What Tickles Your Funny Bone?

1. What Tickles Your Funny Bone?

2. 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?

3. 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

4. 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

5. 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!)

6. 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)

7. 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. Joey’s “How you doin?”) • Exaggeration: dramatic portrayal of something purely for the amusement of others (ex. Homer choking Bart)

8. 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 (Joey’s 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

9. 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.