"Calistrat Hogaș" Arts and Science Highschool Piatra-Neamț

A GLIMPSE INTO THE HILARIOUS WORLD OF

SITUATION COMEDY

THESIS FOR ACQUIRING THE CERTIFICATE OF ENGLISH

COMPETENCY

Tutor: Vechiu Ana-Maria Candidate: Baciu Xenia-Elena

(Teacher of English) Specialisation: Natural Sciences-
English bilingual

MAY 2023
 Table of contents

 Introduction..............................................................................................1

 Chapter I, part I: Definition, origin and purpose of situation comedy

(sitcom) ................................................................................................... 2

 Chapter I, part II: Characteristics and types of the situation comedy

………………………………………………………………………………………………..3

 Chapter II: Portrayal of pathos in shows like Seinfeld and The Golden
Girls……………………………………………………………………..5

 Chapter III: Lessons which sitcoms taught us ..................................... 6

 Chapter IV: Are we what we watch? .................................................... 8

 Chapter V: How American sitcoms can be used for academic purposes

................................................................................................................. 9

 Chapter VI: More benefits of watching American sitcoms ............... 10

 Chapter VII: Fun facts ........................................................................ 11

 Conclusion ............................................................................................ 15

 Bibliography…………………………………………………………....17
 Introduction

In this thesis, I have decided to talk about sitcoms and their relevance and influence in our day-
to-day lives, as they are such a common subject of interest in this era. Sitcoms represent a very
useful and convenient way to divert, unwind and learn, used by the little, the young and the
elder – it knows no bounds. On the one hand, I enjoy watching sitcoms and appreciate their
presence in our society because not only are they available at all times, but they also bring
exactly what you need, that missing element, at least maybe eight times out of ten. If you only
want to smile, you can just pick a regular episode they got; if you want to laugh, they have
some special treats waiting for you and if you might like to cry and pour your anger and sadness
out, they have prepared some sappy scenes here and there just in case. However, it does not
stop here – let us say you want to run from your feelings, you can just simply emerge into a
good comedy show and take your mind off what was troubling you. Therefore, if your day was
good or even if it was bad – sitcoms are the right thing to turn to, because they present all kinds
of situations you might actually relate to; they portray real, normal people and that makes it
even more fascinating.

On the other hand, sitcoms are also a great tool for learning. I have used them in various
spheres of my life, such as trying to acquire English skills by improving my listening, speaking
and writing levels. Firstly, I would pay very close attention to the used words and the way the
characters pronounced them and then I would jot them down and try to make sentences
revolving around them, actively making additions to my vocabulary. At first, I would only
recognise few words, but as time passed and I visibly progressed, it became easier: I would
find out about new words, then I would start using them and after I would feel more confident,
I would look up synonyms and the process continued. Comprehension and flow are also very
important when speaking and, when I watch American sitcoms, these two necessities are well
covered and it sets an example for me. Not only do these shows help us pick up languages and
master them, but they also teach us many valuable lessons about friendship, love and hardships,
showing the audience different ways to cope with the highs and lows of life. They have a
beautiful freedom attached to them, handing the audience the final product and letting them
decide what to do with the piece of information they have just accumulated. Their versatility is

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what makes them truly special: you are always one click ahead from finding your perfect,
comfort watch comedy show.

Chapter I, part I: Definition, origin and purpose of situation comedy (sitcom)

By definition, “a sitcom, a portmanteau of situation comedy, or situational comedy is a genre

of comedy centered on a fix set of characters who mostly carry over from episode to episode”.
Sitcoms can be contrasted with sketch comedy, where a troupe may use new characters in each
sketch, and stand-up comedy, where a comedian tells jokes and stories to an audience. The
origin of the situation comedy is the radio and the term was not commonly used until the 1950s,
even though there were prior examples on the radio. In addition, the first US sitcom was called
Mary Kay and Johnny, and the lead actors were the real-life married couple Mary Kay and
Johnny Stearns, the first 15-minute episode debuting on November 18, 1947 and the final one
on March 11, 1950. One of the most popular sitcoms of the period was I Love Lucy (debuting
on October 15, 1951 and ending on May 6, 1957), starring the real-life couple of Lucille Ball
and Desi Arnaz. An interesting fact about this sitcom is that the episodes were filmed from start
to finish non-stop and because of this, episodes rarely needed to be re-taped. What makes the
story interesting, though, is that Lucy is not content in being a plain housewife while her
husband works as a bandmaster in a club. Therefore, Lucy aspires to have a career and this is
the source of the humor.
The purpose of sitcoms is to make the audience relate to the characters that are, in the majority
of cases, no different than ourselves: having or pursuing an education, building a family and a
life outside of it too, filled with friends, enemies, jobs etc. Sitcoms usually present mundane

