Situational Comedy

The so called latest tread grooving around in media world is the SITUATION COMEDY a.ka. Sitcom is the comedy genre kind program. This type of programs originated in radios but nowadays it’s found as narrative forms on television mostly. It’s kind of live stage performances having similar background like home, office, etc. where characters related to each other do comedic sequences .It differs from standup comedy and sketch comedy.

   A situation comedy television program may be recorded in front of a studio audience. The effect of a live studio audience can be imitated by the use of a laugh track.

Earlier comedy sketches were presented within a varied show and enhanced with musical performances. The emerging mass medium of radio allowed audiences to regularly return to programmers, so programmers could feature the same characters and situations each episode and expect audiences to be familiar with them.

Sitcom humor is often character driven and by its nature running gags evolve during a series. Often the status quo of the situation is maintained from episode to episode. An episode may feature a disruption to the usual situation and the character interactions, but this will usually be settled by the episode's end and the situation returned to how it was prior to the disruption. These episodes are then linked by the overarching storyline, driving the show forward.

It’s not something new in India, it’s rather been present since 19^th century but only its fever has risen in last few years and its presence is felt.

Sitcoms started appearing on Indian television in the 1980s, with serials like Yeh Jo Hai Zindagi (1984) and Wagle Ki Duniya (1988) on the state-run Doordarshan channel. Gradually, as private channels were allowed, many more sitcoms followed in the 1990s, such as Zabaan Sambhalke (1993), Shrimaan Shrimati (1995), Office Office (2001), Khichdi (2002), Sarabhai vs. Sarabhai (2005) to Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah (2008-present).

The latest, the king of comedy, Kapil Sharma launched his own show “Comedy nights with kapil “on colors TV channel. The format of the show is mixed, with Sharma acting out skits on stage with supporting characters, while also interacting with members in the audience and permanent guest Navjot Singh Siddhu. It often features celebrity guests, who usually appear to promote their latest films and with whom the actors interact in-character. The show has an ex tempore feel and is presently highest TRP show.

 Many American, Canadian Newer sitcoms that include How I Met Your Mother, Suburgatory, Gary Unmarried, Mike & Molly, Rules of Engagement, $h*! My Dad Says, Life with Bonnie, According to Jim, The New Adventures of Old Christine, Two and a Half Men, Yes, Dear, The Big Bang Theory, 2 Broke Girls, Anger Management, Melissa & Joey, and The Neighbors are very popular series all over the world . Some of these created new trend and a fresh wave in youths. Some of these series like how I met your mother, big bang theory and friends became immensely favorite among young blood that their episodes were downloaded in great number and cherished. As these series were real life related, it touched the heart of many. People could feel the same kind of intimacy or ever rather wished such kind of lifestyles.

Modern critics have disagreed over the utility of the term "sitcom" in classifying shows that have come into existence since the turn of the century. Certain individuals have raised the point that the shows in existence when the terminology "situational comedy" arose were highly invariant and aptly categorized as such. As a result, describing some modern shows (e.g., Louie, Curb Your Enthusiasm) as "sitcoms" can generate some false expectations. It has been proposed that one-camera setup shows would be better served to be removed from the sitcom classification and described in a taxonomy at the same level of sitcom as another type of comedy instead.

Whatever it may be, I enjoy the downloaded series playing back to back with a tub of popcorn, be it big bang or comedy nights with Kapil.

Vitasta Ganjoo