Traditional or New Way? - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

*GoodMorningCalgary* · 12-02-2002, 08:00 PM

what style of Sitcoms do you guy prefer? the traditional way, like on a set in front of an audience. Or do you like it the new way where Its on location and there is no audience (The Bernie Mac Show, Hidden Hills, Scrubs) I personally like the old fashioned way.

what do you think?

Chocoholic · 12-02-2002, 08:03 PM

I don't care either way. As long as the acting, writing, and jokes are good and the plots are interesting, I'll watch.

*GoodMorningCalgary* · 12-02-2002, 08:12 PM

That is true! but if you had to chose what would it be?

FOLrocks1 · 12-02-2002, 08:25 PM

Traditional!!!

TJL · 12-02-2002, 08:29 PM

Hmmm.

There are good points about both formats.
Some of the more groundbreaking shows of the past few years have been single-camera shows, but I'm always impressed when some people come along and create a great show using the old tried and true three camera tradtion.

*GoodMorningCalgary* · 12-02-2002, 08:34 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by TJL
Hmmm.

There are good points about both formats.
Some of the more groundbreaking shows of the past few years have been single-camera shows, but I'm always impressed when some people come along and create a great show using the old tried and true three camera tradtion.

Oh is that the name for it? hahaha I just call it the new way and the old way.

TJL · 12-02-2002, 08:45 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by *GoodMorningCalgary*

Oh is that the name for it? hahaha I just call it the new way and the old way.

Yep, I learnt alot about TV in College.

Sitcomwriter · 12-02-2002, 08:54 PM

I prefer old fashioned (Or Multi-Camera) but there are a few I like that are Single-Camera (Curb Your Enthusiasm comes to mind).

TV Guy · 12-02-2002, 10:04 PM

It's funny that people are referring to one-camera sitcoms as "the new way". Although "I Love Lucy" popularized the three-camera format in the 1950s, by the 1960s, most sitcoms were being shot with the one-camera method (all of the Screen Gems shows, like "Bewitched", for example). A laugh track was inserted in the post-production process, unlike a lot of today's one-camera shows. Keep your eye out for a few episodes where the laugh track was mistakenly not added ("Never Put a Jeannie on a Budget", from "I Dream of Jeannie", and "What'll We Watch Tonight" from "Hazel"). Also, take a look at "Happy Days" for a comparison of the two methods: the first two seasons were shot with one-camera, and the remainder with three-cameras and a studio audience. As a result of the conversion, there are very few location shots in the three-camera episodes, and the set for the Cunningham house had to modified to accomodate the audience.

By the 1970s, "All in the Family" popularized the use of videotape for recording sitcoms, and the three-camera/studio audience format was back in a big way.

Brian Damage · 12-03-2002, 02:49 PM

I like both ways, but I guess I'd choose traditional.

ClassicTV4Ever · 12-03-2002, 03:37 PM

Traditional all the way!

dawsongirl · 12-03-2002, 06:41 PM

Shows shot on location with preferably no laugh track.

Impressions · 12-03-2002, 06:52 PM

Traditional, I've always liked the show shot in one main place, but I still like for them to be shot on location, by still keeping the one-camera tradition.

¤I Love Clay Aiken¤ · 12-04-2002, 04:06 AM

I like the traditional. I also like the new way though... they can go on location, plus they dont have to worry whether a line was funny or not! No reaction! I like them both.

W.J. Griffin · 12-04-2002, 12:45 PM

As long as the story is funny, it doesn't really matter which method is used(although there are some series---"Malcolm In The Middle" and "Andy Ricter" immediately come to mind---where the excessive hooting of a live studio audience would kill the flow and vibe of the series.)

12-02-2002, 08:00 PM	#1
GoodMorningCalgary Banana Hammock! Senior Member Join Date: Dec 02, 2002 Location: Sacred Heart Hospital Posts: 1,225	Traditional or New Way? what style of Sitcoms do you guy prefer? the traditional way, like on a set in front of an audience. Or do you like it the new way where Its on location and there is no audience (The Bernie Mac Show, Hidden Hills, Scrubs) I personally like the old fashioned way. what do you think?