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 stories, preferring to focus on the normality of life – they show these people who go through a
life that we recognise and who cope with it as they know best. Sometimes we see eye to eye on
various matters and other times we wish they did something differently, but in the end they
become our friends -- we are curious about what is going on with them and even develop some
level of attachment. We might see parts of ourselves in them, which we might be thrilled about,
or sometimes quite the opposite, making us go: “Oh! I guess I should work on that...” Sitcoms
help us see our surroundings in a more colorful way, they make us laugh more or determine us
to pick up few quirks and mannerisms. Humor is a sign of intelligence and the fulfilling part of
it is that we can always work on it; and what situation comedies do best is bring different
aspects of humor to life so that anyone can find their personal cup of tea.

Chapter I, part 2: Characteristics and types of the situation comedy

A number of the main characteristics of the classic sitcom is:

• The production is serialized and differs from other genres through the short running time
(approximately 22 minutes per episode), designed for long-term on-air broadcast;
• The narrative usually revolves around two or three characters with stereotypical and sometimes
clashing personalities, set in common, everyday situations; the characters have highly defined
qualities – virtues or defects that are reflected in strikingly dramatic ways;
• Shooting normally takes place on a soundstage in front of a live studio audience and a single
stage is normally used, divided into a fixed number of sets; and the program is shot using three
or four cameras;
• The world beyond the set is very rarely seen, although it is frequently referenced in the script;
• The script is shaped by a few defining features: short, lively, sharp, well-worked exchanges
and visual gags.

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There are three types of situational comedy: the action comedy, the character comedy and the
dramatic comedy and they include three types of characters: main, supporting and transient.
Main characters are usually the ones who set the tone of the story and who introduce the viewer
to the world that is created in the show, the focus being emphasized on their character’s arc.
They have the most screen time and they introduce the supporting characters to the audience
through the relationships they have with them.

A supporting character, as the name says, is someone who supports the main characters and
usually there are only a handful of supporting characters, mostly because of monetary issues
(as the bigger the cast is, the larger the budget must get) and because it can be difficult for the
audience to keep up with too many stories and faces. Finally yet importantly, there is extensive
use of transients, which also come in three varieties: the guest star, the small, but necessary
role and the necessary, but not constantly needed role. The guest star is a major role in a single
episode, providing a plot problem (for example, the famous episode on Friends – “The one
with the rumor” where Brad Pitt (Will Colbert) starred as an old high-school friend of Monica
(Courtney Cox) who happened to kind of hate Rachel (Jennifer Aniston)). Small but necessary
roles are usually walk-on characters: delivery people, store clerks, taxi drivers and other
supernumeraries. An explicit example of such character is Stella Zinman (played by Sarah
Chalke) in How I met your mother, the doctor who portrays the love interest for Ted Mosby
(Josh Radnor), the lead character, for only a couple of episodes. She has only got a small part
in the big picture of the series, but her role turned out to be much needed, because she helps
Ted become more aware of what he truly wishes to find in a partner and determines him to start
being more picky regarding who he spends his time with. Lastly, the necessary but not

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constantly needed character is a supporting role that does not appear on every episode. Often
they will appear only two or three times during the course of a season, although occasionally
their function is expanded. Such kind of character is MD. Beverly Hofstadter (Christine
Baranski), Leonard’s mother in The Big Bang Theory, who used his upbringing for research in
the fields of neuroscience and psychiatry, which made Leonard (Johnny Galecki) be insecure
in many aspects of his adult life.

Chapter II: Portrayal of pathos in shows like Seinfeld and The Golden Girls

By the 21st century, the trend in the entertainment industry is leaning toward reality-TV shows,
which feature non-actors and single-camera recordings. The reason for this increasing
popularity is that the participants are not actors and the audience can easily relate to them as
the cameras capture every moment of their life and they are seen in their best and their worst
and there are no cuts and takes, the camera continues rolling. It is as real as it gets and all the
elements or genres are there from action, drama and even comedy without the “canned”
laughter. It is said that these shows will replace mainstream programming, which would affect
soap operas and sitcom, but it does not mean sitcoms will fade into oblivion or give up without
a fight. In the latter shows, like Seinfeld and The Golden Girls, there is brought one key
element: pathos. For example, Seinfeld, one of the most loved American shows of all-time,
airing from July 5, 1989 to May 14, 1998, follows the story of the stand-up comedian Jerry
Seinfeld who tackles the most perplexing yet trivial questions with a great deal of imagination
(for example: “What is a black-and-white cookie to you? A tasty dessert or a timely metaphor

