Task 2: Researching TV Comedy Sketch Shows
Little Britain
Channel and Scheduling: Originally the programme was aired on BBC 1, 2 & 3 but since the program is not in production any more, repeats are usually aired on Gold and Gold+1. The program has themes and behaviour which are not suitable for anyobdy under the age of 18 so the program is aired after the Watershed and runs through the night.
Target Audience:
The program's target audience is 25-34 year olds and series 3 was watched by 1 in 4 people of this age range.
Concept: The program is about exaggerating real day life situations and making turning them into very funny events. An example of this is the man in the wheelchair Andy who features in every episode is not actually disabled and does lots of extraodinary activities which his carer Lou does not know. This is related to benefit fraud where people in the UK are pretending there disabled when they are not.
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Structure: As the sketch is coming on a narrator does not clearly say what the sketch is but instead makes a joke about society or the sketch itself. The opening credits start with the camera whipping across the different main characters with the same narrator throughout constantly making jokes about different parts of society. Sometimes a sketch will occur and then later in the show the sketch will be continued and concluded. At the end of each show their is always a world record attempt which either goes wrong or is ridiculous.
Content & Style: The sketch show involves characters of all ages and characters of all social classes ans social groups. Vicky Pollard played by Matt Lucas is a troublesome working class teenager whereas the their is Mr Mann who is a middle aged stubborn and awkward consumer. These regular characters feature in the show every week but different things happen to them all the time.
The Catherine Tate Show
Channel & Scheduling: The Catherine Tate show has similar humour, themes and language as Little Britain. Replays are usually on Watch, Watch HD and Watch+1 after the watershed around midnight.
http://www.tvguide.co.uk/titlesearch.asp?title=The%20Catherine%20Tate%20Show
Target Audience: The target audience for the show is 18-30 as some of the characters such as: mouthy school girl Lauren Cooper played by Catherine Tate is aimed at a younger audience whereas Janice, a middle age housewife targets middle aged people.
Concept: The program is similar to Little Britain as it exaggerates the personalities of everyday people in everyday situations.
Structure: Unlike Little Britain their is no introduction to a sketch. Instead it just appears on screen and avid fans of the show know immediately who the characters are.
Content and Style: The sketch show contains the same characters every week from different social classes, social groups and ages. An example of these characters Joannie Taylor. An old aged pensioner who is always complaining and uses foul and abusive language. The programme has pre recorded canned laughing so the audience know when to laugh.
Big Train
Channel & Scheduling: Big Train has ran from 1998-2002 and was originally aired on BBC 2. Nowadays replays of the programme are screened on Gold and Gold+1. Originally the program was aired just after the Watershed as most of the humour is suitable for children but there are some sketches that were unacceptable for under age viewing and so the programme was aired around 11:00pm. Replays of the programme are aired during the night these days.
Target Audience: The target audience for Big Train was people aged 20-40 as a lot of the characters are older and there are few young characters which would appeal to a younger audience.
Concept: The show is about making small jokes out of things and creating parodies out of other programmes and films. An example of this is a parody of 'Robocop in the Future Cop sketch.
Structure: The programme always starts off with an opening sketch before the opening titles. This sketch is designed to attract the audiences attention and make them laugh so they continue to watch the program. The program was shown to a live audience to record a laugh track which is used so the audience know when to laugh.
Content & Style: As well as real life sketches the programme also contained animated sketches. This was to remind audiences that the programme is still 'silly' and not to be taken seriously. It also gives something different to the audience, stretching to a younger audience.
Bo' Selecta!
Channel and Scheduling: The original channel for Bo' Selecta in 2002-2004 was Channel 4 past the watershed as there is a lot of swearing and sexual references which is not suitable for children under 18.
Target Audience: Bo' Selecta! often used celebrities and also made light hearted fun at other celebrities. The target audience was adults aged 25-40 who were fan out of these celebrities. The celebrities they made fun of were all of different ages but majority older people attracting an older audience.
Concept: The show is about making fun of celebrities. This is highlighted as the masks of the celebrities are exaggerated and silly, making the programme silly and suitable for adult humour.
Structure: Leigh Francis the creator of the show dresses up in silly outfits which resemble celebrities and mimmicks their jobs and possibly makes references to controversies the celebrities may have had. He does this for several characters in an episode.
Content & Style: The program contains real celebrities who interact with the unreal celebrities who are wearing the costumes and masks.
The Catherine Tate Show
Channel & Scheduling: The Catherine Tate show has similar humour, themes and language as Little Britain. Replays are usually on Watch, Watch HD and Watch+1 after the watershed around midnight.
http://www.tvguide.co.uk/titlesearch.asp?title=The%20Catherine%20Tate%20Show
Target Audience: The target audience for the show is 18-30 as some of the characters such as: mouthy school girl Lauren Cooper played by Catherine Tate is aimed at a younger audience whereas Janice, a middle age housewife targets middle aged people.Concept: The program is similar to Little Britain as it exaggerates the personalities of everyday people in everyday situations.
Structure: Unlike Little Britain their is no introduction to a sketch. Instead it just appears on screen and avid fans of the show know immediately who the characters are.
Content and Style: The sketch show contains the same characters every week from different social classes, social groups and ages. An example of these characters Joannie Taylor. An old aged pensioner who is always complaining and uses foul and abusive language. The programme has pre recorded canned laughing so the audience know when to laugh.
Big Train
Channel & Scheduling: Big Train has ran from 1998-2002 and was originally aired on BBC 2. Nowadays replays of the programme are screened on Gold and Gold+1. Originally the program was aired just after the Watershed as most of the humour is suitable for children but there are some sketches that were unacceptable for under age viewing and so the programme was aired around 11:00pm. Replays of the programme are aired during the night these days.
Target Audience: The target audience for Big Train was people aged 20-40 as a lot of the characters are older and there are few young characters which would appeal to a younger audience.
Concept: The show is about making small jokes out of things and creating parodies out of other programmes and films. An example of this is a parody of 'Robocop in the Future Cop sketch.Structure: The programme always starts off with an opening sketch before the opening titles. This sketch is designed to attract the audiences attention and make them laugh so they continue to watch the program. The program was shown to a live audience to record a laugh track which is used so the audience know when to laugh.
Content & Style: As well as real life sketches the programme also contained animated sketches. This was to remind audiences that the programme is still 'silly' and not to be taken seriously. It also gives something different to the audience, stretching to a younger audience.
Bo' Selecta!
Channel and Scheduling: The original channel for Bo' Selecta in 2002-2004 was Channel 4 past the watershed as there is a lot of swearing and sexual references which is not suitable for children under 18.
Target Audience: Bo' Selecta! often used celebrities and also made light hearted fun at other celebrities. The target audience was adults aged 25-40 who were fan out of these celebrities. The celebrities they made fun of were all of different ages but majority older people attracting an older audience.
Concept: The show is about making fun of celebrities. This is highlighted as the masks of the celebrities are exaggerated and silly, making the programme silly and suitable for adult humour.
Structure: Leigh Francis the creator of the show dresses up in silly outfits which resemble celebrities and mimmicks their jobs and possibly makes references to controversies the celebrities may have had. He does this for several characters in an episode.
Content & Style: The program contains real celebrities who interact with the unreal celebrities who are wearing the costumes and masks.
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