How closely do you expect a show to follow the calendar? - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

DTF955 · 05-08-2008, 08:25 AM

this is a followup to a few other polls I've done. I'm curious about how people view sitcoms, and TV in general. (This would have made a great Independent Study Thesis topic for me at the College of Wooster - stil would for anyone else, in fact.)

So, since I've asked about inconsistencies and about how you view the passage of time, I have another question, based off of something someone said recently, when highlighting errors. They said that an error was that an episode which aired in january (probably because of postponements for some reason) should not have mentioned where a couple should go for Christmas. I have also heard people say that an error occurred - here in "Cheers, IIRC - because an implied span of a year or so wasn't explicitly stated.

So, I'm wondering, how closely do you expect shows to follow the calendar? In a way, yes, it's nice when thye do, but in another...you know, one can get too strict very easily. If you expect a show to take place when it's aired, where do you draw the line; a show that's on on Thursdays can't very well have every episode take place on a Thursday. Nor can they jump around in the week depending on when the episode takes place.

Personally, I think it's nice to stay in season and not try to jump too far ahead - then you have the question of when a series really began, etc.. However, I'm okay with episodes being a bit out of order in-season. I view a sitcom as being like a pen pal writing letters, telling what happened. And, you're not always going to tell every story in a straight linear fashion; but you'll group things together. So, for instance, it makes perfect sense to think of the "Full House" earthquake episode as coming before a few other episodes, because it's like a friend saying, "Oh, say, I didn't tell you about the 4earthquake, did I?" after they've told you a few other things that have happened. but, it doesn't make much sense to have them interrupt with something that happened 2 years earlier. :-)

AB · 05-08-2008, 04:30 PM

If its in the same season is always good. I hate seeing Christmas episodes in July & August. lol!

comedyfreak · 05-10-2008, 08:16 AM

Same season is okay.

DTF955 · 05-04-2011, 02:46 PM

Rather than starrt a new topic just on this, I found "barney Miller" on hulu last year and discovered that one which was supposed to air on July 4, 1976 or so originally aired in 1975, in JNovember! Sort of the opopsite of those Christmas specials in August :-)

This made a couple others also occur in the summer.

However, it is the same TV season, at least, if not the same 3-4 month span. Rather amazing when i realized, but they managed to find a way to handle to rerun very well.

Schmoopie · 05-06-2011, 01:56 AM

I love it when shows are aired around an actual holiday and have a holiday theme to them. I know that Frasier has done several holiday themed shows-mostly Christmas but there is one Thanksgiving one and even a leap day one. I never watched it when it was on prime time so I can't say if they were consistant but so far I'm on Season 8 and they've had some sort of Christmas episode every year.

Dude111 · 09-12-2017, 03:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AB

If its in the same season is always good. I hate seeing Christmas episodes in July & August. lol!

Ya this wouldnt be good but with star trek for example,who cares if the episodes are run IN ORDER (By calender) ... They are all good

PhoenixAcres · 09-12-2017, 11:08 AM

Same season should be a priority.

View Poll Results: How closely do you expect shows to follow the calendar?
Doesn't matter - I catch details, so a year after the last one is okay	5	35.71%
As long as it could be in the same season, it's okay; ssome eps could logically be before others	5	35.71%
Same season, okay if one before others, only if pre-empted	1	7.14%
I expect sitcom episodes to occur withing a few weeks of the holiday, but a bit after is still okay	1	7.14%
I expect the action to be the same week it airs	1	7.14%
I'm so strict, if I had my way it'd air the day it happens, forget a consistent weekly schedule	1	7.14%
Voters: 14. You may not vote on this poll

05-08-2008, 08:25 AM	#1
DTF955 Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Mar 15, 2002 Posts: 408	How closely do you expect a show to follow the calendar? this is a followup to a few other polls I've done. I'm curious about how people view sitcoms, and TV in general. (This would have made a great Independent Study Thesis topic for me at the College of Wooster - stil would for anyone else, in fact.) So, since I've asked about inconsistencies and about how you view the passage of time, I have another question, based off of something someone said recently, when highlighting errors. They said that an error was that an episode which aired in january (probably because of postponements for some reason) should not have mentioned where a couple should go for Christmas. I have also heard people say that an error occurred - here in "Cheers, IIRC - because an implied span of a year or so wasn't explicitly stated. So, I'm wondering, how closely do you expect shows to follow the calendar? In a way, yes, it's nice when thye do, but in another...you know, one can get too strict very easily. If you expect a show to take place when it's aired, where do you draw the line; a show that's on on Thursdays can't very well have every episode take place on a Thursday. Nor can they jump around in the week depending on when the episode takes place. Personally, I think it's nice to stay in season and not try to jump too far ahead - then you have the question of when a series really began, etc.. However, I'm okay with episodes being a bit out of order in-season. I view a sitcom as being like a pen pal writing letters, telling what happened. And, you're not always going to tell every story in a straight linear fashion; but you'll group things together. So, for instance, it makes perfect sense to think of the "Full House" earthquake episode as coming before a few other episodes, because it's like a friend saying, "Oh, say, I didn't tell you about the 4earthquake, did I?" after they've told you a few other things that have happened. but, it doesn't make much sense to have them interrupt with something that happened 2 years earlier. :-)
	__________________ Full House Chronology - at the webite "Tanner Central" among others (or e-mail fullhousechron (at) aol.com. "If Baseball Integrated Early," about baseball integrated fromt he beginning, & other works at baseballwhatifs (at) aol.com Last edited by DTF955; 05-08-2008 at 08:48 AM.

05-10-2008, 08:16 AM	#3
comedyfreak Cheers! Forum Fanatic Join Date: Dec 14, 2005 Location: Sunny California Posts: 11,061	Same season is okay.
	__________________ www.facebook.com/comedyfreak

05-06-2011, 01:56 AM	#5
Schmoopie Keep Calm and Love Snoopy Forum Star Join Date: Jul 13, 2008 Location: Lynnwood, Washington Posts: 15,697	I love it when shows are aired around an actual holiday and have a holiday theme to them. I know that Frasier has done several holiday themed shows-mostly Christmas but there is one Thanksgiving one and even a leap day one. I never watched it when it was on prime time so I can't say if they were consistant but so far I'm on Season 8 and they've had some sort of Christmas episode every year.
	__________________ In memory of my wonderful husband. I love and miss you more than words can say, but I will always and forever keep you in my heart. September 23, 1961-January 14, 2019

05-08-2008, 04:30 PM	#2
AB Member Eternal Member Forum Icon Join Date: Dec 26, 2006 Location: The South Posts: 59,428	If its in the same season is always good. I hate seeing Christmas episodes in July & August. lol!

05-04-2011, 02:46 PM	#4
DTF955 Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Mar 15, 2002 Posts: 408	Rather than starrt a new topic just on this, I found "barney Miller" on hulu last year and discovered that one which was supposed to air on July 4, 1976 or so originally aired in 1975, in JNovember! Sort of the opopsite of those Christmas specials in August :-) This made a couple others also occur in the summer. However, it is the same TV season, at least, if not the same 3-4 month span. Rather amazing when i realized, but they managed to find a way to handle to rerun very well.

09-12-2017, 11:08 AM	#7
PhoenixAcres Member Moderator Forum Veteran Join Date: Jul 26, 2016 Location: United States Posts: 6,826	Same season should be a priority.