tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2272008603641292743.post6199240627763622410..comments2024-03-22T07:38:11.573+00:00Comments on Sitcom Geek: 13 Rules of SitcomJames Caryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01315185952705396144noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2272008603641292743.post-69084033286271008042019-08-09T14:30:08.247+01:002019-08-09T14:30:08.247+01:00I would also add that sitcom is pure drama, not a ...I would also add that sitcom is pure drama, not a series of one-liners delivered by a comic cast. The story itself must engage the viewer. And the situation in situation comedy is never funny in the least to the characters. One successful Brit sitcom writer once said to me that the main characters in a sitcom must feel trapped. They want to break free, but can't, either for internal or external reasons. That creates a lot of comedy.Jimhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15853338122751063842noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2272008603641292743.post-64767246957138079562015-12-24T11:30:30.624+00:002015-12-24T11:30:30.624+00:00Above my computer I've written:
'Confusio...Above my computer I've written:<br /><br />'Confusion is the enemy, backstory is death, keep it simple, stupid.'<br /><br />Might replace it with your '13 things wot usually work'... Though I shall also be reminding myself not to forget jokes. So very easy to kill yourself getting the above right and realise you've forgotten to make it funny.<br /><br />Thanks for the blog, James, and a merry Xmas to all!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02115974807124781944noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2272008603641292743.post-41256229618595492902015-12-22T13:44:38.339+00:002015-12-22T13:44:38.339+00:00And, of course, my comments are only saying what y...And, of course, my comments are only saying what you've already said yourself (only much, much better) in the linked post about guest characters. Do feel free to ignore my ramblings! :-)<br />petercmoorehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17366331102790168465noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2272008603641292743.post-28924611102588601472015-12-22T13:29:35.510+00:002015-12-22T13:29:35.510+00:00Both those shows have really small central casts -...Both those shows have really small central casts - plots have to come from somewhere. <br /><br />Look at Friends: 6 main characters, plus semi-regulars like Janice or Gunther, and hundreds and hundreds of episodes and plots. A kooky out-of-town relative arrives for pretty much every character, and longer term love interests threaten the status quo, but the circle rejects them for us. <br /><br />Part of that is the characters closing ranks, part of it no doubt the cast doing the same, but as a writer you're soon limited to finding new ways of the 5 non-Joeys being jealous of Elle Macpherson, or whoever is yucking it up this week. Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03350754679309610920noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2272008603641292743.post-38326441686951859542015-12-22T13:28:51.901+00:002015-12-22T13:28:51.901+00:00On the other hand, Jerry and George usually had a ...On the other hand, Jerry and George usually had a "girlfriend of the week" whose function was to drive one of the plots for that episode.<br />I'd also argue that some of Jerry's one-off girlfriends deliver hugely. Mulva/Dolores; the Virgin; err... others that I can't think of right now...! :-)<br />I'm not sure what you mean by "huge uphill struggle for them"? For the new character, or for the writer? If the former, surely we don't care - that outside character is there to serve a plot point or storyline.<br />Really enjoy reading your blog - I'm not a writer at all, I just love to watch and analyze sitcoms. And I can't argue with any of the other rules! :-)petercmoorehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17366331102790168465noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2272008603641292743.post-30394392568476952732015-12-22T13:04:49.051+00:002015-12-22T13:04:49.051+00:00Yup. Point taken. But either those outside charact...Yup. Point taken. But either those outside characters were monsters and very extreme (e.g. Soup Nazi) and only used one to put massive pressure on the main characters - which is one way - or they were part of the bigger family of characters (e.g. Uncle Leo). The random stranger can be funny, but it's a huge uphill struggle for them and the only thing that matters is how the affect the protagonists. Again, it's not a rule, but my experience is that these characters just don't deliver as you often hope.James Caryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01315185952705396144noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2272008603641292743.post-91796437463793952162015-12-22T13:02:06.343+00:002015-12-22T13:02:06.343+00:00I know you said there are always exceptions, etc. ...I know you said there are always exceptions, etc. But Rule 9 "no outside characters"... Seems that the BEST sitcoms (Seinfeld, From Ted, Fawlty) were able to make outside characters their hallmark. They throw in the random stranger (new girlfriend, odd priest, hotel inspector) whose job was to shake up the protagonists' world's. And they didn't need 3 prior series of establishing the characters to make that work.<br />Then again, those are examples of the very best in sitcom characterisation from the word go.. petercmoorehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17366331102790168465noreply@blogger.com