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10 point study plan – did you do any revision over Easter?
1. Watch several episodes of the show so you get a feel for what is repeated and what
changes
2. Find out what you can about the two channels by looking at their schedules, their
channel idents, how they promote themselves, and their websites
3. Decides what you think the target audience is for that channel
4. Look at the slot the programmes have been scheduled in and see; what else is
scheduled in that slot on different nights; what is scheduled before and after the
programme; what is scheduled on competing channels at the same time
5. Discuss why you think the programme has been scheduled in that slot
6. Look at the narrative pleasures of the programme – does if offer narrative
resolution (stories that end), identification with characters, rewards for the loyal
viewer, etc.?
7. Look at the media language pleasures of the programmes – does it offer fast pace,
attractive actors, glossy style, appealing mise-en-scene, etc?
8. Look at the form of comedy it offers – is it slapstick, characters comedy, black
comedy, satire, verbal comedy, punch lines, etc.?
9. Watch some more episodes of the comedy; this is a good idea in itself, but it also
provides a number 9, which leads on to …
10. Number 10! Practise writing essays comparing the two programmes and also
writing about one comedy in detail
Answer the following questions in your books, use full sentences (use example exam answer and
PowerPoint to help:
1. What sub-genre of comedy is Scrubs? What conventions does the show have to fit with
this particular sub-genre?
Scrubs is a situation comedy, situation comedies can be identified through several common
conventions. Some of these conventions include the setting this can be the workplace or
home. Scrubs is set in Scared Heart a teaching hospital and every episode we follow the lives
of the employees at the hospital. The series features fast-paced screenplay, slapstick, and
surreal vignettes presented mostly as the daydreams of the central character, Dr. John "J.D."
Dorian. The humour comes from the limited number of characters and frequently in the
form of conflict which typically gets resolved at the end of the episode – conforming to the
circular narrative structures that sitcoms have. For example
2. What sub-genre of comedy is Have I Got News for You (HIGNFY)? What conventions does
the show have to fit with this particular sub-genre?
HIGNFYis a comedy panel game show, and like many other comedy panel games shows it
features two re-occurring team captains journalist IamHislop and comedian Paul Merton.
Their respective teams change every week and are usually made up of guests who are
politicians, journalists or comedians. Unlike other comedy panel game shows HIGNFY has
guest presenters every week. HIGNFY is filmed in front of a live studio audience and has a
recognisable animated opening title sequence which usually features current world events.
Every week it opens with the guest presenter announcing the week’s news in a satirical

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manner that can be compared with real TV news broadcasters. For example one guest
presenter Warrick Davis says “In the news this week… on Newsnight there’s further
evidence of George Osbourne’s incompetence as he tries to do a piece to camera” this is
then followed by film footage a George Osbourne talking away from the camera, and thus
making a mockery of him. The studio set up of the show can be said to conform to the
conventions of a panel game show with the opposing teams facing each other, and divided
by the guest presenter/ judge’s desk. HIGNFY has a loose narrative in which players
compete for points and the teams win or lose at the end, but this is far less important than
the laughs generated along the way.The humour in HIGNFY comes, for example, from
attacking the stupidity of people and events in the news, the previously mentioned George
Osbourne reference is an example of this.
3. Who is the target audience for Scrubs? How does the content of the show appeal to this
particular audience?
The target audience for Scrubs are a young adult audience. The fast paced visual style of the
show appeals to this audience along with the fact that show main characters also fit this
demographic and the inclusion of rock, pop and indie music would additionally appeal to a
young adult audience.
4. Who is the target audience for HIGNFY? How does the content of the show appeal to this
particular audience?
HIGNFY appeals to an older adult audience, especially those interested in the news and
political events. The content of the show would appeal to and audience who frequently read
newspapers and are in the know about current affairs. In addition the guest team players are
people who would also fit into an older demographic and would appeal to the target
audience; for example GylesBrandreth who was introduces as ‘president of the association
of British Scrabble players’ – Playing Scrabble is a past time associated with the older
generation.
5. Scrubs is shown on E4, which is part of Channel 4, this means it has a niche audience, it’s a
commercial channel and a non-PSB digital channel. What can E4 do that the BBC can’t?
E4 is part of Channel 4 a non-PSB digital channel, this means that unlike the BBC it doesn’t
need to provide a public service. It can show any programmes that it thinks will attract an
audience, in any order. Whereas the BBC are duty bound to educate, inform and entertain
the whole British public.This means BBC1 programmes have to be popular, but have to have
an extra quality - being very well made, having educational value or representing all the
different parts of Britain. But because E4 is part of a non-PSB broadcaster it can import lots
of cheap American programmes like Scrubs, E4 can show the same programme twice in a
stripped schedule (e.g. at 12.15 pm and 12.45 pm every day). The BBC has to show a lot of
original material and have a mixed schedule with different genre of programmes. E4 are
competing with lots of different digital channels, so it needs to have a schedule that is easy
for the casual viewer to understand - so it strips programmes across the week.

