Storylines that have been done to death - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Jokerette · 06-18-2004, 10:40 AM

I do love sitcoms but with EVERY show there's always the same tired old episodes that have been used a billion times since Sitcoms came into existence. The kind of storylines I'm talking about...:

- Someone tries/is forced to try and quit smoking/pills/drink or something they're addicted to.

- Someone's pet (usually a kids) die and the other characters often try to cover up and lie by replacing it with a new pet that looks the same, but the kid finds out somehow by the end of the episode.

- A character's friend/relative who we've usually never seen or heard of until that point dies and then the character spends the episode trying to live life to the fullest or somehow going a bit crazy.

- A chacter thinks they are a great singer/musician and the other characters struggle to tell him/her that they are actually really bad.

- Someone's guardian angel somehow shows up.

- Characters who hate each other find themselves trapped/stuck somewhere.

- A character gets embarrassed to bring friends to their house and try to cover up where they live.

I know there are a ton more and I'll post them when I think of them but those ones listed are driving me NUTS. I'm so bored of seeing these kind of storylines in sitcoms all the time. They especially seem popular in sitcoms with teens (any given Peter Engel show for example) or 80s/90s sitcoms.

Can you come up with any repetitive storylines you feel have been done to death? Post them here.

Mrs. Ducky · 06-18-2004, 11:08 AM

How about:

One Character (usually male) has two dates and tries to keep both of them by going back and forth. In the end it all turns out badly.

Ant-Lox · 06-18-2004, 11:10 AM

every show has a christmans episode...or an episode where they get stranded somewhere...

Jokerette · 06-18-2004, 11:18 AM

Or Thanksgiving episodes. Just thought of another:

- The gang forget a character's birthday and character is really upset but in the end it turns out the gang were planning a special birthday surprise all along.

hawaii five-o · 06-18-2004, 12:39 PM

The Famous "Will They or Won't They" Storyline. (Cheers, Who's the Boss, Friends, etc.)

db108108 · 06-18-2004, 01:06 PM

I hate the following storylin,e and I've seen it done on MANY different shows.

The female is going into labour, but a male (usually her husband) close to her is having stomach pains also. Turns out he has appendicitis.....

As seen on Full House, For Your Love, Friends..... (all beginning with F, how odd....)

JT · 06-18-2004, 01:17 PM

A character gets a large ego and starts being snobbish towards the other characters.

EmoJoe · 06-18-2004, 01:30 PM

~A character goes through a midlife crisis
~A character dates a younger guy/girl

Mrs. Ducky · 06-18-2004, 01:35 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Rurry007
~A character dates a younger guy/girl

Or an older guy/girl

EmoJoe · 06-18-2004, 01:37 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Mrs. Ducky
Or an older guy/girl

Yeah, either way

barwars · 06-18-2004, 02:53 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Kameko
- Characters who hate each other find themselves trapped/stuck somewhere.

haha
My family and I were just talking about that yesterday, and its true.

I think that may be the most common one.

dawsongirl · 06-19-2004, 02:37 AM

AMNESIA. The list of shows that haven't done an amnesia storyline would be much shorter.

Weddings that are far from uncomplicated (groom or bride is late, something happens to the dress, etc.)

Births that aren't abnormal. Seems like the pregnant woman is always stuck in traffic or in a hurricane or on an elevator.

treky · 06-19-2004, 02:55 AM

or how about when a pregnant woman is stuck in traaffic or an elevator or something, goes into labor, and someone (ussuaaly a stranger), wwith very little or no medical experience mannges tto deliver the baby-who of course is PERFECTLLY heaalthy!!

Someeone has an accident and breaaks their lleg, or arm or something, aand spends the rest of the epissode trying to hide it and not let anyone know.

At Chrismas or Thanksgiving, some gets stranded somewwheree.

EmoJoe · 06-19-2004, 09:18 AM

"Stay out of my life!" is often said in TV shows.

06-18-2004, 10:40 AM	#1
Jokerette Clown Princess Frequent Poster Join Date: Jan 29, 2004 Location: Gotham City...dancing with the devil in the pale moonlight Posts: 334	Storylines that have been done to death I do love sitcoms but with EVERY show there's always the same tired old episodes that have been used a billion times since Sitcoms came into existence. The kind of storylines I'm talking about...: - Someone tries/is forced to try and quit smoking/pills/drink or something they're addicted to. - Someone's pet (usually a kids) die and the other characters often try to cover up and lie by replacing it with a new pet that looks the same, but the kid finds out somehow by the end of the episode. - A character's friend/relative who we've usually never seen or heard of until that point dies and then the character spends the episode trying to live life to the fullest or somehow going a bit crazy. - A chacter thinks they are a great singer/musician and the other characters struggle to tell him/her that they are actually really bad. - Someone's guardian angel somehow shows up. - Characters who hate each other find themselves trapped/stuck somewhere. - A character gets embarrassed to bring friends to their house and try to cover up where they live. I know there are a ton more and I'll post them when I think of them but those ones listed are driving me NUTS. I'm so bored of seeing these kind of storylines in sitcoms all the time. They especially seem popular in sitcoms with teens (any given Peter Engel show for example) or 80s/90s sitcoms. Can you come up with any repetitive storylines you feel have been done to death? Post them here.