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 about racial harmony?”). The show addresses all kinds of usual and, at times, absurd situations,
which we encounter as well in the mundanity of life, but never think too much about it. Have
you ever been disgusted by someone double dipping a chip? How about waiting for too long
to be seated at the restaurant or having to go to the bathroom when the person right next to you
is sleeping? Well, Seinfeld portrays these examples and many more intending to show the
audience that even the most boring day can turn into something joyous with the right dosage
of openness and curiosity.

The Golden Girls, a heart-warming comedy show, airing from September 14, 1985 to May 9,
1992, tells the story of four mature women who were formerly married and then became
roommates in Miami, sharing various experiences and hardships and having each other’s backs,
also has its share of relatable moments, giving the audience the chance to emphasize with the
characters. One wholesome moment that made the fans love the series even more belongs to
the episode “Old Friends” where Sophia meets a man named Alvin in the park and the two of
them create a beautiful dynamic until she notices some strange behavioral aspects. Turns out
that Alvin actually has Alzheimer’s, so he will not remember Sophia, but the episode shows
the significance of the simple things in life and how friendship can rise when you least expect
it. On the other hand, a hilarious scene in the sitcom is in the episode “Blanche and the younger
man”, where Blanche partly gives away her lover’s age, saying he is almost five years younger
than her and Dorothy asks: “In what, Blanche? Dog years?”

Chapter III: Lessons which sitcoms taught us

1. No one is one-dimensional!

Throughout the show The Fresh Prince of Bel Air, we get to see Aunt Vivian (Daphne Maxwell
Reid) as a strong, hardworking and mostly stern woman who has no time for fun. Therefore, in
episode 7 of season 2 (“The Big Four-Oh”), when she shows her jaw-dropping dance moves in
a class filled with people half her age, both the audience and the characters in the show were
shocked – even her husband, Uncle Phil (James Avery) couldn’t believe it. Will (Will Smith)
thought that his uncle is just a simple, boring judge, but it turned out that his uncle was just as
full of life and zeal as Will back in the day. It goes to show that people have more to show than
what meets the eye and you just need to give them a chance so they can help you see the bigger
picture.

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2. “Whatever you do in life, it’s not legendary, unless your friends are there to see it.”
This is only one example of the many heartfelt lines from How I met your mother. Barney
Stinson (Neil Patrick Harris) gave the impression that he is a selfish and arrogant character on
various occasions, but he somehow found a way to bend all those impressions by standing up
for his friends, lending an ear when they needed it the most and trying to bring a good joke to
the table. Friends are an essential part in one’s life and they somehow make us feel like our
successes are probably bigger than they actually are and losses are not that big after all.

3. You have to take chances.

I think a great lesson we can take from The Office is how important it is to take chances. Jim
(John Krasinki) was in love with Pam (Jenna Fischer) for a very long time or, by his own words,
he was “waiting for my wife” and he had to literally take a leap of faith and make the first step,
confessing his feelings. In their case, it worked out for the best and they ended up getting
married and even having children. My point is that it is our duty to be true to ourselves and
have that much respect of ourselves so we go out there and try to fulfill our wishes.

4. Find a go-to place.

In Friends, the characters had their own special place where they would gather up and chat in
Central Park. I talked to my own friends about it and one day we went on a little trip across
town trying to find something simple, but joyous, which would encompass our teenage energy.
We ended up finding that perfect place and we go there every day before or after school and
we think that this tradition has made our group even tighter.

5. “People aren’t thinking about you the way you’re thinking about you.”
Schitt’s Creek is known for is variety for when it comes to witty, powerful lines, which pierce
right through your soul – and this quote is a truthful example of it. Alexis Rose tells her
husband, David Rose, in season 3 that he analyzes life way too much and it only makes things
worse. Whenever I start questioning everything a bit too much, I like to take a step back and
just take a deep breath, because most of the times the real monster is not in the outside world
– it just lives rent-free in our minds.

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Chapter IV: Are we what we watch?

