SIT-COM STATUS We are, once again, hearing opinion stated saying: "The Sit-Com is dead!".
Changed a bit, perhaps. But, "dead"? No.
Trick words such as this combination of "situational" and "comedy" are seldom trustworthy over a period of years. They are made to fit a specific time and circumstances which have, long ago, taking on new meanings or become obsolete. The term "realities" is suffering such such a buffeting now in TV-production land or,perhaps, more accurately TV's "lack of production" land.
It is quite true that we might consider the obvious fact that, at the moment the sit-com is not the favorite format in which, TV writers, directors, performers, editors,
agencies, production studios, agencies, station owners, PR persons - or viewers. You may protest that last group of people-viewers. You may contend that you still watch many of the "old timers" - and the designation "sit com" is rather broad thing today if you try to define it exactly. I am almost certain that someone in the world is watching an Andy Griffith show every hour of every day in some nation or nations around the globe. "Green Acres" Albert & Gabor, is a regular, "Leave It To Beaver", Happy Days", "Archie Bunker and his family, Bea Arthur and the other three women! You can build a long list and even point to imported sit-coms such as the so-called "Saturday Night Sillies" running successfully by PBS stations as low-budget BBC imports.
The reasons why you watch them are not all nostalgia related. You do so for the simple reason that you can't find anything of value to watch on the vast majority of channels available. You actually will find you are watching some of them for the first time around years ago. If your did not watch "Green Acres", "The Musters", The Adams Family" or other such treats, you are watching new stuff -a bit seedy with age; yesterday's gags and clothing and cars styles, but new to you since you have never seem them before. If you are one of those stuffy academic types who can still read Roman numerals in the credits rollover, you can get quick glance at how long ago it was that you had chance top see them first-hand.
You may wish to give some thought to how today;s favorite programs are going to look as reruns on TV of that era.
Maybe its a good thing that the concept of having TV "channels" is going out of style. In a few year every thing will be "on order". "What shows do we order up for tonight?"
I'd willing wager wide wads of mint-warm Washington wampum that some will ask for Andy Griffith every hour - everywhere! Sit-coms were folksy comments on living. They will always be with us in some art form. They are the best way "we" have to remember "us".
A.L.M. March 2, 2005 [c498wds]
