Sitcoms: Situational Comedies

With the introduction of the radio in the 1920s, American television evolved dramatically. Television today is not simply for entertainment purposes, but rather it is a part of our culture, engaging viewers to universally be informed with the news, to have emotions towards television shows and dramas, and to find a sense of purpose or lifestyle with the adoption of watching recurring shows Americans enjoy. Television has the power to impact the audience’s perspectives as well as the technological and industrial perspectives. Sitcoms, in particular, create a relationship to its audience by providing them relief after watching even a single episode. They provide entertainment as an alternative to more serious or thorough topics
that the news, documentaries and soaps and lack pomposity. From the initial broadcast to television of sitcoms, its wide reach in viewers, common themes and relatability have impacted Americans in a positive way.
Situational comedies, commonly known as sit-comedies, are built around a humorous “situation” in which tensions develop and are resolved within the length of the show’s episode.
Its primary aim is to produce a sense of relief to the audience and be simply---funny. The content in sitcoms primarily incorporate actors and performers with stable roles that last throughout the run of the show. They are not glamorized like film and drama television stars and are famous for being perceived as a member of the audience, as in “average and ordinary”, Ultimately, sitcoms have a similar structure when it comes to identifying them. In an article from The Atlantic, journalist Noah Charney added that “Sitcoms, minus commercials, are typically 22 minutes long [with] a script of 25-40 pages. Every sitcom episode has a main plot (story A), as well as one or two subplots (stories B and C).” There are three main acts, divided by two commercial breaks (in most American TV), with 3-5 scenes per act. (Charney)” The content is not perplex to understand, making it easier for the audience to stay
engaged. A typical sitcom episode begins with the main plot in which its characters are introduced, and before you know it they are put into a situation that may face a dilemma for which they must solve a problem. Initially, the character reacts and brainstorms ideas on how to overcome the issue. Then throughout the episode, the protagonist goes through multiple obstacles that force him or her to not find a solution to their problem until the end of the episode. In most scenarios, the main character usually fails at their first few attempts at trying to take on the problem. The subplots amongst the other characters in addition to the protagonist’s humorous trials and errors keep the audience fascinated. Gradually by the end of the episode, the protagonist solves the problem and is satisfied. Sitcoms usually incorporate a form of aftermath shown from the resolution displaying the effect of the solution, which can lead to another conflict for the protagonist to overcome or present a plot twist. This can either set the stage for the following episode or just start from scratch all over again.
The content and forms of comical shows indicate how diverse and extensive the genre is.
Commonly, in sitcoms and animated shows such as The Office, Malcolm in the Middle and The Simpsons, the dynamic characters and actors in the show stay the same. Within short, half-hour long episodes the characters are approached with conflict and try to solve the matter. Since every episode is different, it does not feel as though the audience would miss something if they skipped a couple of episodes within a season. The shows Malcolm in the Middle and The Simpsons in particular, are more common in their format. They both center around an American family that takes on outrageous conflicts while keeping the family together. Although The Office also portrays the same characters throughout the show, it alternatively has complex and developing characters who grow with the show’s progressive seasons. The relatability with the characters on these shows are what draws Americans to see them. The situations that Malcolm and his family and the Simpsons tackle are common issues people in America deal with in their daily lives. Malcolm’s parents are of the working class, as is Homer and Marge Simpson, with Marge being a stay-at-home mom taking care of Maggie and the house. The townspeople of Springfield, where the Simpsons family live, incompasses residents from all different backgrounds, with different ethnicities, religions, social classes, ages and occupations. The environment of Dunder Mifflin’s
Scranton branch from the Office is relatable and common to many people who work in offices similar to Dunder Mifflin’s Scranton branch from the show.
American sitcoms in particular, have also been a weapon used to attract certain issues indirectly to viewers by incorporating popular culture and relevant current events, making spoofs out of them. For example, South Park, an adult animated sitcom, is known to make jokes out of political figures and celebrities. Not only does the show bring attention to current issues, it also inspires its viewers to learn more about it. A downfall in such sitcoms are they spur tension and controversy. By showcasing racial jokes and stereotypes, the audience may deem them to be offensive.
Sitcoms have evolved technologically since it has originated, For example, in the late 1980s, The Simpsons ultimately became the first successful animated program in American prime time. During most of the 1980s, animated shows were perceived as only appropriate and catered for an audience of children, and animating a show was too expensive to achieve a quality suitable for prime-time television. The Simpsons changed this perception. They cultivated and inspired the growth of animation for adults as a form of comedic entertainment. Family Guy, American Dad, South Park, Futurama and Bob’s Burgers are just a few of the successful animated sitcoms that indirectly spoof real-life current events. The Office, which is a mockumentary, a type of satirized documentary. influenced the idea of creating a scripted show that did not seem scripted. It parodies real life with its documental techniques in recording. From the evolution of sitcoms in America through Mary Kay and Johnny (1940), there has become a huge television demand for such shows. Sitcoms, which are known to be simple and small-budgeted, have evolved technologically through being recorded on live stage to animations, showcasing relatable characters and settings to its audience, and drawing attention to current events through spoofs, sketches and puns. The primary purpose of sitcoms in America is to create entertainment from lighthearted humor. The approach ultimately prevents the audience from possessing the need to deliberate and digest the puns and jokes quickly. Universally, humor is a sense of emotion that typically creates laughter, and laughter brings people together.