A comparison could be drawn with the comedian at a dinner party, burdened by the expectation of his companions to be funny ever time he speaks. Geordan Murphy would empathise. His cavalier style of play, where his first option invariably is to run the ball, coupled with his excellent skills, has established a reputation that induces serious personal pressure.
The buzz of anticipation in the crowd, be it Welford Road, Leicester, or as is the case on Saturday, against Japan in the Test match must be sated: they are not interested in the mundane. The 22-year-old wins his second cap at the weekend, his first at Lansdowne Road, and while acknowledging that there is a certain expectation from the stands and terraces, he is mature enough to preoccupy himself with team interests.
"As much as I would like to be influenced by the crowd I have to do what I think is right. Sure, I like to counter attack. A lot of full backs will pick up the ball and their first inclination will be to kick. My first option is to have a go, but I'll make that decision in a split second based on the circumstances. I like to run it where possible but it doesn't always work.
"There is no point in picking up the ball and trying to run into a wall. You hope to make good choices."
Murphy's debut came on the summer tour against the US. Ireland's final tally like the temperature was in the 80's and the former under-21 international helped himself to a brace of tries. Mike Mullins put him through a generous gap for his first but the second offered a more revealing examination of his repertoire.
Indeed when it comes to party pieces Murphy established the benchmark for all comers in a car park last season. It was a cameo on the Sky Sports programme The Rugby Club that generated publicity with which he became uncomfortable. Affable and modest he felt that it portrayed him in the wrong light.
He explained: "I kind of got stitched up a little bit. The Sky Sports crew comes up on a Wednesday and I'm so used to the cameras being there for Johnno (Martin Johnson) and Backie (Neil Back) that you don't pay any attention. I was training away and suddenly as I swapped round I saw the camera focusing on me.
"I jokingly said, `oh I wish they would leave me alone.' Afterwards one of the guys said, `look we're actually doing a piece on you this week, would you mind doing an interview.' That was fine but one of the guys said to me, `we heard from a couple of guys down in Bath that yourself and Austin Healy do a few tricks when practising.' I said, no, no you were led astray.
"Austin said `don't mind him, he has some skills' so I was asked to do them. I said no again, to be honest, I was cold and wet and didn't want to go back out on a muddy field. I had a shower and then did the interview. Afterwards they said `it would really help us if you would do a few tricks because we're profiling you and Northampton full back Nick Beal for the match on Saturday.'
"I finally gave in, went to the car park and did a few things which thankfully came off. Otherwise I would have been left looking like a complete spoon. I got a lot of abuse and ribbing from my team-mates, flash so and so and all that. It is not something that I would want to do again."
Despite his protestations, the repertoire was impressive. On Saturday he confesses that he will be nervous and has a kind of preparation routine that he will go through. There is only one thing he will do differently. "When I do go into the changing room I won't be sitting in the place I sat the last time. Although it was a nice experience against the Barbarians - Murphy tore ankle ligaments in that game - that spot is jinxed. I will hopefully be sitting somewhere else."
He won't be fazed by switching from right wing where he has played most of the season at Leicester to fullback, his preference, nor will he subscribe to the hype surrounding his inclusion. Murphy plays for the gallery rather than to them.
