One of the best stress relievers in the world is laughter. This is why it's so relaxing to watch a really funny comedy when you need to wind down after a day at work. There are many comedy shows on television and while they keep the laughs coming, classic TV sitcoms have also helped to change society's attitudes.
The humor in a sitcom normally comes from the situations in which the characters find themselves. This is why the genre is more formally known as the situation comedy. One of the great American classics in the genre was 'I Love Lucy' in the Fifties, while lines from the British 'Fawlty Towers' from the Seventies are still quoted even by people who've never seen this hilarious show.
The family has often been a major theme for sitcoms. Many shows have focused on traditional family values, especially during the Reagan era. These included 'The Cosby Show' and 'Family Ties' and most of these shows featured the ideal of a family consisting of a father, mother and children.
Some shows provided a different perspective on the idea of a family. They would feature non-traditional families, such as single-parent households. 'Kate and Allie' was about two single moms, for instance, while 'Full House' involved a widower who raised his daughters with the help of a male friend and a brother-in-law. Other shows focused on familial relationships between adults, such as the brothers and father Crane in 'Frasier'.
Especially since the late Eighties, there were also many shows that featured a new type of urban family, where the characters are groups of friends instead of relatives. These friends often found support from one another while trying to survive in a big city such as New York. Three very popular shows in this vein have been 'Seinfeld', 'Friends' and 'How I Met Your Mother'.
Cultural differences can make for some great laughs, as proved by the old British sitcom 'Mind Your Language', about an eclectic group of immigrants learning English. However, shows that used this theme have been very helpful in creating cultural tolerance and understanding. 'Aliens in America', for instance, featured a Muslim exchange student from Pakistan, at a time when many in the Western world feared Islam.
The most unexpected settings can provide hit comedies. For example, nobody would have thought that war could provide as many laughs as it did in 'MASH'. The interesting thing about this show set against the backdrop of a Korean War field hospital was that it's actually very common for doctors and nurses in a war situation to try and alleviate the stress through madcap antics.
These days it's incredibly easy to watch almost any classic sitcom you can think of. Sometimes you may find reruns on TV. Many shows are available on DVD as well and with a good internet connection, you also have the option of simply streaming the episodes you want to see.
The humor in a sitcom normally comes from the situations in which the characters find themselves. This is why the genre is more formally known as the situation comedy. One of the great American classics in the genre was 'I Love Lucy' in the Fifties, while lines from the British 'Fawlty Towers' from the Seventies are still quoted even by people who've never seen this hilarious show.
The family has often been a major theme for sitcoms. Many shows have focused on traditional family values, especially during the Reagan era. These included 'The Cosby Show' and 'Family Ties' and most of these shows featured the ideal of a family consisting of a father, mother and children.
Some shows provided a different perspective on the idea of a family. They would feature non-traditional families, such as single-parent households. 'Kate and Allie' was about two single moms, for instance, while 'Full House' involved a widower who raised his daughters with the help of a male friend and a brother-in-law. Other shows focused on familial relationships between adults, such as the brothers and father Crane in 'Frasier'.
Especially since the late Eighties, there were also many shows that featured a new type of urban family, where the characters are groups of friends instead of relatives. These friends often found support from one another while trying to survive in a big city such as New York. Three very popular shows in this vein have been 'Seinfeld', 'Friends' and 'How I Met Your Mother'.
Cultural differences can make for some great laughs, as proved by the old British sitcom 'Mind Your Language', about an eclectic group of immigrants learning English. However, shows that used this theme have been very helpful in creating cultural tolerance and understanding. 'Aliens in America', for instance, featured a Muslim exchange student from Pakistan, at a time when many in the Western world feared Islam.
The most unexpected settings can provide hit comedies. For example, nobody would have thought that war could provide as many laughs as it did in 'MASH'. The interesting thing about this show set against the backdrop of a Korean War field hospital was that it's actually very common for doctors and nurses in a war situation to try and alleviate the stress through madcap antics.
These days it's incredibly easy to watch almost any classic sitcom you can think of. Sometimes you may find reruns on TV. Many shows are available on DVD as well and with a good internet connection, you also have the option of simply streaming the episodes you want to see.
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