QI analysis

• For the episode you watched, state the series (this will be a letter), channel, day and time of broadcast- Series N E09, BBC 2, 22^nd December 2016

• State the genre of the programme- Comedy

• State the names of the host and panellists- Sandi Toksvig and the panellists, Alan Davies, Josh Widdicombe, Susan Calman and Matt Lucas.

• As the host, how does Sandi Toksvig relate to the other panellists? Consider if the term 'genial' applies. - I think the term ‘genial’ definitely applies as she jokes around with the panellists like they are her very close friends, and they make each other laugh. I think Sandi Toksvig relates to the panellists with their sense of humour as they all seem to laugh at the same things which some people may not find humorous.

• 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 this in QI is when Sandi Toksvig asks Matt “Name a tasty yellow fruit grown mostly in the Caribbean and central America, in the Philippines its name has been corrupted to bayabas?” the answer cannot contain any n’s,  but because the first fruit we think of that is yellow is a banana Matt says “ba a a”

• What makes you laugh in the episode?-  Throughout the show there are a number of running gags making it very entertain able for the audience, as well as that there are also a number of slapsticks such as when Alan gets the bad buzzer as well as when they attempt to cut paper into the shape of a star and most of the panellists seem to not do it very accurately.

• How is Sandi Toksvig’s erudition (the extent of her knowledge) shown? - Answers designed to expose myths: things you always thought were true; laugh yourself clever. An example of this was when we were asked what is the name given to a social equal who looks after children, again the answer shouldn’t contain the letter n, the panellist answered ‘nanny’ but due to it containing two n’s is incorrect, and the answer was therefore opare.  

• Are the audience passive consumers or active participants? - There are two audiences to this programme, the live viewers and the television audience. Both audiences are active participants because when the host asks the question it makes the audience think about what the answer could possibly be.

• 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 fulfil its Public Service Broadcasting remit to inform, to educate and to entertain?-  People want to find out what is going on the world and chat shows always contain information about what is going on, however the panellists on QI don’t get points for getting the right answer but instead get points for having the most interesting answers. QI is educating as the host gives you the correct answer once the panellist gets it wrong or right as well as he audience finding out more about the host and panellists. It is entertaining as QI contains running gags, slapsticks as well as jokes.

• How is the audience positioned: as omniscient or powerless? – The audience are positioned as both omniscient and powerless, as the host shows herself as very intelligent making the audience feel uneducated and not have the capability to be as smart as the host. However the panellists make us feel omniscient as they answer questions incorrectly for entertainment, making them come across not very bright.