Collaboration | Lecture [8] Comedy

'The Thick of It (2005-2012)'

Overview [Type of comedy]
'The Thick of It' is a satire comedy concerned with the day-to-day workings of modern British politics. The show focuses on the inner works of a fictitious department 'Social Affairs and Citizenships', as its comes under attack from scandals, leaks, a crisis with information loss, and the changing hierarchy of power, the likes of which isn't hard to draw from existing examples within todays modern politics.
The show arguably exploits both 'The Release Theory', wherein stressful/saddening moments that threaten an entire department (and consequently the countries functioning state), are sworn at, spat at, dismissed, and used to such a shocking extent, we can only laugh... and/or   'The Incongruity Theory', wherein our expectations of political representations are challenged with the reality of what's actually happened. Especially when political parties manipulates news to work in their benefit.
Often it observes these scenarios, and reintroduces the mess and problems that are often (ideally) removed before becoming subject to news, and the public.
The ridiculousness of an spiralling situation, becomes all the more humorous, when we (the viewers) recognise it has- in fact- already happened within realistic politics.

The comedy lacks for the most part physical comedy (with the most dramatic moments being characters running, and yelling down phones), but this works with the sense of 'realisim' the show successfully grasps, and uses for the butt of its jokes.
It does joke occasionally with the existing fictional representations of life and politics, using Phil Smith (special advisor to Peter Mannion), whose naivety, and emphasis of film in his advising metaphors ("I had a moment of weakness, and exploited it, like Hugh Grant". "The Ark has been opened, and your face is going to melt", which roughly translated by Emma Messinger means "There is going to be an enquiry"), shows the ridiculousness of such code and conventions... and the ridiculousness of the 'reality' of politics, within the series itself.

Where does the comedy come from?
The series draws a lot from current political affairs, making it relatable, and a means of laughing at other people's expenses.

What we expect, (in political talks and their 'public face'), is challenged as we see the reality of democracy, and the events leading up to the scandals, and resignations we, the public, recognise on a day to day basis.
Things like Peter Mannion constantly changing outfits to meet the situation; Nicola Murray letting slip the data loss in the middle of a 'on record' newspaper office; Stewart Pearson challenging the expectations of the work in the government's team-building retreat ("Yes and Ho!"), only to realise the way they'd been working before is the most effective; and  the opposition's meeting on brainstorming a way to appeal to their voters: the 'deserving workforce', with one of their terrible ideas: 'Quiet Bat-People'... all of it is a wink to the audience who recognise the product of human error in the small glimpse of politics we see in the public eye.

Single Scene example: 'Massive Irretrievable Data Loss'

 [Series 3 Episode 2] 

The clip is available here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K_FrQnQv0Vw

This particular scene encompasses all these elements, as we see the way the party reacts to, and deals with both their colleagues and the way they can play it off to the public.

We watch as Terri (HM Civil Service), question Murray's (leader of the opposition) decision to blame the department, in a rather dry, unattached ,'textbook' manner. Terri is practically unfirable as a HM Civil Servant, which she often brings up, and bugs other people with, in the midst of political crisis.
In her own words "I'm just trying to do my best, and- you know, make sure I can still get home by 6'o'clock", so to (as observed by Adam), watch 'call of the midwife', which pretty much sums up her view on the stability of her job, and the detached urgency of all the crisis knowing she remains virtually unaffected.

In this clip she exists as a pink blob that needs to be prompted to get involved, "Terri lets hear...", "Right, lets get going, a tactical discussion. I'm up for it!". She exists as a constantly unmoving presence of uselessness, which other people within the department, struggle to move (both physically, and mentally). We see her being pushed along, and unconsciously getting in the way of Reeder as he starts for the door. 

In response, Nicola uses this 'political book' to work in her benefit ("my argument is that this department is 'fatally flawed', it's 'out of condition'"). Again showing how politics covers up the fact, which is one of them didn't know how to use a computer.
Glenn Cullen (Special Advisor), then starts appealing against this argument also, but for the sake of his own job. His one line of defence from being fired, is his 'list' (a couple of lines that he'd started a few seconds before, on the new immigrant list).
This fine line, only helps add to absurdity and humour of the situation.
Oliver Reeder (Policy Adviser to Nicola Murray), is then seen to promote his 'strategy', in an attempt to higher his position, before being bluntly shot down by Malcolm Tucker (Media Strategist).
Malcom, having now been dumped with all this, reacts like the "shell" of a human he claims he now is (a product of years working in his job), taking it in with a mixture of swearing frenzy of bitterness of the pure injustice, and a calm resignation for death ("Smile! Be Gay!").
All arguers are using language , ('high risk', 'fatally flawed', 'tactical discussion', 'strategy') we- the public- recognise in TV debates, interviews, and political broadcasts. The fact they're using it to cover their own tracks, and justify their positions to one another, shows the viewer the reality of politics, and what they are actually saying, whenever they talk about opposition, and referendums.

What makes this comedy funny to you?

Because of the frank realism of the series, and the way it points out the ridiculousness of these normal stream of problems (within a technically functioning democracy), by contrasting the reality of the situation (i.e. someone lost a word document on a computer) to the political jargon the public is faced with ("The department is 'fatally flawed', it's 'out of condition'")... the subject of discussion is seen, instead, as humorous.
The series strikes quite true, attacking relatable scenarios normally dealt with a sense of sensitivity, with ruthless pettiness and growing despair.
We expect data loss, and suicide to be regarded a particular way in politics (as the public are involved, and have power over what party they favour), but (as evident in 'The Benign Violation Theory'), are pushed aside with the reality of what people in politics are really thinking (will I loss my job, against opposition, am I a fool in the public's eye? How should I play this to my advantage?).