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Audience Pleasures of the QI Episode: Nonsense

Within the QI Episode: Nonsense, familiar audience pleasures are recognised if you are a keen viewer of the program. QI offers a range of audience pleasures which are embedded in the series and stands out to the targeted audience. For example 'familiarity' in the program is an example of audience pleasure as it follows the same format every episode e.g. introducing panelists (comedians) with funny buzzers. This format builds the shows relationship with the viewer as you become more understanding of the panelists personalities.

Another audience pleasure in this episode in 'Superiority' as for example Alan Davies, a panelist on the show  is seen as 'the bloke next door' and tends to go for the obvious answer and gets them wrong. This generates humour to the audience and a running gag is established as we begin to understand the character of Alan Davies.

Banter between panelists is also seen through this episode as when Sandi Toskvig explains to how netball is nonsense. Holly Walsh explains how she never found it fair as it was bias towards taller people. She is therefore sharing humorous anecdotes from her own life. In addition, the male comedian: says "we have brought up previous wounds" expressing banter attempting to branch off into a frivolous conversation. 

In addition the program uses intertextuality as for example Sandi Toskivig (The hostess of the show) uses a picture of the Delphic Oracle and makes a remark "Wow she's got weird legs" as she is positioned on stilts. The female comedian: Holly Walsh hints at intertexuatilty as she says "that's the type of thing you see in Covent Garden, but usually they have a Yoda costume over the top." The audience can relate to this and find it humerus, as for example, I have seen street performers like this and therefore find it funny.

‘Quite interesting’ facts more important to entertain than to get the right answer, therefore, verbal humour is important, QI has stated it follows its own philosophy, which is that everything in the world, even that which appears to be the most boring, is "quite interesting" if looked at in the right way; because of the show's expectation that hardly anyone would be able to give a correct answer without significant prompting, it instead encourages sheer interestingness, which is how points are mainly scored.

Explain Two Ways in which the Narrative (Lara Croft) in the extract fits the Action and Adventure Genre

Within the extract a heroic protagonist and her sidekicks are represented, they both fit the action and adventure genre, for example Lara Croft is conveyed as a very audacious character and represents confidence in her movement, we see her and her sidekicks exploring an abandoned temple. In order for her to ascend from one place to another she is forced to use her agility and nimbleness to move around. She has coolness and self-assurance that her movement is efficient and swift, Lara is an attractive protagonist to which enforces this impression she in the heroine of the extract. These are qualities to which a heroic protagonist would possess, and builds upon our knowledge of her heroic skills. We later understand the sub-genre which fits this action and adventure extract: Suspense and Jeopardy, and the underlying sub-genre: Combat and Conflict. As Lara is exploring, the temple comes crashing down and her sidekicks issue her to return to safety as she is in a state of jeopardy. To make matters worse a group of villainous antagonists are introduced and the chaos continues.

The villains are represented with wearing black outfits which is associated with corruption and intimidation, in addition, they are equipped with technical gadgets to prevent Lara from exploring the temple. Combat and Conflict is then portrayed as the antagonists eliminate Lara’s sidekicks and leave her outnumbered, the audience emphasize with Lara as she is in a state of vulnerability. They used the element of surprise which is often used by the stereotypical villain, this furthers our knowledge that the villains are cunning and sneaky. Their facial expressions present anger and ire which is a stereotypical code presented to the villain. These factors help to establish the difference of good and evil, and help to support the audience which side to be on.

Isolated and under threat of evil, Lara is resourceful with her surroundings. Adding onto the audience’s suspense she comes eye to eye with a shark. A creature which is depicted as menacing and another challenge Lara has to face. In a hostile position, the protagonist grabs onto the fin of the shark and brings her to the surface of the water. This event reinforces our knowledge of her confidence in the most daring of situations and summarises her as being a powerful, resourceful heroine.    

QI Audience Pleasure

• For the episode you watched, state the series (this will be a letter), channel, day and time of broadcast

Series N E09 (22nd December 2016)

• State the genre of the programme

           
          British comedy panel game television quiz show.

• State the names of the host and panellists

Sandi Toskvig (The Host) Josh Widdicombe, Susan Calman, Matt Lucas and Alan Davies.

• As the host, how does Sandi Toskvig relate to the other panellists? Consider if the term 'genial' applies.

Sandi Toskvig, the host of QI relates to the other panellists in a genial manner. I believe the term ‘genial’ applies to her and the other panellist’s relationship as they all seem to bond well together. Although, on some occasions you can see her sharing friendly banter with the panellists if they make a mistake on a question. As she is the host, she does show qualities of authority of the programme. She is the expertise of the show and has full control of the events in the show.

• What is 'quite interesting' about the extract that you watched?

