Sitcom is called one of the most popular genres of the television series. He is very loved by a large audience of viewers and has a pronounced social orientation. The creators of the most successful sitcoms release several seasons of the series. That is why viewers do not part with their heroes for a long time, which can be several years.
The term "sitcom" was promoted by the merger of two words - "situational comedy." This concept means series that have their own differences from soap operas, as well as detective, female and mystical films. It is worth recognizing that today sitcoms are very popular with viewers around the world. That is why the most successful of them are often shown in prime time.
A bit of history
The first semblance of a sitcom was created at one of the US radio stations in the 30s of the twentieth century. Of course, the work was presented in audio format. It was a humorous production called "Sam and Henry", which was a huge success and was able to win the love of the audience.
Nevertheless, officially the term "sitcom" began to be used only in the 60s of the last century. This happened with the release of the cult series, which was called "I Love Lucy." This American sitcom has become a classic of the newly formed genre, having received many of the most prestigious awards and earned the sincere love of millions of viewers from around the world.
Features
Sitcom is a genre characterized by the presence of a virtually unchanged cast. And only in its various series may episodic characters appear.
Another feature of the sitcom is the tendency to participate in the filming of pop stars, television and film. They act in separate series, playing, as a rule, themselves.
A feature of the sitcom is that each individual episode tells its own story. But at the same time there is a line of the main plot. She slowly but steadily gets its development throughout the season of the television series. It can be, for example, a love story of the main characters.
And the last feature, the difference between sitcoms and all other genres of television series, is the presence of offscreen laughter that accompanies comedy scenes that are especially successful, according to the scriptwriter. This can be explained by the fact that the first such films in the United States were shot in studios where spectators were present. The offscreen laughter in this case was a natural reaction of people to the action. The new American sitcoms that are filming today, sometimes also have this feature.
Rating of the best situational comedies
Which American sitcom is considered the best? When analyzing various sources, you can make a list of the most popular television series of this genre. We will get acquainted with the comedies that are most often found in top reviews and have earned the love of the audience, which has not been exhausting for years. Which American sitcoms are considered the most popular? They will be presented below.
"Friends"
The list of the best American sitcoms opens with the television series that appeared on television in 1994. It was then that Martha Koffman and David Crane shot the first season of the story of the life and adventures of six friends.
The action of this American sitcom takes place for the most part in Manhattan. The plot tells about the same time when the series was shot, and this is the period from 1994 to 2004.
The television series Friends introduces viewers to the spoiled “daddy's daughter” Rachel Green, played by Jennifer Aniston, clean-cook Chef Monica Geler (Courtney Cox), complex wit and office worker Chandler Bing (Matthew Perry); a crazed riding and sex guy who wants to get his part, Joey Tribbiani, played by Matt Leblanc, as well as divorced paleontologist Ross Geller (David Schwimmer) and singer, who is also a hippy masseuse, Phoebe Buffet (played by Lisa Kudrow).
At the very beginning of the series, viewers get acquainted with the history of a failed marriage. Rachel broke up with her fiancé, leaving him right at the altar, and moved to Monica, her school friend. Opposite their apartment live Joey and Chandler, with whom they made acquaintance and made friends. Their company includes Monica Ross's brother, as well as Phoebe, her former neighbor.
After breaking up with his fiancé, Rachel decides to start an independent life. She refuses her father's money and gets a job in a coffee shop as an ordinary waitress. After that, she switches to the fashion world, where she makes a successful career, going from a junior assistant to the department head at the department store to the head of the merchandising department at a large company.
Monica is not doing so well. Over the first few seasons, she has to overcome great difficulties, not achieving career growth. But as a result of hard work, she becomes a chef in a prestigious restaurant.
Chandler, initially an employee of the statistics department, is getting used to the advertising business by the end of the sitcom.
The story of Joe tells the viewer about his gradual ascent to the top of his career. After filming in commercials and various films, he received one of the main roles in the popular series.
As for the paleontologist Ross, he replaced the work of a museum employee as a university teacher.
Phoebe earns her living by massage, as well as playing guitar songs that she composed herself.
