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Studying QI: Audience Pleasures

QI

·         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, BBC Two, Broadcast on Fridays at 10:00pm

·         State the genre of the programme

        The genre of the programme is a TV quiz show.  

·         State the names of the host and panellist

Sandi Toking is the host, Alan Davis is the lead panellist and 3 other guest panellists. The show's other panellists mainly come from a stand-up comedy background. For the Christmas Special episode the 3 guest panellists are Susan Calman, Josh Widdicomb and Matt Lucas.

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

·         Sandi is presented as the smart and intelligent woman surrounded by a bunch of kids. Essentially she is like a teacher surrounded by school kids who are learning but she is the cool teacher that all the pupils like. She is funny and is able to make funny remarks about certain topics and is very knowledgeable on specific topics. She studied at Cambridge with Stephan Fry so based on assumption she must have been top of her class in high school and very bright to be going to Cambridge. She easily catches on to what the other panellists are saying even if its innuendo.

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

      Verbal humour is important: ‘quite interesting’ facts are more important in order to entertain than getting the         right answer, using wit. For example when Sandi Toksvig gives a question about the 12 Icelandic Santa's with unusual names e.g. window peeper. In which Sandi Toksvig replies that the gift would be more for Santa then it would be for the children on Christmas day. Stating that Santa has an ulterior motive for giving the children presents and going to people's houses.

·         What makes you laugh in the episode?

How is Sandi Toksvig's erudition (the extent of his knowledge) shown?  Answers designed to expose myths: things you always thought were true; laugh yourself clever. One example of the myths is the difference between nuns and sister- a sister takes simple vows and a nun takes solemn vows another one is the differences between a nanny and au pair.  The question was: What is the name of a paid companion who takes care of your children and educates them? Or when Alan Davies and the panellist next to him play the game Are You There, Mariachi? Whilst wearing blindfolds. Alan decides that he won't play by the rules and starts whacking with a newspaper his opponent without the blindfolds on, Alan then declares himself the winner even though he cheated. Funny thing is his opponent kept on missing Alan when he wanted to fight back they then remind the audience of how little children fighting. This is an example pf slapstick humour. 

·         Are the audience passive consumers or active participants?

The audience is both passive and active.
There are two audiences for QI- active audience from live studio, and the audiences watching at home. The audience as a whole is passive in the sense that they are the ones receiving new information through panellists getting the answer wrong they are being fed information on things they thought they knew but didn't. They are active in a sense that we too participate in the games the hosts presents to the audience at home like the NO N quiz - which is a quiz which states the answer can't have the letter N in it. So us, the audience, watching at home to want to know what word can't possibly have N in it if it’s the most obvious answer. For example the question about the tropical fruit grown in the Americas but has a different name Bayabus which sounds like Banana but in fact is a guava

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

Alan Davies comedian, film actor  and TV actor, therefore a familiar face for a teenage audience (Angus Thongs and Perfect Snogging, Jonathan Creek) He fulfils the role of ‘the bloke next door’ rushes headlong "like a puppy into the wall of ignorance." The common man, the everyman. Davies's buzzer is usually more humorous than the others.

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

It educates the viewers at home on topics they wouldn't have known about especially kids who watch the show can take the facts they learn on the show and tell people at school about it and apply that in their classwork. Although most of the show is done very light touch in terms of comic relief and humour it also fulfils its brief to inform us the audience at home. For example when Sandi gives the audience at home the answer for a question and then adding an interesting fact about it. For example the 12 Icelandic Santa's and the Au Pair question. It entertains us because of the set of having stand-up comedians as panellists its easier for people at home to be able to have some sort of relief from stressful life situations when they watch well known comedians joke around. Banter between panellists. Panellists are apt to branch off into frivolous conversations, give voice to train of thought, and share humorous anecdotes from their own lives

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

When the guest panellists are given difficult questions which viewers at home know they have the answer to, the audience is omniscient for example when Sandi asks the question about the difference between a sister and a nun. However the audience is powerless against Sandi as she is the one who is being presented as all-knowing and all powerful. She is positioned as someone who has all the answers and not being the one scratching her head for a clue or an answer. For example her knowledge about Danish culture and Christmas tradition and what it means for Danish people.

Channel Idents: BBC One, BBC Two, Dave and Channel 4

Channel 4 

Channel 4 is a commercial broadcaster - its aim is to educate, entertain and immerse its audience.