          Verbal humour important: ‘quite interesting’ facts more important in order to entertain than getting the right answer. An example of verbal humour was when Sandi Toskvig was naming 4 things which are associated with Icelandic Christmas. 4 Names such as ‘Sausage Stealer’ were mentioned. Alan Davies makes a comedic comment suggesting that these names are associated with the 4 panellists. This can be seen as quite interesting the viewer as verbal humour is used for audience pleasure.

• What makes you laugh in the episode?

During the episode, things that made me laugh was when the panellists were introduced wearing pointy, red hats to incorporate this special Christmas theme of episode. As the show continues witty gags are used from the panellists (comedians) to encourage the audience pleasure of entertainment. For example a joke in particular to what I found funny was to when Matt Lucas was asked to describe a fruit which doesn’t have the letter ‘n’ in it, Matt says ‘Ba a a’ replacing banana. 

• How is Sandi Toskvig erudition (the extent of his knowledge) shown?

Answers designed to expose myths:  things you always thought were true; laugh yourself clever. For example, when Sandi Toskvig asks the name that is given for a paid companion (a social equal) that looks after your children in Victorian Times. The answer is Opare, however, the panellists believed it was ‘Nanny’. This is a strong example of Sandi Toskvig’s erudition, as they felt the correct answer was Nanny but she exposed this myth.

• Are the audience passive consumers or active participants?

There are two audiences to this programme the television audience at home, and the live television audience at the set. The audience at home are active participants as they go along and answer the questions for themselves during the running of the programme. In addition, the audience at the set are also immersed as you can tell from the laughter coming from the audience stand.

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• What is the role of Alan Davies and how does he contribute to audience pleasures?

Alan Davies is a comedian, film actor and TV actor, therefore a familiar face even for teenage audiences (Angus Thongs and Perfect Snogging, Jonathan Creek). He fulfils the role of ‘the bloke next door’, the common man, the Everyman, who "rushes headlong like a puppy into the wall of ignorance."

Funny buzzers: Davies's buzzer is usually more humorous than the others. Davies optimises and brings this sense of entertainment to the audience. From what I have seen Davies entertains the audience as acting in a child-like manner. Unlike the other panellists, Davies consists to make jokes whereas the other comedians tend to make far fewer. This is a running gag through the television series.

Alan always seems to have the attention drawn to him the most frequently emphasising his role in the programme and how he used his comedic knowledge to keep the audience entertained.  

      

• How far does the programme fulfil its Public Service Broadcasting remit to inform, to educate and to entertain?

QI has stated it follows its own philosophy, which is that everything in the world, even that which appears to be the most boring, is "quite interesting" if looked at in the right way; because of the show's expectation that hardly anyone would be able to give a correct answer without significant prompting, it instead encourages sheer interestingness, which is how points are mainly scored.

• How is the audience positioned: as omniscient or powerless?

In my opinion, the audience is positioned as powerless as they have no contribution to the television series. The game show/quiz does not incorporate the audience in the proceedings of the show, instead they watch and enjoy. You can portray the audience in this way, however, you could say they are omniscient also as the questions Sandi Toskvig remarks on gets the audience to think, this contributes to the shows informing/educating factor.

INSTITUTIONS & AUDIENCES: CHANNEL IDENTS PREP

Channel Idents for: C4, BBC, E4 and Dave. 

Channel 4: 

BBC: 

 





























E4:



Dave:

Miranda Homework

B323 Section B Media Topic: Television and/or Radio comedy

Question 4 b): Discuss in detail how one programme offers audience pleasures. Give examples from the programme.

I have chosen to analyse the audience pleasures of watching Miranda (BBC 1). I will give specific examples by close reference to episodes and by quotation.

Miranda is mainstream family viewing, aimed at a target audience who would relate to middle class life. Miranda is a TV sitcom: socially inept Miranda always gets into awkward situations when working in her joke shop with best friend Stevie, being hounded by her pushy mother, and especially when she is around her crush Gary.

A comprehensive review of all four BBC TV channels by the governing trust (July 2014) found that BBC 1 could feel “middle class in focus and target audience" with Miranda cited as an example. They also found that the BBC is falling out of favour with younger people and BAME (black, Asian and minority ethnic viewers). The average age of BBC1 viewers is 59, compared with 56 in 2010/11. However, the character of Miranda is also quite like a big child as she is unmarried, always making a fool of herself and getting into trouble with her mother, so I think that audiences such as Children/Teenagers could relate to her, those to which who are independent.

Audiences also relate to her relationship with her best friend Stevie because they are actresses of complete different personality, it is a very dynamic, intense relationship. Stevie could also be seen as the friend to which your parents would say to be more alike. For example, she is physically more attractive, and knows how to control herself in social circumstances. Stevie thinks of herself as more successful socially and romantically, as she puts it, she has 'allure' whereas she dismisses Miranda as merely having 'wiles' when it comes to attracting men, as in Series 1 Episode 6. Miranda has to compete with Stevie for men, in fact, this is a running gag in many shows, such as Dog in which a man leaves his wallet in the shop and the contents suggest that he could be a potentially exciting date. The comedy arises here when both Stevie and Miranda buy dogs as 'wallet man' has a photo of a dog in his lost wallet. Stevie, who is tiny, buys a Great Dane while Miranda, who is 6ft 1, buys a Chihuahua. 

