Colegiul Național „Calistrat Hogaș”

THE AMERICAN SITUATION COMEDY AND ITS POIGNANT EFFECTIVENESS

Baciu Xenia Elena Data

Clasa a XII-a C 29.05.2023

Table of contents
Introduction..........................................................................................................................2
Chapter I, part I: Definition, origin and purpose of situation comedies.........................3
Chapter I, part 2: Characteristics and types of the situantion comedies .......................3
Chapter II: Portrayal of pathos in classic sitcoms............................................................4
Chapter III: Lessons which sitcoms taught us ..................................................................5
Chapter IV: How American sitcoms can be used in academic purposes........................6
Chapter V: Fun facts............................................................................................................7
 Introduction

In this thesis, I have decided to talk about sitcoms and their relevance and influence in our
day-to-day lives, as they are such a common subject of interest in this era. Sitcoms represent
a very useful and convenient way to divert, unwind and learn, used by the little, the young
and the elder – it knows no bounds. On the one hand, I enjoy watching sitcoms and
appreciate their presence in our society because not only are they available at all times, but
they also bring exactly what you need, that missing element, at least maybe eight times out of
ten. If you only want to smile, you can just pick a regular episode they got; if you want to
laugh, they have some special treats waiting for you and if you might like to cry and pour
your anger and sadness out, they have prepared some sappy scenes here and there just in case.
However, it does not stop here – let us say you want to run from your feelings, you can just
simply emerge into a good comedy show and take your mind off what was troubling you.
Therefore, if your day was good or even if it was bad – sitcoms are the right thing to turn to,
because they present all kinds of situations you might actually relate to; they portray real,
normal people and that makes it even more fascinating. On the other hand, sitcoms are also a
great tool for learning. I have used them in various spheres of my life, such as trying to
acquire English skills by improving my listening, speaking and writing levels. Firstly, I
would pay very close attention to the used words and the way the characters pronounced
them and then I would jot them down and try to make sentences revolving around them,
actively making additions to my vocabulary. At first, I would only recognise few words, but
as time passed and I visibly progressed, it became easier: I would find out about new words,
then I would start using them and after I would feel more confident, I would look up
synonyms and the process continued. Comprehension and flow are also very important when
speaking and, when I watch American sitcoms, these two necessities are well covered and it
sets an example for me. Not only do these shows help us pick up languages and master them,
but they also teach us many valuable lessons about friendship, love and hardships, showing
the audience different ways to cope with the highs and lows of life. They have a beautiful
freedom attached to them, handing the audience the final product and letting them decide
what to do with the piece of information they have just accumulated. Their versatility is what
makes them truly special: you are always one click ahead from finding your perfect, comfort-
watch comedy show.
Chapter I, part I: Definition, origin and purpose of situation comedy
(sitcom)

By definition, ”a sitcom, a portmanteau of situation comedy, or situational comedy is a genre

of comedy centred on a fix set of characters who mostly carry over from episode to episode.
Sitcoms can be contrasted with sketch comedy, where a troupe may use new characters in
each sketch, and stand-up comedy, where a comedian tells jokes and stories to an audience”.
The origin of the situation comedy is the radio and the term was not commonly used until the
1950s, even though there were prior examples on the radio. In addition, the first US sitcom
was called Mary Kay and Johnny, and the lead actors were the real-life married couple Mary
Kay and Johnny Stearns, the first 15-minute episode debuting on November 18, 1947 and the
final one on March 11, 1950. One of the most popular sitcoms of the period was I Love Lucy
(debuting on October 15, 1951 and ending on May 6, 1957), starring the real-life couple of
Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz. As for the setting, it centres on a typical couple, Lucy and Ricky
(Arnaz) Ricardo. A fascinating fact about this sitcom is that the episodes were filmed from
start to finish non-stop and because of this, episodes rarely needed to be re-taped. What
makes the story interesting, though, is that Lucy is not content in being a plain housewife
while her husband works as a bandmaster in a club. Therefore, Lucy aspires to have a career
and this is the source of the humour.
The purpose of sitcoms is to make us, the audience, relate to the characters that are, in the
majority of cases, no different than ourselves: having or pursuing an education, building a
family and a life outside of it too, filled with friends, enemies, jobs etc. Sitcoms usually
present mundane stories, preferring to focus on the normality of life – they show these people
who go through a life that we recognise and who cope with it as they know best. Sometimes
we see eye to eye on various matters and other times we wish they did something differently,
but in the end they become our friends -- we are curious about what is going on with them
and even develop some level of attachment. We might see parts of ourselves in them, which
we might be thrilled about, or sometimes quite the opposite, making us go: “Oh! I guess I
should work on that...” Sitcoms help us see our surroundings in a more colourful way, they
make us laugh more or determine us to pick up few quirks and mannerisms. Humour is a sign
of intelligence and the fulfilling part of it is that we can always work on it; and what situation
comedies do best is bring different aspects of humour to life so that anyone can find their
personal cup of tea.

