Author Description

The essays in this collection explore taboo and controversial humour in traditional scripted forms, such as sitcoms, and non-scripted forms, such as stand-up comedy. Whilst the focus of this book is predominantly on the US and UK, authors also address more general and global issues, along with different contexts of reception, in an attempt to look at this kind of comedy from different perspectives. Diverse examples of humour on both network and cable television, from TV series and reality shows to advertising, are considered. Over the last few decades, taboo comedy has become a staple of television programming, thus giving rise to questions concerning its function and appropriateness, and making it an extremely relevant subject for those interested in how both humour and television work.