Starting in the 1950s and 60s, the world was introduced to one of the most iconic forms of television of all time, the sitcom. Producers and television executives continued to use the concept for decades, giving the world shows such as Seinfeld, FRIENDS, MASH, and a long list of other series that touched hearts and caused a roar of laughter across the world. Though many people in Hollywood have tried to replicate the idea of a sitcom in a more modern sense, it is unclear if the same energy these originals gave off will ever be felt by a new series.
These shows are iconic for a reason. The humor, the characters, and the overall plotlines grabbed the viewer’s attention and kept them reeled in for years. The Central Perk couch, “episodes about nothing”, the somewhat chaotic camera work–we remember the scenes as if we were standing right next to them. Many of these original sitcoms lasted for seasons upon seasons, as writers, producers, and especially fans were never ready to part ways with the series. Most of these shows focused on realistic, everyday lifestyles to relate to their audiences. Fans fell in love because of how casual and lighthearted the series was, relating the characters to their own lives. They were easy episodes to watch over and over again, and a way to relieve stress and relax.
Now with the world of streaming services and a shift in genre interest, we are seeing less sitcoms being made. When they are, they often lose that original sitcom charm–with less episodes being made, less time for the casual vibe of getting to know the characters, and a more dramatized feel. Audiences now search for a shorter series in order to finish it quicker, and producers need to make money based on what fans are looking for. Attention spans have declined, leaving the sitcom an idea that is not as touched as frequently as it once was.
The bright side of the streaming services taking over is that many of these platforms have our favorite sitcoms available for watch. Despite the lack of new sitcoms being released, or the difference of the ones that do get made, we are still able to binge watch the characters that had us laughing to tears all those years ago. We may never see a new series as iconic as the ones of our past, but their comedy and humor will forever be available to us. Like the Golden Girls say, “I’ve got a feeling we’re going to be doing a lot of this in the future… reminiscing.”
