Do you have a favorite sitcom cliche?

[catlover79]

I have to admit, I love the gimmick of an out-of-shape guy at a gym trying to get buff to impress girls. "One, two, 98, 99..." Probably because it's so true to life - sorry, guys. :lol: Kitchen disasters are always good, too.

[catlover79]

Oh, people learning to drive - always a laugh riot. :rofl:

[Marvo301]

It's always funny when mom has to go out of town and dad has to take care of the house and kids. Why are sitcom dads so domestically challenged?

[ekkostar]

Body switching or swapping roles to see how the other half lives is always funny, but I don't see it done much anymore.
How about when security systems were new and they were always made out to be these scary things with lots of lasers and alarms?

[Goldilocks]

The "wacky and/or nosy neighbors" is always a great cliche. I mean, what sitcom does NOT have them? :lol:

[Yooch]

I have to admit, I love the gimmick of an out-of-shape guy at a gym trying to get buff to impress girls. "One, two, 98, 99..." Probably because it's so true to life - sorry, guys. :lol: Kitchen disasters are always good, too.

:lol: Speaking of kitchen disasters, one of the all-time best, probably the best one, imo, is when Lucy and Ethel went out and Ricky and Fred attempted to cook dinner. Talk about a mess!!! It must've taken a couple of days to clean up that set. It was classic, and great! The idea, as I remember, was that Ricky was saying how easy it would be, a piece of cake, to take care of the house, cook, etc. He discovered that it wasn't easy at all.

[TV-aholic]

The one that kills me now (and in Movies) is how many people in TV still have external Answering Machines. I haven't actually seen one of those, in person, for years, yet everyone in TV land has them.


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[Goldilocks]

The one that kills me now (and in Movies) is how many people in TV still have external Answering Machines. I haven't actually seen one of those, in person, for years, yet everyone in TV land has them.


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I know, right? :lol: That reminds me of that email that went around about 10 years ago that was something like "Everything I Needed to Know, I Learned from Watching TV/Movies." and it lists things like:

1. all telephone numbers begin with 555
2. If there is a car chase, it will always go through a St. Patrick's Day parade.
3. when the phone rings, just stare at it....

It was hilarious and I've googled but can't find it. Anyway, your observation fits right into that list.

[catlover79]

The "wacky and/or nosy neighbors" is always a great cliche. I mean, what sitcom does NOT have them? :lol:
Me too!! From Gladys Kravitz to Howard Borden, there are so many funny ones!! :lol:

[Jude The Obscure]

I still have an answering machine :p

Doncha just love when a person on a sitcom gets "amnesia"....:lol:


or the gang puts on a "show" and the cast gets to sing, dance, or just be buffoons!

[TJL]

The "Desperate" Single Sister/Friend
She's either the sister of the female star or her best friend, but she's single, her biological clock is ticking like Big Ben and she dates lots of losers. The Desparate Sister/Friend can often be found trading insults with the male lead.

The Neerdowell Brother/Friend
Usually related to the male lead, the neerdowell rarely works, has plenty of time to pop in on the sitcom family and raid the fridge or ask for money for the latest "get rich quick" scheme that can't miss. Can never be trusted to babysit or do anything that requires responsibility.

;)

[*Pleasant Tomorrow*]

The "Desperate" Single Sister/Friend
She's either the sister of the female star or her best friend, but she's single, her biological clock is ticking like Big Ben and she dates lots of losers. The Desparate Sister/Friend can often be found trading insults with the male lead.

The Neerdowell Brother/Friend
Usually related to the male lead, the neerdowell rarely works, has plenty of time to pop in on the sitcom family and raid the fridge or ask for money for the latest "get rich quick" scheme that can't miss. Can never be trusted to babysit or do anything that requires responsibility.

;)
lol as I'm reading this I'm thinking it fits According to Jim perfectly. Dana as the desperate single sister, and Andy as the ne'erdowell brother. Two in one show.

[Jude The Obscure]

^Also sounds quite like "Still Standing" as well :lol:

[dawsongirl]

I still have an answering machine :p

Doncha just love when a person on a sitcom gets "amnesia"....:lol:


or the gang puts on a "show" and the cast gets to sing, dance, or just be buffoons!
Yeah, and it's usually people who can't sing.

[Jude The Obscure]

Yeah, and it's usually people who can't sing.

That's what makes it fun to watch! :D

[catlover79]

The "Desperate" Single Sister/Friend
She's either the sister of the female star or her best friend, but she's single, her biological clock is ticking like Big Ben and she dates lots of losers. The Desparate Sister/Friend can often be found trading insults with the male lead.

The Neerdowell Brother/Friend
Usually related to the male lead, the neerdowell rarely works, has plenty of time to pop in on the sitcom family and raid the fridge or ask for money for the latest "get rich quick" scheme that can't miss. Can never be trusted to babysit or do anything that requires responsibility.