A wave of new social science research shows that the quality of shows can influence us in
important ways, shaping our thinking and political preferences, even affecting our cognitive
ability. Cognitive ability is a complex characteristic that emerges from interactions between
biological dispositions, nutrition and health, parenting behaviors, formal and informal
educational opportunities, and culture. Studying the connection between intelligence and
television consumption is far from straightforward, but researchers have developed compelling
ways to isolate the effects of television. Some of the best research has been done on the
television program Sesame Street, a longtime favorite of children. The show, which began in
1969, was meant to develop early literacy, numeracy and emotional skills for children of
preschool age. A detailed analysis of the show’s content in its first and second years reveals
that 80% of the program was dedicated to those goals, with the rest meant to entertain.
Researchers randomly assigned groups of low-income children age 3 to 5 into an experimental
group and a control group. In the experimental group, parents were given access to the show if
they lacked it and encouraged in person once a month to have their children watch the show.
Almost all (93%) parents of children in the experimental group reported that their children
subsequently watched the show, compared with roughly one-third of children in the control
group (35%). Among watchers, those in the experimental group also watched more frequently.

Over six months, from November 1970 to May 1971, the experimental group gained 5.4 I.Q.

points — a large effect — relative to the control group and showed stronger evidence of
learning along several other dimensions. Gains in cognitive performance were especially large
for those who viewed the show frequently relative to those who did so rarely or never. A more
recent meta-analysis of published research in 15 countries shows that Sesame Street has similar
effects around the world. In a more recent published research, the economists Melissa Kearney
and Phillip Levine examined longer-term effects of Sesame Street by comparing the
educational outcomes of children and young adults in counties more or less likely to have
access to the program during its early years. They found that children living in counties with
better Sesame Street coverage were less likely to be held behind a grade level. Other
experimental research is consistent with the original Sesame Street findings. Low-income
prekindergarten children scored higher on a social competence index six months after being
randomly assigned to an experimental group, in which their parents were encouraged to replace

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age-inappropriate television with educational television. Therefore, we can say that what we
watch influences our personality in many ways and even though children are the most
predisposed to copy what they see, adults are also mirroring the content which they follow.

Chapter V: How American sitcoms can be used for academic purposes

The term "English" is derived from Anglisc, the speech of the Angles — one of the three
Germanic tribes that invaded England during the fifth century. The English language is the
primary language of several countries, including Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the United
States, the United Kingdom and many of its former colonies and the second language in a
number of multilingual countries, including India, Singapore, and the Philippines. It is
important not only to be familiar with English, but also to be able to use it on a high level, as
so many fields revolve around it, such as tourism, science, computers etc. Sitcoms help us
master the English language, because the displayed environment is so friendly and familiar and
it sets a safe place for us to learn. We are not limited by grades, we do not have deadlines and
there is no competition, therefore the studying process becomes almost involuntary.

The world that we see through the screens is so similar to ours, except it is put through a comic
filter, which makes it more enjoyable and catchy. While watching, we are having fun, hearing
witty catchphrases and learning new words. The themes which are proposed are usually very
common, including family and romantic aspects, future plans, political opinions etc. Hearing
the characters make small talk helps the audience memorize key words and be confident while
using them. In addition, they always have continuity when they are making a point and are
quick when it comes to replying to the other person, which sets a beautiful example to follow
especially for a non-native speaker. American sitcoms help us improve our comprehension
skills by paying close attention to their vocabulary and choice of words. On top of that, when
it comes to our writing level, we will just need to put in practice what we already know and be
meticulous about it.

Chapter VI: Added benefits from watching American sitcoms

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1. Family bonding
Sitcoms help people unwind after long and stressful days and they provide a chance for
everyone to connect and feel at ease. When families get together and do something as simple
as watching entertaining shows together, that creates a deep state of relaxation and wellness.

2. Improving mental health

As the saying goes: “Laughter is the best medicine!” Not only does this kind of show enhance
our overall mood, but it also comes in handy in challenging situations, such as when we are
doing cardio. Sitcoms can be a great distraction which allows us to do sports for a longer
periods of time, without seeing of it as a burden.

3. Saving money
TV provides a much cheaper and sometimes even more enjoyable form of entertainment. The
familiar set-up helps us feel as tranquil as possible and it creates a serene atmosphere.

4. Getting inspired
Sitcoms can be refreshing sources of inspiration in many aspects of our lives, such as choosing
the career we would like to pursue, picking genres of books or music we’ve never tried before,
trying new sports or discovering dishes worth trying.

