A Genre is always the same and yet not the same

A Note: Before I start this I'll let you know just what it is. I did an essay in my second year at university which looked at genre and how over time it really doesn't change, so I looked at the American sitcoms Friends, Scrubs, The Class and How I met your mother. Looking back I should have only really compared Friends and How I met your mother, guess I got carried away, but I do enjoy writing about my favorite shows. ^_^

‘A Genre is always the same and yet not the same, always old and new simultaneously’ (Bakhtin qtd. In Threadgold, ‘Taking about Genre: Ideologies and Incompatible Discourses’, p. 115). Discuss.


Bakhtin (1984: 106) goes on to say that ‘Genre is reborn and renewed’. This means that a genre will always be in use, be it in literature, film, performance or style. It may be broken down and parts of the genre may be used, this is called hybridity. This essay will look at the television sitcoms “Friends” (E4, 1994 -2004), “The Class” (e4,2006-2007) “Scrubs” (E4,2001-Present) and “How I Met Your Mother” (HIMYM) (E4,2005- Present). These four case studies will show how over time genre stays the same yet as time goes on it changes, for the better and worse.
The television show “Friends” (1994) was first aired in America in 1994 and went on to make ten series all of which were incredible popular and have been shown on television screens all across the world. The premise of the show is about a group of twenty something’s dealing with life, sex, love, work, family and above all friendship. It is Jillian Sandell (1998: 144) who wrote ‘I see Television offering a space where social anxieties are resolved in a kind of fantasy wish-fulfilment’ this is common in the sitcom, we have a group of characters who are first in one situation and are seeking a better one, this is very common in American sitcoms as it relates to the ‘American dream’ where one wants to own their own land, house, career. Jane Freuer (cited in Sandell 1998:146) suggests sitcoms are defined by “the half-hour format, the basis in humour, [and] the ‘problem of the week’ that causes the hilarious situation and that will be resolved so that a new episode may take its place the next week” It is in this half an hour format that the characters face a challenge that disrupts the equilibrium in a comical tone and resolve the disruption this episodic structure is essentially a sitcom.

It is possible “Friends” did so well was because the characters were all friends with each, they enjoyed each other’s company, they had their ‘in’ jokes which over the series the audience picked up on and knew about for example the recurring character Janice and her catch phrase ‘Oh My God!’ audiences pick up on these jokes and imitate as do the main characters, mocking her voice. While the show is very main stream it is the ‘in jokes’ that give it a cult like following.
It is Gunther (Cited in Martin,N. 2003:33) who suggests ‘The viewer countered and imagined by NBC closely resembles the average character on a given Thursday night comedy – that is to say, an employed white (ostensibly) straight twenty- to thirty year old with money to spend in the big city’ as Gunther points out the audience members that watch the show could themselves be a character in the show, it is this aspect of the show that could be another reason for “Friends” being so popular, relating to the characters that are shown on screen could draw a viewer, perhaps seeing Monica struggle to find a boy friend and a job is comfort for those viewers who are in the same situation. It is Lacey (2002:156) who brings up the points of the uses and gratifications theory ‘Personal Identity: we can get a sense of ourselves and our peer group from media representations.’ So while the characters in the show may be exaggerated but it is the kernel of truth keep within the character that the audience member picks up on and connects to. Groups of friends who have their own personal ‘in’ jokes can also relate to the show as they see the same group dynamic on the television as their own, seeing this on television could empower friendship groups, seeing aspects of their personality’s portrayed on the screen could make them feel as if they were as funny, witty, ironic and ‘cool’ as the characters on the show.
Another sitcom of the similar genre is “Scrubs”. The show does have its differences from the “friends” set up for example the show is lead by the main character JD; the characters are not friends they have chosen but instead co-workers who eventually grow strong bonds. The hospital is simply just a backdrop to the show, at the heart of it still deals with the same issues as “Friends” does, sex, love, work and friendship. Like “friends” the characters in “Scrubs” all have their roles. Lacey (2000:46) points out Props idea of the ‘spheres of action’ where he puts forward the different character roles that are in every story. As “Scrubs” is a sitcom where the equilibrium normally returns back to the same starting point the main characters all play the part of the hero while at times play the villain (a villain in the sense that they either get in the way of others stepping forward in the work place or getting in their own way through fear or lack of confidence) which is very much the same in “Friends”. Taking on Props idea of the character roles one could place the characters’ into stereotypical roles found in the family. JD plays the role of the son, Turk the older cooler brother, Elliot the girl next door, Dr Cox the father, Dr Kelso grandfather, Carla the mother and Jordon the role of the evil step mother. While the characters are not related and the sitcom is away from the family unit within the show we can still see the roles of the nuclear family, this shows how the show differs from the typical genre of the family sitcom but the dynamics are similar.

