Legal or Illegal: Expanding the comedy sitcom's main cast size? - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

irehtman · 11-23-2014, 09:54 PM

Is it true to increase the size of a comedy sitcom's main cast?

Zoneboy · 11-23-2014, 10:38 PM

robyrob · 11-24-2014, 12:10 AM

no.

Mr. Television · 11-24-2014, 12:30 AM

I think it's illegal.

Mace Dolex · 11-24-2014, 12:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by irehtman

Is it true to increase the size of a comedy sitcom's main cast?

Maybe if you can elaborate more on what you mean, do mean when a sitcom with 2-3 main cast members like Three's Company and Perfect Strangers is better with an ensemble like Cheers and Friends?

treky · 11-24-2014, 02:05 AM

yea dude, can you elaborate?

irehtman · 11-24-2014, 08:28 AM

Different Strokes was an example. They start off originally as 4, but expanded to 6.

DJM77 · 11-24-2014, 10:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by irehtman

Different Strokes was an example. They start off originally as 4, but expanded to 6.

They started off as 5.

irehtman · 11-24-2014, 10:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DJM77

They started off as 5.

Then they increase to 7 along the way, so that's no problem.

Zoneboy · 11-24-2014, 11:03 AM

I see what the OP is trying to say but don't know why the legalities of it are being questioned. Many TV series including sitcoms have expanded their primary casts and it certainly isn't illegal.

tlc38tlc38 · 11-24-2014, 12:10 PM

Is this thread supposed to be a joke? It's not April Fools' yet.

Torgo · 11-24-2014, 12:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zoneboy

I see what the OP is trying to say but don't know why the legalities of it are being questioned. Many TV series including sitcoms have expanded their primary casts and it certainly isn't illegal.

That's a relief, I wasn't sure what authorities I was supposed to contact if it was illegal.

SitcomsOffline · 11-26-2014, 09:43 PM

It's not so much a question of criminal legalities, but budget restraints.

I don't work in the TV industry and I could be talking out of my ass, but I do have some Accounting and HR knowledge. So I'm thinking below is how it works in a nutshell:

If the budget put in place by the TV studio only calls for 5 main cast members, then the producers can only have 5 main cast members...

In order to bring on an additional main cast member, it would have to go through the big wigs at the TV studio for approval of that budget increase.

It's not like someone's going to go to jail if they go over the budget without approval though.

Zoneboy · 11-26-2014, 09:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SitcomsOffline

It's not so much a question of criminal legalities, but budget restraints.

You may be right but you can't speak for the OP who just happens to have a habit of asking weird questions or wording them in such a way that it can be confusing trying to figure out what he actually means. In other words, he talks in riddles. If he had simply inquired about budget restraints instead of mentioning legalities then it would be different. Why he chose to bring that into the topic makes no sense.

tlc38tlc38 · 11-26-2014, 11:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zoneboy

You may be right but you can't speak for the OP who just happens to have a habit of asking weird questions or wording them in such a way that it can be confusing trying to figure out what he actually means. In other words, he talks in riddles. If he had simply inquired about budget restraints instead of mentioning legalities then it would be different. Why he chose to bring that into the topic makes no sense.

Trying to figure out anything that the OP does is beyond hope...especially when he posts about the mentally disabled people and Saved by the Bell.

11-23-2014, 09:54 PM	#1
irehtman Member Forum 4000 Club Member Join Date: Mar 15, 2013 Location: Montgomery County, Maryland Posts: 4,825	Legal or Illegal: Expanding the comedy sitcom's main cast size? Is it true to increase the size of a comedy sitcom's main cast?

11-24-2014, 12:10 AM	#3
robyrob certified wackball#3 Moderator Forum Icon Join Date: Aug 03, 2003 Location: hiding under the third booth at Arnold's Posts: 58,182	no.
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11-24-2014, 12:30 AM	#4
Mr. Television 23 Years at Sitcoms Online Forum Icon Join Date: Jun 06, 2003 Location: Somewhere you're Not Posts: 62,132	I think it's illegal.
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11-24-2014, 02:05 AM	#6
treky star trek fan Eternal Member Forum Fanatic Join Date: Feb 25, 2002 Location: Conshohocken, pennsylvania Posts: 14,490	yea dude, can you elaborate?
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11-24-2014, 12:10 PM	#11
tlc38tlc38 Every day’s a Dolly day! Forum Star Join Date: May 02, 2008 Location: I’m just travelin’ thru Posts: 19,257	Is this thread supposed to be a joke? It's not April Fools' yet.
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11-23-2014, 10:38 PM	#2
Zoneboy RIP, I'LL NEVER FORGET YOU :( Moderator Forum Superstar Join Date: Jul 13, 2003 Location: AT HOME WISHING ALL THIS WAS JUST A DREAM AND THAT I'LL WAKE UP FROM THIS NIGHTMARE. Posts: 34,365

11-24-2014, 08:28 AM	#7
irehtman Member Forum 4000 Club Member Join Date: Mar 15, 2013 Location: Montgomery County, Maryland Posts: 4,825	Different Strokes was an example. They start off originally as 4, but expanded to 6.

11-24-2014, 11:03 AM	#10
Zoneboy RIP, I'LL NEVER FORGET YOU :( Moderator Forum Superstar Join Date: Jul 13, 2003 Location: AT HOME WISHING ALL THIS WAS JUST A DREAM AND THAT I'LL WAKE UP FROM THIS NIGHTMARE. Posts: 34,365	I see what the OP is trying to say but don't know why the legalities of it are being questioned. Many TV series including sitcoms have expanded their primary casts and it certainly isn't illegal.

11-26-2014, 09:43 PM	#13
SitcomsOffline Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Nov 03, 2013 Posts: 492	It's not so much a question of criminal legalities, but budget restraints. I don't work in the TV industry and I could be talking out of my ass, but I do have some Accounting and HR knowledge. So I'm thinking below is how it works in a nutshell: If the budget put in place by the TV studio only calls for 5 main cast members, then the producers can only have 5 main cast members... In order to bring on an additional main cast member, it would have to go through the big wigs at the TV studio for approval of that budget increase. It's not like someone's going to go to jail if they go over the budget without approval though.