talking head

American  

noun

1. Television Slang. a closeup picture of a person who is talking, especially as a participant in a talk show.

2. Slang. a person whose talk is empty and pretentious.

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talking head British  

noun

1. (on television) a person, such as a newscaster, who is shown only from the shoulders up, and speaks without the use of any illustrative material

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Etymology

Origin of talking head

First recorded in 1965–70

Example Sentences

This is not a documentary feature stuffed with detailed historical context, talking heads contemplating Jacobs’ impact, and stretches of runtime devoted to quietly pondering what legacy looks like in an ephemeral business.

From Salon

The fable construct extends to a frenetic visual scheme of handmade art and animation that interrupts our absorption process as if we were kids needing stimulation between all the talking heads.

From Los Angeles Times

Our work and social worlds get reduced to grids of little talking heads.

From The Wall Street Journal

She also puts an invigorating spin on the style of the mob documentary, of which there is no shortage and which usually amounts to a tossed salad of clips and talking heads.

From The Wall Street Journal

There are no talking heads in Peck’s film, no experts spelling out the relevance of an author who died in 1950.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• commentator
• newscaster