# Name and Exemplify Sitcom Syndromes **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [August 16, 2005, 4:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-and-exemplify-sitcom-syndromes/317218 "2005-08-16T04:35:31Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 7
**Author:** ![davenportavenger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/5f8ce5/32.png) [@davenportavenger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davenportavenger)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2005, 4:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-and-exemplify-sitcom-syndromes/317218/121 "2005-08-17T04:57:54Z")
> [@Beware of Doug](#): > > BTW, people east of PA really _do_ call it soda. Even when being colloquial. Yeah, and if they set a sitcom in say New Jersey and called it pop, it would be just as inaccurate. But then, they would never do that, since all the writers are from New York. Damn soda-sayers, they have all the power… ---
**Author:** ![Sampiro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2acd7d/32.png) [@Sampiro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sampiro)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2005, 5:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-and-exemplify-sitcom-syndromes/317218/122 "2005-08-17T05:44:28Z")
> [@davenportavenger](#): > > Yeah, and if they set a sitcom in say New Jersey and called it pop, it would be just as inaccurate. But then, they would never do that, since all the writers are from New York. Damn soda-sayers, they have all the power… [HIJACK]In the south it’s coke [smaller case “c”]. Types of “coke” include Pepsi, Sprite, Mr. Pibb, and, of course, Coke [larger case “c”]. The brandname has become a generic rather like kleenex, xerox and aspirin.[/HIJACK] ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2005, 6:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-and-exemplify-sitcom-syndromes/317218/123 "2005-08-17T06:07:35Z")
**OMIGOD, WE’RE TRAPPED IN HERE!** Syndrome: Characters get trapped, maybe overnight, in a storage closet / basement / elevator etc. Can be played for laughs (characters snap at each other, blame each other for predicament, fight over scraps of food) or for pathos (characters are forced by close quarters and boredom to really **communicate** for the first time ever) – but don’t try to shoot for both. ---
**Author:** ![Otto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Otto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Otto)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2005, 6:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-and-exemplify-sitcom-syndromes/317218/124 "2005-08-17T06:15:07Z")
> [@BrainGlutton](#): > > **OMIGOD, WE’RE TRAPPED IN HERE!** Syndrome And its corrollary, the **OMIGOD, WE’RE TRAPPED IN HERE AND I’M BIRTHING MY BABY!** Syndrome. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2005, 6:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-and-exemplify-sitcom-syndromes/317218/125 "2005-08-17T06:18:01Z")
Sorry, forgot to provide examples of the above: I’ve seen the “We’re trapped!” bit done on _All In the Family_ (Archie & Mike trapped in basement – played for pathos), _Maude_ (Maude and ex-husband trapped – pathos), _Alice_ (whole crew trapped in diner’s storage room – played for laughs), _WKRP in Cincinnati_ (Herb and Jennifer trapped in elevator while building burns – pathos), _Family Ties_ (Mallory and Skippy trapped in garage – laughs), _The Bob Newhart Show_ (1972) (Bob and wife trapped in storage closet – laughs). ---
**Author:** ![Justin\_Bailey](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/justin_bailey/32/8792_2.png) [@Justin\_Bailey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Justin_Bailey)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2005, 9:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-and-exemplify-sitcom-syndromes/317218/126 "2005-08-17T09:47:18Z")
Well if we’re debunking fictional colleges, a college has existed in Sunnydale since season 2’s “Reptile Boy”. It’s not called UC Sunnydale, rather Crestwood College, but it’s not much of a stretch to assume Sunnydale is a college town and might have two (or even a renamed Crestwood). ---
**Author:** ![Hypno-Toad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b2d939/32.png) [@Hypno-Toad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hypno-Toad)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2005, 11:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-and-exemplify-sitcom-syndromes/317218/127 "2005-08-17T11:57:34Z")
Then there’s the **Venue Change Syndrome**. At some point, usually after new characters are introduced, a new set will be built and large portions of subsequent episodes occur there. **Mork & Mindy** showed this when Jay came onto the show and scenes started to be set in his deli. A more extreme version of this is the **We’re Moving to California syndrome.** This is best exmplified by **Laverne & Shirley.** ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2005, 1:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-and-exemplify-sitcom-syndromes/317218/128 "2005-08-17T13:04:17Z")
