BRITISH COMEDY
An introduction to humour in British TV
WHAT IS COMEDY?
Is humour the same in every country?
What makes people laugh in your country?
VOCABULARY
Irony, Sarcasm(n)
A Comedian (n, masc)
A Comedienne (n, fem)
An innuendo (n)
A gag, a joke (n)
A punch line
A sketch (n)
Dry (adj)
A panel (n)
Conventional (adj)
Alternative (adj)
Observational (adj)
MEDIA
Television
Radio
Written forms
Comic strips, poems, stories
FORMATS
Stand up
Situational Comedy
Game show/Panel Show
Sketch show
THEMES
Innuendo
Satire
Absurd
Macabre
Surreal and chaotic
Humour in everyday life
Social awkwardness
British Class system
Race and regional stereotypes
Sarcasm
Parodies of stereotypes
Eccentric people
Pranks and practical jokes
GENRES
Slapstick
Surreal
Class
Political
Alternative
Satire
Parody
Macabre/Black/Dark
Panel Show
HISTORY
The Music Hall
The War
Women
Radio
Television
The Heyday of British Comedy…… the 70s.
THE GAME/PANEL SHOW
MONTY PYTHON
Politics
Slapstick, Surreal
Sketch
THE TWO RONNIES
Play on words,Class
Conventional
Sketch
FRENCH/SAUNDERS
Parody
Satire
Sketch
ALAN PARTRIDGE
Social awkwardness
Surreal
Sitcom
BILLY CONNOLLY
Everyday life
Observational
Stand up
MR BEAN
Eccentric
Slapstick
Sitcom
BLACKADDER
Class
Historic
Play on words
Sitcom
HAVE I GOT NEWS FOR YOU?
Religion
Satire
Panel Show
THE FAST SHOW
Observational, everyday humour
Eccentric person
Sketch
THE OFFICE
Social awkwardness
Black comedy
Sitcom
WHO’S LINE IS IT ANYWAY?
Social awkwardness
Slapstick, surreal
Panel Show
BIG TRAIN
Everyday life, Play on words
Observational, surreal
Sketch
THANK YOU FOR
LISTENING!
You can find all these clips in a playlist on Youtube….
Search for “EF Manchester British Comedy Lecture
WATCH AGAIN…
http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLme6v_
sQkdGe9IJekVoa9ajYHkV9rtOi4