What is a Sitcom?

Here’s a little trip back through time, all the way up to the present.

A sitcom, short for “situational comedy” or “situation comedy”, is a type of television show that primarily focuses on humor derived from everyday situations and the interactions of its characters. Sitcoms originated in radio, but today are found mostly on television as one of its dominant narrative forms.

These shows are usually set in familiar environments, such as homes, workplaces, or social settings, and they often follow a group of characters as they navigate various comedic scenarios and challenges. Sitcoms aim to entertain the audience through witty dialogue, comedic timing, and humorous misunderstandings. Sitcoms typically have a fixed group of main characters who appear in every episode, providing consistency and familiarity for viewers.

The comedy arises from conflicts and predicaments faced by the characters, often leading to amusing misunderstandings or humorous resolutions. Each episode is a self-contained story, allowing viewers to tune in without prior knowledge of previous episodes.

Traditional sitcoms use a laugh track, which is pre-recorded laughter that plays during the show’s funny moments to prompt audience laughter. Sitcoms often tackle everyday situations and human relationships, making them relatable to a broad audience. episodes are typically short, lasting around 23-25 minutes, making them easily digestible and suitable for casual viewing.

“Pinwright’s Progress” is widely regarded as the first television sitcom. It was a British show that aired on the BBC between 1946 and 1947. Created by Terence Rattigan and directed by Eric Fawcett, the series consisted of ten episodes and marked a significant milestone in the history of television.

The show followed the humorous misadventures of the fictional character Norman Pinwright, played by character actor Ian Carmichael. Norman was a young and naive man who had recently moved to London in pursuit of a successful career. However, he often found himself entangled in comical situations and encountered eccentric characters while trying to navigate city life and various job opportunities.

The sitcom format was born in January 1926 with the initial broadcast of Sam ‘n’ Henry on WGN radio in Chicago, Illinois. The 15-minute daily program was revamped in 1928, moved to another station, renamed Amos ‘n’ Andy, and became one of the most successful sitcoms of the period. It was also one of the earliest examples of radio syndication. In 1947, the first American television sitcom, Mary Kay and Johnny debuted.

The show was created by Mary Kay Stearns and her husband Johnny Stearns, who also starred as themselves in the series. “Mary Kay and Johnny” made its television debut on November 18, 1947, and it revolved around the lives of a real-life married couple living in a small apartment in New York City.

As one of the first televised sitcoms, “Mary Kay and Johnny” drew its humor from the couple’s everyday experiences and domestic situations, often involving comedic misunderstandings and lighthearted conflicts. The show provided a glimpse into the ups and downs of married life and the challenges faced by a young couple trying to make ends meet.

