QI audience pleasures

·         For the episode you watched, state the series (this will be a letter), channel, day

and time of broadcast

QI Series N E09 - Noel HD CC (22nd December 2016)

·         State the genre of the programm

comedy

·         State the names of the host and pannelists

Josh Widdicomb, Susan Calman, Matt Lucas, Alan Davies were all the on the panel with Sandi Toksvig as the presenter.

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

Sandi is also very funny like the comedians on the panel but is very knowledgeable so stands out as the mature one who can control the situation and moves on with the programme. she is the one that informs the audience and makes it a quiz show.

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

Verbal humour important: ‘quite interesting’ facts are more important to entertain than getting the right answer. For example the names used for Santa in Iceland. Sandi said another name was ‘Window peeper’ saying that would be a present for Santa giving him an ulterior motive.

·         What makes you laugh in the episode?

In this episode it is the slapstick part where they are hitting each other over the head which makes me laugh as they look stupid and funny doing it. this also informs us as, as it was also a question.

·         How is Sandi Toksvig erudition (the extent of his knowledge) shown?

Answers designed to expose myths:  things you always thought were true; laugh yourself clever. Sandi Toksvig showed us the extent to her knowledge when she told us that the name of a social equal that educates your children in Victorian times was actually au pair, which means social equal, instead of nanny which is what everybody thought but got wrong.

·         Are the audience passive consumers or active participants?

There a two audiences to the audience in QI, the studio audience and the ones at home watching on the TV. They are both active participants as the audience have a go at answering the questions as well.

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

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

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

The programme educates with the questions giving the audience knowledge and facts but also entertains the audience as the panellist are all comedians that are very witty and makes us laugh. This makes the programme very interesting.

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

Sandi makes us feel less clever as she is very knowledgeable and knows all the answers when we get them wornf, but Alan Davies makes the same mistakes as us to make us feel equal and not stupid compared to Sand Toksvig, this makes the audience feel equal.