12-02-2002, 08:25 PM	#4
FOLrocks1 My favorite ladies! Forum 4000 Club Member Join Date: Mar 09, 2001 Location: Ohio Posts: 4,103	Traditional!!!
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12-02-2002, 08:29 PM	#5
TJL Suburbanite Extrordinaire Forum Star Join Date: Dec 29, 2001 Location: New Jersey - the cradle of civilization Posts: 16,591	Hmmm. There are good points about both formats. Some of the more groundbreaking shows of the past few years have been single-camera shows, but I'm always impressed when some people come along and create a great show using the old tried and true three camera tradtion.
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12-02-2002, 08:54 PM	#8
Sitcomwriter Member Forum Veteran Join Date: Feb 27, 2001 Posts: 7,356	I prefer old fashioned (Or Multi-Camera) but there are a few I like that are Single-Camera (Curb Your Enthusiasm comes to mind).
	Last edited by Sitcomwriter; 12-02-2002 at 08:55 PM.

12-03-2002, 02:49 PM	#10
Brian Damage I'm Rich Bitch Forum Icon Join Date: Feb 03, 2002 Location: What Ain't No Country I Ever Heard Of...They Speak English in What? Posts: 63,107	I like both ways, but I guess I'd choose traditional.
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12-02-2002, 08:03 PM	#2
Chocoholic Member Forum Star Join Date: Dec 01, 2000 Location: Between a rock and a hard place. Posts: 11,235	I don't care either way. As long as the acting, writing, and jokes are good and the plots are interesting, I'll watch.

12-02-2002, 08:12 PM	#3
GoodMorningCalgary Banana Hammock! Senior Member Join Date: Dec 02, 2002 Location: Sacred Heart Hospital Posts: 1,225	That is true! but if you had to chose what would it be?

12-02-2002, 10:04 PM	#9
TV Guy Member Forum 3000 Club Member Join Date: Jun 25, 2001 Location: Boston, MA, USA Posts: 3,419	It's funny that people are referring to one-camera sitcoms as "the new way". Although "I Love Lucy" popularized the three-camera format in the 1950s, by the 1960s, most sitcoms were being shot with the one-camera method (all of the Screen Gems shows, like "Bewitched", for example). A laugh track was inserted in the post-production process, unlike a lot of today's one-camera shows. Keep your eye out for a few episodes where the laugh track was mistakenly not added ("Never Put a Jeannie on a Budget", from "I Dream of Jeannie", and "What'll We Watch Tonight" from "Hazel"). Also, take a look at "Happy Days" for a comparison of the two methods: the first two seasons were shot with one-camera, and the remainder with three-cameras and a studio audience. As a result of the conversion, there are very few location shots in the three-camera episodes, and the set for the Cunningham house had to modified to accomodate the audience. By the 1970s, "All in the Family" popularized the use of videotape for recording sitcoms, and the three-camera/studio audience format was back in a big way.

12-03-2002, 03:37 PM	#11
ClassicTV4Ever Coming November 27th! Senior Member Join Date: May 02, 2002 Location: TV Land! Posts: 1,421	Traditional all the way!

12-03-2002, 06:41 PM	#12
dawsongirl Member Forum Icon Join Date: Jan 04, 2001 Posts: 53,128	Shows shot on location with preferably no laugh track.

12-03-2002, 06:52 PM	#13
Impressions She died the way she lived Forum 4000 Club Member Join Date: May 08, 2002 Posts: 4,640	Traditional, I've always liked the show shot in one main place, but I still like for them to be shot on location, by still keeping the one-camera tradition.

12-04-2002, 04:06 AM	#14
¤I Love Clay Aiken¤ MISS APRIL Forum Addict Join Date: Jul 19, 2001 Location: Parsonsfield ME Shaws - Screwing my way up the employment ladder! Posts: 68,780	I like the traditional. I also like the new way though... they can go on location, plus they dont have to worry whether a line was funny or not! No reaction! I like them both.
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12-04-2002, 12:45 PM	#15
W.J. Griffin Member Forum Regular Join Date: Aug 29, 2002 Posts: 527	As long as the story is funny, it doesn't really matter which method is used(although there are some series---"Malcolm In The Middle" and "Andy Ricter" immediately come to mind---where the excessive hooting of a live studio audience would kill the flow and vibe of the series.)