Chinface
4381000
219267238
2008-06-14T11:44:21Z
Lightbot
7178666
Units/dates/other
[[Image:Chinface.jpg|300px|thumb]]
A '''chinface''', sometimes referred to as a '''chinhead''', '''chinman''', or '''chinmonster''' is a [[performance]], usually of a [[comical]] nature, involving someone's chin. By drawing or attaching eyes, it gives the impression of a distorted face when viewed upside down.
==Origins==
In 1964, [[Bob Denver]] performed a chin face in the [[beach party film]], "[http://www.bobdenver.com/Big_Screen_Bob/For_Those_Who_Think_Young/for_those_who_think_young.html For Those Who Think Young]".
In 1988, McEwans Lager launched a new TV ad campaign featuring 'The Chinheads', a fictional and quirky 'upside-down' rock/soul band. The award-winning TV advert was directed by [[Steve Barron]] (director of [[Michael Jackson]]'s "[[Billie Jean]]", [[A-Ha]]'s "[[Take on Me]]", and ''[[Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (film)|Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles]]'') and featured the track "Something So Real" by Scottish band, The Love Decree. A single was subsequently released in 1989 and charted nationally, peaking at No.61 (No.1, Outselling [[Black Box (band)|Black Box]]'s "[[Ride on Time]]" in Scotland).
[[Ben Elton]]'s 1990 television show ''[[The Man from Auntie]]'' featured several chinface performances.
In 1993, an episode of ''[[Red Dwarf]]'', "Gunmen of the Apocalypse", used chinface when the crew had to convince a ship of simulants (artificially created, [[cyborg]] humanoids) that there were no humans aboard, insisting instead that the ship was crewed by curry-based lifeforms known as "[[Vindaloo]]vians".
==Popular culture==
Since [[video hosting]] sites have become available on the [[internet]], chinface videos have become increasingly common.
In the mid–1990s, [[Kraft]] [[Canada]] released TV ads for [[Kraft Dinner]] featuring various people performing chinfaces and eating the product.
The [[video game]] ''[[You Don't Know Jack]]'' featured as an ending to Volume 4 ''(The Ride)'' footage showing part of the hosts' faces. The character Guy Towers is portrayed as a chin face, with oversized glasses.
Disc 4 of the ''[[Jackass (TV series)|Jackass]]'' DVD Box Set features [[Chris Pontius]] performing a chinface of a "Latvian Gangster" during a running of the [[Gumball 3000]].
[[They Might Be Giants]]' first video, for their song "Put Your Hand Inside The Puppet Head", features one of them doing the chinface, with a xeroxed picture of his eyes placed on his chin.
In the [[Monstrosity (film)|Atomic Brain]] episode of [[Mystery Science Theater 3000]], [[Mike Nelson (MST3K)|Mike Nelson]] demonstrates to the 'bots a "chin face". He says that the tradition is "fun...whimsical"; [[Crow T. Robot|Crow]] counters that it is "odd and disturbing".
==See also==
*[[Puppets]]
*[[Acting]]
*[[Comedy]]
==External links==
*http://www.bobdenver.com/Big_Screen_Bob/For_Those_Who_Think_Young/for_those_who_think_young.html Bob Denver]
*[http://www.makemeking.com/home/dares/577/Singing_Chin.html Make Me King] - YMCA Chinface
*[http://www.vimeo.com/clip=42089 Chin Man]
[[Category:Comedy]]
{{entertainment-stub}}