Chapter I, part 2: Characteristics and types of the situation comedy

A number of the main characteristics of the classic sitcom is:

 The production is serialized and differs from other genres through the short running-
time (approximately 22 minutes per episode), designed for long-term on-air
broadcast;
 The narrative usually revolves around two or three characters with stereotypical and
sometimes clashing personalities, set in common, everyday situations; the characters
have highly defined qualities – virtues or defects that are reflected in strikingly
dramatic ways;
 Shooting normally takes place on a soundstage in front of a live studio audience and a
single stage is normally used, divided into a fixed number of sets; and the program is
shot using three or four cameras;
 The world beyond the set is very rarely seen, although it is frequently referenced in
the script;
 The script is shaped by a few defining features: short, lively, sharp, well-worked
exchanges and visual gags.

There are three types of situational comedy: the action comedy, the character comedy and the
dramatic comedy and they include three types of characters: main, supporting and transient.
Main characters are usually the ones who set the tone of the story and who introduce the
viewer to the world that is created in the show, the focus being emphasized on their
character’s arc. They have the most screen time and they introduce the supporting characters
to the audience through the relationships they have with them. A supporting character, as the
name says, is someone who supports the main characters and usually there are only a handful
of supporting characters, mostly because of monetary issues (as the bigger the cast is, the
larger the budget must get) and because it can be difficult for the audience to keep up with
too many stories and faces. Finally yet importantly, there is extensive use of transients, which
also come in three varieties: the guest star, the small, but necessary role and the necessary,
but not constantly needed role. The guest star is a major role in a single episode, providing a
plot problem (for example, the famous episode on Friends – “The one with the rumour”
where Brad Pitt (Will Colbert) starred as an old high-school friend of Monica (Courtney Cox)
who happened to kind of hate Rachel (Jennifer Aniston)). Small but necessary roles are
usually walk-on characters: delivery people, store clerks, taxi drivers and other
supernumeraries. An explicit example of such character is Stella Zinman (played by Sarah
Chalke) in How I met your mother, the doctor who portrays the love interest for Ted Mosby
(Josh Radnor), the lead character, for only a couple of episodes. She has only got a small part
in the big picture of the series, but her role turned out to be much needed, because she helps
Ted become more aware of what he truly wishes to find in a partner and determines him to
start being more picky regarding who he spends his time with. Lastly, the necessary but not
constantly needed character is a supporting role that does not appear on every episode. Often
they will appear only two or three times during the course of a season, although occasionally
their function is expanded. Such kind of character is MD. Beverly Hofstadter (Christine
Baranski), Leonard’s mother in The Big Bang Theory, who used his upbringing for research
in the fields of neuroscience and psychiatry, which made Leonard (Johnny Galecki) be
insecure in many aspects of his adult life.