Miranda offers the pleasures of the sitcom genre, such as characters that are recognizable that the audience can relate to, who are stereotypes. Miranda's mother, for example, represents the upper class stereotype.

Miranda's mother makes us laugh because she contradicts Miranda's behavior 

Miranda's group of girl friends are stereotypes. For example, they play as a set of 'girlfriends' which can be related by the female audience.

Her girl friends often make us laugh at Miranda, such as in the episode when her friends say "I'm watching my diet-I'll order the Salad."

However, in many ways, Miranda is an anti-stereotype because she orders fatty foods which contrast with her 'girlfriends' orders. 

There are many points of recognition for middle class audiences in the ways in which the sitcom addresses audience’s lifestyles, concerns, hopes, such as Miranda's conflict with her mother as when she decides to go to the 'regatta' which goes against her middle-class lifestyle.

Another narrative strand that makes audiences relate to her is her trouble love life. To explain: She finds it difficult to express her emotions to Gary, and how she normally turns it into an awkward situation.

Each episode also features predictable running gags such as, for example, her frequent removal of clothes in bad circumstances. 

Miranda always manages to lose her clothing, such as in the episode when she becomes stuck in the park due to the closure. Initially, she thinks she is stuck, however, she finds a gap in the fence. In order to slither though the tight gap she undresses. This emphasizes the shows running gag.

Stevie and Miranda always compete for boyfriends, such as the episode when 'wallet guy' leaves his wallet in Miranda and Stevie's Joke Shop.

Miranda always embarrasses her friends socially, such as when Miranda attempts to express her emotions to Gary but are intensely drawn to her cute pet. She says comedic comments to emphasize they're heavy distraction on the Chihuahua. 

The sitcom addresses audience’s lifestyles, concerns, hopes about relationships. Miranda always fails to explain her true feelings for Gary, such as when she goes to the restaurant to which Gary works in Miranda tells us: "I love you Gary."

She competes with, quarrels and makes up with Stevie, for example, when they both compete over 'wallet guy'

She gets scolded by her mother, such as in the episode when her mother says "..."

In most sitcoms, the audience is passive consumer but this show is filmed before a live studio audience. In addition, Miranda establishes a relationship with her audience by breaking the fourth-wall. She confides in us, the audience her feelings, saying things to entice this relationship between her and us, the audience. 

For Blumler and Katz, audiences use media to gratify needs (the uses and gratifications model of audience behaviour). Miranda offers the pleasure of entertainment, escapism and diversion by making us laugh. In particular, both slapstick humour and verbal humour entertain us. Examples of these include (three examples minimum) Long-running gags, for example her tendency to undress in awkward situations, breaking the fourth wall to emphasize jokes and humour and the language she uses to both relate with audience but opens up her comedic value. 

Audiences also like to relate to the characters in programmes;  I have shown that Miranda offers many points of recognition in its characters. It s also important that Miranda is a likeable character who does not hold grudges. For example, Miranda and Stevie becoming friends again, after competing against 'wallet guy'

Audiences pick programmes with actors that they know and like. It is also significant that Miranda Hart is a well-known so that a bigger fan base is attracted.

Audiences tend to favour programmes that support their values and their sense of their own identity. Part of our sense of self is informed by making judgements about all sorts of people and things. This is also true of judgements we make about TV and film characters, and celebrities. The shows we watch, the stars we like can be an expression of our identities. One aspect of this type of gratification is known as value reinforcement. This is where we choose television programmes or newspapers that have similar beliefs to those we hold. Therefore, equally important is the upbeat, comic atmosphere of the show. Despite  set-backs such as ... Miranda bounces back, for example, ...

Finally, audiences like to know what is going on in the world (surveillance). This relates to Maslow’s need for security. By keeping up to date with news about local and international events we feel we have the knowledge to avoid or deal with dangers. In a sitcom, the characters face all sorts of situations that we can experience vicariously, some of which are challenging, such as expressing true emotion. 

In conclusion, Miranda is a character which is likeable by the targeted, middle-class audience but also teenagers. The audience can relate to her and the issues she experiences, through the series techniques have been used to increase comedic effect such as running gags, breaking the fourth wall and verbal, witty jokes. I also believe the actors have different personalities, this is a factor to why the sitcom gets a lot of attention from mainstream viewers. It is a very simple television series, however, it is for mainstream viewing and the audience pleasure is the support of values and their sense of their own identity, but also, this addition of surveillance intertwined within episodes.