Sitcom Cliches

[BLACKVULCAN]

Haha cool! i am game! having looked just a bit back i think you guys forgot

-the most important ever " Oh S&^%! i just made 2 dates at the same time and i need to be in both places at once" ploy! as seen in the Flintstones when Fred had a movie date with Wilma and had to be bowling for the gravel pit team at the same time!( i always liked that one!

- the "crap! i just lied that i knew someone famous, but i dont know them at all and now i have to ask them to sing at the prom!" Paradox. as seen in the Brady bunch when everybody said Bobbie was a lying sack of &^% when he knew Joe Namath.

-the "musical" episode! where Mother(*&^ who aint never sung a day in their life on the show suddenly have to sing! like Hal and Lois on "Malcolm in the Middle!" or Rocko and the gang on Rocko's modern life!

-the "Everybody thinks this person is good , but i am the only only one who knows they are a *****e/they think i am just jealous of the new person getting attention"dilemma. see " what was that long leg chick in "showgirls "name?( i forget!) anyway her cousin on " save by the bell was that!

 

[SoulManX]

Haha cool! i am game! having looked just a bit back i think you guys forgot

-the most important ever " Oh S&^%! i just made 2 dates at the same time and i need to be in both places at once" ploy! as seen in the Flintstones when Fred had a movie date with Wilma and had to be bowling for the gravel pit team at the same time!( i always liked that one!

- the "crap! i just lied that i knew someone famous, but i dont know them at all and now i have to ask them to sing at the prom!" Paradox. as seen in the Brady bunch when everybody said Bobbie was a lying sack of &^% when he knew Joe Namath.

-the "musical" episode! where Mother(*&^ who aint never sung a day in their life on the show suddenly have to sing! like Hal and Lois on "Malcolm in the Middle!" or Rocko and the gang on Rocko's modern life!

-the "Everybody thinks this person is good , but i am the only only one who knows they are a *****e/they think i am just jealous of the new person getting attention"dilemma. see " what was that long leg chick in "showgirls "name?( i forget!) anyway her cousin on " save by the bell was that!

Will from Philly did know one of the guys in Boys To Men

 

[gkokujin]

Haha cool! i am game! having looked just a bit back i think you guys forgot


-the "musical" episode! where Mother(*&^ who aint never sung a day in their life on the show suddenly have to sing! like Hal and Lois on "Malcolm in the Middle!" or Rocko and the gang on Rocko's modern life!

Ammmmm Iiiiiii Bluuuuuuuuuuuuuuuee

 

[JJJ's Ulcer]

'Buffy' while not a sitcom, also had the musical episode. And it's basically 'Glee's whole reason for existing.

 

[Artistsean]

What bugs me is when a show has the MAIN character be such an everyman (in their minds) that they can't have them do anything.
Will Smith couldn't find a job, but back in school they showed he had a gift for writing.
Corey Mathews was sort of the leader of his group but in the end couldn't find a job after school.
Eric Foreman was the leader of his group but wasn't good enough at anything to find a job (sort of settled on being a teacher near the end).
Zack on Saved by the Bell (don't remember but I think similar stuff happened to him).

Its just that these characters are the stars and sometimes in episodes show aptitudes for certain things like writing, or leading, or acting, but then go nowhere, and sort of settle for becoming a teacher or we assume get a job after the show ends.
In Fresh Prince I kept thinking why doesn't he just become a song writer. (heh)
Or Eric, or Zack, could have gone into politics.
Its like they said in Ferris Buellers Day Off, what is he going to do after school? Whatever he wants. It would be nice to show that some of these characters don't have trouble finding their passion.
But seriously, it would be nice if they showed that this character is skilled in this particular area (like math) so he peruses a job in that area (like a job in math).



