‘Kimmy Schmidt’ proves the network sitcom is dead - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

waichingliu81 · 03-18-2015, 10:39 PM

We are standing at the dawn of the TV drama and the twilight of the network sitcom. I, for one, welcome our new Amazon Original overlords.

Once upon a time, Thursday nights on NBC were “Must See TV,” and they featured the grande dames of the sitcom genre: “Cheers” and ”The Cosby Show,” then ”Seinfeld,” “Friends” and ”Will & Grace.” You wouldn’t dare hit the water cooler without having at least a vague familiarity with those shows.

Not anymore.

“Network TV is suffering through a Great Sitcom Recession,” proclaimed New York Magazine last year. In 2014, only 9 of the 50 most-watched network programs were sitcoms. Compare that to the ratings from 1995, when sitcoms accounted for 38 of the top 50 top network programs. Our best-viewed sitcom, “The Big Bang Theory,” only gets a third of the viewership of 1995’s biggest hit, “Seinfeld.”

Now, I’m not saying all 38 of those top-50 shows deserved to be there—I’m not exactly mourning for “Hope and Gloria” or “Thunder Alley” — and I’m not saying 38 out of 50 is any better or worse than our current statistics. But, how, exactly, did the network comedy fall so precipitously from grace?

http://www.washingtonpost.com/postev...itcom-is-dead/

Mace Dolex · 03-19-2015, 01:00 AM

And that stupid junk sitcom with Elisha Cuthbert that just premiered One Big Happy is the nail in the coffin as far as I'm concerned.

Frenky · 03-19-2015, 09:26 AM

I agree sitcoms are really dead, but the main reason is that most of them have cast with no chemistry, predictive jokes and audience that laughs on every stupid thing.

Seinfeld used to get 30-35 million viewers, TBBT gets around 16-17, add another 4-5 who DVR and 2-3 million who watch it online, so with all these metrics TBBT gets 70% of Seinfeld's audience.

Unfortunately it looks like TBBT might be last sitcom hit.

waichingliu81 · 03-19-2015, 10:35 AM

the sitcoms of today are shows i can't get into at all; one big happy, big bang theory, blackish and all the others.

they just don't remind me of the classic sitcoms of yesteryear, one bit. i just don't like the current direction sitcoms are heading these days with the single cam format leading. and whilst i prefer the multicam sitcom format, i can't say the same for many of those types of sitcoms.

Ryan Chamberlain · 03-28-2015, 01:06 AM

Yeah. I'm not crazy about new sitcoms either. The only thing I have hope in right now is the Coach reboot. Hoping it brings ratings and gets the traditional type of sitcom back on TV.

EmoJoe · 03-28-2015, 01:19 AM

This article's point wasn't that the sitcom is dead. It's that it's evolved past the traditional network comedy.

Yong Fang · 03-28-2015, 09:47 AM

I absolutely love Kimmy Schmidt. Very original, very funny, not stupid. Very, very good show.

EmoJoe · 03-28-2015, 11:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Yong Fang

I absolutely love Kimmy Schmidt. Very original, very funny, not stupid. Very, very good show.

I agree! One of my favorites right now.

waichingliu81 · 03-28-2015, 08:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ryan Chamberlain

Yeah. I'm not crazy about new sitcoms either. The only thing I have hope in right now is the Coach reboot. Hoping it brings ratings and gets the traditional type of sitcom back on TV.

i'm hoping for the same too.

factsoflife · 03-28-2015, 09:31 PM

I don't think the network comedy is "dead"... It's just transitioned, and frankly, all it will take is one show to hit big time and it'll be back.

Patty Duke · 03-28-2015, 11:19 PM

I miss good sitcoms. At one time I thought Big Bang was funny but it's lost something and is no longer funny or entertaining to us.
There is just nothing on worth watching anymore.

