How could they improve sitcoms? - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Chocoholic · 08-05-2003, 01:29 PM

Personally, I think they could improve sitcoms by cutting down on all that sexual innuendo, jokes about body parts and bodily functions, "Will they or won't they?" plotlines, sex talk, and stuff like that. I'm not a prude. I don't mind that stuff in small doses, but when over 70% of a show's material comes from that kind of "humor" I think that shows real lack of creativity.

Also, enough with the "stupid husband with smart, sexy wife" shows. They've really gotten old, IMHO.

Small Wonderian · 08-05-2003, 02:18 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Snoopy
Personally, I think they could improve sitcoms by cutting down on all that sexual innuendo, jokes about body parts and bodily functions, "Will they or won't they?" plotlines, sex talk, and stuff like that. I'm not a prude. I don't mind that stuff in small doses, but when over 70% of a show's material comes from that kind of "humor" I think that shows real lack of creativity.

Also, enough with the "stupid husband with smart, sexy wife" shows. They've really gotten old, IMHO.

I totally agree because sitcoms these days are all about sex and trash, especially the ones being produced after 1994. Let's go back to the 70's and 80's style of producing sitcoms that the whole family can watch.

dlemond · 08-05-2003, 02:33 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Snoopy
Personally, I think they could improve sitcoms by cutting down on all that sexual innuendo, jokes about body parts and bodily functions, "Will they or won't they?" plotlines, sex talk, and stuff like that. I'm not a prude. I don't mind that stuff in small doses, but when over 70% of a show's material comes from that kind of "humor" I think that shows real lack of creativity.

Also, enough with the "stupid husband with smart, sexy wife" shows. They've really gotten old, IMHO.

The sexual innuedos, bodily functions, and will they or won't they plotlines are all used to mask the fact that these shows have very weak characters.

The same can be said of the stupid and fat husband with the good looking smart wife.
-Where is the distinction in these characters? What is memorable about them? That the husbands like to eat and get away with stuff and that the wife is usually right and rolls her eyes at being with this man?

Woop de doo.

You want a good sitcom?

First make your sitcom a real "situation comedy" - being married in itself does not qualify as a situation for a sitcom in my opinion.
Make it a workplace, a school, a space station, whatever.

Then try making memorable distinctive characters with personalities.

Next focus on good plots - which if even are just basic will be driven by strong characters.
(Of course good writers are needed- ones with a geniune sense of humor and not gag writers)

Soon the show will take on a life of its own.

*PinkLady* · 08-05-2003, 03:09 PM

I would personally like to see a sitcom with a smart, successful, handsome husband and a stupid, not-so-good-looking wife. Not the most original idea, I know, but it would at least be an attempt at being a little different.

I don't mind the sexual stuff myself, in any dose, but I do agree that it is overused. There's no originality in that at all anymore.

TJL · 08-05-2003, 03:17 PM

Nice suggestions guys.

I would really like to see a few more decent workplace sitcoms come back to TV. The networks are being overrun with family themed shows.

Sitcomwriter · 08-05-2003, 04:43 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by TJL
I would really like to see a few more decent workplace sitcoms come back to TV. The networks are being overrun with family themed shows.

I agree with you on that.

Rhiannon · 08-05-2003, 05:36 PM

A lot of the shows seem very unrealistic. I've been watching a lot of The Nanny

lately, and some of the stuff they do on the show is stupid. Not a very good example though.

*GoodMorningCalgary* · 08-05-2003, 06:06 PM

The biggest problem I have is all the sexual innuendos. thats why I mostly watch family sitcoms.

another thing I noticed (mostly in workplace sitcoms) is alot of the story lines involve who's going out with who and stuff. like whenever I flip it to "That 70's show" all I ever hear out of them is "Donna is going out with Eric" and "Jackie is going out with Hyde" blah blah blah. thats all fine but talk about something different for a change!!

I'd also wish they were longer than 22 minutes. but I don't think thats something you can change at all!

hawaii five-o · 08-05-2003, 06:12 PM

The people who are writing sitcoms today need to go back and watch the classics, such as "I Love Lucy" and "The Brady Bunch", so they can see what real comedy is.

JT · 08-05-2003, 06:46 PM

I agree with everything Kristen said. That "Will they or won't they" type of show is just getting on my nerves. It all started with the worse of them all: "Friends." But I won't get into that. Workplace shows are getting worse by the minute. They are all about people hooking up through the workplace. Look at shows like "Alice," "Barney Miller," "Taxi," "Mary Tyler Moore." Those shows didn't have to rely on hooking up the characters to have long runs! I won't even BEGIN to talk about dramas....because well....this thread is about sitcoms...but if it WEREN'T....just let me shut up before I get someone mad...

Rhiannon · 08-05-2003, 07:40 PM

In some sitcoms they're doing the same stuff but with a different character on the same show. If they're running out of ideas they should just go ahead and cancel.

Small Wonderian · 08-05-2003, 07:46 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by amp2k3
I totally agree because sitcoms these days are all about sex and trash, especially the ones being produced after 1994. Let's go back to the 70's and 80's style of producing sitcoms that the whole family can watch.

Sorry, I'm replying to my own comment, but...........

take for instance the show Small Wonder (1985-1989; 96 episodes in syndication). Sure, the show was shown on any day of the week and on anytime slot that networks wanted to show it, and it had a lot of inconsistencies as far as the plots go, and a lot of people think it's really boring and corny....but still, it was a great show for the family to watch especially around dinner time or on weekend mornings. This is what networks need to look at........what they can produce for the whole family and not just one particular age group.

