Everyone has a favorite show that they cling to and watch after school or work. For some, it might be a terrifying horror movie, while for others, it could be the cheesiest rom-com. However, one group of people lives for the laugh tracks, quirky side characters and cringy catchphrases.
Sitcoms have become increasingly popular over the years. Some people are drawn to “Gilmore Girls,” “The Office” and even “Andy Griffith,” a black-and-white classic. Sitcoms are commonly described as situation comedies, in which characters face different situations every episode. People may have different opinions on them, but sitcoms have definitely grown more prominent among younger generations.
“A lot of [younger] generations are rediscovering or finding [sitcoms]. Some people get really into Seinfeld or Mash or Friends. So these are all old; the golden age of TV,” history teacher Christopher Foster said. “To some of the [shows], you’re like, I can’t really relate, but that’s kind of the point, or you can kind of see this is what my parents or grandparents were watching that related to them, or sometimes you can just kind of point and laugh.”
Sitcoms are all about using the situations of the characters and their comedic humor to give the viewer a relatable experience that sparks their entertainment.
“My favorite aspects of sitcoms are the subplots and small stories that are woven into the main plot,” sophomore Kayden Lee said. “I’d say that it not only brings the show to life, but adds depth to so many characters and settings.”
With sitcoms, viewers can just sit back and enjoy the show with easy laughs and simple plots. This gives people a nice way to relax and provides an easy-going vibe without any extra effort to follow the story.
“I like sitcoms due to their down-to-earth nature and their simplistic humor; they bring even the simplest, most uninteresting characters to life,” Lee said. “Sitcoms connect you to each character on a personal level.”
However, while some people enjoy these elements of the genre, others prefer more complex and directed plots with a more concise setup.
“I’m actually not a fan of sitcoms because it’s really hard for me to get into them with all of the sound effects and things happening,” senior Lela Williams said. “If I’m sitting down and watching a sitcom, I have no clue what’s going on. In addition, there are these inside jokes that I just don’t understand.”
While sitcoms have become more popular over the years, newer generations have caused some changes in the beloved genre, with some of their aspects sometimes being seen as having an agenda. This can lead many viewers to become less entertained and put off by the genre.
“I feel like nowadays people try too hard, so I don’t like a lot of what the modern take is for some sitcoms,” Foster said. “But it’s just like slapstick comedy, just weird, funny moments like that. I don’t like political aspects forcing an agenda. I should just be able to sit down, watch TV and not worry about anything.”
