Response to Wipeout

Wipeout is a very popular show both here in the US and also in the UK. It is basic and stupid humor but I cannot lie to myself and pretend I  don't enjoy it because it is indeed pretty funny to watch. The fact that the participants do it to themselves and enter a competition where they know they will be filmed falling and crashing into things is amusing. The falls are so unexpected, as you have no idea when a "giant hammer" will come out and knock you over. I also find myself anticipating whether or not the person is going to make it. I found the funniest falls the ones that were the most bizarre, such as when the lady did a flip because it was not a classic fall. I would disagree with Kendal in the fact that the humor here most closely relates to superiority. If it were to relate to superiority theory, then surely it would be funny to see them fall extremely badly and injure themselves. However this is not the case because any significant fall where it looks like they may have hurt something, I wince at the pain they may feel and become sympathetic. I think that the humor here relates to incongruity theory because you don't know when they will fall over and the most absurd falls tended to be the best. Furthermore, the commentators add to the humor as they come up with the most bizarre comments and also the sound effects create more excitement and drama.