FOFC Malarky: Question #4.

[Poli]

We're headed down the stretch. Question 4 upcoming followed by our final question. The last round gave us a tie, with a remarkable comeback by CW.

FOFC Malarky rules (http://dynamic2.gamespy.com/~fof/forums/showthread.php?t=24629) <---

Question #4:

Why is a bad actor called a "ham"?

PMs for bluffs and answers are being sent now.


Just a friendly reminder:

Others are welcome to post as they wish, but only answers given by players will be considered for voting. Please do not post answers from the web or attempt to assist the players. Please do not look up the answers on the internet. Please make one 'clear' distinction between your answer and the others. Thanks!

[SirFozzie]

Because Pigs are the biggest overactors. In the old days, anyone who got injured could overdo their shots of pain, and be accused of "Squealing like a pig." It got changed in the acting vernacular, to someone who was overacting his role was accused of pigging his role, which got changed to "hamming it up"

[The Afoci]

It originated when an actor who was well known for overacting was presented with a ham by his director as a spoof gift for a job well done. The actor, unknowing of it being a joke graciously accepted it and it became an inside joke. There is even an award now giving out yearly to over actors in that actors honor.

[John Galt]

The expression was derived from a movie set during the silent movie era when the director told his star that "the ham on the table could act better than you." The label stuck and people who overact are said to be "hamming it up" for the camera.

[Coffee Warlord]

The pig came before the ham. Horribly poor actors (or folks the the actor community just didn't like) were labeled 'pigs' behind their backs. As time progressed, this went from an extremely derogatory line to more of a side show laugh, which did indeed spawn the 'hamming it up' phrase and the whole yearly award. Originally though, 'pig' was one very nasty term, which evolved over the years into the various ham themes.

[albionmoonlight]

Just FYI guys. I am really enjoying these threads.

[stkelly52]

"Ham" is an abbreviation of the word "hamfatter", which was used to describe performers who overacted in the mid 1800s. They blackened their faces with burnt cork and removed the makeup with ham fat.

[Poli]

All answers are in. You may now PM me with your votes.

[Thomkal]

Fun stuff guys. Back when I was an AOL Games Chat Host (thanks AOL for screwing us there) we played a variation of this called Dictionary. A host would give someone in the chat room the correct definition to an obscure word. That person would have to give the correct definition while the others would try to bluff the other players with the best sounding definition they could come up with. It was a blast and probably my favorite game from those days. I usually did well in the game when I played too. :)