Abstract
This chapter, takes an in-depth look at the specificities of the humour in Friends, arguing that humour is situated at the heart of its narrative, performance and aesthetic discourses; but also that Friends is a show about humour. The chapter introduces key humour theories and scholarly approaches to ‘sitcom as genre’ before providing a unique comedic typology of Friends’ main characters. This typology demonstrates that the series addresses a considerable range of humouristic themes, comic situations and types of comedic performances. It further illustrates how Friends’ humour is characterised by an ensemble dynamic in which individual jokes almost always serve a larger narrative ‘agenda’. Informed by interviews with Marta Kauffman and Kevin S. Bright and close analysis of several moments, particularly the first scene of the pilot, the chapter shows how densely woven Friends’ humour is and that its distinct comedic sensibility helps to facilitate its strategy of intimacy.
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Television
Cheers (1982–1993), USA: NBC.
Family Ties (1982–1989), USA: NBC.
Friends (1994–2004), USA: NBC.
I Love Lucy (1951–1957), USA: CBS.
Joey (2004–2006), USA: NBC.
M*A*S*H (1972–1983), USA: CBS.
Parks and Recreation (2009–2015), USA: NBC.
Roseanne (1988–1997, 2018), USA: ABC.
Scrubs (2001–2008, 2009–2010), USA: NBC, ABC.
Seinfeld (1989–1998), USA: NBC.
The Cosby Show (1984–1992), USA: NBC.
The Mary Tyler Moore Show (1970–1977), USA: CBS.
The Office—An American Workplace (2005–2013), USA: NBC.
The Simpsons (1989–present), USA: Fox.
Film
Hawks, H. 1938. Bringing Up Baby. USA: RKO Radio Pictures.
Mann, D. 1961. Lover Come Back. USA: Universal Pictures.
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Knox, S., Schwind, K.H. (2019). The One with All the Laughing and the Hugging: Specificity of Humour and Comedic Types. In: Friends. Palgrave Macmillan, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-25429-2_2
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