Chapter II: Portrayal of pathos in shows like Seinfeld and The Golden Girls

By the 21st century, the trend in the entertainment industry is leaning toward reality-TV
shows, which feature non-actors and single-camera recordings. The reason for this increasing
popularity is that the participants are not actors and the audience can easily relate to them as
the cameras capture every moment of their life and they are seen in their best and their worst
and there are no cuts and takes, the camera continues rolling. It is as real as it gets and all the
elements or genres are there from action, drama and even comedy without the “canned”
laughter. It is said that these shows will replace mainstream programming, which would
affect soap operas and sitcom, but it does not mean sitcoms will fade into oblivion or give up
without a fight. In the latter shows, like Seinfeld and The Golden Girls, there is brought one
key element: pathos. For example, Seinfeld, one of the most loved American shows of all-
time, airing from July 5, 1989 to May 14, 1998, follows the story of the stand-up comedian
Jerry Seinfeld who tackles the most perplexing yet trivial questions with a great deal of
imagination (for example: “What is a black-and-white cookie to you? A tasty dessert or a
timely metaphor about racial harmony?”). The show addresses all kinds of usual and, at
times, absurd situations, which we encounter as well in the mundanity of life, but never think
too much about it. Have you ever been disgusted by someone double dipping a chip? How
about waiting for too long to be seated at the restaurant or having to go to the bathroom when
the person right next to you is sleeping? Well, Seinfeld portrays these examples and many
more intending to show the audience that even the most boring day can turn into something
joyous with the right dosage of openness and curiosity. The Golden Girls, a heart-warming
comedy show, airing from September 14, 1985 to May 9, 1992, tells the story of four mature
women who were formerly married and then became roommates in Miami, sharing various
experiences and hardships and having each other’s backs, also has its share of relatable
moments, giving the audience the chance to emphasize with the characters. One wholesome
moment that made the fans love the series even more belongs to the episode “Old Friends”
where Sophia meets a man named Alvin in the park and the two of them create a beautiful
dynamic until she notices some strange behavioural aspects. Turns out that Alvin actually has
Alzheimer’s, so he will not remember Sophia, but the episode shows the significance of the
simple things in life and how friendship can rise when you least expect it. On the other hand,
a hilarious scene in the sitcom is in the episode “Blanche and the younger man”, where
Blanche partly gives away her lover’s age, saying he is almost five years younger than her
and Dorothy asks: “In what, Blanche? Dog years?”

Chapter III: Lessons which sitcoms taught us

1. No one is one-dimensional!
Throughout the show The Fresh Prince of Bel Air, we get to see Aunt Vivian (Daphne
Maxwell Reld) as a strong, hardworking and mostly stern woman who has no time for fun.
Therefore, in episode 7 of season 2 (“The Big Four-Oh”), when she shows her jaw-dropping
dance moves in a class filled with people half her age, both the audience and the characters in
the show were shocked – even her husband, Uncle Phil (James Avery) couldn’t believe it.
Will (Will Smith) thought that his uncle is just a simple, boring judge, but it turned out that
his uncle was just as full of life and zeal as Will back in the day. It goes to show that people
have more to show than what meets the eye and you just need to give them a chance so they
can help you see the bigger picture.
2. „Whatever you do in life, it’s not legendary, unless your friends are there to see it.”
This is just one of the many conclusions of episodes that How I met your mother has in store
for us. Barney Stinson (Neil Patrick Harris) gave the impression that he is a selfish and
arrogant character on various occasions, but he somehow found a way to bend all those
impressions by standing up for his friends, lending an ear when they needed it the most and
trying to bring a good joke to the table. Friends are an essential part in one’s life and they
somehow make us feel like our successes are probably bigger than they actually are and
losses are not that big after all.
3. You have to take chances.
I think a great lesson we can take from The Office is how important it is to take chances. Jim
(John Krasinki) was in love with Pam (Jenna Fischer) for a very long time or, by his own
words, he was ”waiting for my wife” and he had to literally take a leap of faith and make the
first step, confessing his feelings. In their case, it worked out for the best and they ended up
getting married and even having children. My point is that it is our duty to be true to
ourselves and have that much respect of ourselves so we go out there and try to fulfill our
wishes.
4. Find a go-to place.
In Friends, the characters had their own special place where they would gather up and chat in
Central Park. I talked to my own friends about it and one day we went on a little trip across
town trying to find something simple, but joyous, which would encompass our teenage
energy. We ended up finding that perfect place and we go there every day before or after
school and we think that this tradition has made our group even tighter.
5. "People aren’t thinking about you the way you’re thinking about you.”
Schitt’s Creek is known for is variety for when it comes to witty, powerful lines, which pierce
right through your soul – and this quote is a truthful example of it. Alexis Rose tells her
husband, David Rose, in season 3 that he analyzes life way too much and it only makes
things worse. Whenever I start questioning everything a bit too much, I like to take a step
back and just take a deep breath, because most of the times the real monster is not in the
outside world – it just lives rent-free in our minds.