Speaking of Glee
It reminds me,
Shows that have one season that makes you interested in the show and then the next season is so different. Takes the show in a different direction. Glee season two was entertaining and then the next season started and it was like a year had jumped by and there were new characters and other stories had been resolved and stuff. The whole bully at school thing that was left hanging was gone and the teacher and his love interest were suddenly married or something.
But they also did this with New Girl. It was about a preschool teacher (I think preschool) and her quirky down to Earth life. Then the next season she is fired, and she starts dating all these male model looking guys. And it seemed like a different show suddenly.
Reaper: Season 1 was about this kid who finds out his parents sold his soul to the devil but its OK because his friends will help him and the devil isn't unlikeable. He has to retrieve all the escaped demons and send them back to hell. Season two, he is actually the son of the devil. His parents are actually demons pretending to be his parents, and the devil has lots of children and he must stop them or something. Plus it suddenly became more about sex as I recall.
Its strange when this show that seems god and successful decides to switch up their concept of the show, sometimes a little and sometimes a lot, and usually too much for me to keep interested. I am not speaking for everyone but it bugs me when shows do this between seasons.

 

[PyroChamber]

One that I like to call "Number 10 friends", we've all see this one a bunch of times.

- Two friends, one's skinny and the other one's fat, sometimes they're bullies and other times they're not. One is either smart, an everyman, or an all around schemer (usually the fat one); and the other one is either dumb or just plain weird (usually the skinny one). The schemer will hatch a plan, usually involving money, and the weird/dumb one will find a way to screw it all up.

 

[JJJ's Ulcer]

One that I like to call "Number 10 friends", we've all see this one a bunch of times.

- Two friends, one's skinny and the other one's fat, sometimes they're bullies and other times they're not. One is either smart, an everyman, or an all around schemer (usually the fat one); and the other one is either dumb or just plain weird (usually the skinny one). The schemer will hatch a plan, usually involving money, and the weird/dumb one will find a way to screw it all up.

Sounds like that Keenan and Kel nonsense.

 

[Lily Adler]

When Friend A asks Friend B to ask out hot guy/girl for them, only for hot guy/girl to ask Friend B out thinking Friend A isn't real. This leads to the wacky fight between Friend A and Friend B, hopefully ending with Lisa Kudrow saying, "if this were prison you'd be like my b**ches."

 

[JJJ's Ulcer]

This has probably been mentioned but newborn baby ages 5 years during season break, but other cast-members stay the same age.

 

[PyroChamber]

Sounds like that Keenan and Kel nonsense.

And Ralph & Norton, Bulk & Skull, Budnick & Donkeylips, Carl Winslow & Urkel (neither was a schemer, but Urkel did ruin everything), I forgot the names of the two from Boy Meets World, etc.

 

[SoulManX]

What bugs me is when a show has the MAIN character be such an everyman (in their minds) that they can't have them do anything.
Will Smith couldn't find a job, but back in school they showed he had a gift for writing.
Corey Mathews was sort of the leader of his group but in the end couldn't find a job after school.
Eric Foreman was the leader of his group but wasn't good enough at anything to find a job (sort of settled on being a teacher near the end).
Zack on Saved by the Bell (don't remember but I think similar stuff happened to him).

Its just that these characters are the stars and sometimes in episodes show aptitudes for certain things like writing, or leading, or acting, but then go nowhere, and sort of settle for becoming a teacher or we assume get a job after the show ends.
In Fresh Prince I kept thinking why doesn't he just become a song writer. (heh)
Or Eric, or Zack, could have gone into politics.
Its like they said in Ferris Buellers Day Off, what is he going to do after school? Whatever he wants. It would be nice to show that some of these characters don't have trouble finding their passion.
But seriously, it would be nice if they showed that this character is skilled in this particular area (like math) so he peruses a job in that area (like a job in math).



I believe Zack's parents had money why work?

 

[SoulManX]

My all time favorite...guest stars that may play an important role only to be recast by another guest star.

I'm looking at you Golden Girls

 

[SoulManX]

And SBTB takes the cake for a huge sitcom cliches

I my memory is correct...Hello Miss Bliss the school was in Indiana, correct?

Yet Bayside High was in Cali, right?

That one hellva a move for the Zack and the gang

 

[Pink Ranger]

One that I like to call "Number 10 friends", we've all see this one a bunch of times.