06-18-2004, 11:08 AM	#2
Mrs. Ducky Member Senior Member Join Date: Apr 01, 2003 Location: Pennsylvania Posts: 1,460	How about: One Character (usually male) has two dates and tries to keep both of them by going back and forth. In the end it all turns out badly.
	__________________ “If television's a babysitter, the Internet is a drunk librarian who won't shut up.” Dorothy Gambrell

06-18-2004, 11:10 AM	#3
Ant-Lox Cloud Watcher Senior Member Join Date: Feb 18, 2004 Location: Philadelphia, PA Posts: 1,824	every show has a christmans episode...or an episode where they get stranded somewhere...
	__________________ Currently Watching: Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee Sports Allegiances Philadelphia 76ers Philadelphia Flyers Philadelphia Phillies Philadelphia Eagles Detroit Red Wings New York Football Giants

06-18-2004, 01:17 PM	#7
JT Member Forum Veteran Join Date: Apr 29, 2001 Location: USA Posts: 7,223	A character gets a large ego and starts being snobbish towards the other characters.
	__________________ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GrEbJBFWIPk

06-18-2004, 01:30 PM	#8
EmoJoe Cool cool cool Forum Addict Join Date: Apr 23, 2004 Location: New Jersey Posts: 71,470	~A character goes through a midlife crisis ~A character dates a younger guy/girl
	__________________ "I know the difference between TV and reality, Jeff. TV has structure, it makes sense, there are likable leading men. In real life, we have this. We have you." - Abed Nadir, Community www.sitcomsarestupid.blogspot.com

06-18-2004, 11:18 AM	#4
Jokerette Clown Princess Frequent Poster Join Date: Jan 29, 2004 Location: Gotham City...dancing with the devil in the pale moonlight Posts: 334	Or Thanksgiving episodes. Just thought of another: - The gang forget a character's birthday and character is really upset but in the end it turns out the gang were planning a special birthday surprise all along.

06-18-2004, 12:39 PM	#5
hawaii five-o Book 'Em, Dano Senior Member Join Date: Jun 27, 2003 Location: At home, eating cereal straight out of the box Posts: 1,406	The Famous "Will They or Won't They" Storyline. (Cheers, Who's the Boss, Friends, etc.)

06-18-2004, 01:06 PM	#6
db108108 Teacher (for now) Senior Member Join Date: Mar 20, 2003 Location: 2 hours north of Detroit, 2 hours south of Toronto Posts: 1,023	I hate the following storylin,e and I've seen it done on MANY different shows. The female is going into labour, but a male (usually her husband) close to her is having stomach pains also. Turns out he has appendicitis..... As seen on Full House, For Your Love, Friends..... (all beginning with F, how odd....)

06-19-2004, 02:37 AM	#12
dawsongirl Member Forum Icon Join Date: Jan 04, 2001 Posts: 53,140	AMNESIA. The list of shows that haven't done an amnesia storyline would be much shorter. Weddings that are far from uncomplicated (groom or bride is late, something happens to the dress, etc.) Births that aren't abnormal. Seems like the pregnant woman is always stuck in traffic or in a hurricane or on an elevator.

06-19-2004, 02:55 AM	#13
treky star trek fan Eternal Member Forum Star Join Date: Feb 25, 2002 Location: Conshohocken, pennsylvania Posts: 14,490	or how about when a pregnant woman is stuck in traaffic or an elevator or something, goes into labor, and someone (ussuaaly a stranger), wwith very little or no medical experience mannges tto deliver the baby-who of course is PERFECTLLY heaalthy!! Someeone has an accident and breaaks their lleg, or arm or something, aand spends the rest of the epissode trying to hide it and not let anyone know. At Chrismas or Thanksgiving, some gets stranded somewwheree.
	__________________ 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."

06-19-2004, 09:18 AM	#14
EmoJoe Cool cool cool Forum Addict Join Date: Apr 23, 2004 Location: New Jersey Posts: 71,470	"Stay out of my life!" is often said in TV shows.