Mr. Television · 08-05-2003, 07:57 PM

I loved Small Wonder. I mostly only watch family sitcoms anymore. I think what happened is that networks tried to copy Friends and that resulted in one bad sitcom after another getting made. The only 2 sitcoms that were in the top 10 from this past season were Friends and Everybody Loves Raymond.

Small Wonderian · 08-05-2003, 08:02 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by mr roper
I loved Small Wonder. I mostly only watch family sitcoms anymore. I think what happened is that networks tried to copy Friends and that resulted in one bad sitcom after another getting made. The only 2 sitcoms that were in the top 10 from this past season were Friends and Everybody Loves Raymond.

I love Small Wonder, too. In fact, it's my favorite show.

And you're exactly right, networks are too busy playing "follow the leader" instead of creating some new material of their own and the result is that television has really went down the tubes......

Chocoholic · 08-05-2003, 08:33 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by amp2k3
networks are too busy playing "follow the leader" instead of creating some new material of their own and the result is that television has really went down the tubes......

Agreed. They really need to come up with some new material. Scrubs and The Simpsons are the only two current sitcoms I watch.

Of course, when something origional does come out, it usually gets cancelled quickly.

08-05-2003, 01:29 PM	#1
Chocoholic Member Forum Star Join Date: Dec 01, 2000 Location: Between a rock and a hard place. Posts: 11,235	How could they improve sitcoms? Personally, I think they could improve sitcoms by cutting down on all that sexual innuendo, jokes about body parts and bodily functions, "Will they or won't they?" plotlines, sex talk, and stuff like that. I'm not a prude. I don't mind that stuff in small doses, but when over 70% of a show's material comes from that kind of "humor" I think that shows real lack of creativity. Also, enough with the "stupid husband with smart, sexy wife" shows. They've really gotten old, IMHO.

08-05-2003, 03:17 PM	#5
TJL Suburbanite Extrordinaire Forum Star Join Date: Dec 29, 2001 Location: New Jersey - the cradle of civilization Posts: 16,588	Nice suggestions guys. I would really like to see a few more decent workplace sitcoms come back to TV. The networks are being overrun with family themed shows.
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08-05-2003, 05:36 PM	#7
Rhiannon oh, snap! Forum Star Join Date: Jul 19, 2002 Location: middle of nowhere Posts: 11,097	A lot of the shows seem very unrealistic. I've been watching a lot of The Nanny lately, and some of the stuff they do on the show is stupid. Not a very good example though.
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08-05-2003, 06:06 PM	#8
GoodMorningCalgary Banana Hammock! Senior Member Join Date: Dec 02, 2002 Location: Sacred Heart Hospital Posts: 1,225	The biggest problem I have is all the sexual innuendos. thats why I mostly watch family sitcoms. another thing I noticed (mostly in workplace sitcoms) is alot of the story lines involve who's going out with who and stuff. like whenever I flip it to "That 70's show" all I ever hear out of them is "Donna is going out with Eric" and "Jackie is going out with Hyde" blah blah blah. thats all fine but talk about something different for a change!! I'd also wish they were longer than 22 minutes. but I don't think thats something you can change at all!
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08-05-2003, 06:46 PM	#10
JT Member Forum Veteran Join Date: Apr 29, 2001 Location: USA Posts: 7,223	I agree with everything Kristen said. That "Will they or won't they" type of show is just getting on my nerves. It all started with the worse of them all: "Friends." But I won't get into that. Workplace shows are getting worse by the minute. They are all about people hooking up through the workplace. Look at shows like "Alice," "Barney Miller," "Taxi," "Mary Tyler Moore." Those shows didn't have to rely on hooking up the characters to have long runs! I won't even BEGIN to talk about dramas....because well....this thread is about sitcoms...but if it WEREN'T....just let me shut up before I get someone mad...
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08-05-2003, 03:09 PM	#4
PinkLady Member Forum Veteran Join Date: Jun 04, 2002 Posts: 7,457	I would personally like to see a sitcom with a smart, successful, handsome husband and a stupid, not-so-good-looking wife. Not the most original idea, I know, but it would at least be an attempt at being a little different. I don't mind the sexual stuff myself, in any dose, but I do agree that it is overused. There's no originality in that at all anymore.

08-05-2003, 06:12 PM	#9
hawaii five-o Book 'Em, Dano Senior Member Join Date: Jun 27, 2003 Location: At home, eating cereal straight out of the box Posts: 1,406	The people who are writing sitcoms today need to go back and watch the classics, such as "I Love Lucy" and "The Brady Bunch", so they can see what real comedy is.

08-05-2003, 07:40 PM	#11
Rhiannon oh, snap! Forum Star Join Date: Jul 19, 2002 Location: middle of nowhere Posts: 11,097	In some sitcoms they're doing the same stuff but with a different character on the same show. If they're running out of ideas they should just go ahead and cancel.

08-05-2003, 07:57 PM	#13
Mr. Television 23 Years at Sitcoms Online Forum Icon Join Date: Jun 06, 2003 Location: Somewhere you're Not Posts: 62,136	I loved Small Wonder. I mostly only watch family sitcoms anymore. I think what happened is that networks tried to copy Friends and that resulted in one bad sitcom after another getting made. The only 2 sitcoms that were in the top 10 from this past season were Friends and Everybody Loves Raymond.
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