the reason i posed this question is because in the past there have been many shows, which have gone as far as 10- or in the case of Frasier 11 seasons and the not so successful and shortlived sitcoms that last as little as 4, 2 seasons or these days, just 1 season. i am not really a huge fan of the ones that last as long as friends for example because for me, the longer those shows run, the more likely the writers would've run out of good ideas, and thus the later become boring, predictable and even less funnier than they were first time round.

should there be something like a 'quota' proposed on the number of seasons a sitcom should last on air and if so, what figure would that be?

I think 5 seasons is a good number. I do think it all depends on the quality though, some shows can last a lot longer if the same core of writers sticks around.

I've always thought of 7 as a good number for a good, popular sitcom. Give or take two years, of course.

8 if its a good sitcom.

9 would be excessive and 10, 11+ would be too excessive

I suppose if its a favorite of somebodys it could on and on and on! lol lol:lol:

5 or 6 seasons if its a pretty good show. I think it gets harder to come up with fresh ideas after the fifth or sixth season.

Back in the day, a good sitcom should last 8 seasons, no more and no less.

But today is a different story. TV has definitely gone in the wrong direction this decade. A decent sitcom these days should last at least 4 seasons, because after that the writing gets stale and it all gets stupid, which is beginning to happen with Two in a Half Men, and what happened with George Lopez and According to Jim.

Back in the day, a good sitcom should last 8 seasons, no more and no less.

But today is a different story. TV has definitely gone in the wrong direction this decade. A decent sitcom these days should last at least 4 seasons, because after that the writing gets stale and it all gets stupid, which is beginning to happen with Two in a Half Men, and what happened with George Lopez and According to Jim.

though it's not just the writing that becomes stale, the longer the show goes on, but i also think it's due to the domination of serial dramas like greys anatomy, lost, 24 and reality tv shows that there aren't as many good sitcoms lasting on screen. i think that with today, there is too much emphasis placed on those types of shows- and i for one am not a huge fan of either serial dramas or reality tv. personally, reality tv sucks by the way and thus, it has killed off the production of good sitcoms

I've always said that a good sitcom should last between Five and Eight seasons. Nine and beyond is too long, in my opinion.

I like 7. You get the right amount of material with a little more on the side. I think 11 seasons is excessive. 9 seasons isn't too bad if the show is really good.

A 'good' sitcom should top out at around 7 seasons. But in Frasiers case, the 7th season was a huge turning point in the show, so a few more seasons were needed.

though it's not just the writing that becomes stale, the longer the show goes on, but i also think it's due to the domination of serial dramas like greys anatomy, lost, 24 and reality tv shows that there aren't as many good sitcoms lasting on screen. i think that with today, there is too much emphasis placed on those types of shows- and i for one am not a huge fan of either serial dramas or reality tv. personally, reality tv sucks by the way and thus, it has killed off the production of good sitcoms

I completely agree with that. Television today is at an all time low. High-rated reality shows like American Idol take away from the good sitcoms that air against it, like George Lopex or According to Jim. Just cause AI gets 25 mil. a week, GL and ATJ get 5 mil. a week. Plus we have cheap-love shows like Grey's Anatomy and Desperate Housewives that everyone is attracted to. I just don't get it.

the only shows i tune into from today's era are everybody hates chris, two and a half men and ugly betty. i don't bother watching all the other current shows, i prefer watching the classic sitcoms instead.

as for american idol, i could never stand that show in the slightest and the popularity of dramas such as desperate housewives, lost, grey's anatomy etc is something i don't get either. i'd prefer to watch a show where i would want to laugh out loud to. american tv is never the same as it was before, which is so sad to see. then again british tv fares just as worse in comparison.

as i said before on a previous post, i think because of events such as 9/11, it is that they have played a role in the deteriorating state of sitcoms. of course what happened that fateful day 6 years ago was terrible beyond words, but since then programme makers have gone soft on the public. they seem to forget that not all of us want a serious and heavy dose of realism, but at the same time comedy allows us to get through life's problems, no matter how bad or desperate they may be. i'd say sitcoms- good ones that is- have more of an impact on people, than reality tv etc will ever do

You couldn't have put it better.

You couldn't have put it better.

thanks!:)

As long as the audiences continue to tune in and watch the shows, it doesn't really matter.

I completely agree with that. Television today is at an all time low. High-rated reality shows like American Idol take away from the good sitcoms that air against it, like George Lopex or According to Jim. Just cause AI gets 25 mil. a week, GL and ATJ get 5 mil. a week. Plus we have cheap-love shows like Grey's Anatomy and Desperate Housewives that everyone is attracted to. I just don't get it.
Have you ever considered the fact that perhaps, just maybe, you don't like shows like "Desperate Housewives" simply because...well...simply because you don't like them? You're speaking as if you don't like a certain show, it is definitely not of good quality at all and it should be a mystery why anyone would appreciate it.

There are loads of shows currently on TV that I can't stand. I do not like them at all. But I won't walk around acting as if just because I don't like a particular show, other people's attraction to them is superficial.

Have you ever considered the fact that perhaps, just maybe, you don't like shows like "Desperate Housewives" simply because...well...simply because you don't like them? You're speaking as if you don't like a certain show, it is definitely not of good quality at all and it should be a mystery why anyone would appreciate it.

There are loads of shows currently on TV that I can't stand. I do not like them at all. But I won't walk around acting as if just because I don't like a particular show, other people's attraction to them is superficial.

JT, i think i understand where you are coming from, if i am correct on this. at the end of the day, it's really all a matter of one's preference and personal taste, rather than disliking a show just because others say they don't like it either

I think a "good sitcom" should last for about 6 seasons.

Maybe the reason According to Jim doesn't get such high ratings is because it is not that great of a show. I've seen a handful of episodes from different seasons and I don't really like it. 5 million people do like it enough to tune in, though, so it obviously isn't that bad.

There is no quota for sitcoms. Some do well lasting a long time and some don't. If you are a big fan of a show you might think that 11 years is fine and the show hasn't deteriorated, but if you're not a fan of the show, you may think the opposite. But, then, there are some shows that no matter how big a fan you are the longer it goes on you think the same as the non-fans.

Maybe the reason According to Jim doesn't get such high ratings is because it is not that great of a show. I've seen a handful of episodes from different seasons and I don't really like it. 5 million people do like it enough to tune in, though, so it obviously isn't that bad.

There is no quota for sitcoms. Some do well lasting a long time and some don't. If you are a big fan of a show you might think that 11 years is fine and the show hasn't deteriorated, but if you're not a fan of the show, you may think the opposite. But, then, there are some shows that no matter how big a fan you are the longer it goes on you think the same as the non-fans.

that's very true. it all depends on how much of a fan you are of the show and besides, you can be a fan of a sitcom that hasn't gone as far as 10 seasons. friends went as far as 10 seasons- but i immediately lost interest in that sitcom straight after the sixth

as long as it stays good-I don't think there is a magic number-but once it jumps the shark-put it out of its misery. It's always nice when shows go out on a high note.

as long as it stays good-I don't think there is a magic number-but once it jumps the shark-put it out of its misery. It's always nice when shows go out on a high note.

i guess you're right. perhaps the important thing is that whatever does happen during the show and during those seasons, as long as the series is concluded or resolved in the end, then its done. i think that as soon as a show jumps the shark, the writers and producers should see fit in wrapping things up sooner rather than later and to wrap it up in a nice way, like for instance a wedding involving the two characters