on, turns to look wistfully into the distance_ > > …but I just promised that dead little girl’s parents that I would. > > _takes sunglasses off and looks thoughtfully out to sea_ Why won’t you look AT me? Am I horribly disfigured? A medusa? Are you lying to me? Just look me in the eye and tell me what happened!! ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2006, 4:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yes-it-s-called-acting/346836/8 "2006-03-03T16:07:01Z")
I think the origin of this line is with Laurrence Olivier. Dustin Hoffman came to film a scene in Marathon Man, but he looked terrible…all worn out and so forth. When asked by Olivier why he really looked so bad, Hoffman told him he had wanted to feel the same as his character, so he stayed up for two days, eating like shit and just making himself feel terrible. Olivier replied, “You know…it’s called acting.” Olivier was not big into method acting. ---
**Author:** ![Ethilrist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ethilrist/32/4604_2.png) [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2006, 4:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yes-it-s-called-acting/346836/9 "2006-03-03T16:14:22Z")
> [@Omniscient](#): > > Alternatively, could it be that there is no sarcasm and simply a snotty, abrupt response? It can be both! It’s not just acting, it’s _bad_ acting! The whole package! If they ever make a live-action movie of a Lucky Charms commercial, that guy is set, by the way. He would make a perfect leprechaun. ---
**Author:** ![Gadarene](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e47c2d/32.png) [@Gadarene](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gadarene)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2006, 4:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yes-it-s-called-acting/346836/10 "2006-03-03T16:22:52Z")
> [@](#): > > Olivier replied, “You know…it’s called acting.” The way I heard it, Hoffman had just run around the block a couple of times to get sufficiently sweaty and out of breath for the scene. And Olivier looked at him and said, “My dear boy…why don’t you try _acting_?” I like my version better, but it might not actually be true. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![jsc1953](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/5daacb/32.png) [@jsc1953](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jsc1953)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2006, 4:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yes-it-s-called-acting/346836/11 "2006-03-03T16:36:12Z")
> [@Gadarene](#): > > I like my version better, but it might not actually be true. 🙂 Your version is also the one I’ve heard. Yeah, 2 interpretations of the mystic Oracle of Parade: 1. You stupid person, don’t you recognize \*acting \* when you see it? 2. That’s what passes for “acting” if you’re David Caruso. ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2006, 4:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yes-it-s-called-acting/346836/12 "2006-03-03T16:40:39Z")
> [@DonCorleone](#): > > You know, I didn’t really want to reply to this post… > > _puts sunglasses on, turns to look wistfully into the distance_ > > …but I just promised that dead little girl’s parents that I would. > > _takes sunglasses off and looks thoughtfully out to sea_ [shakes head slowly while watching DonCorleone from a distance] That’s a man fighting his demons. Sometimes they win. [sighs deeply, signals waitress for another drink] (Please spend the $15 on a membership. You’ll just waste it on instant lottery tickets anyway) ---
**Author:** ![DonCorleone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/58f4c7/32.png) [@DonCorleone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DonCorleone)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2006, 5:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yes-it-s-called-acting/346836/13 "2006-03-03T17:02:41Z")
I’m part Jewish, part Scottish and all stingy. I don’t pay for nowt. _tries to take sunglasses off, realises he’s not wearing any, starts looking around for them, checking pockets, neglecting to notice that they are propped on top of his head, tries to style it out, looks into the middle distance and squints_ ---
**Author:** ![lissener](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lissener/32/6139_2.png) [@lissener](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lissener)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2006, 5:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yes-it-s-called-acting/346836/14 "2006-03-03T17:20:38Z")
Maybe the editor screwed it up. Maybe the original answer was: Yes. It’s called: “_ACTING!_” –or something like that! ---
**Author:** ![Mollie\_Magill](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mollie_magill/32/20882_2.png) [@Mollie\_Magill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mollie_Magill)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2006, 5:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yes-it-s-called-acting/346836/15 "2006-03-03T17:22:41Z")
> [@jsc1953](#): > > Your version is also the one I’ve heard. > > Yeah, 2 interpretations of the mystic Oracle of Parade: > > 1. You stupid person, don’t you recognize \*acting \* when you see it? > > 2. That’s what passes for “acting” if you’re David Caruso. I vote for number 2. The accompanying picture had a picture of Caruso squinting and tilting his head. The caption read something like, “David Caruso - Acting” ---
**Author:** ![Wendell\_Wagner](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/8491ac/32.png) [@Wendell\_Wagner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wendell_Wagner)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2006, 5:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yes-it-s-called-acting/346836/16 "2006-03-03T17:22:53Z")
DonCorleone writes: \> I’m part Jewish, part Scottish and all stingy. I don’t pay for nowt. Yeah, well, not only are you going to have to pay the fee for SDMB membership, but you’re going to come up with $100 for your membership in the Print Actors Guild. ---
**Author:** ![BubbaDog](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bubbadog/32/333_2.png) [@BubbaDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BubbaDog)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2006, 5:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yes-it-s-called-acting/346836/17 "2006-03-03T17:24:35Z")
Why **Bubbadog (BD)** cannot watch \*\*Caruso © \*\* on TV when **Mrs. Bubbadog (MBD)** is in the room **C** : Little Girl, I… will make sure that you are safe! **BD** : You know most parents teach their children to run when a strange man looks at them like that. **MBD** : SSHHHHH! **C** : Did your mommy tell you where she was going? **BD** : Does he really think, by removing his sunglasses, that child will be any less frightened of him. **MBD** :Just watch it! **C** :Maaaaaaaybeeeee we just found our killer **BD** : David! hold your head up straight. David, your head is tilting for no reason! David, why is your head tilting like that !!!?!?!? **MBD** : JUST SHUT UP! **BD** : He can’t hear you honey. He’s on the TV. But I can understand why you’d want him to shut up. **MBD** : That’s it! I’m outta here! ---
**Author:** ![The\_Chao\_Goes\_Mu](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_chao_goes_mu/32/3191_2.png) [@The\_Chao\_Goes\_Mu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Chao_Goes_Mu)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2006, 5:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yes-it-s-called-acting/346836/18 "2006-03-03T17:29:34Z")
David Caruso does so much more than just squinting and tilting his head. He puts his hands on his hips too. ---
**Author:** ![Snooooopy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ee7513/32.png) [@Snooooopy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snooooopy)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2006, 5:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yes-it-s-called-acting/346836/19 "2006-03-03T17:42:13Z")
> [@BubbaDog](#): > > **C** :Maaaaaaaybeeeee we just found our killer > **BD** : David! hold your head up straight. David, your head is tilting for no reason! David, why is your head tilting like that !!!?!?!? The creatures on David’s home planet have their eyes on the side of their bodies. He tilts his head to remind himself of his roots. ---
**Author:** ![Earthworm\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/f07891/32.png) [@Earthworm\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Earthworm_Jim)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2006, 8:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yes-it-s-called-acting/346836/20 "2006-03-03T20:03:04Z")
And here I thought someone on TV finally had the nerve to write a “real-person” kind of character. One that doesn’t know how to complete a sentence in perfect english. One that doesn’t always maintain eye contact; or resist wiggling their hands & arms in a distracting fashion. Like so many real people I come into contact with every day. You guys are saying it’s **not** part of the character? [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yes-it-s-called-acting/346836.md?page=2)