Why does every sitcom have an ice fishing episode?

[Trigonal_Planar]

Uh-oh. I feel this thread may rapidly degrade into yet another “write your cliched sitcom” thread

[Muad_Dib]

@Jeff Lodoen

I think “trapped in the elevator” is most common. (also basement, freezer, vault, delivery truck, etc etc etc) with a woman in labor.

Fixed it for you.

[Silver_Fire]

@Muad'Dib

@Jeff Lodoen

I think “trapped in the elevator” is most common. (also basement, freezer, vault, delivery truck, etc etc etc) with a woman in labor.

Fixed it for you.

I remember that episode! The kids were taking Mrs. B. down to the car after her baby shower and then the earthquake hit and the three of them got trapped in the elevator! :eek: Which just sucked because everyone knew that Tori was scared to death of earthquakes. But, of course, she had coached her sister before so she had to quickly get over that fear so she could help Zack. And then, lucky for them, they happened to have a mini football jersey so they could keep the little guy warm!

And the way everyone huddled outside the elevator yelling words of encourgement… it was just so uplifting!

Oh, any show that has a teen audience has to wrestle with drug use/addiction at some point.

[AngelicGemma]

@Silver Fire

Oh, any show that has a teen audience has to wrestle with drug use/addiction at some point.

And it’s always alcohol, cigerettes or pot. Never any other drug.

[middleman]

@Dooku

Let’s not forget about the absolute gold standard episode which every single sitcom that’s been on a few years has: the “everyone’s going on vacation so let’s have the cast film two minutes of new material and surround it with ‘flashbacks’ to previous episodes.”

I hate this. Absolutely hate it. I don’t care that they’re trying to bulid their fan base by showing off some of their best earlier episodes, it’s still lazy bullshit. I couldn’t believe my eyes when they actually dusted that off for a TNG episode.

I don’t think it is motivated by the desire to add to the fan base. I think it is strictly a dollars game.

It gives them an extra episode with minimal costs. This allows them to fullfill their season committment to the network AND have an extra “episode” to sell to syndication.

WHORES!

[Pushkin]

@DrFidelius

Small set, easily acquired props, situation that lends itself to both the “locked in a small place with an idiot” plot and the “high potential for physical harm” plot…

Seems a no-brainer for when the writers need an easy episode.

Much like the “Oh we’re stuck in a broken shuttle” plot beloved by Star Trek and other SF series

[Peter_Morris]

Let’s not forget about the absolute gold standard episode which every single sitcom that’s been on a few years has: the “everyone’s going on vacation so let’s have the cast film two minutes of new material and surround it with ‘flashbacks’ to previous episodes.”

I liked the south Park version, where they remade the scenes and different things happened.

[Great_Dave]

Or maybe it’s because it’s an activity that real people do from time to time, just as all the other episodes are based on other real-life situations. Sometimes, they stretch it a bit, but that’s the nature of the sitcom.

[nitroglycerine]

@peter morris

I liked the south Park version, where they remade the scenes and different things happened.

It was pretty funny when the Clerks animated series did a flashback show for the second episode.

@photopat

I think it’s required by law in Hollywood. As is the eponymous “overheard pregnancy” episode. You know, the one where the husband hears his wife on the phone and thinks she’s pregnant when in reality it’s the dog/cat/hamster, or her best friend.

The best example there was on Three’s Company when the Ropers overheard Chrissy talking about getting rid of a puppy, and thought she was talking about getting an abortion.

[bienville]

@Silver Fire

Oh, any show that has a teen audience has to wrestle with drug use/addiction at some point.

@AngelicGemma

And it’s always alcohol, cigerettes or pot. Never any other drug.

AngelicGemma!!!
How could you overlook the episode of Family Ties when Alex starts abusing speed!?

[AngelicGemma]

@bienville

AngelicGemma!!!
How could you overlook the episode of Family Ties when Alex starts abusing speed!?

Opps! They don’t show that show here, so I’ve never seen it.

Okay so it’s nearly always pot, cigerettes or alcohol.

[bienville]

No Family Ties in England?
But they did they did go to England!
Steven envied Elyse because she didn’t get jetlag and Mallory was the only one who could drive on the left side of the road. (I don’t remember what Alex and Jen did.)