Is it possible...

Is it possible that sitcom, in its thirty minute per episode series format, has blinkered the outlook of production companies to the extent that this is the only half hour comedy template acceptable for consideration for broadcast?

Also, am I right in saying that an important consideration of sitcom is the restoration of the status quo at the end of each episode, and that each episode, to all intents and purposes, has a stand alone story line?

The reason I ask is because I have a short story I'd like to turn into a script, and I know there's enough content to satisfy a six episode requirement. But it would consequently be a serialised comedy rather than a series (if you see what I mean)

I think the script would work okay on radio but does anyone know of any precedent in serialised comedy/sitcom having been broadcast on TV or radio.

The story, incidentally, is a tale of derring-do, with our hero and heroine on the run from dark forces bent on world domination. (I can hear you laughing already!)

Quote: evertsen @ April 18 2011, 12:59 PM BST

I think the script would work okay on radio but does anyone know of any precedent in serialised comedy/sitcom having been broadcast on TV or radio.

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Lots of them. Worst Week of My Life springs immediately to mind.

Quote: Marc P @ April 18 2011, 1:09 PM BST

Lots of them. Worst Week of My Life springs immediately to mind.

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Yes of course!

Cheers.

De Nada!

Also there is a history of 'longer arc' type ongoing narrative sitcoms where the status quo isn't reached as such. May to December, As Time Goes By, Nighty Night.

Psychoville.

'Clone' is an obvious example.

Yup, there's loads! Some goodn's too. It just didn't seem apparent to me at the time.

Cheers

And that Joana Lumley thing. Forgot its title though.

And if you want to go back further 'The Fall and Rise of Reginald Perrin' (the first series of which was adapted from a novel) is still the best example of, erm, this sort of thing (IMHO, etc etc).

Quote: radiat10n @ April 18 2011, 5:14 PM BST

And if you want to go back further 'The Fall and Rise of Reginald Perrin' (the first series of which was adapted from a novel) is still the best example of, erm, this sort of thing (IMHO, etc etc).

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Yes that's a good example of a comedy drama! So not really still, or ever, the best example of an arcing sitcom, but hey.

I don't think that you should worry about that sort of thing Evertsen.
(although it's porobably wise to bear it in mind)
If what you write is going to be better at the length you want then it is better to write it at that length & write the best stuff you can.

Quote: Steve Sunshine @ April 18 2011, 10:21 PM BST

I don't think that you should worry about that sort of thing Evertsen.
(although it's porobably wise to bear it in mind)
If what you write is going to be better at the length you want then it is better to write it at that length & write the best stuff you can.

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That's a very good point, Steve. It's just that I don't think I've got the credentials for a screenplay - and though thirty minute option is still hugely tough, I think it's something I'd like to explore, at the very least.

Cheers, Steve.

Quote: Marc P @ April 18 2011, 10:14 PM BST

Yes that's a good example of a comedy drama! So not really still, or ever, the best example of an arcing sitcom, but hey.

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Erm, so comedy dramas are usually filled with catchphrases and filmed in front of studio audiences to create laugh tracks are they?

Seriously, I've never seen F&R referred to as anything other than a sitcom, and I've seen it called that in a billion places (even wikipedia, so it MUST be true...)

Yup you're probably right. Before my time. But I remembered it more as a comedy drama, and I guess the new one didn't help.

I stand corrected sir!