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6. HIGNFY is shown on BBC1, which is part of the BBC who appeals to a mass audience. How
is the BBC funded and how does this impact on its remit?
The BBC is not funded by advertising like E4 and Channel 4 but by the licence fee, this is paid
to them by the public. Due to this fact the BBC has the create a broadcast programmes for a
mass audience unlike E4 who just appeal to a niche audience. The BBC have to attract the
full range of the British audience (much of what was written for question 5 is also applicable
here)
7. How does Scrubs and HIGNFY fit the remit/ brand image of the channels they are
broadcast on?
E4 is a young channel and much like its parent channel it seeks to be more daring and
exciting than its competitors. Much of their programmes are popular and entertaining but
not to mainstream. So a programme like Scrubs fits this brand image, although it fits typical
sitcom conventions the surreal daydream sequences are unique to that programme and thus
doesn’t allow it to become to mainstream.
The main remit of the BBC is to educate, inform and entertain. HIGNFY through its content,
guest presenters and regular team captains successfully does this. Ian Hisplop is a moralistic
journalist who has serious opinions about the news and Paul Merton provides the jokes. This
gives the programme the opportunity to inform, as well as entertain.
8. What pleasures (enjoyment) do the target audience get from watching Scrubs and
HIGNFY? (You must reference specific examples)
According to Blumler and Katz we choose to watch certain programmes because it satisfies a
need – we USE a programme to GRATIFY or please ourselves. The identified four main use
and gratifications these include
Entertainment and diversion (taking you away from your own problems and yurown
world for a while – escapism)
Surveillance and information (helping you to get knowledge about the world and
how it works)
Personal Identity (comparing yourself to characters on the TV – what would you do
in that situation? How would you behave?)
Personal companionship (getting involved with the characters as if they are real
wanting to find out what happens in their lives; also having something to talk about
with other people ‘did you see that last night?’ conversations)
With Scrubs a narrative pleasure is provided we can follow the story as it unfolds but we
have that reassurance that everything will be resolved at the end. For example…We identify
with one or more of the characters - we feel for them and want the best for them, though in
JD's case this can be spoiled by his obvious weaknesses and stupidity.Examples…There are
certain ‘in-jokes’ that can only be understood by loyal viewers, the comprehension of these
jokes is the reward for remaining loyal. For example, only viewers of the pilot episode know
why the Janitor is constantly playing practical jokes on JD.Scrubs offers a mix of serious and
comic storylines. We might sympathise with characters as well as laugh at them Example…

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HIGNFY fits into surveillance and information and to some extent personal identity. It gives a
viewpoint on events in the news. This can add to the audience's sense of security brought
about by the feeling that you know what is going on in the world and listening to other
people's opinions about these events. Have I Got News For You also has a track record in
attacking the rich and powerful, such as top politicians and business people. For
example…This satire, apart from being entertaining, may also help the poor and less
powerful feel better about themselves.
9. What time is Scrubs on and why?
Scrubs is scheduled at 8.45am, 2pm and 2.30pm every day on weekdays. Saturday 2.05pm,
2.45pm and 3.05pm, Sunday 9.05am and 9.35am.Scrubs is scheduled before the watershed,
so has to be a programme that is suitable for children. It fits this requirement because,
though it does contain some sexual content, it is not sexually explicit, or violent, and it does
not contain excessive bad language. It is, however, a slick and reasonably adult comedy that
would appeal to a teenage audience.
10. What time is HIGNFY and why?
HIGNFY is scheduled at 9pm on Fridays. It is repeated the next day. 9 pm is when BBC1
schedules its showcase dramas and documentaries. This suggests that 9 pm is the premier
slot on weekdays on BBC1.The slots before Have I Got News For You from 8 pm to 9 pm on
BBC1 are filled with very mainstream programmes, such as Eastenders at 8 pm, and the slot
after Have I Got News For You is filled with a comedy - making the 9 till 10 slot on Friday
nights a regular comedy slot. This suggests that Have I Got News For You is being aimed at a
large, mainstream audience that likes to wind down to comedy at the end of the week. Have
I Got News For You is scheduled just after the watershed. This means it is allowed to feature
adult content, which is important for a topical news show.
11. In what ways are Scrubs and HIGNFY similar?
Both programmes use verbal comedy.
Both programmes deal with real-life issues.
Both programmes have regular characters that become familiarto regular viewers.
(Back up each of the above points with examples)