Lacey (2000:225-226) ‘when any text becomes popular you can be certain that ‘follow-ups’ will not be far behind.....producers’ attempts to get on the ‘band wagon’ with their own versions of these texts. These versions, inevitably take their cue from the genre.’ Lacey points out that when a show of a certain genre is doing well others will try to copy this style in order to make money from the same audience. “Scrubs” was similar to “Friends” however there were enough differences to it so that it couldn’t be compared to it and be categorized as a copy. In 2006 premised the show “The Class” which was created by David Crane Jeffrey Klarik the same people who created “Friends” so already the show was going to be compared to “Friends”. “The Class” is about a group of people who all used to be in the same school class, years have gone by without any of them seeing each other. The show starts with one of the main characters calling his old class mates trying to get them together to celebrate his anniversary with his fiancé. Eventually some people turn up, to see how people grew up, to show off their great lives and for one character because it was better than killing himself. The show was canceled after only one series. This could have been because the show was too much like friends and at the same time it wasn’t, while the group is bunch of good looking, young, white people all with apartments just like “friends”, the characters in “The Class” aren’t friends and barely remember each other from school. They are a group of people who been thrown together through bad situations, while the show has a few funny one liners however the jokes feel they are just being recycled from “Friends” and some are ones that have been done before. Another problem with the show is that there are far too many characters to deal with in a half an hour show. In “Friends” there were six main characters who were a close group who either spent their time mainly all together. Where as in “The Class” there are eight main characters with partners, not all of these characters mix or like each other and don’t get the time they need to develop their stories. It could be this lack of connection between the characters that the audience can’t pick up on and just can’t relate to the characters.

However an example of a show working from the same genre of “Friends” is “How I Met Your Mother” (HIMYM) a show set in New York about five friends who deal with the issues from the set genre deal with sex, love, work and friendship. While there are many similarities to “friends” the show is different enough to not just be another copy. It takes on board the narrative story telling of “Scrubs” by having one of the main character take on the lead in “HIMYM” the lead is Ted. Another difference between “friends” and “HIMYM” is that the show is no longer about who is going to end up with who and what is going to happen, for example in “Friends” the audience don’t know if Ross and Rachel are ever going to get together in the end until it happens where as in “HIMYM” the story is told from Ted years ahead talking to his children about how he met his mother, so from this we know that Ted does in the end meet the women he loves and has the children he wants like he talks about in the show. The show is no longer about what is going to happen but how it going to happen. So relating back to what Bakhtin (1984: 106) said the genre is ‘reborn’.

All of the sitcoms that have been discussed all have differences and similarities between them, at the core of them all they are all about the family we choose. Jillian Sandell (1998: 145) picks up on this when she says ‘the primary focus of the show is the relationship between these men and women who are not only each other’s best friends but also each other’s real “family” ‘she goes to on to mention that “friends” ‘captures and romanticizes the formation of the alternative kinship networks made up of friends and neighbours’ this is can be applied to all of the shows discussed. The genre is more than just a comedy about a group of young twenty something’s, but it also explores their own decisions, wants and desirers. Taking them away from the family unit they were brought up with and allowing them to explore the world for them self and choosing what they want to do without the judgement of what their family might think or believe. It is this escapism that makes the shows so popular while they may have their weak points at the core the audience wish they too could live the lifestyle these characters all have, dealing with situations in an ironic, funny style while surrounded by friends. When a show is able to take an audience member and make them want to live in the shows world then they have won that audience member over. So while audience members continue to watch these sorts of programs this style of sitcom will always be on our television screen. Television studies will always pick up on what audience members like and will exploit this to make more money but not only do the television studies get something out of it but the audience member also gets what they want as well, a show where their problems and dreams are played out, and until the audience members become bored with this set up the genre will continue to grow, adapt and change to fulfil the audiences wishes and desirers.

