Parkinson's entrance is stylish and grand. He enters at the top of a staircase to the theme music from the show and walks slowly to his seat; this grand entrance is a convention of a typical television chat show. It is at this point that it becomes clear who is in charge of the show.
For example when Elton john appears on 'Parkinson' Elton's entrance is from the side of the stage probably because he had just been performing his latest song. When Parkinson introduces Elton john he is full of compliments and the language he uses is full of flattery. He refers to Elton john as 'a superstar of Rock and Roll' and 'lately ennobled'. This may be used to make Elton feel relaxed and confident. He uses these phrases so that the audience will have to guess who the guest is and this will help to create suspense amongst the audience because he does not mention his guests name until the end of his monologue.
After Elton takes his seat his body language is quite defensive with his hands clenched together and he doesn't look straight at his interviewer, showing that he feels quite nervous about revealing things to the host. Parkinson's body language shows that he is confident and open. I also think this shows experience. He sits with a straight back and his hands are open palms up on his lap. Parkinson's opening question to Elton is "what's up" I think this simple question is used to direct the interviewee to the reason for his appearance on the show. It also shows that although Parkinson uses formal language his language can also include some informal language. Elton John answers politely and hints at why he is on the show. The body language of Parkinson is open and appealing, this is so that the guest will feel relaxed in his company and will answer his questions more openly. The style of questioning used by Parkinson is set so that it would help Elton to open up and become more confident in the answers he gives. Although the questions were probably agreed before the show they will still tell the audience what they want to know about the guest. Elton Johns appearance on the show in terms of his reasons for being on the programme fulfil the conventions of a chat show because he is on the show to promote something that he is doing at the moment in his career and this is one of the chat show conventions.
The set for the show is simple yet sophisticated. It has a pale blue background, which is used to relax the interviewee, and it gives the studio a modern look. Also there is a hint of pink, which would make the studio warm and homely. The guest and host sit close together separated only by a small table. The guests, who had appeared earlier on in the show, sit further away from the host but they are still quite close.
I think that three cameras are used, the first is at the back of the studio and is used to show the guest, host and audience together and the second and third cameras I think are fixed and are used so that both the host and guest have individual shots when they are speaking.
The 'Ali G show' is on the other hand from 'Parkinson'. Ali G is different as his show is targeted at children of around teen age. Even down to the language he uses, to what he wears and the music played can easily be directly related by the target audience. His reputation as a chat show host is all based around humour.
Sacha Baron Cohen is a lightweight chat show host when compared with Parkinson. His show 'Da Ali G Show' is as well known as 'Parkinson' for different reasons and it is targeted towards the younger generation of viewers. It is not a very conservative show, which is a characteristic of the house style of channel 4.
The title sequence of 'Da Ali G show' is colourful, flashing shots of Ali G with beautiful women his age. Ali G Makes hand movements and gestures that only the target group of the show will understand. 'Da Ali G show' title is shown in bold, big lettering on the screen. The opening music is loud and fast beating. The Ali G show includes beautiful women wearing bikinis often on the stage that would never be seen in a traditional chat show.
Ali G's dress code reflects the style of the show. He wears brightly coloured baggy clothes, dressed with many items of chunky jewellery, the cannabis leaf symbol is worn frequently either on clothing or on jewellery designs; these clothes are exaggerated styles of what sub-cultures may wear. Ali G dresses as some black people dress therefore they can also relate to the show. The style of the show is also tacky compared to the sophisticated 'Parkinson'. Ali G comes onto the show to loud music, this music is similar to the type of music played at teen age parties and it gives the impression that this show is modern. The same loud music is used to introduce his guest. His guests invited to the show are sat off centre to the set; this makes them feel odd, as they are not in main attention of the show. They also feel quite victimised compared to the way Ali G dresses and talks to the way they talk and dress. Some guests become quite offended by the way Ali G talks to them and talks about their interest. Ali G also interviews people out of the studio which is different to other chat shows in his genre. He stands or sits quite close to his interviewee showing a quite rude take up off their personal space. The way he sits or stands is quite different to that of Parkinson. For example Ali G would sit leaning back in his chair, legs wide and arms resting in between legs, on the other hand Parkinson would sit up right in his chair with legs cross and hands on lap. The way Parkinson addresses himself to his interviewee immediately shows a sign of respect and seems to be listening and taking in everything their saying. Ali G is disrespectfully slouched in the chair not seeming to listen.
