British Television Comedy - Essay Example

Running Head: British Television Comedy British Television Comedy of the of the British Television Comedy Every day, millions οf people across the world sit down and turn on a television set. What is it that makes television so popular? The answer to that question is quite simple: its entertaining. People like to have fun and to be entertained, which is what television provides. Turn on any TV and you can watch a comedy, a thriller, reality TV, almost anything. However, many people believe that viewing television can have negative effects on ones life. Violent shows can cause violent behaviour in those people that watch the shows, especially if a child is the viewer. Negative health effects can become evident if a person sits around the house all day watching TV. But is there anything positive that can be said about television? Educational programs are believed to be a positive element οf television, since those watching will learn from the show. Television is also viewed as being a way for anyone to connect to the world. Basically, television allows us to gain knowledge about events occurring in China, Brazil, and all around the world. Television allows us to communicate with each other. And οf course, the main positive aspect οf television is that it provides us with entertainment. Feeling bored with nothing to do? Turn on the TV for a half hour and enjoy your favourite television show. As you can see, there are both positive and negative effects associated with television. But no matter what anyone says, one thing is clear: television is here to stay. The technology keeps getting better, as more and more channels become available to us. Television ratings today are higher than ever. People are tuning in, and television is a part οf almost everyones life. Violence on TV effects people, especially children, in negative ways. Before the average American child leaves elementary school, researchers estimate that he or she will have witnessed more than 8,000 murders on television. Nearly 3,000 studies have found a connection between television violence and real violence. For example, studies involving children show that the more violence a child watches on TV, the more violent he or she will act. People that watch TV are influenced by what they watch. For example, a person might watch a man swearing on television, and then they use the same swear words as the person on television did. Or a young girl might watch a show in which all οf the main characters are skinny, and because οf this she might want to make herself thinner, endangering her health in the process. Some people become addicted to TV. They watch eight hours οf television a day, and become lazy couch potatoes, waiting in desperation for their favourite shows to come on. They cancel appointments and ruin their social/family life, all because οf TV. Οf course, this level οf addiction is rare, but many studies have proved that milder addictions are widespread. Watching too much TV can have a negative effect on ones health. It is said that you burn more calories while sleeping than you do while watching TV. Sitting on a couch for a few hours each day can cause damage to ones health. The aspects οf Jerrys nature that make him a unique character on the show are his constant focus on the trivial things about every day life and his superficial attitude toward relationships. It is Seinfeld the actor who makes this character particularly funny. Jerry is overacted, with endless big gestures and forced expression. However, it is often these things that, instead οf detracting from the character, make the character authentic. It could be argued that it is the shallow nature οf the character that makes that overacting and forced expression necessary to make the character himself believable. Joining Jerry in the show is his childhood best friend, George Constanza, (Jason Alexander) who is a character easily deemed the stereotypical loser. The direct juxtaposition οf Jerrys success and Georges failure leads to the big laughs. George is exactly the kind οf person the audience can relate to; even if they are not like him, they are sure to know someone like him. George finds it impossible to hold or keep jobs and romances, even though he spends all οf his time cooking up schemes to achieve both. Examples οf some οf these schemes would be the times he tried to cheat on an IQ test and wore a wedding band in desperate (and unsuccessful) attempts to impress women. It is Georges authenticity as the short, bald, unsuccessful character that makes him almost endearing to audiences. Jerrys neighbour Kramer, (played by Michael Richards) is most definitely one οf American TVs most memorable characters. He is essentially quirky, over-the-top, inventive and in many cases, mysterious. Kramer is most memorable for the way he consistently steals the scene as he enters a room, though he has few lines and few plots are focused on his character. Kramer also has no visible means οf financial support (except for Jerrys refrigerator) and a bizarre ability to latch onto opportunities he seems completely inappropriate for. Michael Richards competent acting and comic skills make Kramer believable and genuinely wacky. In addition to this, it is the expert delivery οf Kramers few lines that contribute to the shows comic effectiveness as a whole. It is Jerrys ex, Elaine Benes, (played by Julia Louis-Dreyfus) who provides so much more than merely the token female perspective to the shows principle four characters. Not only does she contribute her own parade οf bad dates and workplace sagas, Elaine is a character known for her outrageous dancing and her ability to say it like it is. Although Elaine is often used for a female outlook on the plot lines, many οf the episodes revolve principally around the details οf her life. Louis-Dreyfus superb comic skills in the delivery οf snappy one-liners and well-timed observations make Elaine a successful character. In addition to the four principle characters, it is the long list οf quirky relatives, friends, dates and colleagues that contribute to the distinct characterisation in Seinfeld. Examples οf these colourful characters include Georges insane father (played by Jerry Stiller), the Soup Nazi, Jerrys arch-rival Newman, lawyer Jackie Chiles and Elaines boss and catalogue mogul J. Peterman. These characters add to the reality and provide many examples οf people an audience can relate to. It can be seen, therefore, that characterisation is at the core οf Seinfelds effectiveness as a comedy. The contrasts between the characters as well as the actors skill at playing off each other makes the show genuinely funny. In addition to this, it is the authentic characters that audiences can easily relate to that make this show effective. The most appropriate evidence οf these identifiable plots can be seen in an examination οf the settings used most commonly in the show. The characters move quickly from Jerrys apartment to the coffee shop and on to a local Chinese restaurant. The show also consists οf short scenes in George or Elaines workplaces, the parking lot οf a local shopping complex or Jerrys car mechanics workshop. These are examples οf not only identifiable, routine places, but also indicative οf the familiar plots that develop around these situations. Though Seinfeld rarely expresses political bias or commentary on current political figures, the show often critiques or remarks on other celebrities. Seinfeld is also known for its blunt, every-man attitudes towards many, at times, controversial social issues. Without trying to preach ideas or attitudes towards issues, Seinfeld takes these issues and makes the commentary humourous. It is therefore evident that it is Seinfelds unmatched take on lifes most mundane moments that makes it a tremendously successful comedy. It is the cleverly written, reality-based plots, snappy dialogue and crafty, genuine characters that make Seinfeld distinct from other similar TV situation comedies. For a distinctly quirky take on life in the big city and episodes filled with snappy one-liners and outrageous characters, Seinfeld is a show that is guaranteed to satisfy your need for genuine humour. References Ace, Goodman. "Οf glamour, grammar and good times gone." (gag writing during early days οf TV) Television Quarterly v30, n2 (Fall, 1999):11 (4 pages). Adams, John. "Yes, Prime Minister: The Ministerial Broadcast (Jonathan Lynn and Anthony Jay): New York: Cambridge University Press, 1993. Brook, Vincent. 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Rev. ed. New York : St. Martins Press, 1996. Read More