STUDYING QI

QI	Verbal humour important: ‘quite interesting’ facts more important to entertain than to get the right answer, QI has stated it follows its own philosophy, which is that everything in the world, even that which appears to be the most boring, is "quite interesting" if looked at in the right way; because of the show's expectation that hardly anyone would be able to give a correct answer without significant prompting, it instead encourages sheer interestingness, which is how points are mainly scored
	Answers designed to expose myths:  things you always thought were true; laugh yourself clever
	Mainstream audience pleasures
	Regular panellists: Stephen Fry QI Master, ‘magic’; very clever chairman;
	Alan Davies comedian, familiar face, ‘the bloke next door’ rushes headlong like a puppy into the wall of ignorance."
	Variety of panellists The show's other panellists mainly come from a stand-up comedy background
	Banter between panellists
	Funny buzzers: Davies's buzzer is usually more humorous than the others
	panellists are apt to branch off into frivolous conversations, give voice to train of thought, and share humorous anecdotes from their own lives
	In some episodes, the panellists are given an extra task to complete during the course of the game. Those who do the best are often awarded extra points
	http://www.qi.com/tv/

 

PREP Select an episode of QI to watch. Make notes on your blog under the title QI on the following: 

• for the episode you watched, state the series (this will be a letter), channel, day and time of broadcast
• state the genre of the programme
• state the names of the host and pannelists
• as the host, how does Stephen Fry relate to the other panelists? Consider if the term 'genial' applies.
• what is 'quite interesting' about the extract that you watched?
• what makes you laugh in the episode?
• how is Stephen Fry's erudition (the extent of his knowledge) shown?
• are the audience passive consumers or active participants?
• what is the role of Alan Davies and how does he contribute to audience pleasures?
• how far does the programme fulfill its Public Service Broadcasting remit to inform, to educate and to entertain?
• how is the audience positioned: as omniscient or powerless?