This document provides guidance for a case study assignment on TV comedy programs. Students are instructed to photocopy and complete a handout comparing the different pleasures offered by two comedy programs, citing specific examples and episodes. The document outlines what higher, middle, and lower level answers should include, such as identifying and contrasting a range of pleasures like humor, narrative elements, and audience gratification. Students are advised to discuss pleasures, provide examples from episodes, and demonstrate understanding of how the programs differently please audiences.

1. TV Comedy – Question 4b
Case Studies

2. Homework is due - Question 4a TV comedy
case study hand-out
•This should have been completed for homework.
•However, do not hand in the original sheet! Please
photocopy the sheet (both sides). Let me have the
photocopy and keep the original for your own
revision. You will be set an exam question on this
next week.
•Make sure your name is on the sheet and leave in
the blue tray on my desk.

3. Grade descriptors
• Higher level answers will identify and contrast a range of
pleasures offered by the text with detailed examples of these
pleasures by reference to one or more episodes of the
programmes. These pleasures may range through comedic effect
(types of humour) to narrative pleasures (e.g. opportunities for
identification and narrative resolution), generic pleasures,
audience uses and gratifications, pleasurable themes, and so on.
• Middle level answers are likely to discuss fewer pleasures, with
little or no explicit contrasting, and more limited examples,
probably from only one programme or part of a programme.
• Lower level answers are likely to describe the texts with little
identification of pleasure beyond the text ‘being funny’.

4. 4(b) Show how these two programmes offer their audiences different pleasures. (15 marks)
What pleasures does the text offer to the audience? (e.g. familiarity, character identification,
schadenfreude). Identify as many as possible. You will need to link these to evidence in one or more
episodes of the programmes.
Programme 1: …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
Pleasure 1:………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………...……………………
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Pleasure 2: …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..…………
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
Pleasure 3: ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
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Can you apply Dyer’s Utopian theory? Provide examples
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What Uses and gratifications can be applied to your text and why?
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Level 4 (12-15 marks)
Shows detailed knowledge of audience pleasures
Thorough understanding of how programmes offer audience pleasures
Thorough understanding of differences between programmes
Detailed and appropriate exemplification
Ideas expressed clearly and fluently in well structured sentences with few, if any, errors of spelling, punctuation and grammar.
Level 3 (9-11 marks)
Shows sound knowledge of different audience pleasures
Sound understanding of how programmes offer audience pleasures
Some understanding of differences between programmes
Relevant textual exemplification
Ideas expressed with some clarity and fluency; errors of spelling, punctuation and grammar do not obscure meaning.
Higher level answers will identify and contrast a range of pleasures offered by the text with detailed examples of
these pleasures by reference to one or more episodes of the programmes. These pleasures may range through
comedic effect (types of humour) to narrative pleasures (e.g. opportunities for identification and narrative
resolution), generic pleasures, audience uses and gratifications, pleasurable themes, and so on.
Middle level answers are likely to discuss fewer pleasures, with little or no explicit contrasting, and more limited
examples, probably from only one programme or part of a programme.
Lower level answers are likely to describe the texts with little identification of pleasure beyond the text ‘being
funny’.
Complete the hand-out
for Question 4b (both
sides – 1 side for each).
Like the sheet you’ve been
given for Question 4a you
will use this for revision as
well for the exam question
next week.
Refer to evidence from 1 (or
more episodes) from each of
your chosen comedies.
Make sure the info is
accurate (don’t make it up).