TV Comedy Exam Questions

Compare how and why two programmes were scheduled on different channels.

Bad Education is scheduled on BBC this is different to Friday night dinner which is scheduled on channel 4 as the BBC can get away with more of the risky comedy then channel 4 this is because of the target audience of each TV broadcast and the budget they both have.

Both programmes have a high amount of Transgressive pleasure this shows why the two programmes are on late at night as the content is not for young eyes. Transgressive pleasure is seen as taboo in most peoples eyes this is why people like to watch it as its funny and things that people don't normally bring up in everyday life. It is almost cringe worthy yet funny this makes the audience watch on as they know the character well and know that what they are about to do will end badly and cringy but will be hilarious.  

Bad Education is 30 minutes long whereas Friday night dinner is 23 minutes long this shows that each TV broadcast only puts risky comedy on for not that long this shows that the BBC are aloud a longer time. This also shows approximately how long comedy TV shows are on in the UK. 

The audiences that these programmes are aimed at are different yet similar as Bad Education has more of a teenage audience and fans of star of the programme Jack Whitehall, the programme is set in a school with a range of stereo-types, teenagers like this because they can almost relate even though they are over exaggerated. Friday night dinner has a family audience as it's on a Friday at dinner time where most families sit down to watch TV  although this is the case because of the humor and the cast member Simon Bird, (who starred in the Inbetweeners) encourages a younger teenage audience which then relates to Bad Education.     

Bad Education audience pleasures

Bad Education 

Discuss in detail how one programme (Bad Education) offers audience pleasures. Give examples from the programme. [15 marks]

‘Bad Education’ is a comedy which is set in a high school; the comedy is set in the same location with the same characters. This lets the audience build a relationship between the characters. ‘Bad Education’ gives us audience gratification because of the stereotypes presented in the program. One stereotype presented is the ‘chav’ in the high school; this can be seen as a white guy in a hoody with a cap talking in slang.

Audience pleasures in ‘Bad Education’ are that you like ‘Mr Wickers’ because although he screws up and gets something’s wrong he is a likeable character. All the other teachers aren’t very likeable; ‘Fraser’ the headmaster is silly and completely unsuitable for the role. ‘Miss Goluver’ is a very sickly good character that you can’t really relate to as Mr Wickers has a good heart behind what he does therefore the audience like him and can sympathise with him no matter about his stupid choices, he makes it funny and predictable when the audience watches. He is like a teenager himself this is why young adults like him.

Jack Whitehall who plays ‘Mr Wickers’ is a British comedian loved by a pacific audience which is young adults and above. This is important because when his fans find out about a comedy he is in they are more likely to watch it because he is in it.  

Comparing two TV comedy shows

Friday Night Dinner

Bad Education 

On Channel 4

On Fridays 

Robert Popper is the producer 

This shows target audience is family and teenagers because it is full of comedy that appeals to these two audiences and is funny and silly that both audiences can relate too. 

This show is on channel 4 because it appeals to a teenage base group and they watch shows on this channel.