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.