Sitcoms: comparing UK and US productions, general notes

By Fintan Darragh

In some media studies courses you need to understand the differences between sitcoms produced in the United Kingdom and the United States of America.

UK sitcoms

In UK sitcoms the focus is very much on the characters, socially, sexually, etc. Characters are far more class conscious. Upper-class characters are depicted as intelligent, civil and perhaps even dotty, whereas Lower-class characters are shown to be loud, shallow, crass but nice. British sitcoms like to show that everyone has their place in society.

US sitcoms

In sitcoms from the US the focus is on the individual development of the character, as opposed to the character’s position in the class system, which is in line with the values of ‘the American Dream’ of equality, etc.

US productions tend to use dysfunctional relationships to get the audience to identify with the characters and so provoke more laughter.

All sitcoms

In all sitcoms the national identities of the producers control much of what is represented. Similarly, overall messages which appear in sitcoms are generally the same; principles held dearly by the producers.

Narrative structure of sitcoms

• Things don’t change – very often the equilibrium of an episode will be the same at the end as it was at the beginning.
• Themes recur: family, home, work, authority, etc.
• Comic modes: Visual and verbal gags, slapstick and dramatic irony are all used extensively.
• Three acts exist within each episode unless it is a two-parter: Equilibrium, Disequilibrium and Resolution (as shown by the coda)
• Motifs and catchphrases (‘I don’t believe it!’)
• Characters are very clearly defined and are usually based on stereotypes.
• Circulation and modification – a constant dis/re-stabilisation.

Key narrative ingredients of sitcoms

• Conflict and friction
• Collision of values, identities and lifestyles
• Transgression
• Frustration over class, sexuality, gender and race

Sitcoms have mostly simplistic and reassuring plots which are based around a problem and its resolution. However, the messiness of real life has begun to replace this.