Possible Clues:

• Boring, rubbish kind of humour
• Like some really dry humor
• Notice the old man in study, poker-faced
• Poker-faced, as a comic
• Notice dad in study showing no emotion
• Blank-faced, as a comic
• Emotionless college head admitting daughter with father
• Unsmilingly
• Empty, obsolete bain-marie?
• Showing no expression