The essays in this collection explore taboo and controversial humour in traditional scripted (sitcoms and other comedy series, animated series) and non-scripted forms (stand-up comedy, factual and reality shows, and advertising) both on cable and network television.

1.Taboo Comedy on Television: Issues and Themes. Chiara Bucaria and Luca Barra.- Part I.Controversial Humour in Comedy and Drama Series.- 2.The Rise and Fall of Taboo Comedy in the BBC. Christie Davies.- 3.The Last Laugh: Dark Comedy in U.S. Television. Kristen A. Murray.- 4.‘This Is Great, We’re Like Slave Buddies!’: Cross-Racial Appropriation in ‘Post-Racial’ TV Comedies. Carter Soles.- 5.Phrasing!: Archer, Taboo Humor and Psychocanalytic Media Theory. Matt Sienkiewicz.- 6.Taboo Humanity: Paradoxes of Humanizing Muslims in North-American Sitcoms. Kyle Conway.- Part II. Controversial Humour in Variety Shows, Commercials and Factual Programming.- 7.Dummies and Demographics: Islamophobia as Market Differentiation in Post-9/11 Television Comedy. Phil Scepanski.- 8.Excessive Stand-Up, the Culture Wars, and ’90s TV. Evan Elkins.- 9.Tosh.0, Convergence Comedy, and the ‘Post-PC’ TV Trickster. Ethan Thompson.- 10.Crudeand Taboo Humour in Television Advertising: An Analysis of Commercials for Consumer Goods. Elsa Simões Lucas Freitas.- 11.Filthy Viewing, Dirty Laughter. Delia Chiaro.- 12.A Special Freedom: Regulating Comedy Offence. Brett Mills 

The essays in this collection explore taboo and controversial humour in traditional scripted (sitcoms and other comedy series, animated series) and non-scripted forms (stand-up comedy, factual and reality shows, and advertising) both on cable and network television.  Whilst the focus is predominantly on the US and UK, the contributors also address more general and global issues and different contexts of reception, in an attempt to look at this kind of comedy from different perspectives. Over the last few decades, taboo comedy has become a staple of television programming, thus raising issues concerning its functions and appropriateness, and making it an extremely relevant subject for those interested in how both humour and television work. 

“A much-needed book on the deeper meanings of comedy’s darker side. Treat yourself to some death, faeces, racism, and Oedipal desire, and to the contributors’ compelling, insightful interpretations of how and why they work on television.” (Jonathan Gray, author of “Watching with The Simpsons: Television, Parody, and Intertextuality”)

“Taboo humor, often offensive, challenging, dismissive, ridiculing, mean-spirited, and threatening, is anathema to television’s central principles of social inclusion and acceptability. This brilliant collection of essays provides a much needed exploration and explanation for why TV now includes the once forbidden form of comedy. Taboo humor is not for everyone, but this volume very much is for those seeking to understand the current landscape of television, comedy, and quite often, politics.” (Jeffrey P. Jones, director, The Peabody Awards and author of “Entertaining Politics: Satiric Television and Political Engagement”)

“Whether new or old, taboos attract humour that risks offence, especially on television -- should censorship prevail? This insightful book strips away simplistic ideas about how television humour tackles forbidden subjects using nuanced and carefully researched case studies.  An indispensable resource-book for the student of television and humour, its strength derives from contributions by a wide range of authoritative and interesting scholars.” (Jessica Milner Davis, author of “Farce”)

One of the very few volumes focusing specifically on taboo comedy and television Offers a wide range of critical approaches, different objects and perspectives Includes both emerging and established contributors in Humour and Television Studies