One of my favorite childhood television shows was (and continues to be) Courage the Cowardly Dog. I'm not sure why this show was so entertaining and satisfying to me because even now when I watch it, I am completely creeped out. I laugh at the differing attitudes between Eustace and Muriel and the crazy plots always amuse me. Maybe I was a creepy kid? Who knows.
I think this show was so successful because of how shocking it always was. Every episode had a crazy plot with unsettling characters and unnatural colors. I would suggests that the main theory of comedy that applies to this television show is the incongruity theory. The combination of two unlike scenarios creates a sense of humor, bordering on the comical but not quite. This show often has enough humor to keep an audience engaged but not enough to be deemed an outright funny show.
Here is a link to a clip of Courage: The Great Fusilli
This scene perfectly illustrates how the entire show is full of shocking scenarios. From the colors to the sounds, Courage the Cowardly Dog is a mix of creepy and engaging. Even the visual aspects of the show are unnerving and abstract. Courage is a great show and I recommend it to anyone who thinks they have tough skin.
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