This bothers me about sitcoms - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

LucyCompanyPhan · 02-08-2004, 01:36 AM

Ever be watching a sitcom and it will say like a characters birthday but then in another episode it will say the same characters birthday and it will be a different date.

Or there will be 2 facts that don't match eachother.

Why do writers do this? I know that there is always gonna be flaws and stuff but you would think with writing something, you would remember and know most about it rather than to just be a fan and catch these mistakes.

barwars · 02-08-2004, 10:31 AM

Writers change.
And unless its a big plot-point.... they'll probably forget.

TJL · 02-08-2004, 11:03 AM

One of my biggest pet peeves is lack of continuity in TV shows.
One of my favorite shows M*A*S*H is loaded with errors. My guess is with older shows, they really didin't keep track of the plotlines because they didn't think the audience would follow all the details of the show, but that was a before a little thing called syndication.

Now we can watch the old eps of a show in reruns while new eps are being aired on the networks, so we can see all the sublte changes.

LucyCompanyPhan · 02-08-2004, 12:26 PM

I know its just very distrubing. If I were a writer, no matter for what, I'd want to know as much information as possible and you would think with multiple writers someone would say "hey didn't we ...."

barwars · 02-08-2004, 09:51 PM

sometimes fans know more than writers

phoebe7165 · 02-17-2004, 08:05 PM

Friends is really bad about keeping track of what. In the pilot, Rachel was introduced to Chandler like they didn't know each other, but in a later episode, they met each other at the Geller's years before. There are others, too, I just won't go into it.

Wings has alot of inconsistencies, too. In the pilot, Fay tells Joe that she didn't know he had a brother, but in a later episode, we find out how Joe & Fay met, and Joe tells Fay that his brother ran off with his fiancee. There are more there, too.

I guess the writers don't think that the viewers aren't going to notice.

treky · 02-18-2004, 02:33 AM

"The Odd Couple" has TONS of inconsistoncies!
For instance, in "The Jury Story" it shows Oscar & Felix meeting when both of them served on a jury together, in the early 60s. But later, they say that they met when they served in the Army together.
In one episode, Oscar & Blanche are looking at their wedding pictures, when Oscar says he never returned the tuxedo he wore. But, later you see that he got married when he was in the Army, and didn't wear a tuxedo.
Another time, Oscar says his mother doesn't know he's divorced. But in another show, he says's that his mother's "been buging me to get a girlfreind since I got divorced".
Those are just a few of the many, many ones.

Part of the problem is, after the pilot episode of a show airs, the writers sometimes "tweak" the characters and format a little bit. Also during the first season of a series. And sometimes, they change writers after the pilot episode.

Mr. Television · 02-18-2004, 02:37 AM

In the Cosby Show pilot Cliff and Claire only had 4 children. They soon changed that and Sondra suddenly appeared.

TJL · 02-18-2004, 06:26 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by treky

Part of the problem is, after the pilot episode of a show airs, the writers sometimes "tweak" the characters and format a little bit. Also during the first season of a series. And sometimes, they change writers after the pilot episode.

It used to be where all of the changes were made between the pilot episode and the second episode.
Now modern sitcoms continue to change things around throughout the entire first season.

On "Good Morning Miami" two characters were dropped within the first eight episodes.

In my opinon, if a show is making such drastic changes in season one, it wasn't ready to become a series in the first place.

ClassicComedyFan2 · 02-18-2004, 10:36 AM

It honestly doesn't bother me that much. For instance, when I write and make a continuity error, I turn it into a joke.

I mean, come on, I am big Star Trek fan, and Trekkers are notorious for nitpicking. But, I, on the other hand am not bothered that much by it.

PanamaMike · 02-18-2004, 05:38 PM

At the heart of it is this: They don't care!!!!

I worked on a tv series a few years ago that lasted 20 episodes. By episode 20, the script was contradicting things that happened in episode 1

If they get an idea they think will work, they go with it, regardless of what may have happened in the past.

barwars · 02-18-2004, 07:48 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by PanamaMike
At the heart of it is this: They don't care!!!!

I worked on a tv series a few years ago that lasted 20 episodes. By episode 20, the script was contradicting things that happened in episode 1

If they get an idea they think will work, they go with it, regardless of what may have happened in the past.

Thats probably why "your" series only lasted 20 episodes!!

By the way.... what series was it??

PanamaMike · 02-20-2004, 12:29 AM

It was the Showtime crapfest "Leap Years".

Mrs. Ducky · 02-20-2004, 04:15 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by PanamaMike
At the heart of it is this: They don't care!!!!

I worked on a tv series a few years ago that lasted 20 episodes. By episode 20, the script was contradicting things that happened in episode 1

If they get an idea they think will work, they go with it, regardless of what may have happened in the past.

What did you do on it?

db108108 · 02-21-2004, 12:37 AM

I guess it's whatever is convienent or works into the plotline at the time. It's not that the writers think that viewers won't nitice (because I think they do know this).

