Thursday, 9 February 2017

Keith Lemon

Image result for keith lemon



Keith Lemon is portrayed by Leigh Francis. The main genre Francis focuses on is: Comedy. He has used this persona in many shows: Whatever I want (2000), Bo'Selecta! (2002-06), Keith Lemon's Very Brilliant World Tour (2008), Celebrity Juice (2008-present), Sing If You Can (2001),  Keith Lemon's LemonAid (2012), Lemon La Vida Loca (2012-13), Through the Keyhole (2013-present) and The Keith Lemon Sketch Show (2015-16). Leigh Francis is a businessman and television presenter. In 2006, he had an interview with The Guardian and he stated that Keith Lemon is slightly based on his best mate ( whose name is also Keith Lemon). Lemon is well-known by his Yorkshire accent, bleached hair, ginger moustache and fake tan.
Lemon was first portrayed in 2000 in the short-lived - Whatever I want, this was aired on London Weekend television. Furthermore, his own catchphrase 'Bang Tidy!'
In 2002, Lemon first appeared as a recurring character on Channel 4 in a series called Bo'Selecta!, this was created and performed by Francis. this ended in 2006.
Between 2008 - Present, Francis has appeared Lemon on many different things - Celebrity Juice, Im a Celebrity campaign, Big brother campaign and many more.

Monday, 6 February 2017

Codes and Conventions of TV Comedy Panel Shows

  • They use the repetition of a title sequence each episode, sometimes they are animated.
  • The soundtracks used are normally fast paced and loud.
  • The contestants are normally set up in two teams around a panel.
  • You can normally hear the audience clapping and cheering before you can see them.
  • The camera zooms in and out on the host, audience and contestants.
  • They normally use familiar celebrities.
  • Normally there are 3 or more of the same celebrities in each episode; they are normally the team captains, the host or they just bring the comedy element to the show.
  • They are all normally one hour long.
  • They have their own individual theme music.
  • They normally have a familiar show like setting.




A Panel Game or Panel Show is a variation on the Game Show in which celebrities and comedians compete in teams to win points. Panel games are a mainstay of British television, perhaps due to the continued UK popularity of radio entertainment, from which the format was adapted; or to accommodate lower UK production budgets. The games are a useful way for up-and-coming — or fast-descending — comedians to pay the bills.


The celebrity contestants are usually paid an appearance fee, but there is rarely a prize as an incentive to win, although the contestants may still be highly competitive. The focus is on comedy; The Points Mean Nothing, and some shows feature a joke prize that is mundane (Have I Got News for You), bizarre (Shooting Stars), or non-existent (I'm Sorry I Haven't A Clue).


Panel games feature a host who asks the questions and adjudicates, and often some of the panelists are regulars who appear every week. The host makes jokes between the rounds, of which there are up to six, some more gimmicky than others, including video clips and minigames.
They are shown on commericial channels due to the fact they are cheap to make; all they need to buy is the set, the celebrities and staff behind the scenes.
Most of these are shown just after the water shed due to transgressive pleasures and they are aimed at older target audiences.






Monday, 23 January 2017

Audience Pleasures of Peter Kays Carshare



Recognition, familiarity and anticipation pleasures are developed into the first episode early on, even though the characters have only just met. The contexts is based on daily commutes and this is familiar to many audiences.
Recognition is from the soundtrack that is built on diegetic sound. the music has a nostalgic element and it helps the series appeal to their target audience. The sound reinforces the familiarity of the commute however there is comedy from the radio adverts that parody the local radio marketing. There are adverts for colleges, butchers and sheds.
Transgressive comedy is introduced quickly into the episode, it emphasizes the awkward relationship between colleagues. For example: there is an advert for the butchers about eating this mans meat and some members of the audience will apply it as being sexual.
There is repetition in each episode, it is at the start when John is in the car to pick up Kayleigh from her house. Moreover when they are driving in the car. In addition it is when they get to the supermarket and the characters split up to go to work. Also when they meet up after work in the supermarket car park to go home. Furthermore, when Kayleigh gets dropped off after work and John goes back home. These sequences happen in every episode. In addition, there is an ellipsis when the go to work, this is a narrative pleasure and a narrative resolution.




Episode One - The comedy engages the audience, to help it easier for the audience to get to know the characters. It contains transgressive and snowballing comedy due to the urine sample joke.


Episode Two - In this episode you meet Kayleighs 80 year old next door neighbor, Ken. It contains snowballing comedy due to the dogging joke.


Episode Three - In this episode you meet Ray their fish monger. The smell of the fish provides the comedy; of the way they react to the smell. In addition it is a bit offensive to the man however the transgressive humour draws the attention of the audience. 
Episode Four - In this episode they go to the car wash due to an accident that happened earlier on.The car wash is familiar to the audience and this will interact with the target audience.You find out that Kayleigh has Aquaphobia and this makes the audience laugh; she starts to panic as they go through the car wash.



