What do you prefer, the sitcom or the sketch comedy show?

Cafe Society
1

If you had a choice, would you like to see the sketch comedy show overtake the sitcom as the most used format for tv comedy?

I for one would. At any time of the day, I’d rather watch SNL, MADtv, Upright Citizens Brigade, or Kids in the Hall than Drew Carrey, Home Improvement, or Suddenly Susan. I think sitcoms are unoriginal and formalic (sp?) compared to sketch comedy shows. Either way if you don’t have good writers the show is going to suck, but it seems to me that sketch shows have a better good show/bad show ratio than sitcoms.

2

I say get rid of sitcoms altogether. But I’d replace them with more reality shows, not sketch comedy.

I’ve grown to dislike actors in general, lately.

3

For me it would sorta depend on how you define “sitcom.” Something like the Family Guy, the Simpsons, Malcolm in the Middle…are those sitcoms? If so, I’d go with them. But if it’s only stuff like Two and a Half Men or Suddenly Susan, I’ll go with sketch comedy.

4

I like sitcoms. There are a bunch that I don’t like but there are quite a few that I do enjoy such as Scrubs, Raymond, Yes Dear, 70’s Show, Still Standing, that Brecken Meyer show with the annoying family, 2 1/2 Men, Oliver Beane, Malcolm, Arrested Development, Friends - yes, I like Friends (this isn’t including those not on the air anymore). Some are of higher quality than others, I don’t think anything can match Scrubs.

Sketch comedy shows though? I rarely find Mad TV and SNL funny anymore but I do like Who’s Line and Kids in the Hall. Id’ rather watch a sitcom any day of the week over sketch comedy if I were forced to pick.

As for reality TV? I would cry tears of joy if all of them were cancelled (unless you include American Idol, that’s more of a game show in my opinion).

I’d take a good one hour drama over all of them.

5

They are both stupid and lame. For me:

The History Channel
Discovery
The Learning Channel
Fox
Survivor
CSI
NYPD Blues

6

Moving this to Cafe Society.

7

This thread is much like one asking “Do you prefer cake or chocolate?” which gets complicated when people start comparing particularly rich cakes (or chocolate) and comparing them to particularlay rancid chocolate (or cakes).

Sitcoms and sketchcoms both range across a wide spectrum of quality. I personally can’t stand Mad TV or Full House, but greatly enjoy Kids in the Hall and Frasier.

If someone tries to make me choose, my response will be “Screw you, Jack. Why do I have to choose at all?”

8

Sitcoms for sure. I like the extra polish on pretty much every aspect of its production -including its writing.

9

I was watching a comedy show at about 2AM the other day. This show has been consigned to the night shift out here and yet it has great players, terrific material and a wonderful air of unpredictability…and its not a sitcom or really a sketch show it’s Whose Line Is It Anyway?.

10

It’s on Foxtel at 7:30pm. I recently house-sat for some friends that have Foxtel and got to watch a months worth! :smiley:

I have to agree with those that say the british version is better: more rotating cast members and far fewer songs. I don’t like the songs. . .

11

I’d pick Chapelle’s Show, The Vacant Lot, Kids in the Hall, The Bert Fershners, and Exit 57 first nearly every time. That’s not to say I don’t like any sit-coms. But I like the sketch comedy better.