Question about Workplace Comedies - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

TVFactFan · 09-19-2007, 11:49 PM

Tonight I watch Back to you for the first time and wasn't expecting to see any home scenes in the pilot. So that was a little unexpected especially the way it was promoted and wanted to ask people who watched workplace comedies in the past how often were scenes at the home ? Was it sometimes or kind of half and half?

Kristen · 09-19-2007, 11:53 PM

I think with MTM it was more or less half and half. A lot of episodes dealt with Mary's (and Rhoda's) dating situation, rather than the newsroom. You also have to remember that you had two major characters, Rhoda and Phyllis, who were pretty much only ever seen at home. So of course there would be home scenes.

Murphy Brown had home scenes, too, but not as many, I don't think. But that prob. changed as the series went on, with the addition of Avery. Obviously, he would be seen more at home, since he was Murphy's child. And of course, there was Eldin, who was ALWAYS in Murphy's house, that was the running joke.

Hope that helps, Solomon.

factsoflife · 09-19-2007, 11:57 PM

i can't say about MTM as i've only really ever seen a few episodes, but MB i've seen almost all the episodes and i'd say it's about half and half; Murphy's home scenes usually involved her painter Eldin, who came on in the pilot episode and was supposed to paint one room of the house, but ended up staying the entire series and continually was drawing odd murals around the house; but the focus of the realtionship became that he was Murphy's confidant and became a close friend of hers.

TVFactFan · 09-20-2007, 12:02 AM

I think Less than Perfect was mainly at the workplace

Ireneparalegal · 09-20-2007, 12:19 AM

Barney Miller was awesome workplace comedy.

Mr. Television · 09-20-2007, 12:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ireneparalegal

Barney Miller was awesome workplace comedy.

and BM started out showing his home life too but they later eliminated it.

TVFactFan · 09-20-2007, 12:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Walking Tall

and BM started out showing his home life too but they later eliminated it.

That was a GOOD MOVE-lol

catlover79 · 09-20-2007, 12:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KingofTVResearch

That was a GOOD MOVE-lol

I second that. The show wouldn't have lasted 8 seasons if they'd kept the home life. Good call. Other sitcoms like Mary Tyler Moore and Bob Newhart balanced work/home lives very well, but Barney Miller wasn't one of them.

Ireneparalegal · 09-20-2007, 12:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KingofTVResearch

That was a GOOD MOVE-lol

That was an awesome move. I don't need to see family members, wives, etc. Just give me comedy in one place.

catlover79 · 09-20-2007, 12:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ireneparalegal

That was an awesome move. I don't need to see family members, wives, etc. Just give me comedy in one place.

If they wanted to give Chano a wife, I would've been happy to accept the role. They wouldn't even have to pay me!!

Mikado · 09-20-2007, 12:29 AM

Corner Gas is a workplace comedy, but, you see them at home, Irene

( and just about everywhere else in town, for that matter )< Similar to Andy Griffith show in that manner, actually, a workplace comedy that was all over town

Buffyboy323 · 09-20-2007, 12:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kristen

Murphy Brown had home scenes, too, but not as many, I don't think. But that prob. changed as the series went on, with the addition of Avery. Obviously, he would be seen more at home, since he was Murphy's child. And of course, there was Eldin, who was ALWAYS in Murphy's house, that was the running joke.

I haven't watched Murphy on a regular basis in a couple of years, but from what I remember, they showed her home life often. Of course she was at work more though...As the show went on, I do believe they showed more of her at home, especially after she had the baby, and then later on when she was sick.

factsoflife · 09-20-2007, 12:53 AM

Suddenly Susan also a workplace comedy showed the home lives of it's characters a rather lot.

whereas Newsradio very rarely, if ever showed the home life of it's characters.

catlover79 · 09-20-2007, 12:54 AM

WKRP rarely showed its characters at home. Caroline in the City was a rare breed - for most of its run, the home and the office were the SAME!!