Tuesday, 10 January 2017

Peter Kay

All about Peter Kay

Peter John Kay (born 2 July 1973) is an English comedian and actor. His 2010-11 stand-up comedy tour was officially inaugurated into the Guinness World Records as the most successful of all time, playing to over 1.2 million people.
Peter John Kay was born and brought up in Lancashire, where he attended Mount Saint Joseph RC School, leaving with one GCSE in art.
He took several minor jobs, including working in a toilet roll factory, supermarket, a cinema and a bingo hall, which later inspired episodes for That Peter Kay Thing. He began a degree course at the University of Liverpool but dropped out because he was given an unconditional offer to attend a Higher National Diploma (HND) in media performance at the University of Salford. He then attended the University of Salford's school of media, music and performance, where he studied for an HND in Media Performance, which he completed; this involved a stand-up course.
His first stand-up was the competition the North West Comedian of the Year, which was held in Manchester, who would later be the co-star and co-writer of Phoenix Nights. Kay was last on the bill and won the competition, beating Johnny Vegas. Kay has said that he sought a career in comedy. However, Kay continued to work part-time as an usher at his local cinema in Bolton whilst performing stand-up locally. When the cinema closed, Kay was presented with the choice between finding another job or moving into comedy full-time.
After he entered and won Channel 4's So You Think You're Funny? contest in 1997, his first semi-professional stand-up appearances were at the 1998 Edinburgh Fringe Festival, where he received a prestigious Perrier Award nomination. During this time, he also appeared at various other clubs, such as London's influential Comedy Store. Although this led to a certain level of public recognition, it was only after his first live video show Live at the Top of the Tower in 2000 that Kay attained mainstream recognition. During this period, he appeared on several chat shows, such as Friday Night with Jonathan Ross and Parkinson, on the latter of which he had previously served as warm up. It was at this time that production also began on Phoenix Nights, which was to see him achieve critical acclaim as well as mainstream success.


Phoennix Nights - Small clip from Episode 2, Series 2





Monday, 9 January 2017

Codes and Conventions of a Situation Comedy

  • Same characters appear in every episode and usually do not change or develop much.
  • Episodes are usually 30 minutes long
  • The set for the sitcom is usually the same each episode.
  • Sitcoms usually centre on a family home or workplace.
  • Characters in sitcoms are usually very stereotypical
  • Some British sitcoms are situation-led, so various mishaps happen to the main characters in each episode.
  • US sitcoms are often character led
  • There is generally a moral conclusion at the end of each episode of a US sitcom.
  • Most characters in sitcoms have cliched sayings which they will say at least once in every episode
  • Although there are ongoing storylines, the primary plotline is resolved in each episode.
  • There is a main problem to be resolved at the end of each episode
  • Ideologies of US sitcoms are far more idealistic and aspirational than those of UK sitcoms

Car Share

Image result for car share comedy




Peter Kay's Car Share is a British Sitcom set around supermarket assistant manager John Redmond (Peter Kay) and promotions rep Kayleigh Kitson (Sian Gibson) and their participation in a company car share scheme. It is created by Paul Coleman and Tim Reid, they also helped write it with Peter Kay. It is directed by Peter Kay and he also stares in the programme with Sian Gibson. The producer is Gill Isles.
The running time for the programme is 30 minutes and it is shown on BCC One. It is shown on a Friday at 9:30. It has had 6.85 million people tuning in for the opening episode and it has had 2.5 million people watching it on iPlayer. There are 6 episodes so far.


Reviews:

Clare H gave the programme a 5 star reviews. She says 'This is the most exceptional comedy series I've seen in years. I've watched the whole series through three times already. Well done Peter Kay and Sian Gibson, your chemistry was fabulous and the little nuances in your expressions delightful.'


Serena Laughlin gave the programme a 5 star review. She says 'This series is absolutely hilarious! I put the first episode on on iPlayer, thinking it wouldn't be that good.......within 2 minutes I was in stitches, and watched every episode of the series back to back. Would definitely recommend to anyone, and I can't wait for it to be released on DVD! :-)'


Safari Dino gave it a 1 star. They said 'I like Peter Kay, he's a funny guy but this is not a funny programme. I noticed it was advertised as a comedy but it misses the mark quite badly and I certainly won't be wasting any money on further episodes.'


JKirrane gave it a 3 star review. They said 'This show is ok. There are a few funny moments. Overall it is well acted and the chemistry between the two performers is good. However, it won't go down as a classic.'
Car Share - Trailer



Friday, 6 January 2017


TV Comedy: Audience Pleasures




The type of audience pleasures you need to write about in the exam include:
  • narrative pleasures such as those of narrative resolution, 
  • character identification, snowballing narrative, suspense, comedy, and so on
  • pleasures of recognition, familiarity and anticipation
  • pleasures of difference-within-repetition
  • performance unpredictability and spontaneity
  • transgressive pleasures
  • specific pleasures associated with performers or personalities.