Interactional humour and spontaneity in TV documentaries

- Mutual in-tune-ness forms a basis for interactional humour in TV documentaries.
- Interaction between diegetic interlocutors contains conversational humour, including physical pranks.
- Humour in unscripted talk indexes spontaneity and authenticity.
- Invitations to open a play frame come from dominant interlocutors but can be resisted.
- Non-humorous laughter indexes interlocutors' physical experience.

This article investigates spontaneous humour-related phenomena in TV documentary, arguing that their presence helps to overcome the scripted nature of the genre. Focusing on the diegetic level of interaction between the presenter and other individuals present in the scene, the analysis traces how the interlocutors achieve mutual in-tune-ness that is necessary for setting up the play frame. It pays attention to several humour-related phenomena, including non-humorous laughter, joint joking and physical pranks. The findings indicate that while laughter can alleviate tension associated with face-threat or personal failure, other forms of humour emerge in the diegetic frame as part of the programme producers' design to divert from the transactional mode of factual television to a more entertaining hybrid format based on a significant experiential component. As a result, TV viewers do not simply receive information but derive pleasure from the playful spontaneity performed for their benefit by the presenter and other interlocutors.