The plot of this American sitcom is based on a romantic relationship between Rachel and Ross. Young people during the television series then part, then reunite. Their relationship goes all the way from tender and passionate love to outright hostility. They have a daughter, and the couple decides to never part.
Since the fifth season, the authors of the sitcom have connected another storyline of the film. This is the relationship between Monica and Chandler. The remaining friends from their company continue to look for life partners. By the end of the series, only Joey remains free of all.
The overall plot of the sitcom is developing gradually. In addition, each series contains its own logically completed story.
The television series "Friends" was loved by viewers from the first season. They immediately liked this life-affirming, sincere and kind story about true love and friendship.
The television series has become a real champion in the number of awards and awards. In his arsenal - the US television Emmy Award for Best Comedy and Best Actress in a Supporting Role.
Received a television series and a Guild Award. She was awarded for best cast. In 2000, Lisa Kudrow was recognized as the best actress. In 2003, Jennifer Aniston was awarded the Golden Globe Award for her well-played role as Reacher.
"The Big Bang Theory"
We continue our acquaintance with popular American sitcoms. The premiere of the television series "The Big Bang Theory", created by Bill Prady and Chuck Poroi, took place in September 2007. It is interesting that this sitcom was shot directly in front of the audience.
The television series "The Big Bang Theory" tells about the life of two talented physicists - Leonard Hofstedter and Sheldon Cooper. These young people are brilliant, and each of them has already managed to achieve a doctorate. However, all these merits to science do not help them in simple communication with others.
But in their life a new neighbor appeared - the blonde Penny. Young people perforce have to communicate with her. One of the guys even has a romantic relationship with this pretty girl.
The premiere of the twelfth and final season began in September 2018.The series will end in May 2019.
"American family"
This television comedy series was scripted by Stephen Levitan and Christopher Lloyd. Sitcom "American Family" tells the story of the lives of three completely different families. Viewers saw the first season in September 2009.
Almost all episodes of the sitcom “American Family” begin with one of the family members asking a question. He seeks the answer throughout the episode. After that, the creators of the sitcom show the specific life of families with their problems and adventures, antics and failures, which are present on their daily basis.
Some series focus the viewer's attention on children, on the role of the father, etc. As a rule, at the end of each episode, one of the family members expresses his opinion. His voice necessarily sounds behind the scenes. There are also such series in this popular sitcom where the world of any separate family is revealed.
This television series almost immediately became one of the most popular shows in the USA. This happened after the experimental release of one of his episodes. As a result, ABC channel introduced a sitcom into the list of its shows for 2009-2010. and ordered another 13 episodes.
"Sabrina is a little witch"
This American television series is based on the Archie Comics of the same name. The first four of seven seasons were broadcast by ABC. After his refusal from the series, viewers could see a sitcom on The WB. However, here the rating of the series "Sabrina - a little witch" began to fall. That is why the seventh season was the last for his filming.
The plot of this comedy tells the viewer about Sabrina Spellman. This young girl lives with her aunts Zelda and Hilda. At age 16, Sabrina learns that, like most of her relatives, she is a witch with magical powers.
Somewhat later, it turned out that her cat in the past was an invader of the world. The Council of Mages turned him into an animal for a long hundred years.
In the plot of each series, Sabrina uses her magic to achieve selfish goals. At the same time, she finds herself in uncomfortable but comical situations. From everything that happens, the girl draws a moral lesson.
Dangerous Henry
The premiere of this comedy series took place in the United States in July 2014. The Russian audience first saw the sitcom in January 2015.
The plot of this fascinating comedy tells us from a 13-year-old teenager Henry. The boy became an assistant to a superhero named Captain Chel. But Henry should not tell anyone about this. He should keep a secret even from his friends and relatives. Once the Captain leaves, and a brave boy takes his place.
The second season of “Dangerous Henry”, viewers saw in September 2015. In March 2016, the sitcom was extended, starting to shoot the third season. He came out in September of the same year. In November 2016, Dangerous Henry decided to shoot further. The fourth season premiered in October 2017. In the same year, the television series received an American film award for the best cable film.
