Quote: Loopey @ February 27 2009, 7:32 PM GMTSomething that is just relentlessly funny could get a bit boring
This must be where I'm different, because to me, the more relentlessly funny it is, the less boring.
Quote: Loopey @ February 27 2009, 7:32 PM GMTand not allow us to see other sides to the characters.
Again, obviously I'm weird, because I don't care about the other sides of their characters, if they don't help the comedy.
Quote: NoggetFred @ February 28 2009, 5:13 AM GMTThis must be where I'm different, because to me, the more relentlessly funny it is, the less boring.
Again, obviously I'm weird, because I don't care about the other sides of their characters, if they don't help the comedy.
Have you seen the Chuckle Brothers?
Quote: Dolly Dagger @ February 28 2009, 9:01 AM GMTHave you seen the Chuckle Brothers?
Why, are they missing?
Watching the first series of Dad's Army last night - when Jonesy was told that he had to stand down, or later in Godfrey's Cottage when they thought they were facing death - very effective. They got the mix of tragedy and comedy perfect.
Quote: Dolly Dagger @ February 27 2009, 5:04 PM GMTI like tragedy with my comedy. That's life. Well, that's my life at least...
I like sad moments in a comedy too. I guess it helps me connect with it more maybe, if it's not all happy and full of laughs all the time. Even Gavin & Stacey has brought me close to tears a couple of times, that's embarrassing.
No sitcom handles death quite like Seinfeld, when George's fiance Susan dies:
George: She's ahem....gone
Jerry: Dead?
Elaine: I'm..so..sorry, George
Jerry: Yeah! me too
Kramer: Poor Lily...
Jerry: How did it happen?
George: Apparently the glue in the wedding invitations was a....toxic.
All: Aah!..
Kramer: Well that's weird
Jerry: So I guess , you're not getting married?
George: (embarrassed with a touch of unrestrained jubilation) Yes.
Jerry: But...
George: Yeah?
Jerry: Well , now I'm engaged...
George: Yeah?...
Jerry: Well I thought we'd both be getting married.
George: Hey!.. What can I tell ya.
Elaine: All right. (they start to leave except Jerry)
George: well humm.. lets get some coffee.
Jerry: WE HAD A PACT!!!
I love that episode!
Only Seinfeld could handle a death that perfectly.
I wonder if sometimes they stick in a bit of non-comedy because they think that 'being funny' isn't as worthy as other drama?
Well, comedy isn't drama, for one thing. But my response to what you're trying to get at is no. Sometimes the idea just calls for a few other elements to be brought in alongside the comedy.
And who can forget the beauty of the tragicomedy that is the Ted and Ralph sketch where Ralph has to tell Ted that his wife is dead.
Quote: Ben @ March 2 2009, 9:28 AM GMTAnd who can forget the beauty of the tragicomedy that is the Ted and Ralph sketch where Ralph has to tell Ted that his wife is dead.
Exactly, the idea dictates the tone dictates the content.
Quote: Lee Henman @ February 27 2009, 2:34 PM GMTWhat I don't like are comedies that relentlessly explore the darkness of the human soul and then refuse to give us succour, like Nighty Night for instance.
I agree with Henman on this. It's a nasty little comedy with few redeeming features.
Quote: Ben @ March 2 2009, 9:28 AM GMTAnd who can forget the beauty of the tragicomedy that is the Ted and Ralph sketch where Ralph has to tell Ted that his wife is dead.
Greatest comedy sketch ever. 
The critical difference between that Ted and Ralph sketch, compared to what I'm talking about, is that the Ted and Ralph was outrageously funny, because of the terrible situation. In Scrubs, they just chuck in something like a casual "he's dying of cancer" and don't derive any humour from it. It could be argued that the contrast of humour to non-humour is an attempt to add to the overall effect, but to my tastes, it simply detracts.
I think laughs have to be moderated. You need to bring it down and then push it up again. If you have a few lows, the laughs are worth more. If you don't care for the troughs and just want a half hour of solid laughs, maybe that's because your whole life is one big trough from which you crave escape through comedy. Just a thought.
Comedy and tragedy are bedfellows. It's the human condition.
Quote: Chuck D @ March 3 2009, 9:00 AM GMTIf you don't care for the troughs and just want a half hour of solid laughs, maybe that's because your whole life is one big trough from which you crave escape through comedy.
Disagree. If you're going through tough times in your own life, it's often nice to see characters in sitcoms also going through tough times.