Channel 4 idents

The Identity that Channel 4 is about movement and transformation. Its main aim as a brand is to maintain its public service and values through new media and to interact with its audiences using 'diverse and innovative programming'. This is seen in its major T.V shows like Big Brother and Shameless. The idents of this channel are a reflection of the things mentioned above, the channel itself makes it an objective to be able to connect and appeal to younger audiences living in a world filled with diversity - sexual orientation, race, gender, religion, physical and mental state and nationality. But this also boils down to the creative team and creators of the shows  and the idents broadcast on the channel,  the more diverse the creative team, the broader and better content for the masses. 

"Channel 4 should “foster the new and experimental in television.  It will encourage pluralism, provide a favoured place for the untried and encourage innovation in style content perspective and talent on and off screen”.

We will use our reputation for risk and non-conformism to engage a younger generation in the values of public service broadcasting."

The logo and the new channel idents are a reflection of a new and innovative Channel 4

Main people responsible for Channel for idents:

A+/Academy Films

Writer and Director: Jonathan Glazer

Producer: Simon Cooper

Production Manager: Bugs Hartley

Director of Photography: Alex Barber

Production Designer: Chris Oddy

Editor: Paul Watts @ The Quarry

VFX: One of Us

Lead Post Superviser (One of Us): Emmanuel Pichereau

Post Producer (One of Us): Leila Nicotera

Special Effects: Asylum

Shaman Costume design: Chris Oddy/Kate McConnell

Audio: Johnnie Burn @ Wave

Music Composition: Mica Levi

Original score performed by Orchestrate

Fixer Bridget Samuels for Orchestrate

Examples of Channel 4 creativity are seen in their channel style guide

Dave

Dave Ident 2
Dave ident 1

Another Channel that has decided to rebrand itself is the channel Dave. Just like its Masculine name, Dave appeals to the male audience. (the workman, fireman, lawyer, policeman, the businessman, the childish male and the playboy). This is seen in one of the idents where grown men who are different shapes and sizes are in a grand mansion playing tag in halloween costumes with their attractive female friends. Dave attracts 27 million people a month. These people are drawn to the shows broadcast on Dave like:

Suits 

Parks and Recreation

As you can tell about these two shows are American showing to us that there is a need to have television series from the States to please british audiences. It's interesting because both shows demonstrate power and conflict in the workplace. However unlike Suits, Drama series, Parks and recreation takes a more comically approach in dealing with conflict. Suits is broadcast to a male and female audience who is intrigued by law and its dirty practises.

BBC One

 "The idents contained images of circles being formed by nature, or people and their actions"- Wikipedia

 Wikipedia is correct in this instance, BBC 1 has in the past from 7 October 2016 - 31 December 2016. This is seen in its circular motion of nature and animals to help represent its identity. These Circles in the previous idents are a symbol of unity and togetherness and is seen from the beginning to the end. However on the 1st of January 2017 BBC One came up with a series of new idents to play during and after its TV Shows. These new idents bring symbolise "oneness" and demonstrates the new modern Britain that is diverse and multicultural. The new idents bring together all ethnic groups and cultures and allow people to share their values and interests. This important as we know that 2017 marks the anniversary of Britain voting to leave the EU.

BBC Two

BBC Two is the second channel of the BBC. It is funded by TV Licenses of the public and its service is to broadcast, entertain and educate the british public. for example creating shows like the Great British Bake Off. A show that showcases the best of british ameture bakers. It was europes first channel to broadcast images in colour.

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. 

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 adults entering their thirties and who are not married and struggle with getting life together unlike their peers.  Even teenagers could relate to her as they can relate to always feeling pressurized to be perfect and have everything in order.

Audiences also relate to her relationship with her best friend Stevie  because  they are the typical example of childhood best friends. They are always around each other feeding each other the company that the other friend needs. Sometimes this however causes them to have comical quarells and competitons to see who is the best between the both of them. Stevie remind the audience of the type of  friends who your parents often compare you to.  She is Physically more attractive(blond hair, slim figure and beautiful) than Miranda and is capable of capturing any man she wanted, She is confident and witty and is seen by the audience as the person who you as a friend looks up to.