The Big Bang: The Doctor Who Final

The Big Bang: The Doctor Who Final

WOW.....I mean bloody wow. Was a sodding bloody fantastic wonderful final episode. I don't need to say this but this post will contain spoilers. Last week we were left on a huge cliff hanger where the Doctor was trapped in the Pandorica, Rory was a fake, Riversong was on the edge of death, the Tardis was exploding and the universe was coming to an end. I'm not going to post the whole story as it would be far too long to make any sense. It’s not that the story was complex, it’s just it would take a very long time to do so.

I'll keep this blog short, just go watch it, it was simple, sad and great. Although the start was a little rough, to just see the Doctor appear in a poof of smoke in front of 'dead' Amy killed the mood a little. However so much happened in the episode I suppose it had to happen fast. I am liking Rory more and more, although in the back of my head I kept thinking '...but its not actually Rory, its just a copy' but I guess a copy Rory is better than no Rory. Thankfully the real Rory came back in the end.

During this series I have grown to Like Riversong more and more. Like Captain Jack she the excuse for a little use of guns and acting cheeky. She really cares for the Doctor and unlike when Sarah Jane Smith met Rose there isn't any bad blood between River and Amy. If anything River is encouraging towards her. It’s just sad that we know that she killed someone, and that person was very, very important indeed. But who, and why?! It’s just a shame we know River dies in the library of silence.

What I did like in this episode was after the Doctor was shot by the dalek he looked allot older, the makeup job was great. Although he is the youngest actor to play the Doctor he can truly pull of a performance which gives the impression of an old time lord. Yes its official, I like Matt Smith. Although I like David Tennant as the Doctor I do like the differences within this series. Oh! What I thought was a continuity error in the second episode with the weeping angels was in fact on purpose. I thought it was a mistake that the Doctor was wearing his jacket after it had been pulled from him, but in fact it was just the Doctor in a different time line. Very clever Steven Moffat, very clever.

The ending was perfect. Amy remembers the Doctor and that memory brings him back into their world. Amy and Rory are married and the Doctor is back. All happy Rory and Amy say good bye to their home world and travel with the Doctor. The perfect team.

Bring on the christmas episode.

Music Blog 2

So I'm trying to kill some time before my induction day at work. Thats right I've got a job! I'll be working for a Cinema. The best bit about it is that as staff I'll be able to watch films before they are let for for the public, so great news for my blogging. Later on I'll be watching the last Doctor Who in the series in full HD and I can't wait. I've been texting and face booking friends as to how I think its all going to end and I think I'm on to something, its interesting hearing other peoples ideas.

Anyway, on the radio the other day I heard a pop dance song that I hadn't heard before, and I thought to myself it wasn't too bad. I wasn't sure who was singing it and I missed the DJ saying who it was. When I got back in I found out who it was and to my shock it was JLS.



Now I haven't got anything against JLS, well maybe I could do without the ramdom lifting of the shirt. But I've never been a boy band fan. While JLS are a new different brand of boy band, they are still and will always be a boy band. I remember when they were on the X-Factor and they all had a different colours, they were like power rangers, very cute bless them. Perfect marketing tool. Selling the four different colour hoodies fans can produly say they are fans of the group. I'm not exactly what it is that I like about the song, I think its around 1:10 in the video where it really kicks in for me. Its fun, its harmless, to be fair I don't think they once lift their shirts and I Imagine if I was out at a bar and had drunk the right amount I'd be on the dance floor dancing away. (lifitng my shirt....in an ironic....post modern type of way ...... o.o )

On my last blog I mentioned how I thought Diana Vickers might grow up to be the next Sophie Ellis-Bextor, well guess what!? Sophie Ellis-Bextor is back with a new song!



