When it comes to entertainment television, sitcoms are king. Usually shown in the prime TV watching hours of the day, they draw in some of the largest audiences the networks see. What is so enticing about these crowd pleasing programs? Well primarily, each episode is like a miniature movie. Americans love their films, but why pay money and waste two hours when you can watch a half hour movie on you television? This episodic nature is essential to the sitcom world. Each week presents a new plot, in which there is a opening action, build, climax, and resolution. The beauty of this is that most episodes end where they began, so even people who aren't familiar with a program and enjoy a well thought out story. By being episodic, sitcoms become universal mediums for entertainment that anyone can enjoy, and therefore networks make more profit.
One of my favorite sitcoms is USA network's Psych. In this program, a hyper-observant smart alec pretends to be a psychic and begins doing work as a detective for the Santa Barbara Police Force with his lifelong best friend. Whether they are investigating a missing mummy from the local museum or a mysterious death during the civil war reenactment, each episode is unique and could stand alone as its own story. These short, one hour segments of the characters' lives contain suspense, action, comedy, and sometimes even romance. It incorporates recent episodes for longtime watchers, but not to an extent where first timers would be confused. It pulls first time viewers in, but what makes this series so fantastic is that though it is episodic, and each episode is enjoyable on its own, it develops in a way that keeps long time admirers interested. It is truly one of the best shows in modern television.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pOOZ1CGE5XU&NR=1
Credits: USA Network; www.youtube.com
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