Reading Little Britain: Comedy Matters on Contemporary Television (Reading Contemporary Television)

Little Britain arrived on British TV in 2003 -- and was an instant hit. Matt Lucas and David Walliams wrote and performed, and their sharp satirical genius created this character-based sketch show -- Vicky Pollard, Dafydd ""I'm the only gay in the village,"" Ting Tong Macadangdang are hard to forget. Its huge popularity as cult-comedy on radio, then television, with its success as mainstream award-winning comedy and as a national and international TV phenomenon, have been tempered by criticism. It's pushed the boundaries of taste too far, some have claimed; it's grotesquely un-politically correct, mocks social groups and participates in the ""humor of humiliation"" say others. Timely and comprehensive, this must-read book on Little Britain for fans and scholars is the first to provide lively critiques of the show by leading writers, who explore its appeal and dissect its controversies. They look into representations of gender, sexuality, race, disability and class, into sketch-show conventions, the art of the comedy catchphrase, audiences' responses and still more. It provides too a Film, TV and Radio Guide. 'little Britain' Arrived On British Tv In 2003 - And Was An Instant Hit. Matt Lucas And David Walliams Wrote And Performed, And Their Sharp Satirical Genius Created This Character-based Sketch Show - Vicky Pollard, Dafydd 'i'm The Only Gay In The Village', Ting Tong Macadangdang Are Hard To Forget. Its Huge Popularity As Cult-comedy On Radio, Then Television, With Its Success As Mainstream Award-winning Comedy And As A National And International Tv Phenomenon, Have Been Tempered By Criticism. It's Pushed The Boundaries Of Taste Too Far, Some Have Claimed; It's Grotesquely Un-politically Correct, Mocks Social Groups And Participates In The 'humour Of Humiliation' Say Others. Timely And Comprehensive, This Book On 'little Britain' For Fans And Scholars Is The First To Provide Lively Critiques Of The Show By Leading Writers, Who Explore Its Appeal And Dissect Its Controversies. They Look Into Representations Of Gender, Sexuality, Race, Disability And Class, Into Sketch-show Conventions, The Art Of The Comedy Catchphrase, Audiences' Responses And Still More.--publisher. Machine Generated Contents Note: 1. Analysing Little Britain As A Sketch Show / Sharon Lockyer -- 2. Little Britain Live / Ian Mowatt -- 3. 'yeah But No But Yeah': A Linguistic Perspective On The Humour Of Little Britain / Stephen Lacey -- 4. How Little Britain Does 'race' / Julia Snell -- 5. Chays And Chav-nots: Social Class In Little Britain / Sarita Malik -- 6. 'mischief And Monstrosity': Little Britain And Disability / Sharon Lockyer -- 7. 'the Only Feminist Critic In The Village?': Figuring Gender And Sexuality In Little Britain / Margaret Montgomerie -- 8. 'i'm Anti-little Britain, And I'm Worried I Might Start Laughing': Audience Responses To Little Britain / Deborah Finding -- 9. Little Britain: An American Perspective / Brett Mills -- 10. 'in English Please!' Lost In Translation: Little Britain And Italian Audiences / Arthur Asa Berger. Edited By Sharon Lockyer. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. Contents......Page 5 Acknowledgements......Page 7 Notes on Contributors......Page 9 Character List......Page 13 Introduction: Britain, Britain, Little Britain.........Page 17 PART 1: Narrative, Genre and Comedic Techniques......Page 33 1 Analysing Little Britain as a Sketch Show......Page 35 2 Little Britain Live......Page 51 3 ‘Yeah but No but yeah’: A Linguistic Perspective on the Humour of Little Britain......Page 69 PART 2: Little Britain and Identity......Page 89 4 How Little Britain Does ‘Race’......Page 91 5 Chavs and Chav-nots: Social Class in Little Britain......Page 111 6 ‘Mischief and Monstrosity’: Little Britain and Disability......Page 127 7 ‘The Only Feminist Critic in the Village?’: Figuring Gender and Sexualit in Little Britain......Page 143 PART 3: Little Britain and Inter/national Audiences......Page 161 8 ‘I’m Anti-Little Britain, and I’m Worried I Might Start Laughing: Audience Responses to Little Britain......Page 163 9 Little Britain: An American Perspective......Page 187 10 ‘In English Please!’ Lost in Translation: Little Britain and Italian Audiences......Page 199 Postscript: Little Britain USA......Page 225 Film, TV and Radio Guide......Page 231 Bibliography......Page 235 Index......Page 253 Little Britain'arrived on British TV in 2003 - and was an instant hit. Matt Lucas and David Walliams wrote and performed, and their sharp satirical genius created this character-based sketch show - Vicky Pollard, Dafydd'I'm the only gay in the village', Ting Tong Macadangdang are hard to forget. Its huge popularity as cult-comedy on radio, then television, with its success as mainstream award-winning comedy and as a national and international TV phenomenon, have been tempered by criticism. It's pushed the boundaries of taste too far, some have claimed; it's grotesquely un-politically correct, mocks social groups and participates in the'humour of humiliation'say others. Timely and comprehensive, this must-read book on'Little Britain'for fans and scholars is the first to provide lively critiques of the show by leading writers, who explore its appeal and dissect its controversies. They look into representations of gender, sexuality, race, disability and class, into sketch-show conventions, the art of the comedy catchphrase, audiences'responses and still more. It provides too a Film, TV and Radio Guide.