BY: HANNAH WEST, STAFF WRITER
Graphic: Joseph DeBell
Sitcoms are not as important to pop culture as they once were. There are a few contributing factors: first, a lack of quality. The new sitcoms being released don’t compare to the old. The characters used to be iconic; there is no modern-day Michael Scott or Ron Swanson. It’s difficult to think of one stand-out character from any new sitcom.
Also, a few old, turned-new sitcoms continued past their peak. “Modern Family” and “Brooklyn 99” are good examples. They both extended through 2020. The last “Modern Family” season received the lowest ratings of any of its other seasons. Additionally, the “Brooklyn 99” pandemic episodes felt forced and clunky.
Second, the decline of sitcoms can be linked to the rise of streaming services. With instant access to any show, production companies are now focused on creating ‘binge-worthy’ content. This shift has led to a change in the nature of sitcoms, which were originally designed for weekly viewing. The result is a dilution of quality, as these shows are not crafted to keep the viewer’s interest over multiple episodes.
The most popular sitcom of the 2000s was “Friends.” There were no criteria for watching an episode of “Friends.” It was easy to follow as long as the viewer had loose knowledge of the setting and the characters. The jokes were simple and didn’t rely on previous episodes. The shows released today require more attention — but streaming services can get away with this because episodes are released in seasons. It’s not once a week like it used to be.
As “Friends” wrapped up in 2004, sitcoms only improved and advanced. 2005 brought “The Office” and “How I Met Your Mother.” “The Office” introduced the death of laugh-tracks. It depended on awkward, dry and understated humor. It was new and refreshing compared to “Friends,” which was more conventional and predictable. “How I Met Your Mother” compares to binge-worthy shows of today. It has long and sometimes complicated plotlines that last throughout the show.
Other shows that followed the release of these two were just as good, if not better. “New Girl,” “Parks and Recreation,” “Community,” “The Middle” and others were like a huge build-up to the epic drop-off of sitcoms. This era of television is unmatched. Because of streaming services, there is no true way to go back. We have the memories and reruns of these shows, but we may never get another television era that can compete.
westhe24@bonaventure.edu
