I've been watching a lot of OFITG recently and have only just noticed the similarities between Larry David and David Renwick's writing.
Both have several things going on in each episode of their respective shows and they neatly bring everything together at the end. I can't believe I didn't spot this earlier.
Isn't that a feature of most sitcoms?
No, I don't think so. Most sitcoms have a plot and subplot, Seinfeld/Curb and OFITG have several things going on which make sense at the end, or are neatly brought together at the end.
Isn't that fairly standard within good writing generally?
Quote: Dolly Dagger @ June 12 2009, 10:53 AM BSTIsn't that a feature of most sitcoms?
Ah, beat me to it Dolly.
Thanks for making me look like I can't read. 
Quote: Rob H @ June 12 2009, 10:58 AM BSTThanks for making me look like I can't read.
It's your 435 posts that do that! 
I'm just posting now to make it look like you can't read numbers.
Quote: Jacob Loves Comedy @ June 12 2009, 10:54 AM BSTNo, I don't think so. Most sitcoms have a plot and subplot, Seinfeld/Curb and OFITG have several things going on which make sense at the end, or are neatly brought together at the end.
I think there's many shows that do that. Noel Fielding and Julian Barratt, refer to it as the 'super joke', that ties up lots of minor events.
I really don't think all sitcoms do that at all. Look at Dad's Army, generally just a plot and a subplot. Ok, Fawlty Towers probably used the multiple plot format, but I really don't think it's all that common in classic comedy. Rising Damp was a plot and subplot, as was OFAH in the early days. Frasier is generally just a plot and subplot too.
Quote: Rob H @ June 12 2009, 10:59 AM BSTI'm just posting now to make it look like you can't read numbers.
Damn you!!!
Quote: Jacob Loves Comedy @ June 12 2009, 11:02 AM BSTI really don't think all sitcoms do that at all. Look at Dad's Army, generally just a plot and a subplot. Ok, Fawlty Towers probably used the multiple plot format, but I really don't think it's all that common in classic comedy. Rising Damp was a plot and subplot, as was OFAH in the early days. Frasier is generally just a plot and subplot too.
It's certainly not a convention of every sitcom but it is pretty common. I think where Curb and One Foot have more in common are their misanthropic protagonists.
Quote: David Bussell @ June 12 2009, 11:32 AM BSTI think where Curb and One Foot have more in common are their mysanthropic protagonists.
That's easy for you to say.
Jx
Quote: David Bussell @ June 12 2009, 11:32 AM BSTmysanthropic protagonists.
There may well be a million words in English - but you don't have to use them all!
I find cat,dog,food,cock and f**k is enough for most situations.
Does this basically mean "miserable bastards"?
"misanthropic"
Quote: Tim Walker @ June 12 2009, 11:48 AM BST"misanthropic"
Do you have to be so pydantic?
Quote: David Bussell @ June 12 2009, 1:16 PM BSTDo you have to be so pydantic?
I'm not being pydantic, I'm being conndersending and patranizing.