Do you have a favorite sitcom cliche? - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

catlover79 · 02-18-2009, 11:53 PM

I have to admit, I love the gimmick of an out-of-shape guy at a gym trying to get buff to impress girls. "One, two, 98, 99..." Probably because it's so true to life - sorry, guys.

Kitchen disasters are always good, too.

catlover79 · 02-19-2009, 12:04 AM

Oh, people learning to drive - always a laugh riot.

Marvo301 · 02-19-2009, 12:09 AM

It's always funny when mom has to go out of town and dad has to take care of the house and kids. Why are sitcom dads so domestically challenged?

ekkostar · 02-19-2009, 10:59 AM

Body switching or swapping roles to see how the other half lives is always funny, but I don't see it done much anymore.
How about when security systems were new and they were always made out to be these scary things with lots of lasers and alarms?

Goldilocks · 02-19-2009, 12:09 PM

The "wacky and/or nosy neighbors" is always a great cliche. I mean, what sitcom does NOT have them?

Yooch · 02-19-2009, 12:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by catlover79

I have to admit, I love the gimmick of an out-of-shape guy at a gym trying to get buff to impress girls. "One, two, 98, 99..." Probably because it's so true to life - sorry, guys.

Kitchen disasters are always good, too.

Speaking of kitchen disasters, one of the all-time best, probably the best one, imo, is when Lucy and Ethel went out and Ricky and Fred attempted to cook dinner. Talk about a mess!!! It must've taken a couple of days to clean up that set. It was classic, and great! The idea, as I remember, was that Ricky was saying how easy it would be, a piece of cake, to take care of the house, cook, etc. He discovered that it wasn't easy at all.

TV-aholic · 02-19-2009, 01:26 PM

The one that kills me now (and in Movies) is how many people in TV still have external Answering Machines. I haven't actually seen one of those, in person, for years, yet everyone in TV land has them.

Goldilocks · 02-19-2009, 02:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TV-aholic

The one that kills me now (and in Movies) is how many people in TV still have external Answering Machines. I haven't actually seen one of those, in person, for years, yet everyone in TV land has them.

I know, right?

That reminds me of that email that went around about 10 years ago that was something like "Everything I Needed to Know, I Learned from Watching TV/Movies." and it lists things like:

1. all telephone numbers begin with 555
2. If there is a car chase, it will always go through a St. Patrick's Day parade.
3. when the phone rings, just stare at it....

It was hilarious and I've googled but can't find it. Anyway, your observation fits right into that list.

catlover79 · 02-19-2009, 02:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Goldilocks

The "wacky and/or nosy neighbors" is always a great cliche. I mean, what sitcom does NOT have them?

Me too!! From Gladys Kravitz to Howard Borden, there are so many funny ones!!

Jude The Obscure · 02-19-2009, 03:22 PM

I still have an answering machine

Doncha just love when a person on a sitcom gets "amnesia"....

or the gang puts on a "show" and the cast gets to sing, dance, or just be buffoons!

TJL · 02-19-2009, 04:01 PM

The "Desperate" Single Sister/Friend
She's either the sister of the female star or her best friend, but she's single, her biological clock is ticking like Big Ben and she dates lots of losers. The Desparate Sister/Friend can often be found trading insults with the male lead.

The Neerdowell Brother/Friend
Usually related to the male lead, the neerdowell rarely works, has plenty of time to pop in on the sitcom family and raid the fridge or ask for money for the latest "get rich quick" scheme that can't miss. Can never be trusted to babysit or do anything that requires responsibility.

*Pleasant Tomorrow* · 02-19-2009, 04:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TJL

The "Desperate" Single Sister/Friend
She's either the sister of the female star or her best friend, but she's single, her biological clock is ticking like Big Ben and she dates lots of losers. The Desparate Sister/Friend can often be found trading insults with the male lead.

The Neerdowell Brother/Friend
Usually related to the male lead, the neerdowell rarely works, has plenty of time to pop in on the sitcom family and raid the fridge or ask for money for the latest "get rich quick" scheme that can't miss. Can never be trusted to babysit or do anything that requires responsibility.

lol as I'm reading this I'm thinking it fits According to Jim perfectly. Dana as the desperate single sister, and Andy as the ne'erdowell brother. Two in one show.

Jude The Obscure · 02-19-2009, 08:13 PM

^Also sounds quite like "Still Standing" as well

dawsongirl · 02-19-2009, 11:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jude The Obscure

I still have an answering machine

Doncha just love when a person on a sitcom gets "amnesia"....

or the gang puts on a "show" and the cast gets to sing, dance, or just be buffoons!

