But to be a buffoon is also to mock the respectable behaviour of the laughing audience.

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They quickly expose him as a phony, a buffoon, and a talentless hack, and then spend the rest of the movie punishing him.

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Over the years, Ballmer has made a buffoon of himself while turning out wrong call after wrong call on products, markets, and people.

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Not the responsible and orderly transfer of power undertaken by Boris Yeltsin, until recently the object of scorn as a "buffoon" by Brent Scowcroft, Mr. Bush's much-touted strategic aide.

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Even better for a public avid for novelty, Allen Ginsberg turned out to be a character, a bald-headed bearded lump in sandals, never short of a lively opinion and, if there was a photographer around, happy to play the buffoon.

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But Custard Clown Uncle Colin and his prankster pal Mr Woo, sporting a bright red wig, rosy cheeks and garish checked suit, were on hand to buffoon around and warm up the crowds.

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Steve Carell, who played office boss buffoon Michael Scott, wasn't expected to make an appearance but surprised fans at a celebration later outside the city at PNC Field, home of the New York Yankees' Triple A affiliate, The (Scranton) Times-Tribune reported.

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