Partial List of Sitcoms
  • The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show (1950-1958) – George Burns, Gracie Allen
  • I Love Lucy (1951-1957) – Lucille Ball, Desi Arnaz
  • I Married Joan (1952-1955) – Joan Davis, Jim Backus
  • The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet (1952-1966) – Ozzie Nelson, Harriet Nelson
  • The Life of Riley (1953-1958) – William Bendix, Marjorie Reynolds
  • Father Knows Best (1954-1960) – Robert Young, Jane Wyatt
  • The Honeymooners (1955-1956) – Jackie Gleason, Art Carney
  • The Phil Silvers Show (Sgt. Bilko) (1955-1959) – Phil Silvers
  • Leave It to Beaver (1957-1963) – Jerry Mathers, Barbara Billingsley, Hugh Beaumont, Tony Dow
  • The Real McCoys (1957-1963) – Walter Brennan, Richard Crenna
  • The Donna Reed Show (1958-1966) – Donna Reed, Carl Betz
  • The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis (1959-1963) – Dwayne Hickman, Bob Denver
  • Dennis the Menace (1959-1963) – Jay North, Herbert Anderson, Gloria Henry
  • The Andy Griffith Show (1960-1968) – Andy Griffith, Don Knotts
  • Car 54, Where Are You? (1961-1963) – Joe E. Ross, Fred Gwynne
  • The Dick Van Dyke Show (1961-1966) – Dick Van Dyke, Mary Tyler Moore
  • Mister Ed (1961-1966) – Alan Young, Connie Hines
  • Hazel (1961-1966) – Shirley Booth, Don DeFore
  • McHale’s Navy (1962-1966) – Ernest Borgnine, Joe Flynn, Tim Conway
  • The Lucy Show (1962-1968) – Lucille Ball, Vivian Vance
  • The Beverly Hillbillies (1962-1971) – Buddy Ebsen, Irene Ryan
  • Gilligan’s Island (1964-1967) – Bob Denver, Alan Hale Jr.
  • Bewitched (1964-1972) – Elizabeth Montgomery, Dick York/Dick Sargent
  • The Munsters (1964-1966) – Fred Gwynne, Yvonne De Carlo
  • The Addams Family (1964-1966) – John Astin, Carolyn Jones
  • Gidget (1965-1966) – Sally Field
  • F-Troop (1965-1967) – Forrest Tucker, Larry Storch
  • Hogan’s Heroes (1965-1971) – Bob Crane, Werner Klemperer
  • I Dream of Jeannie (1965-1970) – Barbara Eden, Larry Hagman
  • The Monkees (1966-1968) – Davy Jones, Micky Dolenz, Peter Tork, Michael Nesmith
  • The Flying Nun (1967-1970) – Sally Field, Marge Redmond
  • The Courtship of Eddie’s Father (1969-1972) – Bill Bixby, Brandon Cruz, Miyoshi Umeki
  • The Brady Bunch (1969-1974) – Robert Reed, Florence Henderson
  • The Partridge Family (1970-1974) – Shirley Jones, David Cassidy
  • The Odd Couple (1970-1975) – Tony Randall, Jack Klugman
  • All in the Family (1971-1979) – Carroll O’Connor, Jean Stapleton
  • The Mary Tyler Moore Show (1970-1977) – Mary Tyler Moore, Ed Asner
  • Sanford and Son (1972-1977) – Redd Foxx, Demond Wilson
  • The Bob Newhart Show (1972-1978) – Bob Newhart, Suzanne Pleshette
  • Maude (1972-1978) – Bea Arthur, Bill Macy
  • M*A*S*H (1972-1983) – Alan Alda, Loretta Swit
  • Chico and the Man (1974-1978) – Freddie Prinze, Jack Albertson
  • Good Times (1974-1979) – Esther Rolle, John Amos, Jimmie Walker
  • Happy Days (1974-1984) – Ron Howard, Henry Winkler
  • One Day at a Time (1975-1984) – Bonnie Franklin, Valerie Bertinelli, Mackenzie Phillips
  • Barney Miller (1975-1982) – Hal Linden, Abe Vigoda
  • The Jeffersons (1975-1985) – Sherman Hemsley, Isabel Sanford
  • What’s Happening!! (1976-1979) – Ernest Thomas, Haywood Nelson
  • Laverne & Shirley (1976-1983) – Penny Marshall, Cindy Williams
  • Soap (1977-1981) – Katherine Helmond, Cathryn Damon, Richard Mulligan, Robert Mandan, Diana Canova, Jennifer Salt, Jimmy Baio, Robert Guillaume, Arthur Peterson, Jay Johnson
  • Three’s Company (1977-1984) – John Ritter, Suzanne Somers
  • WKRP in Cincinnati (1978-1982) – Gary Sandy, Howard Hesseman
  • Taxi (1978-1983) – Judd Hirsch, Danny DeVito
  • Diff’rent Strokes (1978-1986) – Gary Coleman, Todd Bridges
  • The Facts of Life (1979-1988) – Mindy Cohn, Nancy McKeon
  • Best of the West (1981-1982) – Joel Higgins, Carlene Watkins
  • Square Pegs (1982-1983) – Sarah Jessica Parker, Amy Linker
  • Joanie Loves Chachi (1982-1983) – Scott Baio, Erin Moran
