Much as I try, JOEY isn’t doing it, EVERYBODY LOVES RAYMOND is on its last legs and will be ending this year, WILL AND GRACE has lost it’s WILL to be good and who cares about GRACE, and the only “new” sitcom semi-worth watching is TWO AND A HALF MEN.
Is the sitcom dead, or is it just going through a phase?
I was wondering this the other day. The current crop are terrible. I think perhaps networks have switched focus to reality shows, but the sitcom should bounce back.
It occurs to me that what exists now is a vacuum left by flagship shows like Frasier and Friends. NBC, at least, could let those carry its lineup while the rest of their offerings weren’t all that good. I can’t speak for ABC or CBS, though. I can’t even remember the last time I watched either of those channels.
Nah, it’s not dead. Maybe it’s having a down period, but as a format it’s too basic and familiar to really go away. And I guess it’s an untraditional sitcom, but Arrested Development is as good a series as there’s been in years.
sticks head into thread
Arrested Development!
Smart, politically savvy, and FUNNY, but it sort of takes the sitcom “formula” and locks it out of the penthouse. No laugh track, not even a pause after jokes for laughter, a lot of very subtle humor, and it’s not unusual for the setup to come after the punchline. Lots more people should be watching this than are.
I like Scrubs and I’m kinda enjoying the new Committed. It is a fun quirky little show. Not great, but it usually gets a smile or two from me.
We should only be so lucky. Sitcoms might well be the worst thing western culture has cranked out.
Unfunny jokes, laugh tracks in case you don’t laugh at unfunny jokes, short-attention span format, etc.
Really, while they might have had their day, the pressure to produce 26 of them per year for a zillion shows for each and every year places out the concept pretty damn fast.
Ugh. I hate television.
I can only assume you haven’t seen Reality TV…
Cheerfully, I haven’t. I am, sadly, hopelessly addicted to the printed word.
But I can’t imagine people debasing themselves for fame and wealth is worse than the vapidity of sitcoms.
You’re wrong. 
You’re also incorrect about laugh tracks (they don’t all use them).
Yeah, Arrested Develpment is good. *Malcom in the Middle * is pretty good, or least it was (haven’t watched in a while).
A good rule of thumb is “90% of everything is crap”.
I’m still hoping against hope that Aaron Sorkin will resurect Sports Night.
Actually, I’av always seen the sitcom as a modern on the Commedia Dell’Arte. The characters, once familiar, always act in predictable ways and have consistent reactions to certain types of situations.
I don’t think Felicity Huffman is walking off the Desperate Housewives set anytime soon. Don’t hold your breath.
I’ll second the “90% of everything is crap” comment. A lot of sitcoms are awful, but there’s no denying that there have been some pretty clever and innovative examples out there.
I keep hoping against hope that all the other execs and writers will look at Scrubs and Arrested Development, simultaneously smack their heads, and immediately start making good shows, instead of the dreck that fills up most of the week.
Sadly, I don’t think it’s gonna happen.
It’s a phase. There was a time in the early 80’s when the “experts” declared the death of the sitcom. Then Cosby, Cheers, Night Court, etc, came along.
It ain’t over till the fat lady sings. Arrested Development, Committed, Scrubs, Corner Gas, Monk… there’s lots of great stuff out there.
Nah, instead they’ll start trying to copy those shows.
Eh. It might lead to something good, and it’s unlikely to lead less than average overall.
When I saw this thread I stopped to think, and I realized the only sitcom I watch now is Scrubs. I also watch Desperate Housewives, and I don’t care what People’s Choice says, it’s not a comedy.