What Tickles Your Funny Bone?

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What Tickles Your Funny Bone?
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Quickly write down as many sitcom titles that you
can think of!

• Now in 2-3 sentences tell me which one is your
  favourite and why?
• Why are these shows so appealing?
• What are 5 words that come to mind when you think
  of sitcoms?

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Characteristics of a Sitcom

• Usually ½ hour in length
• Ongoing plot
• Regular characters
• Characters are faced with situations that regular
  people can relate to
• Often centered on families
• Problems faced- relationships, work, career
  choices and family

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Structure of a Sitcom

• Central characters/ supporting characters
• One or two central locations
• All characters have definable characteristics and
  exaggerated traits (appearance of characters also
  important)
• Each episode has a situation that must be
  resolved in the ½ hour
• Often more than one plot in each episode
  (multiple sub-plots)
• Filmed in front of live audience or with canned
  laughter

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Why are they so popular?

• Form of escapism
• Entertainment in small bursts
• Satires of our society
• Chance to criticise/make fun of certain parts of
  society (especially people in authority)
• Always has a message
• Situations are often relatable to audience
  (although they are often exaggerated!)

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Types of Characters found in Sitcoms

• Protagonist- main character (ex. Bart Simpson)
• Antagonist- force in conflict with protagonist
  (ex. Side Show Bob)
• Character Foil- character whose traits are in
  direct contrast to those of the principle
  character serving to highlight the traits of the
  protagonist (ex. Milhouse)
• Stereotype- posesses expected traits of a group
  (ex. Nerd with no idea about women Wolowitz in
  Big Bang Theory)

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Exploring the Various Techniques to create Comedy

• Slapstick humour/ Physical comedy slapstick is a
  boisterous form of comedy with chases, collisions
  and practical jokes where people do silly things
  like tripping, falling over and embarrassing
  themselves just to make people laugh.
• Comedy of the Situation based on day to day
  situations and explored in a humorous manner
• Straight and Funny characters contrast between
  neutral characters with no humour and characters
  with distinctly funny characteristics (think of
  characters in The Office)
• One-Liners short often repeated jokes (ex.
  Joeys How you doin?)
• Exaggeration dramatic portrayal of something
  purely for the amusement of others (ex. Homer
  choking Bart)

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• Deadpan delivery of humorous lines humour is
  presented without a change in emotion or facial
  expression, usually speaking in a monotonous
  manner (ex. Lisa Simpson)
• Running/Reoccurring Gag often an amusing joke or
  comical reference that appears repeatedly in the
  show (Joeys lines in Friends)
• Satire can involve sarcasm, ridicule and irony.
  Often targets certain people or events that are
  serious
• Irony containing a hidden or opposite meaning
• Black Humour absurdity, immorality and morbidity
  used for comic effect or to draw attention to
  some regrettable state of affairs that is too
  painful

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And now. Modern Family!

• While you enjoy this pilot episode of Modern
  Family please look for examples of the literary
  terms found on the handout.
• After the episode Please write a well
  constructed paragraph outlining how and why one
  character of your choosing has deviated from
  normal societal expectations.