I'm looking for some serious articles and books about British sitcoms. I'm particularly interested in any sources that look at sitcoms from the point of view of the television industry? Ie., that treat them as a commodity rather than art.
Any links or recomendations gratefully recieved.
The BFI books are pretty good. I've got the League of Gentlemen one, haven't read it in a while though but I think it was more focused on looking at it critically so not sure if it would be of much use to you. I know they've done a few books on sitcoms so it might be worth a look.
Quote: bamalamafizzvaj @ June 3 2010, 11:28 AM BSTThe BFI books are pretty good. I've got the League of Gentlemen one, haven't read it in a while though but I think it was more focused on looking at it critically so not sure if it would be of much use to you. I know they've done a few books on sitcoms so it might be worth a look.
Cheers. I'll look out for them.
Might this be along the lines of what you want? I admit to owning it but never having got around to read any.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/1844570886/comedygude-21/
Nah, that looks like a nimby pamby pseudo inteluctual hoity toity type of nonsense they use to teach and encourage media study types of courses. It has no place in the real world.
Quote: Aaron @ June 3 2010, 1:49 PM BSTMight this be along the lines of what you want? I admit to owning it but never having got around to read any.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/1844570886/comedygude-21/
I have that book. I got it when I was doing my media studies dissertation on TV sitcoms and how they changed over the years. I got about 55%.
Quote: Aaron @ June 3 2010, 1:49 PM BSTMight this be along the lines of what you want? I admit to owning it but never having got around to read any.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/1844570886/comedygude-21/
Yes, this looks interesting.
Quote: Marc P @ June 4 2010, 11:14 PM BSTSorry Chip, I just read what you asked for. If you wanted pseudo based media studies shit I could have sent you my thesis for thrice the money with a signed photo
I'd love a signed photo of the man who created Hard Evidence! Although strictly speaking I'm looking for info on how much a sucsessful sitcom is worth to a network.
Quote: bamalamafizzvaj @ June 3 2010, 11:28 AM BSTThe BFI books are pretty good. I've got the League of Gentlemen one, haven't read it in a while though but I think it was more focused on looking at it critically so not sure if it would be of much use to you. I know they've done a few books on sitcoms so it might be worth a look.
Yes, I just found this BFI article, which was interesting.
http://www.bfi.org.uk/features/tv/100/articles/comedy.html
This is also the type of stuff I'm interested in:
http://www.museum.tv/eotvsection.php?entrycode=formatsales
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/04/18/arts/television/18sitcoms.html
Quote: chipolata @ June 4 2010, 11:22 PM BSTI'd love a signed photo of the man who created Hard Evidence! Although strictly speaking I'm looking for info on how much a sucsessful sitcom is worth to a network.
Look a serious side to Chip.
If you are looking at money figures related to programmes, might not a company / network annual report show it? Not sure but worth a look.
Yes, I'm digging around looking for that kind of info. I think it's easier to see how financially rewarding a big succesful American sitcom is, but harder to quantify the success of a British sitcom in financial terms.
