Editing Father Ted (section)

==Comedic style==
The series is set in a [[Surreal humour|humorously surreal]] world in which Ted is the only fully rounded normal character among "caricatures", according to Graham Linehan: "exaggerated-over-friendly, over-quiet, over-stupid, over-dull [...] they really only got one thing, they've got one job."<ref name="Baird interview">[http://www.spiritofgenovia.com/frted/chaptertwo.html "A Peak Inside the Craggy Island Examiner", by Stacey Baird] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120426001019/http://www.spiritofgenovia.com/frted/chaptertwo.html |date=26 April 2012 }} ''Spirit of Genovia'', c1997 (Retrieved 23 November 2011)</ref>

Embarrassment plays a role in many storylines, in a similar fashion to ''[[Fawlty Towers]]''. Linehan says, "if Ted is in a situation that is slightly embarrassing we get him out of it [...] by having him lying or cheating, basically digging a massive hole for himself".<ref name="Baird interview" /> Arthur Mathews has described ''[[Seinfeld]]'' as a major influence on the comedy of ''Father Ted'', with himself and Linehan being "big fans" of the show.<ref>[http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/features/2010/1231/1224286538617.html?via=mr "A return to Craggy Island", by Arthur Mathews], [[Irish Times]], 31 December 2010 (Retrieved 23 November 2011)</ref> ''Father Ted'' also contains references to pop culture, and some film [[parody|parodies]], such as the episode "[[Speed 3]]". An avid fan of [[Monty Python]] growing up, Linehan cited the ineffectual protest of ''[[Monty Python's Life of Brian]]'' upon its release in 1979 as an influence for the ''Father Ted'' episode "[[The Passion of Saint Tibulus]]".<ref>{{cite AV media |last1=Linehan |first1=Graham| authorlink1=Graham Linehan |last2=Mathews |first2=Arthur |authorlink2=Arthur Mathews (writer) |year= |title=Father Ted DVD Commentaries |type=Podcast |url=https://itunes.apple.com/gb/podcast/father-ted-dvd-commentaries/id582800079 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140517221107/https://itunes.apple.com/gb/podcast/father-ted-dvd-commentaries/id582800079 |url-status=dead |archive-date=17 May 2014 |accessdate=4 October 2024 |location=United Kingdom |publisher=Channel 4}}</ref>

Regarding the series's religious content, Linehan says "Ted doesn't have an anti-religious view of life, but a non-religious view. It's a job to him. He doesn't care about religion." While writing, he says the show's creators imagined Ted and Dougal as "just two people who happen to be [priests]".<ref name="Baird interview" />