- Two friends, one's skinny and the other one's fat, sometimes they're bullies and other times they're not. One is either smart, an everyman, or an all around schemer (usually the fat one); and the other one is either dumb or just plain weird (usually the skinny one). The schemer will hatch a plan, usually involving money, and the weird/dumb one will find a way to screw it all up.

I wonder if it's an unconcscious trope, or if it's a deliberate reference to Laurel and Hardy and Abbott and Costello when they do that.

 

[Dave McFly]

how about characters living in a house or apartment that they should not be able afford like George or Kramer on Seinfeld or the cast of Friends.

 

[PyroChamber]

And SBTB takes the cake for a huge sitcom cliches

I my memory is correct...Hello Miss Bliss the school was in Indiana, correct?

Yet Bayside High was in Cali, right?

That one hellva a move for the Zack and the gang

And Belding too, which makes it even more weird.

And let's not forget...

- The front and back doors are always unlocked.

 

[Thundercrack85]

how about characters living in a house or apartment that they should not be able afford like George or Kramer on Seinfeld or the cast of Friends.

Arguably though, that's necessary, because what people can afford in most urban areas like New York would be so tiny, it would make filming a nightmare.

Especially for low budget shows, that don't move around a lot.

Though there are some very egregious examples.

 

[PyroChamber]

- New York, on sitcoms, has no black people; depending on the cast.

 

[Pink Ranger]

how about characters living in a house or apartment that they should not be able afford like George or Kramer on Seinfeld or the cast of Friends.

Yeah, that's a common trope in all kinds of fiction, even in serious dramas.

Although in New York City, it's not that unrealistic. Because of rent control, which is a well-meaning but stupid program, you can find people living in relatively large or nice places, even when their income does not merit it. It sickens me to hear of people on welfare, who are proud of it and have no desire to do anything else, living relatively comfortable lifestyles in NYC just because they're holding on to a rent controlled apartment.

 

[Hellion]

My all time favorite...guest stars that may play an important role only to be recast by another guest star.

I'm looking at you Golden Girls

if your looking at Golden Girls, what about an actor portraying different characters throughout the series run. I'm looking at Harold Gould as Miles/Arnie and theres a others also, need to think about it.

 

[Hellion]

What about the unseen but often talked about character.

The Golden Girls had Phil (Dorothy's brother and Sophia's son)
Will & Grace had Karen's husband...Stan(?)

 

[Donut]

how about characters living in a house or apartment that they should not be able afford like George or Kramer on Seinfeld or the cast of Friends.

To be fair on Friends they did somewhat explain most of the living conditions. Chandler & Ross always had decent paying jobs to afford their places.Monica inherited the apartment from her grandmother & it was on rent control. Joey simply moved in & would every now & then get acting jobs & Rachel eventually got some decent jobs as well

 

[JJJ's Ulcer]

What about the unseen but often talked about character.

The Golden Girls had Phil (Dorothy's brother and Sophia's son)
Will & Grace had Karen's husband...Stan(?)

Or what about the character we hear, but never see (or just see the top or back of the head)? The neighbor in 'Home Improvement', "George Steinbrenner" in 'Seinfeld'.

 

[BLACKVULCAN]

Ammmmm Iiiiiii Bluuuuuuuuuuuuuuuee

Haha! Right on!

Oh and I forgot to mention
-the "Evil,you know I am Evil cause I have different hair color or goatee Twin" syndrome! As shown by serna ( samantha's cousin)on bewitch. It got a lot more use after spock did it!( I really hate that one)

- the " I just saved up all my money and bought this piece of %^& not working car!"predicament! Richie cunningham,greg brady they all did it! I guess not only is it a point of jockualrity but to teach you that your dad knows what he talking about! Haha

 

[HR-PUFF&STUFF]

One that I like to call "Number 10 friends", we've all see this one a bunch of times.

- Two friends, one's skinny and the other one's fat, sometimes they're bullies and other times they're not. One is either smart, an everyman, or an all around schemer (usually the fat one); and the other one is either dumb or just plain weird (usually the skinny one). The schemer will hatch a plan, usually involving money, and the weird/dumb one will find a way to screw it all up.

Gilligans Island