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A sitcom is a comedy performance that creates humorous situations for characters to solve. It started on radio and moved to TV in the late 1940s. Sitcoms have recurring characters, a small number of sets, and focus on physical blunders and misunderstandings. They usually have a hero, love interest, friend, and anti-hero. Early sitcoms were about families, but later included groups of friends or coworkers. They are 30 minutes long with an “A” and “B” storyline. Examples include Seinfeld, The Office, and I Love Lucy.
A situation comedy or sitcom is a comedy performance that focuses on creating humorous situations for the characters to solve. This format started with radio and made its leap to television in the late 1940s, making it one of the first modes of entertainment to transition to the television screen. The move to TV has proved to be a good move for sitcoms, with most networks airing several popular sitcoms at any given time.
Several characteristics distinguish a sitcom. The first is the use of a recurring cast of characters that tends to remain static, so that people can tune into it at any time and still follow the action. Many sitcoms also feature a small number of sets, sometimes with just one set where all of the on-screen action takes place. The comedy focuses heavily on physical blunders and misunderstandings, and often draws on real-life experiences so the audience can connect with the action. Classically, a sitcom also airs with a laugh track, or is filmed in front of a live studio audience who provide the laughs.
Every sitcom has at least four main characters. The hero is the character around whom the show revolves, such as the breadwinner or the bartender at the corner cafe. The love interest serves as a foil for the hero, with the two falling in and out of love over the course of the series, while the friend provides advice and support to the hero without taking over the show. The anti-hero provides a note of villainy.
Characters in early sitcoms were usually members of a family or a pair of families. Over time, networks began including sitcoms about groups of friends, coworkers, or other people thrown together in a situation, such as medical interns. Often the characters feel strangely mismatched, creating a note of conflict that keeps the show dynamic and interesting. Some shows have long story arcs that play out over the seasons, allowing for characters to evolve and change, while others keep the characters static, which can get boring for viewers.
Classically, sitcoms are 30 minutes long and include a major or “A” storyline and a minor or “B” storyline. Plot A takes an entire episode to resolve, while Plot B provides some variation and dramatic tension. Other subplots can be added as well, along with dramatic hooks and twists to keep viewers riveted to the screen. Some well known examples of sitcoms include: Seinfeld, Frasier, The Office, Fawlty Towers, The Honeymooners, Cheers, Gilligan’s Island, Arrested Development and of course I Love Lucy.
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