“Situational comedies,” or simply just sitcoms, are a popular type of television show format that center on the humorous representation of everyday life, relationships, and social interactions. It mirrors our realities, only in a funny way. Sitcoms provide us with a much-needed dose of humor and laughter that can effortlessly lift our moods and help ease stress. Most of all, it can bring comfort and peace in this chaotic world we live in. With that, here are just three of the best sitcoms we have today that prove the therapeutic power of sitcoms.
The Big Bang Theory
Created by Chuck Lorre and Bill Prady, “The Big Bang Theory,” revolves around four nerd friends, Sheldon Cooper, Leonard Hofstadter, Howard Wolowitz, and Rajesh Koothrapali, whose lives get tied up with pretty neighbor, Penny. The iconic characters are played by Jim Parsons, Johnny Galecki, Simon Helberg, Kunal Nayyar, and Kaley Cuoco, respectively. The four central characters are socially awkward, but highly intelligent, which leads them to be in humorous interactions as they navigate through relationships, and work, together with their interests in comic books, science fiction, and video games. The tight-knit friendship and evolving relationship between the characters keep the audience invested in their journey. Despite receiving some criticisms of the show’s stereotypes, especially in the earlier seasons, as well as the oft debated excessive use of laugh tracks to signal jokes, we see the characters develop, grow, and mature as the show goes on. There would not be one episode without you laughing out loud, that is for sure. Not to mention, that you also learn some real scientific stuff from the show. The huge success of “The Big Bang Theory” made them the longest-running sitcom that aired from 2007 to 2019 with exactly 279 episodes from 12 seasons.
Brooklyn Nine-Nine
Set in the fictional 99th precinct of the New York City Police Department, “Brooklyn Nine-Nine,” follows a diverse group of detectives as they solve crimes and navigate through personal and professional lives. The sitcom stars Andy Samberg as Jake Peralta, Melissa Fumero as Amy Santiago, Stephanie Beatriz as Rosa Diaz, Chelsea Peretti as Gina Linetti, Terry Crews as Terry Jeffords, Joe Lo Truglio as Charles Boyle, and Andre Braugher as Ray Holt. Aside from the witty writing, clever wordplay, and comedic timing of the show, the show also addresses relevant issues in a thoughtful and sensitive manner. They tackled issues of racial profiling, LGBTQ+ representation, and workplace dynamics. The show makes you think and reflect on several real-life issues while also making you laugh. The beloved sitcom, “Brooklyn Nine-Nine,” by Michael Schur and Dan Goor aired from 2013 to 2021 with eight seasons and a total of 153 episodes.
Modern Family
From the brilliant minds of Christopher Lloyd and Steven Levitan, “Modern Family,” is a show that tells the story of the lives of an extended family, highlighting their diverse dynamics. The show is divided into three families. One is with Ty Burrell’s Phil Dunphy together with Julie Bown’s Claire and their children Sarah Hyland’s Haley, Ariel Winter’s Alex, and Nolan Gould’s Luke. Second, Ed O’Neill’s Jay Pritchett and Sofia Vergara’s Gloria with their songs Rico Rodriguez’s Manny and Jeremy Maguire’s Joe. Finally, Jesse Tyler Ferguson’s Mitchell Pritchett with Eric Stonestree’s Cameron Tucker together with their daughter Aubrey Anderson-Emmons’s Lily. Given the wide range of characters, the show was able to represent different ages, backgrounds, personalities, genders, and beliefs in the show. The mockumentary format of the show brings in a unique perspective on the characters and adds up an extra layer of humor. The relatable characters, diverse family dynamics and strong familial themes, and heartwarming moments, combined with humor and emotional depth make this show a memorable one. With exactly 250 episodes aired from eleven seasons, there were also some interesting stars that were present in the show from Adam DeVine’s Andy Bailey, Elizabeth Banks’s Sal, Benjamin Bratt’s Javier Delgado, Kevin Hart’s Andre, Jesse Eisenberg’s Asher, and even the young Millie Bobby Brown’s Lizzie.
Sitcoms truly hold a special place in our hearts. The 20-30 minutes per episode is enough to keep us going in life. The perfect blend of humor, relatability, familiarity, and emotional connection that sitcoms bring allows us to relax, feel better, and even heal a part of our inner selves. It is a crazy power, but it is true. It is what makes us keep coming back to watch them again and again.
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