An increased tolerance for humour addressing sensitive issues (e.g. death, disease and disability) seems to be observed in Anglo-American culture with respect to Italian culture. This begs the question of how this traditionally unsettling, and perhaps more sophisticated, kind of humour travels to a country like Italy, in which contemporary, mainstream comedy privileges feel- good/family-oriented entertainment or, alternatively, the erotic comedy genre, and in which the very mention of death might still trigger superstitious reactions. The present study takes into consideration the...

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.