;)
Sounds a little like Yes, Dear as well - at least the brother part. Brother-in-law in this case. :lol:

[Goldilocks]

The Neerdowell Brother/Friend
has plenty of time to pop in on the sitcom family and raid the fridge

;)

Wally Plumstead on "The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet". If it weren't for the Nelsons, he would've starved to death. :lol: :lol:

[catlover79]

Wally Plumstead on "The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet". If it weren't for the Nelsons, he would've starved to death. :lol: :lol:
I think you could say the same for Kramer, Howard Borden, etc. :lol:

[tanquant]

I like it when someone makes a delicious dessert and then try to market it, find a buyer and then need 2000 in 2 days.:lol: Always a classic

[comedyfreak]

Watching someone try and cook or having someone cook and they take credit for it.

[catlover79]

Watching someone try and cook or having someone cook and they take credit for it.
:lol: I like that one, too.

[catlover79]

I like it when someone makes a delicious dessert and then try to market it, find a buyer and then need 2000 in 2 days.:lol: Always a classic
...and it's always a "secret family recipe". :lol:

[Chocoholic]

I like the wedding that never goes the way it should. :lol:

[70s show watcher]

The "wacky and/or nosy neighbors" is always a great cliche. I mean, what sitcom does NOT have them? :lol: the office is the only one i can think of that doesent

[catlover79]

I like the wedding that never goes the way it should. :lol:
Like Christine falling off a chandelier and into her wedding cake on Coach?? :eek: :eek: :eek:

[jimpickens]

Always liked it when Al Bundy would finally win one.

[Big C]

Men trying to build or repair things

(Example- Al Bundy trying to put up a satellite dish or fix a leaky roof)

[catlover79]

Men trying to build or repair things

(Example- Al Bundy trying to put up a satellite dish or fix a leaky roof)
In a nutshell, every episode of Home Improvement. :lol:

[C_ME]

I always liked the cliche where the so-called dumb character proves to be smarter than the so-called smart character after they take some kind of standardized or IQ test.

Examples:
Zack beating Jessie big time on the SATs (Saved By The Bell)

Cody beating Dana on the SATs (Step by Step)

Waldo getting an A in home-ecconomics while Urkel gets a C (Family Matters)

Will beating Carlton on the PSATs (Fresh Prince of Bel-Air)

[catlover79]

I always liked the cliche where the so-called dumb character proves to be smarter than the so-called smart character after they take some kind of standardized or IQ test.
Like Cody on Step by Step. :lol:

[C_ME]

Yep. That was an awesome episode!

[jimpickens]

Where a character whether it's via a robbery hooligan kids ect is bound and gagged and the other characters who come into or are in the room are either oblivious to their predicament or forget or fail to untie them something you don't see that often anymore.

[Torgo]

2. If there is a car chase, it will always go through a St. Patrick's Day parade.


I've watched countless action movies with car chases, but have yet to see one go through a St Patrick's Day parade.

[Goldilocks]

I've watched countless action movies with car chases, but have yet to see one go through a St Patrick's Day parade.

I haven't ever seen it either, but that's what the list said. *shrugs*

[Torgo]

I haven't ever seen it either, but that's what the list said. *shrugs*

There is a foot chase scene during the St Patrick's Day parade in 'Maniac Cop' though:happyface

[catlover79]

I've watched countless action movies with car chases, but have yet to see one go through a St Patrick's Day parade.
Ditto!

[browneyes106]

A family temporarily taking a stray animal, getting attached and then giving back to the owner.

[catlover79]

Body switching or swapping roles to see how the other half lives is always funny, but I don't see it done much anymore.
How about when security systems were new and they were always made out to be these scary things with lots of lasers and alarms?
Perfect Strangers did an episode about security laser beams and steel doors after Larry and Balki's apartment was robbed. Then they somehow messed up the system and it went amok. :eek: :rofl:

[catlover79]

Body switching or swapping roles to see how the other half lives is always funny, but I don't see it done much anymore.
How about when security systems were new and they were always made out to be these scary things with lots of lasers and alarms?
I remember the latter cliche from an episode of Perfect Strangers which matches your description to a T.

[Retro4Life]

I like the cliche of two characters who are usually at odds ending up in a situation where they are stranded/locked in somewhere and are forced to "get to know" each other better, usually leading to a deeper understanding of each other.

MASH did this was Hot Lips and Hawkeye, and AITF did it with Mike and Archie. Ooh, and Dietrich and Harris did this in Barney Miller. Many soaps have done the same thing, too. :)

[catlover79]

I like the cliche of two characters who are usually at odds ending up in a situation where they are stranded/locked in somewhere and are forced to "get to know" each other better, usually leading to a deeper understanding of each other.

MASH did this was Hot Lips and Hawkeye, and AITF did it with Mike and Archie. Ooh, and Dietrich and Harris did this in Barney Miller. Many soaps have done the same thing, too. :)
Yes, and WKRP did this later in its run with Jennifer and Herb. :nod:

[Schmoopie]

Not a favorite but the cases of misunderstandings and assumptions is always entertaining.

[catlover79]

Not a favorite but the cases of misunderstandings and assumptions is always entertaining.
AKA every episode of Three's Company. ;)