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 portrayed is an established upper middle-class woman from Surrey with a posh accent and an impeccable fashion sense.
Miranda's mother makes us laugh because she is the opposite of her daughter. She just like Stevie have physical attraction and is  facially beautiful. She often has to nag at Miranda like a mother would to a teenager about acting her age and bugging her about not being able to find a man who she can share a life with.
Miranda's group of girl friends are stereotypes. For example, Middle-class white women who watch out for their weight and go to yoga.
Her girl friends often make us laugh at Miranda, such as in the episode when her friends say "Queen Kong"  whilst ordering food at a resturaunt in order to mock Miranda's shape and size.
However, in many ways, Miranda is an anti-stereotype because she is someone who is portrayed in a non physically attractive manner. She doesn't have blonde hair or blue eyes and doesn't bother to take care of her physical appearance (seen in her fashion sense). Unlike women her age in their thirties she is not married and struggles to find a husband/ man. However Miranda is independent and hard working, she has her own business unlike her friends who probably are stay-at-home wives or are married to someone who works in a good occupation. Miranda is portrayed as overweight compared to her friends (Stevie) who are slim and conscious about their weight. Miranda doesn't care about what think about her except for Gary and is portrayed as a woman who is emotionally strong and physically strong and doing things her own way.

  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 when she educates Miranda in how to behave like a middle class woman. for example she teaches Miranda how to speak in a posh mumble, tell people how hard it is to find workmen, show no emotion and when someone starts to show emotion cut the conversation short and don't take off your clothes!

Another narrative strand that makes audiences relate to her is her trouble love life. To explain: for example when she and Stevie open Wallet Guy's credit card to figure out his name; she reads his name "Robert" and ends his surname with husbands indicating to the audience that she is looking for a husband. Her and Stevie try their best to go out of their way to impress the guys they like. During the Gary's departure to Singapore Miranda shows the audience how she feels about Gary however when she is near him many distractions fall her way.

Each episode also features predictable running gags such as, for example, Miranda will always fall over an object. She has a tendency of taking off her clothes in public and her friends will always make fun of her appearance.
Miranda always manages to lose her clothing, such as in the episode when she gets locked inside the park and cannot fit through the the gate due to her shape she takes off her clothes to see if she can get through.
Stevie and Miranda always compete for boyfriends, such as the episode when Robert the guy with a dog leaves his wallet inside their joke shop and they try their best efforts to see who Robert will choose based on who is more attractive.
Miranda always embarrasses her friends socially, such as when they are infront of import middle class people or at weddings, Miranda took off her bra revealing what bra she was wearing.

The sitcom addresses audience’s lifestyles, concerns, hopes about relationships. Miranda always fails to explain her true feelings for Gary, such as when she wanted to convince Gary to stay in England she muddles up her words in real life and Gary never gets to hear how she feels. Miranda tells us: "I get nervous when I'm around you."
She competes with, quarrels and makes up with Stevie, for example, when they argue about allure and how allure is conveyed.
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 looking at a camera in her moment of thought. She confides in us, the audience her feelings, saying:  "...."

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) - the first example of slapstick humour would be when Miranda is in the park with Stevie in hopes to find wallet guy. three boys between the ages of 16-18 come to greet Miranda's small dog and begin to walk off. The audience is then confronted with a disturbing image( the boys'  pants are sagging while they are walking) Miranda takes it upon herself to lift up the boys' to lift up), when her and Stevie argue about the word allure and when Gary makes fun of her dance skills the show then refers to Miranda dancing goofely  inside the club. an example of humour is when her and stevie get dogs to impress Wallet  guy but they end up getting to completely opposite sized dogs.


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, when her mother keeps on belittling her about her life
Audiences pick programmes with actors that they know and like. It is also significant that Miranda Hart is a well-known A Character in Call the Midwife.

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 taking off her clothes in public areas whenever she is in an awkward/embarassing situitions. this shows how she just like the audience watching always tries to make the current problem funny to try to hide how she truly or when her shop manager Stevie comically makes fun of her for not being physically attractive Miranda bounces back, for example, when her and Stevie argue about what it means to have allure - in which Miranda replies in saying that she will excel in the opposite attraction.


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 challenges , such as trying to tell the guy you like you have a crush on him, how behave around posh people and how to manage good friendships.

In conclusion, Miranda is an example of situation comedy which explores how to deal with life situations with humour and ease. She represents a minority of people who are not in control of their lives and not sure where to go in their lives