The ‘ sit ’ and the ‘ com ’ of sitcom

1. The ‘sit’ and the ‘com’ of sitcom • Most sitcoms feature a group of characters trapped in a particular situation or in a dysfunctional relationship. The situation could include being part of a family; being married to a grumpy old man; or working with annoying people. This is the situation. • Sitcoms are also supposed to be funny. We laugh at, or along with the characters, recognising and understanding their situation. This is the comedy.

2. Audience popularity – why do audiences like sitcoms? Sitcom

3. Audience popularity Funny Cathartic: make us feel better Can relate to characters Sitcom Only half an hour Recogniseable situations Themes reflect current society - relevant Follow conventions - safe + familiar Light, easy to watch

4. What are the ‘conventions’ of a sitcom? What do you expect to see? Sitcom

5. Audience expectations of sitcom Plots focus on everyday events UK or USA Studio audience/ Canned laughter Stereotype or archetype characters Studio sets and confined locations Humour – should make you laugh Sitcom Regular TV slot Same group of characters each week Different storyline each week 30 mins long Ordinary settings – office, the home etc Same each week

6. Identifying common character stereotypes • Person trapped in the ’situation’ of the situation comedy • Person doing the trapping • The idiot/fool/jester - • The reliable matriarch/patriarch • The moral authority • The dependable partner

7. Over and over again • Part of the situation in sitcom is that the characters never really escape their situation – the family stays together in My Family, Delboy and Rodney never get rich in Only Fools and Horses, The workers stay in their dull jobs in The Office. • Occasionally, in long running series or to end a series, things will change – Nana dies in The Royle Family, Chandler and Monica get married, Dawn and Tim get together in The Office. • But, on the whole, characters end each episode in more or less the same place or situation they started in. • These circular narratives keep characters in their amusing situation; this helps producers sell series for repeats as they can be watched in almost any order; it also helps the audience know what to expect each time they watch.

8. Summary • Sitcoms have a restricted location • Characters tend to stay in same situation, episode after episode. • There is a limited number of main characters. • Plots are based around everyday events. • Humour is based around personalities and the smaller problems in life. • The characters usually reflect the target audience. • Sitcoms are relatively cheap and easy to make. • They can appeal to a wide range of different audiences.

9. Creating your own sitcom You will be allocated one of the following plots: • Celebrating Christmas with the in-laws. • A blind date goes wrong. • A crazy friend is in town. • One character is promoted at work, the other is not. • Character brings odd girlfriend/boyfriend home

10. Now choose a location • A family home • An office • A spaceship • A hotel • A zoo • A flat in Peckham • A front room • A prison • A New York apartment

11. Now choose your character grouping and your situation • Individual (with supporting characters) • Group • Odd couple What is the situation your characters are in? They should be trapped in some way – in a particular situation or in a dysfunctional relationship (ie being part of a family; being married to a grumpy old man; or working with annoying people.)

12. Now choose your character types • Person trapped in the ’situation’ of the situation comedy • Person doing the trapping • The idiot/fool/jester • The reliable matriarch/patriarch • The moral authority • The dependable partner • The controlling wife • The useless husband • The grumpy old man • The geek • The ditzy blonde • The rogue • Sweet natured/Dutiful wife or mother • The snob • Dopey mate • Absent-minded eccentric • Overbearing boss • Nosey/meddling Neighbour • The interfering mother-in-law • The over protective parents

13. Choose your characteristics • Identify the differences between your main characters • Name them • Design their character traits • You will need to identify their likeable qualities • You will also need to identify their personality flaws • How will you represent these? (Dress, hair and makeup, mise-en-scene, dialogue and actions, catchphrase, visual motifs)

14. Devise an episode • Using the standard narrative structure of equilibrium, disruption, resolution, equilibrium decide what happens Questions to resolve: • What kind of camera style, style of title sequence would you go for • Who is the target audience and what would be the ideal TV slot for your sitcom? • What makes it funny? Identify the main sources and types of humour you could expect • What is familiar/ expected/conventional about your sitcom? • What is unfamiliar/ unexpected/ unconventional about your sitcom? Remember: TV programmes that strike the right balance are the most successful! Extension: • Break your episode down into scenes (12 x 2 mins each) • Write a dialogue extract

15. Year 10 sitcom groups 10B • 10C