I Love a Good Voiceover

Voiceovers pull you into a show by breaking down that fourth wall that keeps you defined as merely an observer. With a voiceover you’re privy to a character or narrator’s inner thoughts. It’s kind of like being able to read minds, and I know there are plenty of people who’d choose that superpower if they could pick one. (I would personally like to be able to turn invisible.)

While ’show, don’t tell’ is a good rule of thumb for any creative device (oh boy, do I ever loathe movie exposition that’s force-fed in a huge five minute chunk) there is a certain undeniable charm to voiceovers when they’re done right.

I would argue that not every show or movie that utilizes a continual voiceover needs one. But there have been shows that have used them and used them well. Especially on TV. For instance, How I Met Your Mother has voiceovers from Ted in small snippets that inform and comment. Carrie had voiceovers on Sex and the City and they were usually enjoyable. Although, the repeated phrasing of, ‘I couldn’t help but wonder…’ started to seem really tired. While I like those shows and characters, those aren’t my favorite when it comes to voiceovers.

When I think about voiceovers on TV shows, I have three favorites. Click to see who they are after the jump…

Make sure you guess before you scroll down!

John “J.D.” Dorian on Scrubs. (Zach Braff)

J.D. sometimes does a little exposition, but it’s never done in a some dull and lifeless way that makes me snore. In the quote below, J.D. sets up what is going on via his thoughts, but then the jokes are delivered by two other characters.

J.D.: [voiceover] I knew Dr. Casey now pretty well, everyday, he goes to his first patient’s room and touches every single thing in there…
Dr. Kevin Casey: [touching things] Bink, Bink, Bink, Bink, Bink…
Dr. Kelso: Dr. Casey, your patients are complaining about a noise in your wing.
Dr. Kevin Casey: [pokes Dr. Kelso on the nose] Bink.
Dr. Kelso: Dr. CASEY! Your patients!
Dr. Kevin Casey: If the noise is bink then I can explain…
Dr. Kelso: IT’S NOT BINK!

The goofy and lovable Dr. has lots of voiceovers of his final thoughts for a show. They’ve never come off as cheesy to me, because there is a good balance of whimsy in both them - and the entire show. They’re always serious enough to actually feel substantial - to really provide insight.

J.D.: “[voice over] I guess what they say is true the people you work with really do become your family. Like your brother, and your sister in law, or that cousin you have funny feelings for and the crazy angry uncle everyone sort of hopes isn’t coming this year.”

The voiceovers also set up really funny moments.

(J.D. is running from Dr.Cox)
J.D.:[voiceover] Hey do you know who I haven’t seen today…
(The Janitor puts his arm out knocking JD down in mid-run)

Angela Chase on My-So Called Life. (Claire Danes)

Never has a 15 year old girl on TV been so eloquent and so genuinely real. Angela had insights that were spot-on to what a 15 year old teenage girl would think. Whether you’re a teenager, or a female, you will commonly find your own thoughts mixed in with hers.

Angela: [voiceover] My parents keep asking how school was. It’s like saying, “How was that drive-by shooting?” You don’t care how it was, you’re lucky to get out alive.

Angela: What’s amazing is when you can feel your life going somewhere. Like, your life just figured out how to get good. Like, that second.

Another great thing that Angela’s voiceovers did was show a train of thought of thought borne from thought.

Angela: [voiceover] I couldn’t stop thinking about it. The, like, fact that - that people - had sex. That they just had it, like sex was this thing people - had, like a rash. Or a - a Rottweiler. Everything started to seem like, pornographic or something. Like, Mrs. Krysanowski has sex. So does Mr. Katimsky. They both have sex. They could - have sex together. Like right now. [groans] I am, like, the sickest person ever.

Veronica Mars on Veronica Mars. (Kristen Bell)

Snarky, sarcastic and sassy, Veronica stole hearts despite her prickly exterior. The pilot episode used her voiceover to deliver exposition - to give us all the facts we needed to know. It was done with her trademark wit.

Veronica: [voiceover] You want to know how I lost my virginity? So do I.

Veronica’s voiceovers could be construed as her personal thoughts, or as thoughts as though she were narrating her life on purpose for an audience. What do you think? In the pilot it’s obvious she’s telling a story, but in the last two seasons it could be anyone’s guess.

Veronica: [voiceover] J. Geils was right. Love stinks. You can dress it up in sequins and shoulder pads, but one way or another, you’re just gonna end up alone at the spring dance strapped in uncomfortable underwear.

One of my favorite Veronica voiceovers is this:

Veronica Mars: [voiceover] So what would Stan Marsh say in a situation like this? I think we all learned a valuable lesson about faith. You give it to the people you love. But the people who really deserve it, are the ones who come through even when you don’t love them enough.

Until next time,

Jessica for Sofachip.com

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