QI

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

The episode of QI that I watched was the Christmas special released on the 22^nd of December 2016 episode 9 season N on the BBC.

State the genre of the programme:

QI is a comedy chat show

State the names of the host and panellists:

The host recently changed from Steven fry to Sandi Toksvig and the panellists include: josh Widecombe, Susan Calman, matt Lucas and Alan Davis. 

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

Sandi Toksvig relates to the other panellists because they’ve all successfully worked in the same comedic industry and so are able to play off each others wit through there knowledge of audiences humour. Each one of them has experienced first hand live audiences and so know the type of jokes etc that will make a positive impression and promote the show.

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. An example of verbal humour in the show is the fact about Icelandic father Christmas’s and how they have different names: sausage stealer etc. During this fact one of the panellists made a joke about the name ‘ window peeper’, saying how that wouldn’t exactly be great for the inhabitants of the house and more fun for the father Christmas. This joke is saying that father Christmas has an ulterior motive to enter the house not just to deliver gifts.

What makes you laugh in the episode?

During the episode susan calman referenced the fact that here neighbour was able to change the channels of her Tv from across the road. Not only did this statement bring about quick witted humour from the host but also brought about a ongoing joke about ‘Susan’s neighbour’, that was brought back throughout the show. Another part of the show that I found incessantly funny was an example of slapstick humour in which the contestants played a game called ‘Are you there moriarty’, where the panellists were blind folded and hitting each other with newspapers.

How is Sandi Tosvig erudition (the extent of her knowledge) shown?

Answers designed to expose myths:  things you always thought were true; laugh yourself clever. In the episode we were asked what the name of a social equal who looks after a families children would be in Victorian England. This question is like a red herring (making the audience think that they know the answer when in actual fact it is tricking you). The panellists guessed nanny but Sandi Tosvig, showing the extent of her knowledge, comes in to enlighten the audience and the panellists with the correct answer of ‘au’paire’.

Are the audience passive consumers or active participants?

the audience of the QI are passive consumers in my opinion because although they are heard laughing to the jokes etc there is no interaction between them and the panellists and they are simply observers just like those watching the show on the Tv.

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

Alan Davies is a comedian and actor, a familiar face. He is in the movies: ‘angus thongs and perfect snogging’, which as a teen movie makes him familiar to the younger generation while also being in the ‘Jonathan creek’. He fills the role as the common man making him relatable to ‘common men’, who “rushes headlong like a puppy into the wall of ignorance." As a panellists he is always given the role of ‘the one who always gets a wrong’, he also is given the most embarrassing and funny sounding buzzer bringing attention to him. 

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

QI very much fulfils the BBC’s remit stating that they want to: inform, educate and entertain. The show is all about learning new and interesting facts through quizzes etc. The show constantly has a panel of comedians. They usually pick a panel filled with people who we as an audience already have an onscreen relationship with. On average they are stand-up comedians to bring entertainment to the show no matter what. That means that while the intellectual and comedic host is informing us about the  news of the day and interesting facts we are also being entertained by these actors or comedians who play off each other using verbal and even slapstick humour.

How is the audience positioned: as omniscient or powerless?

There are two audiences the live studio audience and those of us watching at home of the television. The show makes the audience feel more ‘powerless’ when watching the presenter: ‘ Sandi Tosvig’, who is shown as being omniscient. However the panellists hardly ever get the questions right and so make us feel like we are equal to them especially Alan who treks out answering the questions we wouldn’t want to in fear of making a mistake.