Chapter IV: Are we what we watch?

A wave of new social science research shows that the quality of shows can influence us in
important ways, shaping our thinking and political preferences, even affecting our cognitive
ability. In this so-called golden age of television, some critics have pointed out that the best
of the form is equivalent to the most enriching novels. Cognitive ability is a complex
characteristic that emerges from interactions between biological dispositions, nutrition and
health, parenting behaviors, formal and informal educational opportunities, and culture.
Studying the connection between intelligence and television consumption is far from
straightforward, but researchers have developed compelling ways to isolate the effects of
television. Some of the best research has been done on the television program Sesame Street.
The show, which began in 1969, was meant to develop early literacy, numeracy and
emotional skills for children of preschool age. A detailed analysis of the show’s content in its
first and second years reveals that 80 percent of the program was dedicated to those goals,
with the rest meant to entertain. Researchers randomly assigned groups of low-income
children age 3 to 5 into an experimental group and a control group. In the experimental
group, parents were given access to the show if they lacked it and encouraged in person once
a month to have their children watch the show. Almost all (93 percent) parents of children in
the experimental group reported that their children subsequently watched the show, compared
with roughly one-third of children in the control group (35 percent). Among watchers, those
in the experimental group also watched more frequently. Over six months, from November
1970 to May 1971, the experimental group gained 5.4 I.Q. points — a large effect — relative
to the control group and showed stronger evidence of learning along several other
dimensions. Gains in cognitive performance were especially large for those who viewed the
show frequently relative to those who did so rarely or never. A more recent meta-analysis of
published research in 15 countries shows that Sesame Street has similar effects around the
world. In newly published research, the economists Melissa Kearney and Phillip Levine
examined longer-term effects of Sesame Street by comparing the educational outcomes of
children and young adults in counties more or less likely to have access to the program during
its early years. They found that children living in counties with better Sesame Street coverage
were less likely to be held behind a grade level. Other experimental research is consistent
with the original Sesame Street findings. Low-income prekindergarten children scored higher
on a social competence index six months after being randomly assigned to an experimental
group, in which their parents were encouraged to replace age-inappropriate television with
educational television.

Chapter V: How American sitcoms can be used for academic purposes

The term "English" is derived from Anglisc, the speech of the Angles — one of the three
Germanic tribes that invaded England during the fifth century. The English language is the
primary language of several countries, including Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the United
States, the United Kingdom and many of its former colonies and the second language in a
number of multilingual countries, including India, Singapore, and the Philippines.
It is important not only to be familiar with English, but also to be able to use it on a high
level, as so many fields revolve around it, such as tourism, science, computers etc. Sitcoms
help us master the English language, because the displayed environment is so friendly and
familiar and it sets a safe place for us to learn. We are not limited by grades, we do not have
deadlines and there is no competition, therefore the studying process becomes almost
involuntary. The world that we see through the screens is so similar to ours, except it is put
through a comic filter, which makes it more enjoyable and catchy. While watching, we are
having fun, hearing witty catchphrases and learning new words. The themes which are
proposed are usually very common, including family and romantic aspects, future plans,
political opinions etc. Hearing the characters make small talk helps the audience memorise
key words and be confident while using them. In addition, they always have continuity when
they are making a point and are quick when it comes to replying to the other person, which
sets a beautiful example to follow especially for a non-native speaker. American sitcoms help
us improve our comprehension skills by paying close attention to their vocabulary and choice
of words. On top of that, when it comes to our writing level, we will just need to put in
practice what we already know and be meticulous about it.
More benefits of watching American sitcoms
1. Family bonding – sitcoms help people unwind after long and stressful days and they
provide a chance for everyone to connect and feel at ease. When the family gets
together and does something as simple as watching entertaining shows together, that
creates a deep state of relaxation and wellness.
2. Improving mental health – as the saying goes: „Laughter is the best medicine!” Not
only do they enhance our overall mood, but they also come in handy in challenging
situations, such as doing cardio. Sitcoms can be a distraction which allows us to do
sports for a longer period of time.
3. Saving money. TV provides a cheaper form of entertainment and it certainly is the
economical choice.
4. Getting inspired. Sitcoms can inspire us in many aspects of our lives, such as
choosing the career we would like to pursue, picking genres of books or music we’ve
never tried before, trying new sports, giving a chance to new

Chapter VI: Fun facts

1. The first sitcom to feature an African American in a recurring role was The Laytons,
but because of its premiere in 1948, not much is known about it today outside of this
milestone. One of the largest farewells belongs to the show M*A*S*H, which had the
most watched finale of all-time at 109.5 million.