This woman is stunning. Her voice is charming and the video is cute, kind of reminds me of the new John Lewis where we see the growing up from a girl to a grandmother. The song itself is simple and Is a song I can see myself nodding my head to as I'm drinking (not yet at the stage where I'm dancing like a wanna-be JLS member)

And last is Ellie Goulding



with her song single Guns And Horses Ellie has impressed me. I always liked her song 'Starry Eyed' however I did the think the video was too simple and her outfit looked second hand from Little Boots. In this video, she looks like the perfect girl next door and the song is easy to sing along to which is always a plus. I'm now thinking about buying the album, anyone else got it? What do you think?

BBC 3 Comedy and Mongrels

BBC 3 and new comedy Mongrels


BBC 3 certainly has its up and downs. It’s a channel which tests out new shows mainly for young adults (yes I've finally come to terms that I'm a young adult and doing my best to be empowered by it rather than falling apart at the thought of turing 21 in January) From it we've has the wonderful Gavin and Stacey, Being Human, Torchwood and Russell Howard's Good News. During the pilot season we are treated to a range of new shows that are being tester out, so far we've had one episode of the new paranormal sc-fi Pulse, Dappers and we've been given a new series called Mongrels as well as a few others. However BBC 3 also makes such trash as The World's Strictest Parents, Don't tell the bride and Snog, Marry Avoid. But none the less this blog entry is going to look at the positive rather than the negative.

I am a fan of puppets. Sooty, Ed the Duck, Avenue Q, The Muppets, fraggle rock, The labyrinth and pretty much anything made by the Jim Henson company. I'm sure I'm forgetting a ton of shows but let’s move on. I've been looking forward to the new comedy show Mongrels ever since seeing the trailer and clips that were put on youtube. I don't know what it is about puppets that I love, maybe it’s because their puppets they can say anything and get away with it. I've been told I have a Muppet dance where I bob left to right dragging my head in the direction.

BBC THREE's first urban, multi-species, adult puppet comedy. Five urban animals hang out in the backyard of an innercity pub. Created by Adam Miller, written by Jon Brown and Daniel Peak (thank you BBC3 website)

I had a general feeling that I would like the show, and while I thought it would be funny I didn't think it would be laughing out loud funny. I was wrong. This show had me crying with laughter. From the trailer I thought Destiny (the female dog) would be an annoying chav type character. I couldn't have been more wrong, she had two lines in the show that made me laugh so much I was finding it hard to breathe. The part where she’s begging not to be part of a dance class where she says

'No! This is worse than being a puppy when you made me rub my nose in it, although I've really rubbing your nose in it'
> cut to her being with her owner at a grave yard and her mocking him like a child
'You've got a dead wife; you've got a dead wife'

to

'NO! I hope you get raped later, I really do'

EDIT: just watched the show again and I was wrong, she didn't say rape she said renal failure

Now I like black comedy, but I never expected to find that as funny as a I did. But perhaps because It was from a puppet dog that I allowed myself to see the humour in it. If it had been a live action show I think I might have thought it to have been a little sick.

I'm a fan of Katy Brand and her show on ITV2. I was delighted to hear she would be doing one of the voices. She is the voice of Kali (pigeon). Before I go on this is how the BBC 3 website describes her

Kali is a spiteful, petty, vindictive, s***ty little bird with a small beak and a big voice. In fact there's only one thing in life she enjoys more than revelling in other people's misfortune, and that's causing other people's misfortune and then revelling in it a bit afterwards (like maybe over some coffee and a bagel from the bins near Pret).

I love evil/loveable characters. Much like Jordan from scrubs I wish I could be as evil as them and get away with it. Granted I was told in a job interview that I had a dry sarcastic sense of humour and while this true I don't think I've ever said anything to actually insult anyone. (I hope, meh sod them I got a better job elsewhere)I won't go in to full detail as to what she does in the first episode as it will just take to long to write up and it would be allot quicker for you to just go watch it.

