Webster’s dictionary defines a sitcom as “a radio or television comedy series that involves a continuing cast of characters in a succession of episodes”. A sitcom is a television show which is focused on funny situations over a plot, however structure still matters. A good sitcom should have the protagonists choice to pursue a goal cause the events of the story. WHAT IS A SITCOMS STRUCTURE The structure of a sitcom is as follows, you introduce what the characters want, an obstacle obstructs his ability to get to what he wants and he reacts to it how his character would. After confronted with the obstacle the character makes a plan to get rid of obstacle. After making the plan the character tries the plan but it leads to more sub obstacles. Confronted with new obstacles the character makes a plan to get rid of the sub obstacles and tries it with some success.
Then character wins or loses and it is shown how failure or success affected them. HOW DO YOU MAKE A GOOD CHARACTERS You can’t make a sitcom without interesting and funny characters but how do you make an interesting and funny character. To make a character funny you have to make him have flaws. For example Kramer from seinfeld is funny because he is oblivious and stupid, these can both be funny flaws. Most characters in sitcoms are either a wisecrack, everyman, nerd, joker, or a bully. To make a compelling character you have they have to have a fear of something that drives them to succeed . WHEN WAS FIRST LAUGH TRACK MADE HOW DOES IT AFFECT COMEDY The laugh track was used in many successful shows like seinfeld and friends. The laugh track was first used on the Hank Mcree show, because they only had one camera and had 3 takes so the sound of audience would be inconsistent. Soon after laugh tracks became every sitcom implemented tried to implement laugh tracks.
The laugh track was extremely popular until the late 90s. The laugh track was then considered unsophisticated this can be shown in shows such as Curb Your Enthusiasm,The Office. Picture of a laugh box HOW IS A SITCOM MADE It starts of with brainstorming in the writers room, everybody will share ideas about episodes. The best ideas from the writers room are made into drafts by the writers. After the drafts are made there is a table read with all of the actors, after little changes are made depending on how the table read went. The shows locations are then planned and the sitcom itself is filmed. After being filmed it is edited and sent to the director who makes a director’s cut, The director then sends it to the network where they make a final cut and it is broadcasted.
