How many seasons should a 'good' sitcom last for? - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

waichingliu81 · 06-01-2007, 09:12 AM

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?

Brian Damage · 06-01-2007, 09:19 AM

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.

JT · 06-01-2007, 09:57 AM

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

coffield3 · 06-01-2007, 10:06 AM

8 if its a good sitcom.

waichingliu81 · 06-01-2007, 11:42 AM

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

coffield3 · 06-01-2007, 12:57 PM

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

AB · 06-01-2007, 03:18 PM

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.

JulieSomoski · 06-01-2007, 03:33 PM

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.

waichingliu81 · 06-01-2007, 04:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by roseanne88-97

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

Adamantium · 06-01-2007, 06:40 PM

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

Dennis Dubois · 06-01-2007, 06:47 PM

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.

Ant-Lox · 06-01-2007, 08:14 PM

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.

JulieSomoski · 06-01-2007, 10:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by waichingliu81

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.

waichingliu81 · 06-02-2007, 06:54 AM

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

JulieSomoski · 06-02-2007, 12:14 PM

You couldn't have put it better.

06-01-2007, 09:12 AM	#1
waichingliu81 debbie allen Forum 4000 Club Member Join Date: Dec 28, 2006 Location: london, england, UK Posts: 4,347	How many seasons should a 'good' sitcom last for? 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?

06-01-2007, 09:19 AM	#2
Brian Damage I'm Rich Bitch Forum Icon Join Date: Feb 03, 2002 Location: What Ain't No Country I Ever Heard Of...They Speak English in What? Posts: 63,107	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.
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06-01-2007, 09:57 AM	#3
JT Member Forum Veteran Join Date: Apr 29, 2001 Location: USA Posts: 7,223	I've always thought of 7 as a good number for a good, popular sitcom. Give or take two years, of course.
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06-01-2007, 03:33 PM	#8
JulieSomoski Roseanne Reboot - March 27! Forum Veteran Join Date: Nov 06, 2004 Location: Michigan Posts: 7,558	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.
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06-01-2007, 08:14 PM	#12
Ant-Lox Cloud Watcher Senior Member Join Date: Feb 18, 2004 Location: Philadelphia, PA Posts: 1,824	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.
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06-01-2007, 10:06 AM	#4
coffield3 <3 Forum Veteran Join Date: Jul 23, 2006 Location: England Posts: 7,379	8 if its a good sitcom.

06-01-2007, 11:42 AM	#5
waichingliu81 debbie allen Forum 4000 Club Member Join Date: Dec 28, 2006 Location: london, england, UK Posts: 4,347	9 would be excessive and 10, 11+ would be too excessive

06-01-2007, 12:57 PM	#6
coffield3 <3 Forum Veteran Join Date: Jul 23, 2006 Location: England Posts: 7,379	I suppose if its a favorite of somebodys it could on and on and on! lol lol

06-01-2007, 03:18 PM	#7
AB Member Eternal Member Forum Icon Join Date: Dec 26, 2006 Location: The South Posts: 59,428	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.

06-01-2007, 06:40 PM	#10
Adamantium TVAdam No More Forum Veteran Join Date: Sep 11, 2002 Location: Springfield, Ohio Posts: 7,839	I've always said that a good sitcom should last between Five and Eight seasons. Nine and beyond is too long, in my opinion.

06-01-2007, 06:47 PM	#11
Dennis Dubois Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Oct 14, 2004 Location: Newington CT. Posts: 172	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.

06-02-2007, 06:54 AM	#14
waichingliu81 debbie allen Forum 4000 Club Member Join Date: Dec 28, 2006 Location: london, england, UK Posts: 4,347	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
	Last edited by waichingliu81; 06-02-2007 at 12:19 PM.

06-02-2007, 12:14 PM	#15
JulieSomoski Roseanne Reboot - March 27! Forum Veteran Join Date: Nov 06, 2004 Location: Michigan Posts: 7,558	You couldn't have put it better.