Heres a little clip from the first episode



Katy's voice just works so well with the character and sells it. Without going in to too much detail there is apart where Kali is trying to fly out of a house and keeps hitting a window. Just the use the puppet and the look it gives and it lifts up its wing and stops the others from helping her get out is priceless
'Leave me, I've got to learn'

I really don't think I can do this show justice by just writing about it. So I highly recommend you go watch it. I think I may give it another re-watch now.

The Pandorica Opens

The Pandorica Opens

Its the penultimate episode of the current series of Doctor Who and WOW what an episode. This episode was all about building up questions but gave enough answers so it felt like just a simple building episode. Before I go on if you haven't seen the episode do not read this as it will contain spoilers. Ready? Ok.

So Theres Riversong, a box, Cybermen, daleks, sontarans, Auton Rory, a trapped Doctor and a dead Amy. Yeah that preety much covers it. End of Blog.

I jest, yeah alot happened in this episode. It all starts with Vincent Van Gough who paints a painting of the tardis exploding, this painting gets passed on untill Riversong finally is made aware of it, espacing from prison she tracks down the painting and meets the Doctor in the past with a bunch of Romans. I've got to say I wasn't too thrilled when I first heard that Riversong would be back in the seires after the Silence in the libary but after this series shes won me over. I like her and I'm glad shes part of the Doctor Who family. So Riversong, Amy and the Doctor find whats called the Pandorica which is supposed to have a very large evil within in it, however the Doctor doesn't know whats in it, which he find it hard to believe since hes all knowing and what have you.

One of my favorite moments in the episode was when Amy was fighting with a cybermans head. I know I've asked if we could see Amy taking more action, and while this might be a step in the right direction, it was just more funny than anything. The cyber head has its wires around Amy's arms as it tires to attack it, it opens up its head na dspits out a human skull. Amy screams. The head then starts chopping at her. Amy Screams some more. Bashing it against a brick wall she finally beats it of her. While I can see a cyberman head trying to eat Amy as being quiet scary for a child I couldn't help but find myself laugh at the little scene.

Throughout the episode I thought it was going to be either Davros or maybe the human doctor aka David Tennant. I thought it could have been David simply because I just wanted to see him and Matt together and I thought it could have been Davros because of the voice we heard. But no, it was infact all a set up for the Doctor, all his foes worked as one big team to trap him away forever. Kinda of nice when you think about it, putting their differences all aside for one common goal.

Now I always thought Rory was going to make an apperence in the last two episodes, just not quiet like this. Turns out the foes of Doctor who used Amy's memories from her house to create a setup which would interest the Doctor in to coming to, this memores included Rory. Sadly though the romans and Rory are just Auton copies. So sad. Whats sadder is that the Auton Rory kills Amy! I wanted the real Rory back, not some cheap plastic fake! None the less when the Doctor manages to sdave the day and fix the crack I'm sure the real Rory will be back.

But its all a matter of how is the Doctor going to save the day? We all know he is, because the good guys always win no matter how many times they do it. Whats interesting is how and what happens along the way? Will Riversong be ok? (remember we didn't actually see her die) How will the Doctor get out? Will Amy come back to life? My guess is that the copy of Rory has something to so with it. The copyies are so well made they actually think they are the people are copying, so the fake Rory might fight his default programming and thinking he's Rory might save the day. Otherwise I've no clue but look forward to fidning out.

ps. Well done to Richard who called what was in the box.

The final of junior apprentice, Dr Who and Derren Brown

The final of junior apprentice, Dr Who and Derren Brown

So this blog will cover the last episode of the junior apprentice, the dr who episode 'The Lodger' and my trip to see Derren Brown live at the Lowry in Manchester.

The Last Episode of the Junior Apprentice

So in the very last episode everyone was a project manager, the boys and girls were slipt so it was Arjun and Tim up against Zoe and Kirsty. While both teams worked well together it was Clear Zoe was still having trouble working with her co-project manager and tried to run the show, Kirty on the other hand should have picked up her game here and shown that she could really be something special while Zoe was trying to manage everything. Half way through the show I was worried that Arjun (my fav to win) wasn't doing enough in the team and started to let him self down, however he sprung back to life driecting an advert and doing a pitch with Tim.