> [@Lumpy](#): > > **The Skag-Ugly Woman** Has no purpose in life but for the rude sarcastic main character to insult her for how ugly she is. Often is blind to or refuses to acknowledge how ugly she is. For example, by commenting on her latest trip to the hair salon or makeup parlor. Examples: Aunt Esther on Sanford & Son, or T’Nuk on Tripping the Rift. Mimi on _The Drew Carey Show_. ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2005, 1:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-and-exemplify-sitcom-syndromes/317218/129 "2005-08-17T13:06:25Z")
> [@Nonsuch](#): > > The ultimate, uber-example of this: Martin Tupper (Brian Benben) from _Dream On_. God, that ugly fucker raked it in. To be fair, though, he was never depicted as an irresistable stud – just incredibly lucky. And once it turned out not to be luck but a professional. ---
**Author:** ![Shirley\_Ujest](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/45deac/32.png) [@Shirley\_Ujest](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shirley_Ujest)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2005, 1:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-and-exemplify-sitcom-syndromes/317218/130 "2005-08-17T13:08:15Z")
**No Tickie No Washie Syndrome.** Similar to the Wise and Thoughtful AfAm Guy Guiding clueless white people, asians are notably absent in sitcom world. Except for Kahn in **King of the Hill** **Jay Silverheels Syndrome** Native Americans rarely are in sitcoms or prime time show unless it is to save the enviroment and make some poignant speech. **Marilyn Whirlwind Syndrome** about a native born that doesn’t preach, in fact, she doesn’t say much at all and everyone loves her. **Ed Chigliak Syndrome** shows that NA have interests outside our friends the trees and fauna who are Martin Scorsese and other famous directors. **Ex Prisoner Syndrome** falls into two catagories: 1. A intelligent guy from the wrong side of the tracks that has learned his lesson and is making good on never doing a crime again and is a heart throb in a nonconformist way. (Northern Exposure.) 2. Is trying to do good but has so much baggage that it is inevitable he will fail and go back to the big house. ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2005, 1:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-and-exemplify-sitcom-syndromes/317218/131 "2005-08-17T13:09:41Z")
> [@middleman](#): > > **Too Cheap to Produce a Pilot** - Also known as **WE’RE PRETENDING IT’S A SPINOFF** > [@](#): > > **You got your wings clipped, didn’t ya…MR. BIGSHOT!?** - When a regular cast member gets a spinoff and the show is cancelled while the flagship series is still on the air. The cast member then returns to the original series. The shame must be overwhelming. Especially if the new “star” burned some bridges on the way out. > > **Angel Heart and back again** - A specialized version of the previous entry. Where the new star gets a spinoff because she appeared in a softcore scene, got kicked off her spinoff for some reason, it continued on to some success, and THEN the star had to return to the flagship show…to a lessened role. Examples of these two cases? ---
**Author:** ![Lumpy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lumpy/32/446_2.png) [@Lumpy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lumpy)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2005, 2:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-and-exemplify-sitcom-syndromes/317218/132 "2005-08-17T14:08:30Z")
> [@Sampiro](#): > > **Must Be Pheremones** - a character is portrayed as a total stud or total babe even though the actor playing him/her ain’t all that… The most ridiculously implausible example I can think of this is William Shatner as Captain Kirk. ---
**Author:** ![middleman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e9a140/32.png) [@middleman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/middleman)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2005, 2:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-and-exemplify-sitcom-syndromes/317218/133 "2005-08-17T14:18:40Z")
> [@](#): > > Examples of these two cases? **You got your wings clipped, didn’t ya…MR. BIGSHOT!?-** Nick from Family Ties was what came to mind. I don’t know if he burnt bridges. \*\*Angel Heart and back again- \*\* I think the only person who really fits into this category is Lisa Bonet from Cosby. She actually appeared in a movie called “Angel Heart” and did a steamy love scene. The Cos spun her off onto “A Different World.” Eventually, others on that show became an ensemble show and she left it only to return to Cosby. Her role on the show was greatly diminished. AND she brought her new “step-daughter” Raven Simone on board. So this sitcom syndrome is indirectly responsible for “That’s So Raven”! ---
**Author:** ![middleman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e9a140/32.png) [@middleman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/middleman)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2005, 2:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-and-exemplify-sitcom-syndromes/317218/134 "2005-08-17T14:20:24Z")
> [@Lumpy](#): > > The most ridiculously implausible example I can think of this is William Shatner as Captain Kirk. When Shatner was a young guy (and when he wasn’t carrying his extra weight around) he was a very handsome fellow. ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2005, 2:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-and-exemplify-sitcom-syndromes/317218/135 "2005-08-17T14:34:05Z")
