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.