Why so many sitcoms look the same

[TMC]

Karl Freund was the genius cinematographer behind Metropolis, the silent film classic. But then he designed the set for I Love Lucy - the first of the multicam, laugh-track heavy sitcoms. Today, they look bland, but it wasn’t always that way. But at the time, Freund had a good reason to tackle the challenge.

These lighting techniques are still in use today on sitcoms like Friends, the Big Bang Theory, and other multi-camera hits. What looks generic to our eyes was, at one time, the result of an artist who made the impossible look easy.

[stevea]

On a multi-cam comedy does the cinematographer run from camera to camera, or doe the the camera coordinator do some of the work?

[Plater of Everything]

Originally Posted by stevea

On a multi-cam comedy does the cinematographer run from camera to camera, or doe the the camera coordinator do some of the work?

I think there are multiple cameramen, each operating their cameras. The footage from each camera is then spliced together

[bgva]

Originally Posted by Plater of Everything

I think there are multiple cameramen, each operating their cameras. The footage from each camera is then spliced together

Correct. Multiple camera operators. Usually the director sets up which camera goes where, based on the script.

[Regulus]

Why do all of the "reality" shows look the same?