"The Third Planet from the Sun"
The audience got acquainted with this sitcom on the ABC channel in the period from 1996 to 2001. The main characters of the film is a group of aliens. They arrived on Earth to observe people. To solve the task set before them, the aliens took the form of an ordinary human family. Over time, aliens are mastered in a new place. Gradually, they begin to pay attention to their personal lives more than completing a task.
So, the expedition commander Dick Solomon became the breadwinner of the family and got a job as a physics teacher at the university. Information Officer Tommy moved into the body of a teenager. He started going to school, and later went to college. Harry and security officers Sally have the opportunity to spend all their time at home. Mining livelihoods, they are interrupted by casual earnings.
According to the plot of the television series "The Third Planet from the Sun," aliens often contacted their boss. His name was Big Giant Head. This boss is usually behind the scenes. He transfers all tasks through Harry. And he has to suddenly harden and raise his hands as antennas, often in the wrong circumstances.
Many of the jokes in the sitcom "The Third Planet from the Sun" are based on the discrepancy that the new look of the aliens and their morals have. So, Dick is not at all like the wise head of the family. He is arrogant, eccentric and absurd. Sally, despite her compelling appearance, is aggressive and rude. Tommy, who is the oldest in the group, can’t put up with the humiliating role of a teenager. And only Harry feels great on Earth.
Big Georgia
This sitcom was created by Jeff Greenstein and Jennifer Weiner. The series "Big Georgia" was broadcast on the ABC channel from 06/29/2011 to 08/17/2011.
The start of this sitcom was quite successful. Watching his first episode gathered 1 million 317 thousand viewers. However, then the ratings, unfortunately the creators of this project, began to plummet. That is why in September 2011 the channel announced the closure of the series.
The plot of the sitcom introduces the viewer to aspiring actress George Chamberlain. She was played by Raven-Simone. This girl, who was born in the south of the country, dreams of becoming famous. To achieve this goal, she travels to New York with Joe (Mahandra Delfino), her best friend.
“Like Jim said”
The broadcast of this sitcom was carried out by the ABC channel from October 2001 to June 2009. What does the plot of the American television series “As Jim Said” tell its viewers?
When viewing the sitcom, we get acquainted with the spouses. This is Jim and Cheryl. They live in Chicago, in a country house. They have two daughters, Gracie and Ruby, and a son, Kaip. The seventh season was marked by the completion of the family. The spouses give birth to twins Gordon and Jonathan. Jim heads a small construction company. Cheryl is a housewife.
The head of the family, Jim loves his wife and children. However, it is not without flaws. Jim stingy, lazy, laughing, prefers to eat deliciously and does not tolerate when someone interrupts him.
The plot of the television series tells the viewer about the problems that the family faces. All events unfold in the house of the spouses or near it.
The New Addams Family
This series is a joint US-Canadian work. It is based on the comics of Charles Addams. Sitcom is a remake of the Addams Family television series, shot between 1964 and 1966.
The sitcom was broadcast from 10/19/1996 to 08/28/1999 in the USA and Canada on Fox Family and YTV channels, respectively. The Russian audience saw this work in the period 2003-2004.
The television series "The New Addams Family" introduces us to a strange house, near which there is practically no sun. And the dwelling itself, which belongs to an unusual family, is shrouded in gloomy mystery.
Thing constantly runs around the house. And she is nothing more than a severed arm. The butler Larch, rising to the ceiling with a gruff voice, is also surprising. You can meet Itt's cousin in this house. He is small in stature, wearing a hat and glasses, is covered in hair and speaks a language known only to this family. Among the characters is a strange grandmother. This is a witch with hair that constantly stands on end. Here is the husband of Gomez and the wife of Martis. Addams children - son and daughter. Another relative is a bald uncle named Fester, who attracts attention with his pale skin.
Unusual and even creepy is the very atmosphere of this house. Somewhere you can see the guillotine, and somewhere there are walking ghosts. And every day something strange happens in this house.
But sometimes ordinary people come here. They are completely unfamiliar to Addams, but the family receives their guests very good-naturedly. The visitors do not even know what the owners are and what is happening in their house. The series was remembered by the audience for an unusual plot, an interesting game of actors and high-quality humor.