> [@middleman](#): > > When Shatner was a young guy (and when he wasn’t carrying his extra weight around) he was a very handsome fellow. Shatner was _always_ carrying extra weight around. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Bill\_Door](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/50afbb/32.png) [@Bill\_Door](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bill_Door)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2005, 2:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-and-exemplify-sitcom-syndromes/317218/136 "2005-08-17T14:34:20Z")
> [@Captain Amazing](#): > > **I DIDN’T KNOW THAT ABOUT YOU!** An old friend/family member of one of the main characters (who we’ve never seen before) will either come out of the closet or reveal to the character that he/she has a drug or alcohol problem. There’s a corollary to the alcoholic cured in a single episode. Everyone else who drinks is a funny drunk, witness Bob Newhart (in a really funny episode) ordering Moo Goo Gai Pan while drunk. Two kinds of people drink, alcoholics and loveable drunks. Nobody has a drink or two and moves on. ---
**Author:** ![picunurse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/7bcc69/32.png) [@picunurse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/picunurse)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2005, 3:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-and-exemplify-sitcom-syndromes/317218/137 "2005-08-17T15:00:11Z")
Fraiser suffers from\*\* Background Set Corollary\*\* as well. His condo hangs in the middle distance between the Space Needle and Queen Anne Hill. He also suffers from **I’m paid way more than I deserve** TV news anchors here make between $30 and $40 K a year. He’s on the radio, and lives in a condo that would cost around $2,000,000 with association fees of $1000 a month. not to mention he only works one or two days a week. How about the **She was here a minute ago** or **We’re too cheap to pay another actor** syndrome? Marris, first wife of Niles on Fraiser, Norm’s wife on Cheers (Charley Brown’s mom). We hear about them, even maybe hear their voice in another room, but never see them. **The Lucy** syndrome where in, a character lies about something, then goes to absurd lengths to protect the lie. Some times risking life and limb, and the lives and limbs of their chosen cohort. Fresh Prince and Wings have examples and that teen witch with the cat… and Aunt witches…Sabrina! that’s it. ---
**Author:** ![Ponder\_Stibbons](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ponder_stibbons/32/343_2.png) [@Ponder\_Stibbons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ponder_Stibbons)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2005, 3:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-and-exemplify-sitcom-syndromes/317218/138 "2005-08-17T15:29:33Z")
> [@picunurse](#): > > **The Lucy** syndrome where in, a character lies about something, then goes to absurd lengths to protect the lie. Some times risking life and limb, and the lives and limbs of their chosen cohort. Fresh Prince and Wings have examples and that teen witch with the cat… and Aunt witches…Sabrina! that’s it. I’d call it **The “Secret” That Anyone With An IQ Over 25 Would See Through Syndrome** , myself. Also include in this every Superman-related series ever made. ---
**Author:** ![Captain\_Amazing](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6de8d8/32.png) [@Captain\_Amazing](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Captain_Amazing)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2005, 3:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-and-exemplify-sitcom-syndromes/317218/139 "2005-08-17T15:32:14Z")
It’s starting to die out now that feminism has been successful, but you still see it sometimes, and you used to see it a lot, but it’s: **HE’S MR. MOM** : For whatever reason, a husband will have to keep house and take care of the kids. Maybe he and his wife have made a bet, maybe she has to go out of town to deal with an emergency…who knows. But for whatever reason, it’ll be him in the kitchen. Of course, he’s totally incompetent, and will burn the dinner, overload the washing machine with soap so that suds come out, turn the living room into a garbage dump, and probably lose a kid. Eventually, he’ll learn to appreciate his wife and that taking care of a house is hard work. ---
**Author:** ![sciurophobic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/cab0a1/32.png) [@sciurophobic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sciurophobic)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2005, 3:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-and-exemplify-sitcom-syndromes/317218/140 "2005-08-17T15:53:27Z")
> [@Sampiro](#): > > _Good Times_, which developed a “social problem of the week” theme during its later seasons. I thought that show did nothing but social problems. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-and-exemplify-sitcom-syndromes/317218.md?page=6) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-and-exemplify-sitcom-syndromes/317218.md?page=8)