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Redefining Sitcom

From 'Friends' to 'The Good Place,' look how far we've come.

By Grace LynchPublished 6 years ago 4 min read
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Kristen Bell and Ted Danson in The Good Place Credit: NBC/Netflix/Press

Warning for Spoilers.

For the most part, Friends was the last sitcom of its time. It was the last sitcom, possibly even television show, that people genuinely sat down to watch together. Friends was a show that at the time catered to the masses, a show that was liberal with its humour and yet conservative with its representation. I know that some of you are thinking that I'm another Gen Z snowflake who needs to get over myself and that Friends is a classic. I agree that Friends is a classic, and to this day is still watchable, but the truth is that its representation sucks. Fact one: out of ten seasons of the show, there is only one character of colour that appears in more than one episode, and that to me is shocking, especially considering that Friends is set in one of the most culturally diverse cities in the world. Fact two: the LGBTQ+ community is not only underrepresented but also the butt of the joke on most occasions. I understand that at the time of the show's release homosexuality was still considered by the majority of people to be wrong and laughable and that's why it's portrayed the way it is in Friends; that doesn't excuse the fact that this wouldn't happen on TV now. Fact three: Ross was a crappy boyfriend who treated Rachel like his property rather than his girlfriend bringing, him across as a little sexist. He didn't trust her, he hated the idea of her being friends with Mark, and didn't want her to have a life separate from him. I will, however, stipulate that they were on a break.

The point is that once Friends ended its ten-season run, sitcoms took a backseat to shows like CSI and the genre found itself churning out generic Friends copies like How I Met Your Mother and The Big Bang Theory. However, a little more recently, some new sitcoms have emerged onto the scene that have begun to cater to a niche audience by redefining the entire genre of sitcom.

Brooklyn Nine-Nine is a gem of a show that proves different is good. Taking place in a police precinct, which is usually the setting for hard hitting crime dramas, Brooklyn Nine-Nine forces the police work to take a backseat to the relationships between hilarious characters. With a diverse cast that includes two Latina cops, two Black men in positions of authority, and also an older gay Black man and a bisexual Latina woman, Brooklyn Nine-Nine has the representation that Friends sorely lacked, but unfortunately doesn't get the viewership it deserves. Any doubts that this show isn't one of the funniest out there were quenched during the recent Backstreet Boys line-up scene.

If Brooklyn Nine-Nine strays too far from the classic sitcom narrative that you prefer, then may I direct your attention to the Netflix original One Day At A Time (ODAT). Based on the show of the same name from 70s, this sitcom has all of your favourite sitcom tropes such as the laugh track, limited set changes, and is based on family life. However, ODAT focuses on a single mother Penelope trying to support her Latina family living in California. The show tackles some serious issues including gender equality, immigration, and gun control, but remains hilarious throughout. It also has one of the most heartwarming coming out stories on television where Elena's and also Penelope's inner struggle is seen, but Elena's sexuality is also accepted as part of her despite coming from a Catholic family.

If you want weird and quirky, then look no further than The Good Place which sees Kristen Bell return to TV as the terrible but lovable Eleanor Shellstrop. Ted Danson returns to his sitcom roots, portraying the creator of The Good Place, Michael, and he's brilliant. Once again we find ourselves with a racially diverse cast and it's hinted Kristen Bell's character is bisexual, but the most extraordinary thing about this show is its premise. The Good Place takes elements of fantasy and intertwines them with elements from sitcom to create this amazing hybrid genre. Eleanor dies and finds herself in The Good Place, a heaven-like Utopia; however, she realises quickly she doesn't belong there and enlists her soulmate Chidi's help to improve herself so she is worthy of staying. Without spoiling the premise, The Good Place is a show that goes in one direction and then makes a U-turn and goes the opposite way. It's most definitely a show that needs to be watched.

If you've tired of the same sitcom over and over again *Cough* How I Met Your Mother *Cough* The Big Bang Theory *Cough* then I would recommend giving Brooklyn Nine-Nine,One Day At A Time, and The Good Place a watch. Trust me, you won't be disappointed.

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About the Creator

Grace Lynch

A film and media student with a love of travel and all things Disney.

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