Nazis and Hitler. Maybe not so much a sitcom cliché, but it does pop up in sketches quite often. The Third Reich is so last world war...Yawn!
Cliché sitcom jokes that really piss you off Page 8
I think I'll put all of these together and write a "sitcom by numbers".
Well you certainly won't be the first to do so.
Quote: chipolata @ March 2 2009, 3:27 PM GMTSomebody drinking coffee in the street and a person walking past and putting change in their cup.
Down it Fresher!!!
Quote: WrongTale @ December 31 2008, 1:19 AM GMTMaybe it was because none of the great filmmaking countries have been actually invaded and/or felt the threat of invasion of invasion by Nazis.
I'm sure if, say, Poles were world famous filmmakers, the world would have learned by now Stalin was every bit as bit as Adolf.
Polanski, Kieslowski, Wajda...not world famous enough? All been nominated for Oscars. But not easy to criticise Stalin when you're working for his mates. Polanski escaped Nazi persecution as a child and his parents died in the camps. He made 'The Pianist' which won him the Best Director Oscar. And you're saying France is not a great film making country?
.. this topic is so deep, I've forgotten the original question? lol
However, whether this is in line with the original query, I'm not sure? ... BUT >>>>
"Well, the way I see it ....." always niggles me, when I hear it in sitcoms or the like. The answer is usually pointless or obvious (in line with the particular theme or situation).
All the best,
Cal 
Quote: Michael Monkhouse @ January 8 2011, 3:00 PM GMT'Who could possibly be so stupid?' - enter Stupid.
Also: 'That will never happen.' - cut to happening.
It's lazy apart from anything else. There's no particular reason why any character can foretell the future, so why is it funny when they can't?
I've also heard that 'The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe' has Christian overtones.
You don't say?
Quote: Tim Azure @ January 16 2011, 10:11 AM GMTAlso: 'That will never happen.' - cut to happening.
It's lazy apart from anything else. There's no particular reason why any character can foretell the future, so why is it funny when they can't?
The juxtaposition of their pompous righteousness and the self-evident failure and implicit embarrassment of them when the 'thing' occurs. Also, in many situations, the ridiculousness of that 'thing' happening.
Easy.
Not really a sitcom cliche as such but I really, really despise the Alan Partridge gesture you see most modern comedy performers still doing. You know the one, hands up, palms out, shaking hands slightly from side to side, usually delivered by a character trying to be ironic.
Biggest offenders are Martin Freeman and Simon Pegg but just about all of them do it. Here's Reece Shearsmith doing it as Ollie Plimsolls at 2:09. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n_JDOzoT6t4
Quote: Lee Henman @ January 16 2011, 2:58 PM GMTBiggest offenders are Martin Freeman and Simon Pegg but just about all of them do it. Here's Reece Shearsmith doing it as Ollie Plimsolls at 2:09. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n_JDOzoT6t4
Heee. I do love Ollie Plimsolls.
His gestures are a pisstake of theatre types of old, so I guess that's where Alan got it too.
Quote: Griff @ January 16 2011, 3:02 PM GMTHa! That reminds me Lee I really hate the thing where a character is pretending they're pretending to be annoyed, when actually they really are annoyed. (The thing Ben Miller did at the start of Episodes). A sort of ironic "Damn you, you bastard!!" line with the fake "Nah, I'm joking... but NOT REALLY" grin/grimace. They must teach it at comedy acting school because it turns up absolutely bloody everywhere.
Yes it's a very similar thing to the one I was describing and it's only been about for a few years and suddenly everyone's doing it. It drives me round the effing bend. 
Quote: zooo @ January 16 2011, 3:13 PM GMTHeee. I do love Ollie Plimsolls.
His gestures are a pisstake of theatre types of old, so I guess that's where Alan got it too.
Probably, yeah. Alan Partrige and Ricky Gervais must be the most "borrowed-from" recent British performers in terms of gestures and acting-styles. Have you seen this guy from PhoneShop? It's shocking - almost a straight-out impersonation of Ricky Gervais. Incredible. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6PVbMBMiDKU
Quote: Lee Henman @ January 16 2011, 3:22 PM GMTHave you seen this guy from PhoneShop? It's shocking - almost a straight-out impersonation of Ricky Gervais. Incredible. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6PVbMBMiDKU
Gervais script-edited the pilot, so it's fair to guess that it's in some way come directly from him or with his approval.
Even the best writers ain't immune to these clichés... Dug out a particularly strong ep of John Sullivan's 'Dear John' today and two moments reminded me of this thread:
1. 'No one will ever mention your problem again' - someone enters, mentioning it.
2. 'Still, look on the bright side: Things can't possibly get any worse.' - Enter Someone Who Can Make Things Worse.
Actually, Evan Smith's 'Writing TV Sitcoms' says that while these types of gag have been done to death, they do -a- conveniently get Stupid onto the scene, and -b- still get laughs from viewers as opposed to writers.
Yes, like I need my bush cutting, roars of laughter.
I need a long length, up there guttering.
I found it too hard to swallow, generic comment.
I like jumbo sausages, hilarious.
We are sharing a cabin, whooo Whooo?
I like sunbathing in the nude, phnaw phnaw.
Quote: Lee Henman @ January 16 2011, 4:22 PM BSTProbably, yeah. Alan Partrige and Ricky Gervais must be the most "borrowed-from" recent British performers in terms of gestures and acting-styles. Have you seen this guy from PhoneShop? It's shocking - almost a straight-out impersonation of Ricky Gervais. Incredible. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6PVbMBMiDKU
It was a just an Office clone, pure and simple. I did like The Office but its legacy has not been great, I have to say. It spawned many imitators, not all as blaring as The Phone Shop, but its style pervaded so many sitcoms it became depressing. Maybe copyright law should be expanded to inlude signature acting styles. If it had already been, then Merchant & Gervais would be up with Beckham and co. on the rich list.