Example: Every cast member in Airplane, bar Steven Stucker as Johnny.

Airplane! is a one of a kind. If we ignore the sequel, that is. And the Naked Guns. And anything else with Leslie Nielsen in it. And Top Secret. If we ignore all those, and all other mock-serious comedies like them, Airplane! is one of a kind – a comedy where almost everyone plays the straight man.

The nun, the pilot, the inflatable auto-pilot, the doctor, the air stewards: they’re all playing it very seriously, and they’re bringing a lot of prime ham onto the screen with them. Instead of having a silly character playing off a more serious character, we get several very, very, very serious characters playing off a very ludicrous situation, and it’s hilarious because of it. It’s not your average straight man technique, and you have to be able to deliver very weird lines with a completely straight face, but it’s made Leslie his career, and made you laugh. A lot, we’re guessing.

See also: Anything Leslie Nielsen has ever done, Top Secret, Hot Shots, and the better sort of spoof.