Language used throughout the show by Ali G is a made up lingo, slang or jargon which is not very sophisticated and informal; this echoes the style of the show. Jargon is words that are used by a particular group of people that other members of different groups aren't familiar with. The jargon Ali G uses is often used by young black British youths today. Many white youths adopt the language therefore the Ali G show can be easy for most youths to relate with and appeal funny. The language used by Ali G links with the humour appeal of the show. The humour devices that Sacha Baron Cohen uses through Ali G are very clever. Using made up lingo and jargon to confuse his guests of older age compared with the viewers and audience, using a dramatic irony to humour the show. By using language that is considered rude or inappropriate in the interview situations, by mixing words or abbreviations up to show he does not understand their meaning and by making up words that do not exist in the dictionary; situations are created for humour. The forms of humour that are shown in the Ali G show are dramatic irony; when the viewer know more than the guest or when we know more than Ali G himself, Impersonation; Ali G's character pretends to be black and mimics their actions and words, surreal humour; when Ali G comments or makes actions that don't seem to be linked to anything else in the show and when he changes the subject rapidly so it doesn't seem to make any sense and satire; when Ali G's humour is aimed at mocking aspects of society or powerful figures, most of these take place in his interviews.
As Ali G interviews guests in his studio and out that are famous and have a high intellect but he also invites normal people on the show, which is different to the traditional chat show; the guests are vehicles of humour on this show and are often humiliated.
When Ali G interviews Graham Gratton (a Welsh minor) Ali G shows a lack of respect and makes purpose mistakes whilst showing dramatic irony. Ali G begins by saying "Check this out!" which is informal. "I is now going to a coal mine which is a place where the Wales people used to live underground millions of years ago miners lived in here before they became human beings." This statement by Ali G is completely wrong, which shows dramatic irony and is surreal.
"So why is it mainly brothers who is working down there?" Ali G uses jargon for brothers- means black people.
"Brothers?" Graham seems confused; dramatic irony is used here because he thinks Ali G is talking about something else.
Ali says "Ay, why is it mainly the black man? That's a bit racialist innit?" Ali G invents a word for racist and addresses informally with "innit."
Graham replies "Oh no that's sweat and dirt that is."
"So why has he blacked himself up to look like a brother?" Ali argues.
"But he hasn't blacked himself up and he hasn't pretended to be like you said.....a brother."
In this interview Ali G manages to cause confusion and tension creating dramatic irony. This interview is mainly close up on the cameras showing the facial expressions of both Ali G and Graham. Throughout this interview Ali G talks the most and seems to be in control of the interview even if he is wrong most the time. Ali G also stands slouched and uses hand gestures to allow the viewer to feel more involved within the interview and show. The intermissions are in black and white and Ali G dances with girls to the dance chant of: Ali in the land of Wales, Ali in the land of Wales, Oh oh, Ali in the land of Wales, Ali in the land of Wales. This chant shows even more disrespectful behaviour towards Graham and his living place even after his interview has come to an end.
The set is cheap looking but quite complicated with different coloured walls with grafite style writing and coloured lights. The guest sits on a chair as does Ali G on a leather chair occasionally. There are a few steps up from the stage and in this area the audience sit on simple chairs.
The audience participate more in this show than in 'Parkinson' as they laugh a lot more and the laughing is not forced as it often is in Parkinson.
There are probably four or more cameras used to film this show. Two cameras would cover the host and his guest individually; these cameras would be used to show the person who is speaking. The camera shots are quite choppy as this is a fast moving show. Most of the cameras would just cut from shot to shot throughout the show. When the guest is speaking they would use a big close-up to show their facial expressions and emotions. The colour of the show changes throughout the show from colour to black and white. Black and white is generally used for the interviews that take place in this show; the black and white colours to the interviews add a more serious feeling to the viewer. This adds to the humour as Ali G's serious opinions are completely different to that of the interviewees.
Ali G performs at the end of the show either rapping or dancing with his own made up jargon and his own style. In 'Parkinson' the guest singer performs. This shows the total different styles of the two shows, as Ali G seems to be getting most the attention of his show not allowing his guests any, this is the other away around on 'Parkinson' as most guests go on his show at the time they need to promote themselves.
The more effective of these two chat shows is probably 'Parkinson' because it will appeal to a wider audience than 'Ali G' and also the guest will be more sophisticated. Out of the two chat shows I think I prefer 'Ali G' because I can relate easier to this show and it also humours me more. However I think it is sometimes unfair the way Ali G treats his guests as some are not ready for or can't cope with the type of interviewing he shows. In 'Parkinson' there is a wider range of guests and the guests are often in the news at the time so I like to hear their views on current affairs.