INBETWEENERS AUDIENCE PLEASURES

The Inbetweeners is popular British television series on E4. It is based around a small group of suburban teenagers going through the common trials and tribulations of life and growing up together, forming new friendships, futile crushes, getting drunk and making a fool out of themselves. The sitcom has been running for three series from 2008 through to 2010. Created and written by Damon Beesley and Iain Morris, starring Simon Bird (Will), Joe Thomas (Simon), James Buckley (Jay) and Blake Harrison (Neil). At the British Academy Television Awards 2010, it won the Audience Award. Also in 2010 the show won the Best Sitcom award at the British Comedy Awards. In the 2011 British Comedy Awards the show also won the award for Outstanding Contribution to British Comedy.

There is a YouTube clip below to one of my favourite episodes when Will and his friends head out to Thorpe Park for a day out. The audience pleasures in Inbetweeners include familiarity, juvenile humour, genuine comedic moments, and a sense of nostalgia for slightly older viewers. For example; In series 1 episode 3 (Youtube link) there is familiarity as the boys are out at one of the most popular theme parks in the UK. Thorpe Park, located in Surrey, which is a watering hole for teenagers and families. The lifestyle the teenagers have also comforts the audience as they find it relaxing that the British suburban streets are recognisable and familiar. 

Another audience pleasure is the humour throughout the sitcom. The juvenile behaviour and silly adult humour creates an enjoyable viewing experience. The target audience is teenagers and young adults and the humour used in this series if perfectly suitable for the viewers as they relate to the characters the most. Being able to relate to the characters is important as it brings a sense of reflection and is also enjoyable to see how other teenagers are living their lives. The humourous situations they get in makes the audience feel relieved that they are not the only ones who embarrass themselves frequently. For example in series 1 episode 2, called "Bunk Off", the boys are playing a simple game of frisbee thinking they look ridiculous and seriously not cool. However, Will is enthusiastic about frisbee as he says it great because girls can join in so convinces the others to play too. Although all does not end well as Will inadvertently hits a disabled woman in the face. With apologises not being enough as the carer of the disabled woman is foreign the boys decide that all they can do is run away from the awkward situation. 

The slightly older viewers, not necessarily old but still older than teenagers and young adults may view this programme and enjoy it. This may be because they also find the awkward humour funny as well as the sitcom being a trigger to the memories they treasure from their school days. Reminding them of the antics they got up to in their youth and letting them see that teenagers these days still muck about and get into trouble like they did. Parents might watch it and compare it to how their children act to see whether they are being overcontrolling or not. It relaxes the parents and creates a sense of relief as they know that their child isn't the only one caught skiving school or accidentally insulting disabled people.

Each character is unique; there is Will McKenzie, the slightly awkward, very intelligent and socially inexperienced one. Simon Cooper, the desperate one who is always embarrassed by his friends and family but is a good friend. Jay Cartwright, the ludicrous, outrageous, desperate one who always tries to convince the others that he always gets girls falling at his feet. Finally, there is Neil Sutherland, the dumb one who manages to always get himself into daft situations. Each character has relatable aspects of their personality, whether it is to the viewer themself or if it reminds them of a friend.