2. The first Black sitcom was Amos ‘n’ Andy, airing from 1951 to 1953, and Good Times,
debuting on 1974 and ending on 1979, was the very first sitcom to portray a two-parent
family of back people.
2. The finale of the sitcom M*A*S*H (Goodbye, Farewell, Amen), which aired in 1983,
was the most-watched TV broadcast in American history up the 2010 Superbowl. It
gathered 105 million viewers, which was almost half the entire population of the U.S. at
the time.

4. In A Different World, to keep the show authentic and relevant, director Debbie Allen,
took the writing staff on field trips to Morehouse College and Spelman College in Atlanta
so they could actually experience and understand historically black colleges.

5. On the iconic sitcom Seinfeld, Jerry Seinfeld was such a fan of the hero Superman, that
he included a reference to the character in every episode of the show.
6. During the first season of Friends, each actor made $22.000 an episode. The second
season saw a $20.000 increase in Jennifer Aniston (Rachel Green) and David Schimer’s
(Ross Geller) salaries. It could have driven the cast apart, but instead, they came up with
an ingenious plan. Once the third season came around, the cast went into salary
negotiations together, and each received one million dollars an episode.

7. In The Big Bang Theory, the humorous show about four friends who happen to be
brilliant scientists, but socially awkward people, there is actually one cast member who is
similar to her character: Mayim Bialik, who plays Sheldon Cooper’s girlfriend (Amy
Farrah Fowler), attained a PhD of Neuroscience in 2008.
8. Both the longest-running primetime scripted show in the U.S. and the longest-
running animated sitcom in history is The Simpsons.
 Conclusion

American situation comedies are one common and relevant element in our
era. In this thesis, I attended to explain the effects situation comedies have on its
viewers, starting from being able to choose from a wide range of options, learning
English in a relaxing and enjoyable set-up and gaining new visions on various aspects
of life. The first American situational comedies are remarkable through their early
representations of the African American in a leading role and the two-parent black
family for the first time. By the 21st century, TV reality shows were gaining popularity
due to their sincerity – they had no cuts and were the result of single-camera rolling –
but they lacked one key ingredient: pathos. In later shows, such as Seinfeld and The
Golden Girls, the stories portray the highs and lows of the characters in a
heartwarming way, which makes them binge-watched and loved even to this day. The
audience appreciates the dedication actors put into making their favorite show and are
even curious about the lesser-known facts about them. Therefore, that is why facts
like the story of how Jennifer Aniston and David Schimer, who played the beloved
Rachel and Ross in Friends, stood up for their partners to receive higher salaries are
treasured to this day. One more beautiful example is how Debbie Allen (the director
of A Different World) took the writing staff on a trip to Morehouse College and
Stampel College to understand the importance of doing justice to the history of black
colleges. Sitcoms show us how essential it is not to judge others through selfish eyes,
how friends are supposed to be by your side both in small and big events of life and
how you need to not let yourself get tangled up in the worries of life. Humor and joy
are beautiful parts of life and they represent the core elements sitcoms have in
common. They have a beautiful freedom attached to them, handing the audience the
final product and letting them decide what to do with the piece of information they
have just accumulated. Sitcoms give people a sense of comfort and they enhance the
feeling of belonging. As TV shows have improved in quality, we have gotten better at
watching. We pay attention to more details and showrunners become more creative
with subtle details they include as they create plot twists and turns. People gather in
fandoms to discuss their favourite shows and create their own subculture centred
around appreciating their favourite shows and characters. Seeing such truthful
experiences when it comes to love, friendship and loss makes the usual watcher feel
like they are not alone or isolated and they might even gain a more positive or
beneficial view over these aspects of life. When we get to know the characters of a
show, we start picking up little quirks they have or start adopting a new mindset.