02-08-2004, 01:36 AM	#1
LucyCompanyPhan Hollywood Senior Member Join Date: Sep 25, 2001 Location: a far away place in sitcomville Posts: 2,254	This bothers me about sitcoms Ever be watching a sitcom and it will say like a characters birthday but then in another episode it will say the same characters birthday and it will be a different date. Or there will be 2 facts that don't match eachother. Why do writers do this? I know that there is always gonna be flaws and stuff but you would think with writing something, you would remember and know most about it rather than to just be a fan and catch these mistakes.
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02-08-2004, 11:03 AM	#3
TJL Suburbanite Extrordinaire Forum Star Join Date: Dec 29, 2001 Location: New Jersey - the cradle of civilization Posts: 16,588	One of my biggest pet peeves is lack of continuity in TV shows. One of my favorite shows MAS*H is loaded with errors. My guess is with older shows, they really didin't keep track of the plotlines because they didn't think the audience would follow all the details of the show, but that was a before a little thing called syndication. Now we can watch the old eps of a show in reruns while new eps are being aired on the networks, so we can see all the sublte changes.
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02-17-2004, 08:05 PM	#6
phoebe7165 Pop Culture Goddess Forum Fanatic Join Date: Apr 15, 2003 Location: US of A - the country of "really bad music" lovers Posts: 11,600	Friends is really bad about keeping track of what. In the pilot, Rachel was introduced to Chandler like they didn't know each other, but in a later episode, they met each other at the Geller's years before. There are others, too, I just won't go into it. Wings has alot of inconsistencies, too. In the pilot, Fay tells Joe that she didn't know he had a brother, but in a later episode, we find out how Joe & Fay met, and Joe tells Fay that his brother ran off with his fiancee. There are more there, too. I guess the writers don't think that the viewers aren't going to notice.
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02-18-2004, 02:33 AM	#7
treky star trek fan Eternal Member Forum Fanatic Join Date: Feb 25, 2002 Location: Conshohocken, pennsylvania Posts: 14,490	"The Odd Couple" has TONS of inconsistoncies! For instance, in "The Jury Story" it shows Oscar & Felix meeting when both of them served on a jury together, in the early 60s. But later, they say that they met when they served in the Army together. In one episode, Oscar & Blanche are looking at their wedding pictures, when Oscar says he never returned the tuxedo he wore. But, later you see that he got married when he was in the Army, and didn't wear a tuxedo. Another time, Oscar says his mother doesn't know he's divorced. But in another show, he says's that his mother's "been buging me to get a girlfreind since I got divorced". Those are just a few of the many, many ones. Part of the problem is, after the pilot episode of a show airs, the writers sometimes "tweak" the characters and format a little bit. Also during the first season of a series. And sometimes, they change writers after the pilot episode.
	__________________ the Clampetts are in a fancy Beverly Hills jewelry store. Granny points to a tray of rubies. Granny: "How much fer one o' them red diamonds?" clerk: "Madam, those are rubies." Granny: "OK ask her kin we buy one offa her." clerk: " The ruby I am talking about is not a lady." Granny: "Lissen, how she got them diamonds is her business. I'm just sayin' ask her kin we buy one from her."

02-18-2004, 02:37 AM	#8
Mr. Television 23 Years at Sitcoms Online Forum Icon Join Date: Jun 06, 2003 Location: Somewhere you're Not Posts: 62,132	In the Cosby Show pilot Cliff and Claire only had 4 children. They soon changed that and Sondra suddenly appeared.
	__________________ Sonny

02-08-2004, 10:31 AM	#2
barwars .. Forum Star Join Date: May 04, 2002 Posts: 13,273	Writers change. And unless its a big plot-point.... they'll probably forget.

02-08-2004, 12:26 PM	#4
LucyCompanyPhan Hollywood Senior Member Join Date: Sep 25, 2001 Location: a far away place in sitcomville Posts: 2,254	I know its just very distrubing. If I were a writer, no matter for what, I'd want to know as much information as possible and you would think with multiple writers someone would say "hey didn't we ...."

02-08-2004, 09:51 PM	#5
barwars .. Forum Star Join Date: May 04, 2002 Posts: 13,273	sometimes fans know more than writers

02-18-2004, 10:36 AM	#10
ClassicComedyFan2 Coolicious! Forum Regular Join Date: Sep 28, 2001 Location: AL, United States, Alpha Quadrant Posts: 698	It honestly doesn't bother me that much. For instance, when I write and make a continuity error, I turn it into a joke. I mean, come on, I am big Star Trek fan, and Trekkers are notorious for nitpicking. But, I, on the other hand am not bothered that much by it.
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02-18-2004, 05:38 PM	#11
PanamaMike Member Frequent Poster Join Date: May 25, 2002 Posts: 150	At the heart of it is this: They don't care!!!! I worked on a tv series a few years ago that lasted 20 episodes. By episode 20, the script was contradicting things that happened in episode 1 If they get an idea they think will work, they go with it, regardless of what may have happened in the past.

02-20-2004, 12:29 AM	#13
PanamaMike Member Frequent Poster Join Date: May 25, 2002 Posts: 150	It was the Showtime crapfest "Leap Years".

02-21-2004, 12:37 AM	#15
db108108 Teacher (for now) Senior Member Join Date: Mar 20, 2003 Location: 2 hours north of Detroit, 2 hours south of Toronto Posts: 1,023	I guess it's whatever is convienent or works into the plotline at the time. It's not that the writers think that viewers won't nitice (because I think they do know this).