Buffyboy323 · 09-20-2007, 01:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ireneparalegal

That was an awesome move. I don't need to see family members, wives, etc. Just give me comedy in one place.

I disagree. I like to get a glimpse of their home life. That's what was so great about "Frasier." It wouldn't have been as good if it was just Frasier, Roz, Bulldog, etc at the radio station for the entire 30 minutes. I liked the balance between the professional and personal lives of the characters.

We also saw a lot of Susan's home life throughout the entire run of "Suddenly Susan."

09-19-2007, 11:49 PM	#1
TVFactFan Member Forum Junkie Join Date: Aug 17, 2002 Posts: 99,102	Question about Workplace Comedies Tonight I watch Back to you for the first time and wasn't expecting to see any home scenes in the pilot. So that was a little unexpected especially the way it was promoted and wanted to ask people who watched workplace comedies in the past how often were scenes at the home ? Was it sometimes or kind of half and half?
	Last edited by TVFactFan; 09-20-2007 at 12:04 AM.

09-19-2007, 11:53 PM	#2
Kristen Member Forum 4000 Club Member Join Date: Jul 17, 2000 Location: New York, USA Posts: 4,042	I think with MTM it was more or less half and half. A lot of episodes dealt with Mary's (and Rhoda's) dating situation, rather than the newsroom. You also have to remember that you had two major characters, Rhoda and Phyllis, who were pretty much only ever seen at home. So of course there would be home scenes. Murphy Brown had home scenes, too, but not as many, I don't think. But that prob. changed as the series went on, with the addition of Avery. Obviously, he would be seen more at home, since he was Murphy's child. And of course, there was Eldin, who was ALWAYS in Murphy's house, that was the running joke. Hope that helps, Solomon.
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09-19-2007, 11:57 PM	#3
factsoflife Member Forum Fanatic Join Date: Sep 11, 2000 Posts: 8,747	i can't say about MTM as i've only really ever seen a few episodes, but MB i've seen almost all the episodes and i'd say it's about half and half; Murphy's home scenes usually involved her painter Eldin, who came on in the pilot episode and was supposed to paint one room of the house, but ended up staying the entire series and continually was drawing odd murals around the house; but the focus of the realtionship became that he was Murphy's confidant and became a close friend of hers.
	__________________ "and to the fans. I was only supposed to be on every other Tuesday. But, thanks to you, I'm here, and I promise! I will try my best never to let you down. I am going back into that studio on Monday, and I'm going to play Erica Kane for all she's worth!"-- Susan Lucci, May 1999 Daytime Emmy Speech.

09-20-2007, 12:19 AM	#5
Ireneparalegal LEGAL SPICE ;) Forum Legend Join Date: Jul 25, 2005 Location: OXNARD, CA - WHERE THE DALLAS COWBOYS TRAIN & PRACTICE Posts: 38,691	Barney Miller was awesome workplace comedy.
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09-20-2007, 12:02 AM	#4
TVFactFan Member Forum Junkie Join Date: Aug 17, 2002 Posts: 99,102	I think Less than Perfect was mainly at the workplace

09-20-2007, 12:29 AM	#11
Mikado Main st bridge Forum Superstar Join Date: Jul 06, 2005 Posts: 25,892	Corner Gas is a workplace comedy, but, you see them at home, Irene ( and just about everywhere else in town, for that matter )< Similar to Andy Griffith show in that manner, actually, a workplace comedy that was all over town

09-20-2007, 12:53 AM	#13
factsoflife Member Forum Fanatic Join Date: Sep 11, 2000 Posts: 8,747	Suddenly Susan also a workplace comedy showed the home lives of it's characters a rather lot. whereas Newsradio very rarely, if ever showed the home life of it's characters.

09-20-2007, 12:54 AM	#14
catlover79 God Bless Val Forum Addict Join Date: May 29, 2006 Location: Bewitched in Ohio Posts: 70,392	WKRP rarely showed its characters at home. Caroline in the City was a rare breed - for most of its run, the home and the office were the SAME!!