Sitcoms Year 8 Drama

So what is a Sitcom? Situation Comedy Copy into books

Sitcoms A situation comedy, often shortened to sitcom, is a genre of comedy that features recurring characters in a common environment such as a home or workplace, accompanied with jokes as part of the dialogue. Such programs originated in radio, but today, sitcoms are found almost exclusively on television. A situation comedy may be recorded before a live studio audience. Another frequent feature is the use of a laugher track.

The filming of Friends in front of a live studio audience.

Make a list of the sitcoms you can think of. TASK: Make a list of the sitcoms you can think of.

American Sitcoms

So, what ingredients do we need to make a successful sitcom?

The title must tell you something and about the comedy.

Storylines and Ongoing Characters Essentially Sitcoms are comedic dramas. The situation is usually that of a family, workplace, or a group of friends through comedic sequences.

Catchphrases With their reliance on familiarity, sitcoms are the perfect breeding ground for catchphrases. If a character can be defined by one or two memorable lines, then it’s easy to introduce that person to new viewers each week. Catchphrases can be funny or memorable, or at least take on a life of their own.

TASK: How many catchphrases can you list and which characters do they belong to?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=upruFBjaV4k

Reoccurring Locations Usually Sitcoms are limited to a maximum of 3 main locations that are instantly identifiable to the audience.

Sitcoms are not naturalistic but more of a strange reality.

Characteristics of a Successful Sitcom The Title. Storylines and ongoing characters. Jokes and funny situations. Catchphrases. Reoccurring locations. Not naturalistic but a strange reality. (Copy into your books)

TASK: In small groups of 3-4 create a pitch for your own sitcom considering all the characteristics of a successful situation comedy. You will also need to plan what will happen in your first episode. This needs to be written in your workbook.