Sitcom
A genre of comedy with recurring characters in consistent settings.
A sitcom, short for situation comedy or situational comedy, is a genre of comedic programming for radio and television. It focuses on a fixed group of characters who encounter funny predicaments in a stable environment, like a home, workplace, or neighborhood. In contrast to sketch comedy, where each skit introduces new characters and settings, sitcoms usually have ongoing plot threads from episode to episode. This continuity lets stories and characters evolve, which helps audiences feel connected to and invested in the characters' lives and relationships.
The roots of the sitcom structure lie in older comedic theater forms, such as farces and comedies of manners, which used running jokes to create humor. However, the term "sitcom" itself only became common in the 1950s, as radio and television adapted these theatrical principles. Early TV sitcoms were often filmed before a live studio audience using a multiple-camera setup, a technique still used in some modern shows like *The Big Bang Theory* and *Fuller House*. Other productions have employed a laugh track, or canned laughter, though this practice has declined; by 2016, only *The Great Indoors*, *Kevin Can Wait*, and *Man with a Plan* used it on U.S. broadcast television. Since the 1990s, the genre has expanded to include animated sitcoms, with successful examples being *The Simpsons*, *King of the Hill*, and *Family Guy*. Critics have debated the precise definition of a sitcom, especially regarding shows from around the turn of the 21st century. Many modern American sitcoms use a single-camera setup and lack a laugh track, making them more similar to documentaries or the comedy-dramas of the 1980s and 1990s.
In Australia, while few locally made sitcoms have had long runs, many American and British sitcoms have found success there, as the genre is considered a staple of the government broadcaster Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC). During the 1970s and 1980s, British sitcoms also aired on the Seven Network. By 1986, UK comedies *Bless This House* and *Are You Being Served?* had been rebroadcast multiple times by ABC Television before being picked up by the Seven Network. In 1981, *Daily at Dawn* became the first Australian comedy series to feature a regular gay character, journalist Leslie played by Terry Bader. In 1987, *Mother and Son* won the Television Drama Award from the Australian Human Ri
- genre
- Comedy
- medium
- Radio and television
- first_common_use_of_term
- 1950s
- common_formats
- Multiple-camera setup, single-camera setup
- typical_episode_length
- Half-hour
- notable_early_influences
- Farces, comedy of manners
Lore & Background
The structure and concept of a sitcom have roots in earlier forms of comedic theater, such as farces and comedy of manners, which relied on running gags. The term sitcom emerged as radio and TV adapted these principles into a new medium, and the word was not commonly used until the 1950s. Early television sitcoms were often filmed in front of a live studio audience using a multiple-camera setup, a format that has continued in some modern productions such as The Big Bang Theory and Fuller House. Other formats make use of a laugh track or 'canned laughter,' though this has tapered off; in 2016, only The Great Indoors, Kevin Can Wait, and Man with a Plan used them on broadcast television in the U.S.
Since the 1990s, sitcoms have expanded to animated sitcoms, with successful shows including The Simpsons, King of the Hill, and Family Guy. Critics have debated the exact definition of a sitcom, especially regarding productions created at the turn of the 21st century. Many contemporary American sitcoms use a single-camera setup and do not feature a laugh track, instead resembling documentaries or the comedy-dramas of the 1980s and 1990s.
Reader's Guide
Sitcoms have been a staple of television and radio comedy worldwide, with notable productions in many countries. In Australia, American and British sitcoms have been successful, and Australian-made sitcoms such as Mother and Son and Kath & Kim have achieved critical and ratings success. In Canada, shows like Corner Gas and Schitt's Creek have won multiple awards, with Schitt's Creek breaking records at the Primetime Emmy Awards. Indian sitcoms began in the 1980s, with Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah becoming the longest-running Indian sitcom. In Mexico, El Chavo del Ocho was the most-watched show on Mexican television and continues to be popular in syndication. Russian sitcoms saw a boom in the 2000s with adaptations and original series like Daddy's Daughters and Interns. South Korean sitcoms gained popularity in the 1990s, though viewer preferences shifted in the 2010s. British sitcoms typically consist of shorter series and are often developed by smaller writing teams, with examples like Yes Minister/Yes, Prime Minister.
Did You Know?
- The term 'sitcom' was not commonly used until the 1950s.
- In 2016, only three U.S. broadcast sitcoms used a laugh track: The Great Indoors, Kevin Can Wait, and Man with a Plan.
- The Mexican sitcom El Chavo del Ocho earned an estimated $1 billion in syndication fees alone for Televisa since it ceased production in 1992.
- Schitt's Creek became the first comedy or drama series to sweep the four acting categories at the Primetime Emmy Awards.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a sitcom?
A sitcom is a comedy format built around a recurring cast of characters who face humorous situations within a consistent setting such as a household, office, or community. It originated in radio and television programming and typically runs about half an hour per episode.
How does a sitcom differ from sketch comedy?
While sketch comedy introduces fresh characters and locations with every segment, a sitcom maintains the same ensemble and environment across episodes. This continuity allows ongoing storylines and character development that keep viewers emotionally invested in the relationships.
When did the word 'sitcom' become widely used?
The abbreviation 'sitcom,' short for situation comedy or situational comedy, entered common parlance in the 1950s. Before that, the format existed but was generally referred to by its descriptive category rather than this shorthand label.
What are the standard production formats for sitcoms?
Most sitcoms are shot using either a multi-camera setup, often with a live studio audience, or a single-camera setup that allows more cinematic freedom. Both approaches typically aim for a half-hour episode length.
What earlier theatrical traditions influenced the sitcom format?
The sitcom structure draws heavily on farce and the comedy of manners, both of which rely on stock characters, physical humor, and social satire within a contained setting. These older forms provided the blueprint for the recurring-character, fixed-location model that defines the genre today.
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