03-18-2015, 10:39 PM	#1
waichingliu81 debbie allen Forum 4000 Club Member Join Date: Dec 28, 2006 Location: london, england, UK Posts: 4,347	‘Kimmy Schmidt’ proves the network sitcom is dead We are standing at the dawn of the TV drama and the twilight of the network sitcom. I, for one, welcome our new Amazon Original overlords. Once upon a time, Thursday nights on NBC were “Must See TV,” and they featured the grande dames of the sitcom genre: “Cheers” and ”The Cosby Show,” then ”Seinfeld,” “Friends” and ”Will & Grace.” You wouldn’t dare hit the water cooler without having at least a vague familiarity with those shows. Not anymore. “Network TV is suffering through a Great Sitcom Recession,” proclaimed New York Magazine last year. In 2014, only 9 of the 50 most-watched network programs were sitcoms. Compare that to the ratings from 1995, when sitcoms accounted for 38 of the top 50 top network programs. Our best-viewed sitcom, “The Big Bang Theory,” only gets a third of the viewership of 1995’s biggest hit, “Seinfeld.” Now, I’m not saying all 38 of those top-50 shows deserved to be there—I’m not exactly mourning for “Hope and Gloria” or “Thunder Alley” — and I’m not saying 38 out of 50 is any better or worse than our current statistics. But, how, exactly, did the network comedy fall so precipitously from grace? http://www.washingtonpost.com/postev...itcom-is-dead/

03-28-2015, 01:06 AM	#5
Ryan Chamberlain Return Of The Silverburg 2018! Forum Regular Join Date: Mar 10, 2011 Location: Still hiding in Miles Silverburg's closet. Posts: 663	Yeah. I'm not crazy about new sitcoms either. The only thing I have hope in right now is the Coach reboot. Hoping it brings ratings and gets the traditional type of sitcom back on TV.
	__________________ *Despite my username. I am a chick. I go chirp. But, what does the fox say?* Night Court, The Simpsons, Pre-Cartini General Hospital, Step By Step, Murphy Brown, Three's Company and Perfect Strangers fan forever! "You can't put a porcupine in a barn, set it on fire, and expect to make licorice" -Dana Carvey *You robbed an international house of pancakes. How waffle-Harry T. Stone. <3* Goodnight, sweet prince. Harry Anderson 1952-2018

03-28-2015, 01:19 AM	#6
EmoJoe Cool cool cool Forum Addict Join Date: Apr 23, 2004 Location: New Jersey Posts: 71,478	This article's point wasn't that the sitcom is dead. It's that it's evolved past the traditional network comedy.
	__________________ "I know the difference between TV and reality, Jeff. TV has structure, it makes sense, there are likable leading men. In real life, we have this. We have you." - Abed Nadir, Community www.sitcomsarestupid.blogspot.com

03-28-2015, 09:31 PM	#10
factsoflife Member Forum Fanatic Join Date: Sep 11, 2000 Posts: 8,744	I don't think the network comedy is "dead"... It's just transitioned, and frankly, all it will take is one show to hit big time and it'll be back.
	__________________ "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.

03-28-2015, 11:19 PM	#11
Patty Duke Good night, John Boy Forum Regular Join Date: Feb 09, 2013 Location: The Land of Milk and Honey Posts: 788	I miss good sitcoms. At one time I thought Big Bang was funny but it's lost something and is no longer funny or entertaining to us. There is just nothing on worth watching anymore.
	__________________ Hebrews 13:2 Do not forget to show hospitality to strangers, for by so doing some people have shown hospitality to angels without knowing it.

03-19-2015, 01:00 AM	#2
Mace Dolex Member Senior Member Join Date: Aug 12, 2013 Posts: 2,669	And that stupid junk sitcom with Elisha Cuthbert that just premiered One Big Happy is the nail in the coffin as far as I'm concerned.

03-19-2015, 09:26 AM	#3
Frenky Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Dec 28, 2013 Posts: 146	I agree sitcoms are really dead, but the main reason is that most of them have cast with no chemistry, predictive jokes and audience that laughs on every stupid thing. Seinfeld used to get 30-35 million viewers, TBBT gets around 16-17, add another 4-5 who DVR and 2-3 million who watch it online, so with all these metrics TBBT gets 70% of Seinfeld's audience. Unfortunately it looks like TBBT might be last sitcom hit.

03-19-2015, 10:35 AM	#4
waichingliu81 debbie allen Forum 4000 Club Member Join Date: Dec 28, 2006 Location: london, england, UK Posts: 4,347	the sitcoms of today are shows i can't get into at all; one big happy, big bang theory, blackish and all the others. they just don't remind me of the classic sitcoms of yesteryear, one bit. i just don't like the current direction sitcoms are heading these days with the single cam format leading. and whilst i prefer the multicam sitcom format, i can't say the same for many of those types of sitcoms.

03-28-2015, 09:47 AM	#7
Yong Fang Member Forum 3000 Club Member Join Date: Aug 04, 2009 Location: Memphis Tennessee Posts: 3,073	I absolutely love Kimmy Schmidt. Very original, very funny, not stupid. Very, very good show.