  • Newhart (1982-1990) – Bob Newhart, Mary Frann, Tom Poston, Julia Duffy, Peter Scolari, Larry, William Sanderson
  • Cheers (1982-1993) – Ted Danson, Shelley Long/Kirstie Alley
  • Family Ties (1982-1989) – Michael J. Fox, Meredith Baxter
  • Charles in Charge (1984-1990) – Scott Baio, Willie Aames, Nicole Eggert
  • The Cosby Show (1984-1992) – Bill Cosby, Phylicia Rashad
  • Night Court (1984-1992) – Harry Anderson, John Larroquette
  • Who’s the Boss? (1984-1992) – Tony Danza, Judith Light
  • The Golden Girls (1985-1992) – Bea Arthur, Betty White
  • Growing Pains (1985-1992) – Alan Thicke, Joanna Kerns
  • ALF (1986-1990) – Paul Fusco (Voice), Max Wright
  • Perfect Strangers (1986-1993) – Mark Linn-Baker, Bronson Pinchot
  • My Two Dads (1987-1990) – Paul Reiser, Greg Evigan, Staci Keanan, Giovanni Ribisi
  • Full House (1987-1995) – John Stamos, Bob Saget
  • Murphy Brown (1988-1998) – Candice Bergen, Grant Shaud
  • The Wonder Years (1988-1993) – Fred Savage, Dan Lauria
  • Roseanne (1988-1997) – Roseanne Barr, John Goodman
  • The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air (1990-1996) – Will Smith, James Avery
  • Saved by the Bell (1989-1993) – Mark-Paul Gosselaar, Mario Lopez
  • The Simpsons (1989-present) – Dan Castellaneta, Julie Kavner (Voice actors)
  • Family Matters (1989-1998) – Reginald VelJohnson, Jaleel White
  • Full House (1987-1995) – John Stamos, Bob Saget
  • Seinfeld (1989-1998) – Jerry Seinfeld, Julia Louis-Dreyfus
  • The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air (1990-1996) – Will Smith, James Avery
  • Blossom (1990-1995) – Mayim Bialik, Joey Lawrence
  • Clarissa Explains It All (1991-1994) – Melissa Joan Hart, Jason Zimbler
  • Step by Step (1991-1998) – Patrick Duffy, Suzanne Somers
  • Home Improvement (1991-1999) – Tim Allen, Patricia Richardson
  • The Nanny (1993-1999) – Fran Drescher, Charles Shaughnessy
  • Friends (1994-2004) – Jennifer Aniston, Courteney Cox
  • The Drew Carey Show (1995-2004) – Drew Carey, Diedrich Bader
  • Kenan & Kel (1996-2000) – Kenan Thompson, Kel Mitchell
  • Everybody Loves Raymond (1996-2005) – Ray Romano, Patricia Heaton
  • Sabrina the Teenage Witch (1996-2003) – Melissa Joan Hart, Caroline Rhea
  • The King of Queens (1998-2007) – Kevin James, Leah Remini
  • That ’70s Show (1998-2006) – Topher Grace, Mila Kunis
  • Will & Grace (1998-2020) – Eric McCormack, Debra Messing
  • Malcolm in the Middle (2000-2006) – Frankie Muniz, Jane Kaczmarek
  • Drake & Josh (2004-2007) – Drake Bell, Josh Peck
  • Zoey 101 (2005-2008) – Jamie Lynn Spears, Paul Butcher
  • The Office (US) (2005-2013) – Steve Carell, Rainn Wilson
  • How I Met Your Mother (2005-2014) – Josh Radnor, Jason Segel
  • iCarly (2007-2012) – Miranda Cosgrove, Jerry Trainor
  • The Big Bang Theory (2007-2019) – Johnny Galecki, Jim Parsons
  • 30 Rock (2006-2013) – Tina Fey, Alec Baldwin
  • Scrubs (2001-2010) – Zach Braff, Donald Faison
  • My Wife and Kids (2001-2005) – Damon Wayans, Tisha Campbell-Martin
  • Two and a Half Men (2003-2015) – Charlie Sheen, Jon Cryer
  • Arrested Development (2003-2019) – Jason Bateman, Portia de Rossi
  • Curb Your Enthusiasm (2000-present) – Larry David, Cheryl Hines
  • Corner Gas (2004-2009) – Brent Butt, Gabrielle Miller, Fred Ewanuick, Eric Peterson, Janet Wright
  • Desperate Housewives (2004-2012) – Teri Hatcher, Felicity Huffman
  • My Name Is Earl (2005-2009) – Jason Lee, Ethan Suplee
  • Entourage (2004-2011) – Adrian Grenier, Kevin Connolly
  • The King of Queens (1998-2007) – Kevin James, Leah Remini
  • New Girl (2011-2018) – Zooey Deschanel, Jake Johnson
  • Parks and Recreation (2009-2015) – Amy Poehler, Rashida Jones
  • The Middle (2009-2018) – Patricia Heaton, Neil Flynn
  • Modern Family (2009-2020) – Ed O’Neill, Sofia Vergara
  • Victorious (2010-2013) – Victoria Justice, Leon Thomas III, Matt Bennett, Elizabeth Gillies, Ariana Grande, Avan Jogia, Daniella Monet
  • Hot in Cleveland (2010-2015) – Valerie Bertinelli, Jane Leeves, Wendie Malick, Betty White
  • See Dad Run (2012-2014) – Scott Baio, Alanna Ubach
