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?

3. Audience popularity Sitcom Funny Cathartic: make Can relate to 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?

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