In the end the boys won the task and rightly so, the girls product just didn't have the right feel towards their audicne and they just didn't know their audience (ironice as their audience were only a few years younger than themselfs) So it was then down to Tim up against Arjun in the board room. What I liked as that niether of the two attacked each other and simply stuck to what they had done and I found this very refreshing compared to the adult version where they normally try to slate of their compertion in the final. I did worry and think he was going to make Tim the winner due to his background in farming and being very practical against Arjun whos background is somewhat acedemic. However Arjun proved he was more than just a maths boy by putting forward all the things he had done throught the contest, he sold paintings, he dressed up, he directed the advert and so much more. So I am happy to say that Arjun did go on to win the contest! Well done Arjun. I enjoyed the junor aprentice more than I first thought I would and wouldn't mind it being on again, however I eagerly await the next adult version of the show!

Dr Who: The Lodger

I've heard a few complaints that this seires of Dr Who hasn't been sci:fi enough. Well I believe this episode brings it back. I mean what more than you ask for than a tardis wanna be placed on top of a house? In this episode something is stopping the Tardis working properly, leaving the doctor to investigate while Amy is stuck in the Tardis. Again like I have mentioned before Amy has been some what of a damsel in distress, we need to see her taking some action, rather than being stuck like some helpless child!

In this episode James Corden played the part of the house mate who is in love with his best friend but hasn't got the guts to tell her. Luckerly for him along comes the Doctor who plays cupid. What a great guy.

Overall a nice episode, not the best but certainly not bad. I look forward to the two part final!

Derren Brown: Enigma Tour

For those of you are not in the know Derren Victor Brown (born 27 February 1971) is a British illusionist, mentalist, painter, writer, and sceptic (thank you wikipedia) He often puts on shows where he takes on magic tricks and sometime he tell us how he does them. He openly says that he does not have magic powers or any real psychic abilitiesl. Hes just a very celver man and knows how to get in to peoples heads. I went to the Enigma show last night with my friends Stacey and Emma where we found ourselfs in row D! Only two away from the stage, we were VERY lucky. Derren asked us not to talk to much about the show as it might ruin it for people coming to see it. So I won't say anything. Well I'll tell you this,...GO WATCH IT! Really, he is a great guy, and fantasitc entertnaing and will just get in yiour head.

At the end of the show we went to the stage door where he came out, it was explained to us that he had a sore throat and so couldn't be out to long, but none the less he signed peoples books and we even got a picture with him!



granted its not the best pic, but it was taken from my i-phone with no flash and I've done my best in photoshop. None the less, what a guy! What a night. Just go watch the show!

Junior Apprentice: Ep 5

Junior Apprentice: Ep 5

So its the last chance to get in to the final and this week on the show the groups were given the task of choosing a product which they would later have to try and sell to big companies such as the house of frasier. The groups were the same as last week with Arjun, Zoe and Emma up against Tom and Kirsty. This weeks episode wasn't overly entertaining, however the more I watch Kirsty the less I think shes going to win. Orginally she and Arjun were my favorites to win but as time as gone on I don't think Kirsty is really all that good, shes quiet and unless the topic is one that really interests her then she doesn't seem all that bothered.

I feel I may have also been some what harse on Zoe. She was the contestant I loved to hate, while she was good as doing what she did she would have very little tact, and is really out for herself and no one else. While I understand it is a conest there is a way of talking to people. In the board room this week Arjun pointed that from last week to this week 'its like shes gone from one extream to another' from trying to take over to trying to do as shes told without putting any input in. Sir Alan told her that she bruhed people up the wrong way. However I think if she can learn from her experience of the apprentice then she can come out a better leader and all round nicer person from it. One can hope.

This week Emma was fire, no shock really. While she says her life is bussiness, she didn't exaclty show it during the show. No real loss as I never exepected her to win really.

Overal a show blog simply because theres not alot to say about this one. I'm very much looking to the final.