Yeah, and it's usually people who can't sing.

Jude The Obscure · 02-19-2009, 11:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dawsongirl

Yeah, and it's usually people who can't sing.

That's what makes it fun to watch!

02-18-2009, 11:53 PM	#1
catlover79 God Bless Val Forum Addict Join Date: May 29, 2006 Location: Bewitched in Ohio Posts: 70,392	Do you have a favorite sitcom cliche? I have to admit, I love the gimmick of an out-of-shape guy at a gym trying to get buff to impress girls. "One, two, 98, 99..." Probably because it's so true to life - sorry, guys. Kitchen disasters are always good, too.
	__________________ "Jesus loves you and He approves this message." "I'm alive. I'm feeling good. I'm trying to live every moment as much as I can." - Valerie Harper, March 2013

02-19-2009, 12:09 AM	#3
Marvo301 I'm NOT a Blockhead! Forum Celebrity Join Date: May 17, 2002 Location: The Great White North Posts: 21,460	It's always funny when mom has to go out of town and dad has to take care of the house and kids. Why are sitcom dads so domestically challenged?
	__________________ Only a life lived for others is worth living. Albert Einstein A life isn't worth living unless it has impact on other lives. Jackie Robinson Be always at war with your vices, at peace with your neighbors, and let each new year find you a better man. Benjamin Franklin

02-19-2009, 10:59 AM	#4
ekkostar Coffee, Tea & Larroquette! Senior Member Join Date: Apr 16, 2005 Posts: 1,077	Body switching or swapping roles to see how the other half lives is always funny, but I don't see it done much anymore. How about when security systems were new and they were always made out to be these scary things with lots of lasers and alarms?
	__________________ "All my sitcoms had an audience, with four or five cameras, so working this way has always been appealing to me." - John Larroquette A living legend, five Emmys and a Tony award! Your favorites could never...

02-19-2009, 04:01 PM	#11
TJL Suburbanite Extrordinaire Forum Star Join Date: Dec 29, 2001 Location: New Jersey - the cradle of civilization Posts: 16,588	The "Desperate" Single Sister/Friend She's either the sister of the female star or her best friend, but she's single, her biological clock is ticking like Big Ben and she dates lots of losers. The Desparate Sister/Friend can often be found trading insults with the male lead. The Neerdowell Brother/Friend Usually related to the male lead, the neerdowell rarely works, has plenty of time to pop in on the sitcom family and raid the fridge or ask for money for the latest "get rich quick" scheme that can't miss. Can never be trusted to babysit or do anything that requires responsibility.
	__________________ "I think I'll stroll up to the front to see how the shooting's going..." - Capt. Benjamin Franklin "Hawkeye" Pierce Read my blogs! http://centralparkamisguide.com/ http://dvdcriticscorner.com Visit me on Facebook!http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=641138880 Hey, I do the tweet thing too! http://twitter.com/TomLevier My shop of handmade items! http://www.etsy.com/shop/ColdGarageCreations

02-19-2009, 12:04 AM	#2
catlover79 God Bless Val Forum Addict Join Date: May 29, 2006 Location: Bewitched in Ohio Posts: 70,392	Oh, people learning to drive - always a laugh riot.

02-19-2009, 12:09 PM	#5
Goldilocks Member Forum Regular Join Date: Sep 08, 2008 Location: Texas Posts: 693	The "wacky and/or nosy neighbors" is always a great cliche. I mean, what sitcom does NOT have them?

02-19-2009, 01:26 PM	#7
TV-aholic Member Occasional Poster Join Date: Feb 02, 2009 Location: Indy Posts: 36	The one that kills me now (and in Movies) is how many people in TV still have external Answering Machines. I haven't actually seen one of those, in person, for years, yet everyone in TV land has them.

02-19-2009, 03:22 PM	#10
Jude The Obscure Retired Eternal Member Forum Veteran Join Date: Dec 10, 2006 Posts: 7,520	I still have an answering machine Doncha just love when a person on a sitcom gets "amnesia".... or the gang puts on a "show" and the cast gets to sing, dance, or just be buffoons!

02-19-2009, 08:13 PM	#13
Jude The Obscure Retired Eternal Member Forum Veteran Join Date: Dec 10, 2006 Posts: 7,520	^Also sounds quite like "Still Standing" as well