Comedy drama or sitcom...?

Anyone else writing a comedy drama/sitcom thingy?

Just curious I guess but also wandered where you cross the line from being a sitcom to becoming a comedy drama? Or vice versa I guess!

I think it was the moment my comic relief necked a jar of paracetemol.

I think when you've only got enough gags for half an hour, but a running time of 60 minutes, it becomes a comedy drama.

I'm working on something that's a comedy, but not a sitcom. It has dramatic elements, but its definitely NOT a comedy drama. Ugh. It's in six half hour episodes, one story, cliffhangers at the end of each episode. But it's definitely not a comedy drama, its a comedy.

Quote: Graham Bandage @ October 10 2008, 12:39 PM BST

I think when you've only got enough gags for half an hour, but a running time of 60 minutes, it becomes a comedy drama.

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Nailed.

Quote: Graham Bandage @ October 10 2008, 12:39 PM BST

I think when you've only got enough gags for half an hour, but a running time of 60 minutes, it becomes a comedy drama.

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I'd buy that. It's why a lot of first time writers set out to write a sitcom and end up writing a 'dramedy'. It's an inability to write enough jokes for the most part.

Or an inability to cut the crap 'frilly' bits of the story, and stick just to the necessary plot to carry it through.

Wouldn't that make Carry On Films crap and frilly?

I think 60 minutes of sitcom would be to much to enjoy.

The dramatic bits in dramedy spread it out and give more identification.

I prefer dramedy but don't think I could write it.

Quote: sootyj @ October 10 2008, 1:01 PM BST

Wouldn't that make Carry On Films crap and frilly?

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Films are an entirely different case again, but it's also true to an extent I suppose.

Good points made.

I think your right sootyj, you buy into dramedy more as it's believable.

Or should that be, dramcom or comdram?

Here's what I think the differences are: (I could be wrong, I usually am!)

SITCOM:
30 minutes.
Regular characters each week.
One self contained story that is resolved at the end of the episode.

COMEDY SERIES:
30 minutes - 1 hour.
Mostly regular characters each week, but new characters may be introduced as the story unfolds.
The story continues each week (often with cliff hangers) and is resolved at the end of the series.

COMEDY DRAMA:
Usually 1 hour.
Usually a light-hearted drama with some comedy moments. (Not really gags, just funny things that happen to the characters now and then)
Usually a self contained story each week, but can sometimes continue each week.

Quote: Mikey J @ October 10 2008, 1:16 PM BST

Here's what I think the differences are: (I could be wrong, I usually am!)

SITCOM:
30 minutes.
Regular characters each week.
One self contained story that is resolved at the end of the episode.

COMEDY SERIES:
30 minutes - 1 hour.
Mostly regular characters each week, but new characters may be introduced as the story unfolds.
The story continues each week (often with cliff hangers) and is resolved at the end of the series.

COMEDY DRAMA:
Usually 1 hour.
Usually a light-hearted drama with some comedy moments. (Not really gags, just funny things that happen to the characters now and then)
Usually a self contained story each week, but can sometimes continue each week.

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Arh, but what if:

30 minutes x6

Regular characters each week, but new characters may be introduced as the story unfolds.

Each episode has usually got a self contained story each week and also continues each week with the big running story which is resolved at the end of the series.

Usually a light-hearted drama with many comedy moments. (Not really gags, just funny things that happen to the characters)

?

I'd agree with you Mikey except for your last line - comedy dramas almost always have continuing storylines. Mutual Friends and Sunshine being the two current examples.

There's a long discussion about the differences between the two genres here: https://www.comedy.co.uk/forums/thread/4142

My personal thoughts are that comedy dramas are failed sitcoms The only comedy drama I've ever really been a fan of is Teachers.

Minder was often described as a comedy drama and I used to enjoy that.
Buffy could be described as one also, which is brilliant IMHO.
Desperate Housewives was a comedy drama too I think.
I don't think new Doctor Who is a million miles away from it either.

But the shows which do get described in the Radio Times etc as "comedy drama" eg Mutual Friends aren't usually my cup of tea.

The best comedy dramas put funny characters in unfunny situations, the worst put unfunny characters in funny situations. This is a sweeping statement but, nevertheless, true.

ok ok, so some com-drams have a self contained story and some continue.

I'd class, for example, New Tricks as a comedy drama. That has self contained stories each week.