QI questions

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

Series-N, it is on BBC 2 at 22:00 on Fridays which makes it very mainstream.  

• state the genre of the programme

QI is part of the comedy, panel show genre.

• state the names of the host and panellists

Hosting the show is Sandi Toksvig and the panellists are; Josh Widdicombe, Susan Calman, Matt Lucas and Alan Davies.

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

Sandi Toksvig always appears very knowledgeable in comparison to the panellists. Often she has extra knowledge on a subject outside the answer of the question. This allows for comedic effect as panellist Alan Davis who is set up as the genial fall guy pales in comparison and makes the common mistake or falls into the trap of the trick questions. He is relatable to the audience because many people won’t know the answer and look for him to make the mistake of getting it wrong.

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

The episode I watched was about Christmas traditions and especially Dutch traditions and generally unknown topics like the names of Icelandic Santa’s (‘spoon licker, door sniffer etc…’) This is interesting to audiences and it is new information and often told in a funny way as the panel of comedians try to work out what the names relate to for instance Josh Widdicombe says ‘Are they names you use to call us’

• what makes you laugh in the episode?

Jokes made by comedians that turn out to be the answer for instance when Alan Davis relates the noise of a partridge taking off to that of someone ‘breaking wind’ and Sandi then informs that the word partridge does actually mean to break wind. Also games played by the panellists such as ‘Are you there Moriarty’ which involves smacking each other with a rolled newspaper. Naturally and expectedly chaos ensues with the panellists not following the rules and using it as an opportunity to smack each other. This chaotic atmosphere is very funny for the audience and jokes are shouted during this that have been carried through the show like ‘Imagine it’s the man over the road’

• how is Sandi Toksvig erudition (the extent of his knowledge) shown?

Sandi Toksvig’s erudition is shown through her very exact knowledge of very varied and unusual topics, such as African fruits and Latin derived names. Throughout the series Sandi’s knowledge on more and more subjects becomes apparent and after a few episodes the audience becomes reliant on Sandi to know everything, She often adds her own knowledge of a subject onto the answer like during this episode when she knew the rest of the names of Icelandic Santa’s.

• are the audience passive consumers or active participants?

The audience feel more like active participants in the show, despite the lack of dialogue from the audience the show engages with them differently by setting up Alan Davies to represent the general audience and give the answer everyone is thinking and with his failure we learn the correct answer so it is very immersive.

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

Alan Davis is the genial fall guy. This means he is set up to fall into the traps of the question that the audience is thinking and make that mistake for us. Not only does this give comedic effect as he often says the answer in a very funny way like when he imitates the partridge ‘blowing off’ into flight, but it often means he embarrasses himself and the audience feels in a higher position than him and more intelligent which often keep them engaged.

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

It fits all the criteria extremely well. Being a panel how the informative and educational sides are very easy to put into the show. Rounds that talk about specific topic like for instance ‘Parlour games’ are very good to entertain and often the show will also talk on current affairs like statistics from the UK about Christmas or ongoing political debates which are good to inform. All this is told in a comedic way as the questions are set up to trick and confuse an audience making them engaged and the panel of comedians often joke about the subjects no matter how serious it is.

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

The audience I would say is positioned as omniscient as we have a panel to make the mistakes for us and to laugh at for getting the answer wrong. We are put in a high position than them and often can guess the answers along with them without the same humiliation’ that comes with if they fall into the traps like the alarm going off as the give an incorrect answer.

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 young children and teens could relate to her. Audiences also relate to her relationship with her best friend Stevie  because it is a very typical relationship with back and forths and ongoing jokes like Miranda's size or Stevie's 'allure'. 

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, is the epitome of the upper/middle class.
Miranda's mother makes us laugh because she is a very relateable character to people who know someone like her or act like her which makes jokes like  her 'posh laugh' and catch phrase 'such fun' have a more personal and funny twist for the audience.
Miranda's group of girl friends are stereotypes. For example, the middle class is shown as very social and seeing themselves above people like 'commoners'
Her girl friends often make us laugh at Miranda, such as in the episode when her friends say "Tarzan of cakes"
However, in many ways, Miranda is an anti-stereotype because she is disorganized and quite childish she does not have the typical aspects of a hero like an attractive body. 

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 is forced to go to a social event.
Another narrative strand that makes audiences relate to her is her troubled love life. To explain she is a hopeless romantic but has no immediate desire for a partner much to the disappointment of her mother who tries to marry her off at every opportunity. 

Each episode also features predictable running gags such as, for example, the 'allure'
Miranda always manages to lose her clothing, such as in the episode when she shuts a taxi door and traps her dress ripping it off as it drives away.
Stevie and Miranda always compete for boyfriends, such as the episode when the buy dogs simply to impress a man they are fighting over.
Miranda always embarrasses her friends socially, such as the cutaway in an episode where it shows her laughing to fit in and accidentally laughing when someone mentions a death and getting awkward stares.

The sitcom addresses audience’s lifestyles, concerns, hopes about relationships. Miranda always fails to explain her true feelings for Gary, such as when he leaves to hong kong and she cant explain that she wants him to say. Miranda tells us: "of course i don't want him to go"
She competes with, quarrels and makes up with Stevie, for example, when the both comepete in an eating contest.
She gets scolded by her mother, such as in the episode when her mother says "oh no your not going yo The Henley Regata are you?" 

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 4th wall and communicating directly. She confides in us, the audience her feelings, saying:  "I just want to let Gary know how i feel"

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 when Mirada talks about the penis pasta in her store and make it into a joke, when she competes with Stevie to find 'Wallet man' by buying a dog and when she kicks the tray out of the waiters hand in the restaurant.  


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, she is always forgiving of stevie after feuds
Audiences pick programmes with actors that they know and like. It is also significant that Miranda Hart is a well-known person in comedy as it feels like more of a documentary too.

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 her poor social skills Miranda bounces back, for example, she still attends events like the regatta.


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 overcoming her embarrassment at telling Garry how she feels.

In conclusion, Miranda is a successful sitcom because it is typical and relatable. it very much fits the audiences pleasures and she is a likeable character and we build a personal relationship which makes viewers come back to find out the next chunk of her story.