The First Sitcom - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Perderabo · 08-23-2000, 05:34 PM

The earliest sitcom that I have been able to track down is Mary Kay and Johnny which debuted in 1947. Could this be the earliest sitcom ever? I have found earlier comedy shows, but they seem to be more variety-type like "The Carol Burnett Show" was.

ProffesorFan · 08-23-2000, 06:25 PM

Maybe "I Love Lucy", but I'm not sure when that debuted, though. It was on the radion before tv was invented!

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Thurston: Now the first thing you use, darling, is your driver.
Lovey: My driver? Don't be silly, darling, you know our chauffeur is back home. I believe his name was Charles, wasn't it?
Thurston: No, darling, I'm talking about clubs.
Lovey: Of course, he drove us to all the very best clubs.
*************************

Perderabo · 08-24-2000, 11:10 AM

Well, "I Love Lucy" debuted in 1951. It did not previously appear on radio. Ms. Ball did star in the radio sitcom "My Favorite Husband", which ran from 1948 to 1950 on CBS.

Nipkow patented his television system in 1884. The first commercial radio station, KDKA, began operations on Nov 2, 1920. This makes it pretty hard for any radio sitcom to precede the invention of television. Still,
commercial broadcasts of television didn't start in the US until 1939 and TV didn't really takeoff until 1946 when the wartime restrictions on building TV's were lifted.

Clearly there were radio sitcoms long before there were television sitcoms. So I guess I do need to clarify that I am looking for the first television sitcom.

treky · 05-22-2020, 02:03 AM

I know this answer is 20 years too late but I think MARY KAYE & JOHNNY WAS the first sitcom.

Yong Fang · 05-22-2020, 05:50 AM

What is considered the first television season? There has been broadcast TV since the 1930’s but nothing formalized until after WWII. I consider 1946 to be the first TV season.

In what year was there TV broadcasting at least 16 hours a day? I am old enough to remember TV stations signing off around midnight until 6 am. 24 hour TV wasn’t really a thing until the 1980’s although I am sure some stations did have all night programming “The late late late movie”.

Torgo · 05-22-2020, 12:36 PM

Mary Kay And Johnny was the first American sitcom, the British sitcom Pinwright's Progress predates it by a year (1946)

Coffeecup · 05-23-2020, 10:05 PM

Speaking of radio shows, are there any links to hear radio programs? It might be fun to listen to a show and picture the situation.

howilu · 05-24-2020, 10:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Torgo

Mary Kay And Johnny was the first American sitcom, the British sitcom Pinwright's Progress predates it by a year (1946)

The Johnny of Mark Kay and Johnny, John Stearns would later go on to host the farm series Agriculture USA (later shortened to AG-USA). It would air Saturdays in New York on WNBC-TV.

Charley Knox · 05-24-2020, 12:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Coffeecup

Speaking of radio shows, are there any links to hear radio programs? It might be fun to listen to a show and picture the situation.

YouTube and the Internet archive. My father enjoys listening to The Father Knows Best radio program. I think nearly all of the old radio programs are in the public domain.

08-23-2000, 05:34 PM	#1
Perderabo Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Jun 28, 2000 Location: Rockville, Md, USA Posts: 171	The First Sitcom The earliest sitcom that I have been able to track down is Mary Kay and Johnny which debuted in 1947. Could this be the earliest sitcom ever? I have found earlier comedy shows, but they seem to be more variety-type like "The Carol Burnett Show" was.

05-22-2020, 02:03 AM	#4
treky star trek fan Eternal Member Forum Fanatic Join Date: Feb 25, 2002 Location: Conshohocken, pennsylvania Posts: 14,490	I know this answer is 20 years too late but I think MARY KAYE & JOHNNY WAS the first sitcom.
	__________________ the Clampetts are in a fancy Beverly Hills jewelry store. Granny points to a tray of rubies. Granny: "How much fer one o' them red diamonds?" clerk: "Madam, those are rubies." Granny: "OK ask her kin we buy one offa her." clerk: " The ruby I am talking about is not a lady." Granny: "Lissen, how she got them diamonds is her business. I'm just sayin' ask her kin we buy one from her."

05-22-2020, 12:36 PM	#6
Torgo Omaha & Fritz Forum Star Join Date: Mar 06, 2004 Location: Oregon Posts: 19,016	Mary Kay And Johnny was the first American sitcom, the British sitcom Pinwright's Progress predates it by a year (1946)
	__________________ "I'm going to go do something productive. I'm gonna go watch television." - Ray Peterson, The 'burbs "I am the literary equivalent of a Big Mac and Fries." - Stephen King "There's nothing wrong with G-rated movies, as long as there's lots of sex and violence." - Elvira

08-23-2000, 06:25 PM	#2
ProffesorFan Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Aug 05, 2000 Posts: 102	Maybe "I Love Lucy", but I'm not sure when that debuted, though. It was on the radion before tv was invented! ------------------ *********************** Thurston: Now the first thing you use, darling, is your driver. Lovey: My driver? Don't be silly, darling, you know our chauffeur is back home. I believe his name was Charles, wasn't it? Thurston: No, darling, I'm talking about clubs. Lovey: Of course, he drove us to all the very best clubs. ***********************

08-24-2000, 11:10 AM	#3
Perderabo Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Jun 28, 2000 Location: Rockville, Md, USA Posts: 171	Well, "I Love Lucy" debuted in 1951. It did not previously appear on radio. Ms. Ball did star in the radio sitcom "My Favorite Husband", which ran from 1948 to 1950 on CBS. Nipkow patented his television system in 1884. The first commercial radio station, KDKA, began operations on Nov 2, 1920. This makes it pretty hard for any radio sitcom to precede the invention of television. Still, commercial broadcasts of television didn't start in the US until 1939 and TV didn't really takeoff until 1946 when the wartime restrictions on building TV's were lifted. Clearly there were radio sitcoms long before there were television sitcoms. So I guess I do need to clarify that I am looking for the first television sitcom.

05-22-2020, 05:50 AM	#5
Yong Fang Member Forum 3000 Club Member Join Date: Aug 04, 2009 Location: Memphis Tennessee Posts: 3,072	What is considered the first television season? There has been broadcast TV since the 1930’s but nothing formalized until after WWII. I consider 1946 to be the first TV season. In what year was there TV broadcasting at least 16 hours a day? I am old enough to remember TV stations signing off around midnight until 6 am. 24 hour TV wasn’t really a thing until the 1980’s although I am sure some stations did have all night programming “The late late late movie”.

05-23-2020, 10:05 PM	#7
Coffeecup coffeecup. Forum 3000 Club Member Join Date: Jan 17, 2003 Location: snoozeville Posts: 3,176	Speaking of radio shows, are there any links to hear radio programs? It might be fun to listen to a show and picture the situation.