  • The Soul Man (2012-2016) – Cedric the Entertainer, Niecy Nash
  • Sam & Cat (2013-2014) – Jennette McCurdy, Ariana Grande
  • Brooklyn Nine-Nine (2013-2021) – Andy Samberg, Andre Braugher
  • Black-ish (2014-present) – Anthony Anderson, Tracee Ellis Ross
  • The Good Place (2016-2020) – Kristen Bell, Ted Danson
  • It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia (2005-present) – Rob McElhenney, Charlie Day
  • Mom (2013-2021) – Anna Faris, Allison Janney
  • Superstore (2015-2021) – America Ferrera, Ben Feldman
  • Lopez (2016-2017) – George Lopez, Anthony “Citric” Campos
  • The Ranch (2016-2020) – Ashton Kutcher, Danny Masterson
  • One Day at a Time (2017-2020) – Justina Machado, Rita Moreno
  • Young Sheldon (2017-present) – Iain Armitage, Zoe Perry
  • The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel (2017-present) – Rachel Brosnahan, Alex Borstein
  • The Good Doctor (2017-present) – Freddie Highmore, Antonia Thomas
  • The Neighborhood (2018-present) – Cedric the Entertainer, Max Greenfield
  • The Conners (2018-present) – John Goodman, Laurie Metcalf
  • Bob Hearts Abishola (2019-present) – Billy Gardell, Folake Olowofoyeku
  • Mixed-ish (2019-2021) – Arica Himmel, Tika Sumpter
  • Bless This Mess (2019-2020) – Lake Bell, Dax Shepard
  • The Unicorn (2019-2021) – Walton Goggins, Rob Corddry
  • The Righteous Gemstones (2019-present) – Danny McBride, John Goodman
  • Dead to Me (2019-2022) – Christina Applegate, Linda Cardellini
  • Ted Lasso (2020-present) – Jason Sudeikis, Hannah Waddingham
  • The Great North (2021-present) – Nick Offerman, Jenny Slate
  • Kenan (2021-present) – Kenan Thompson, Don Johnson
  • WandaVision (2021) – Elizabeth Olsen, Paul Bettany
  • Hacks (2021-present) – Jean Smart, Hannah Einbinder
  • The Kominsky Method (2018-2021) – Michael Douglas, Alan Arkin
  • Black-ish (2014-present) – Anthony Anderson, Tracee Ellis Ross
  • Brooklyn Nine-Nine (2013-2021) – Andy Samberg, Andre Braugher
  • The Goldbergs (2013-present) – Wendi McLendon-Covey, Jeff Garlin
  • Younger (2015-2021) – Sutton Foster, Debi Mazar
  • Atypical (2017-2021) – Keir Gilchrist, Jennifer Jason Leigh
  • Family Reunion (2019-present) – Loretta Devine, Tia Mowry-Hardrict
  • The Last Man on Earth (2015-2018) – Will Forte, Kristen Schaal
  • Mom (2013-2021) – Anna Faris, Allison Janney
  • Superstore (2015-2021) – America Ferrera, Ben Feldman
A Few British Sitcoms
  • Fawlty Towers (1975-1979) – John Cleese, Prunella Scales
  • Only Fools and Horses (1981-2003) – David Jason, Nicholas Lyndhurst
  • Blackadder (1983-1989) – Rowan Atkinson, Tony Robinson
  • Absolutely Fabulous (1992-2012) – Jennifer Saunders, Joanna Lumley
  • The IT Crowd (2006-2013) – Chris O’Dowd, Richard Ayoade
  • Peep Show (2003-2015) – David Mitchell, Robert Webb
  • The Office (UK) (2001-2003) – Ricky Gervais, Martin Freeman
  • Extras (2005-2007) – Ricky Gervais, Ashley Jensen
  • Father Ted (1995-1998) – Dermot Morgan, Ardal O’Hanlon
  • Miranda (2009-2015) – Miranda Hart, Tom Ellis

Some classic examples of sitcoms include “Friends,” which revolves around a group of six friends living in New York City; “The Office,” a mockumentary-style sitcom set in a mundane office environment; and “I Love Lucy,” a pioneering sitcom featuring the comedic talents of Lucille Ball.

In recent years, the format of sitcoms has evolved, and many shows have experimented with different styles, including single-camera setups without laugh tracks. Some popular modern sitcoms include “Brooklyn Nine-Nine,” “The Big Bang Theory,” and “Parks and Recreation.”

Victorious ran on Nickelodeon from March 27, 2010, until February 2, 2013

Further Reading
Sources

Author: Doyle

I was born in Atlanta, moved to Alpharetta at 4, lived there for 53 years and moved to Decatur in 2016. I've worked at such places as Richway, North Fulton Medical Center, Management Science America (Computer Tech/Project Manager) and Stacy's Compounding Pharmacy (Pharmacy Tech).

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