Cuckoolander Commentator
"Ginny and Demelza scored a goal apiece giving the red-and-gold-clad supporters below something to cheer about. Then Cadwallader scored again, making things level, but Luna did not seem to have noticed; she appeared singularly uninterested in such mundane things as the score, and kept attempting to draw the crowd's attention to such things as interestingly shaped clouds and the possibility that Zacharias Smith, who had so far failed to maintain possession of the Quaffle for longer than a minute, was suffering from something called 'Loser's Lurgy.'"
It's the Big Game, everyone is in the stands and excited. They can't wait to see what happens, to hear the announcer as he or she comments on the action and keeps the crowd up to date. Too bad said announcer is off in his own little world and not really paying much attention to the actual game.
The Cuckoolander Commentator is, as the name suggests, a Cloudcuckoolander whose job it is to announce, comment on, or otherwise narrate on what's going on at an event. This will cause, at the very least, an Unreliable Narrator and will usually require a straightman second announcer to act as the Cloudcuckoolander's Minder.
It's less common to see such announcers in a serious event or setting, unless the story in question is a comedy in the first place. More commonly it will be a relatively informal affair, and indeed the Cuckoolander Commentator may just take up the job himself without anyone asking (or particularly wanting) them to do so.
If the character does appear in a formal or major setting, it could be that the Cuckoolander is actually a deliberate act. A characterization the announcer does to add some flavor to the job and add to the witty banter between a co-announcer or host.
Compare Large Ham Announcer, which this trope can overlap with, since the Cuckoolander Commentator's antics can easily be a Crowning Moment of Funny for a work.
May also be The Announcer for a game show, in which case any Cuckoolander qualities may indeed be an intentional act for entertainment.
Currently, this trope is envisioned for announcers at particular events or shows, rather than the general narrator, though that may change depending on examples. Also, it isn't intended to include merely snarky or funny commentators. Cuckoolander Commentators are usually funny, but it's often because they're so out there and, barring the deliberate act clause, usually aren't doing it intentionally.
Film
- DodgeBall: A True Underdog Story gives us Pepper Brooks, known for his staggering powers of deduction and assortment of non sequiturs. While Cotton McKnight isn't exactly a shining paragon of sanity, he usually plays the Straight Man to Pepper by popping a Fascinating Eyebrow and choosing not to respond to Pepper's more... outlandish comments.
- Fred Willard's character in Best in Show. He's a former American Football player turned sportscaster, who is desperately trying to treat the dog show like it was a football game.
Literature
- The example quoted above is the result when Luna Lovegood is made a Quidditch commentator in Harry Potter. Professor McGonagall acts as her Minder.
Live Action TV
- Saturday Night Live: A recurring sketch featured a pair of announcers at various ladies sporting events, one of whom is completely clueless. One of his more cogent moments, after a bowler bowls a strike:
Greg Stink: She's gotta be careful.
Pete Twinkle: Why is that?
Greg Stink: Two more strikes and she is outta there.
Pete Twinkle: No, no, no... Now, hold on, Greg. I -- you know, I think you're thinking about baseball.
Greg Stink: Yeah, you're probably right! I do not know this game! It is an absolute mystery to me!
- Saturday Night Live's portrayal of Chicago Cubs announcer Harry Carey made him appear this way, with Harry going off on completely unrelated tangents when delivering his reports on Weekend Update.
Professional Wrestling
- Dusty Rhodes. Botchamania has a segment called "Insane Dusty Commentary".
- Art Donovan at King of the Ring 94.
- Booker T. since returning to do commentary on Smackdown in 2011.
Sporting Events
- Australian Rules Football commentator Rex Hunt sometimes makes it really hard to tell what's going on from his commentary (even for those who understand the game perfectly), and combines it with Large Ham. Depending on who you ask, the result is either heaps of fun or incredibly annoying.
Video Games
- Banjo-Kazooie: Gruntilda, during that game show thing at the end. At least, I think she's the host.
Web Original
- Jesse Cox of Jesse Cox could be considered this. Especially when paired up with... well... just about anyone really but especially TotalBiscuit.
Western Animation
- Pinkie Pie in My Little Pony Friendship Is Magic is the commentator alongside Spike for the contest between Applejack and Rainbow Dash during the annual Running of the Leaves.
Spike: You know, Pinkie, these two ponies have a bit of a grudge match they're trying to settle, trying to prove who's the most athletic.
Pinkie: Yes! And "grudge" rhymes with "fudge"!
Spike: Yes it...does? What?
Pinkie: And I like fudge. But if I eat too much fudge, I get a pudge, and then I can't budge.
(Beat)
Spike: So...no fudge?
Pinkie: Aw, no thanks. I had a big breakfast.