Sitcoms are situational comedies which cover a wide range of subject matter across the spectrum of shows, but have some defining characteristics as well. Sitcoms tend to be episodic, which means that characters never age, and plot circumstances from one episode do not carry on to the next. This is a vital aspect of the sitcom, because it doesn’t allow for much character development; the characters remain relatively static from show to show while the plot is dynamic each episode. Sitcoms tend to exude a certain type of humor, from slapstick to satire, which is consistent for the duration of the show.
One of my favorite sitcoms is Curb Your Enthusiasm which stars Larry David, the co-creator of Seinfeld, as himself. This particular show truly is a situational comedy, its premise relying on the array of painfully awkward and yet, hilarious situations that Larry finds himself in. Larry's character lacks the sensitivity and manners that is expected of him, and this facilitates the scenarios that the show portrays. Curb Your Enthusiasm is episodic in nature because the characters remain the same while the plot events and circumstances change from one episode to the next. The show is largely improvised, and the humor nearly always is a result of the actual situation. The humor is unique, I think largely due to the improvisation, and is refreshing amidst a sea of shows with humor that’s been overused. You'll find yourself laughing hysterically over a situation that you never want to be in yourself.
photo from: fanpop.com
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