The Fall of Sitcoms

by Todd Robinson

What’s your favorite sitcom? Most of you would probably say Friends, Seinfeld, The Office, Cheers or Parks and Recreation. These shows have impacted many people’s lives because they allowed those individuals to escape reality for a brief moment. Sometimes a sitcom was all a person needed after a long day from work.

These shows that have been mentioned are kind of old, which goes right into the next question, do people still watch sitcoms? People still do, but not as much. One of the main reasons why people don’t watch it as of late is people may not find it relatable anymore. A lot of younger people nowadays want to be YouTubers or Instagram influencers. Younger people are focusing on careers that are based online, which can cause a disconnect to shows like The Office, Friends or Seinfeld. The characters from these shows all had jobs that involved the workplace, but since people work online or at home, the relatability factory when it comes to jobs, isn’t there anymore.

People nowadays don’t find the aesthetics of a sitcom appealing. Sitcoms are usually set in a few locations. Some people may find this boring and not interesting enough. Audiences are now spoiled with expensive shows like Loki, Fallout, or Andor. TV shows are a lot more cinematic now and less episodic. What makes Sitcoms special is how the characters work around certain situations and problems, which is why these shows need an episodic structure.

In terms of the comedic aspect of a sitcom, some people may not find it funny anymore. One of the charms of a sitcom is that it’s cheesy and campy. Now sure, there may be serious moments that a character has to go through, but for the most part it can be silly at times. A big reason why people may have a hard time understanding the charm and silliness of a sitcom is people watch dramedies like Fleabag, Barry, The Bear, and even Succession.

An article from The Spectator News, Wyatt Voelker states “The same digital platforms contributing to the sitcom’s decline have also become incubators for new forms of comedy. Shows like “Atlanta” and “Fleabag” defy traditional genre classifications, blending drama, satire, and surrealism to create something unique.”

These shows are incredibly written and acted, which is understandable why people enjoy these shows. The main issue with shows like Atlanta and Fleabag, is they are overshadowing sitcoms or fully comedic shows. The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, Fleabag, The Bear, and Hacks each won an Emmy for outstanding comedy series. These shows do have comedic parts, but they don’t belong in this category. Hopefully someday The Emmys will have a separate category for dramedies.

Even though sitcoms have taken a dip throughout the past decade, there are still good sitcoms out there. A good example of a new sitcom that is popular and well written is Abott Elementary. This show has won many awards over the years, which is rightfully deserved. If shows are anything like Abott Elementary, then sitcoms may have a future.