About

"Classic Paul Dano" is a copypasta expression typically posted on 4chan's /tv/ (television and film) board anytime a reference to actor Paul Dano is made.

Origin

The exact origin of the phrase is unclear, but the earliest know use on 4chan was posted by a user accusing the OP of using being Paul Dano giving a "false name" (shown below).

Spread

On January 31, 2013, YouTuber mactazer posted a video titled "Classic Paul Dano," featuring a photograph of the actor with the 1986 rock song "The Final Countdown" by Europe playing in the background (shown below).

In Februray, the @classicpauldano^[3] Twitter feed was launched. On February 5th, a Facebook^[4] page titled "Classic Paul Dano" was created. On January 2nd, 2014, Redditor stokkebye replied "Classic" to a thread about Paul Dano on the /r/movies^[2] subreddit. On March 7th, a Steam^[5] group titled "Official Paul Dano Fan Club" was launched with the phrase "Classic Paul Dano" in the description field. On April 19th, 2014, IGN Forums^[7] user meep316 submitted a thread claiming that the "classic Paul Dano" meme had "ruined him." On November 15th, 2015, YouTuber Jim Tim Memes posted a montage of clips featuring Paul Dano with the 2015 hip hop song "Classic Man" by Jidenna playing in the background (shown below).

On December 12th, 2015, "classic Paul Dano" was mentioned in a thread listing various /tv/ board memes on 4chan.^[8] On February 3rd, 2016, Redditor jammymalina created the /r/classicpauldano^[9] subreddit with YouTuber mactazer's video stickied to the top of the page. On February 6th, Redditor WalkingDad submitted a link to a Guardian article titled "Paul Dano: a resolutely hexagonal peg in the square hole of showbusiness" to /r/movies, to which Redditor in_girum_imus_nocte commented "Paul 'Classic Paul Dano' Dano."^[1]

Search Interest

Not available.

External References