5. Improving one’s sense of humor

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 Humor is a subjective matter, but the good thing is that nowadays everyone can feel satisfied
because of the wide content there is. The characters express witty thoughts in an endearing
way, which makes us admire them and even impersonate some of their traits.
6. Becoming more open regarding one’s flaws
Perhaps what is most important about the mockery of sitcoms is that, to the extent the humor
is experienced as mocking ourselves, it frees us up to be less defensive. Through the good
feeling and immediate release of laughter, sitcoms let us mock foolishness and even recognize
that it’s alright to be foolish at times. This reduction of authority gives us the permission to be
more open about our imperfections.

Chapter VII: Fun facts

The first sitcom to feature an African American in a recurring role was The Laytons, but
because of its premiere in 1948, not much is known about it today outside of this milestone.

The first Black sitcom was Amos ‘n’ Andy, airing from 1951 to 1953 and Good Times, debuting
on 1974 and ending on 1979, was the very first sitcom to portray a two-parent family of back
people.

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The finale of the sitcom M*A*S*H (“Goodbye, Farewell, Amen”), which aired in 1983, was
the most watched TV broadcast in American history up the 2010 Superbowl. It gathered 105
million viewers, which was almost half the entire population of the U.S. at the time.

In A Different World, to keep the show authentic and relevant, director Debbie Allen, took the
writing staff on field trips to Morehouse College and Spelman College in Atlanta so they could
actually experience and understand the history behind black colleges.

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On the iconic sitcom Seinfeld, Jerry Seinfeld was such a fan of the hero Superman, that he
included a reference to the character in every episode of the show.

During the first season of Friends, each actor made $22.000 an episode. The second season
saw a $20.000 increase in Jennifer Aniston (Rachel Green) and David Schimer’s (Ross Geller)
salaries. It could have driven the cast apart, but instead, they came up with an ingenious plan.
Once the third season came around, the cast went into salary negotiations together, and each
received one million dollars an episode.

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In The Big Bang Theory, the humorous show about four friends who happen to be brilliant
scientists, but socially awkward people, there is actually one cast member who is similar to her
character: Mayim Bialik, who plays Sheldon Cooper’s girlfriend (Amy Farrah Fowler),
attained a PhD of Neuroscience in 2008.

Both the longest-running primetime scripted show in the U.S. and the longest-running animated
sitcom in history is The Simpsons. The show made its debut on December 17, 1989 and has 34
seasons.

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Barney Stinson’s blog from How I met your mother was actually created online and can be
found with a simple search. In this blog Barney (Neil Patrick Harris) relates all kinds of
experiences from his life, while also sharing lovely pieces of wisdom.

Conclusion

American situation comedies are one common and relevant element in our era. In this
thesis, I attended to explain the effects situation comedies have on its viewers, starting from
being able to choose from a wide range of options, learning English in a relaxing and enjoyable
set-up and gaining new visions on various aspects of life. The first American situational
comedies are remarkable through their early representations of the African American in a
leading role and the two-parent black family for the first time. By the 21 st century, TV reality
shows were gaining popularity due to their sincerity – they had no cuts and were the result of
single-camera rolling – but they lacked one key ingredient: pathos. In later shows, such as

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Seinfeld and The Golden Girls, the stories portray the highs and lows of the characters in a
heartwarming way, which makes them binge-watched and loved even to this day.

The audience appreciates the dedication actors put into making their favorite show and
are even curious about the lesser-known facts about them. Therefore, that is why facts like the
story of how Jennifer Aniston and David Schimer, who played the beloved Rachel and Ross in
Friends, stood up for their partners to receive higher salaries are treasured to this day. One
more beautiful example is how Debbie Allen (the director of A Different World) took the
writing staff on a trip to Morehouse College and Stampel College to understand the importance
of doing justice to the history of black colleges. Sitcoms show us how essential it is not to judge
others through selfish eyes, how friends are supposed to be by your side both in small and great
events of life and how you need to not let yourself get tangled up in the worries of life. Humor
and joy are beautiful parts of life and they represent the core elements sitcoms have in common.
They have a beautiful freedom attached to them, handing the audience the final product and
letting them decide what to do with the piece of information they have just accumulated.
Sitcoms give people a sense of comfort, they enhance the feeling of belonging and allow us to
identify with characters who are both idealized and caricatured versions of ourselves. As TV
shows have improved in quality, we have gotten better at watching: we pay attention to more
details and, additionally, showrunners also became more creative with subtle details they
include as they create plot twists and turns. Watching such truthful experiences come to life
whether they’re about love, friendship and loss makes the audience feel like they are not alone
or isolated. They could even turn the most mundane experiences into something one can never
forget. Therefore, sitcoms are good for us because they remind us that we shouldn’t take life
so seriously and, instead, we should slow down and giggle a little bit more.

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