Thursday, November 19, 2009

Addicted to 90s sitcoms



This is random. I've been watching 90s sitcoms lately. While my top three 90s sitcoms may be controversial, these are my thoughts so don't take them seriously:

1. Friends
2. Seinfeld
3. The Golden Girls

Honorary mentions: The Simpsons and Everybody Loves Raymond.

What I've noticed is that the sitcoms I mention fall into two categories: the classic family sitcom and the 'ensemble sitcom'.

Friends is definitely my favourite 90s sitcom. Who could forget the type Joey's signature quote "How you doin'?" or how Rachel's hairstyle became the most coveted hairstyle? While all those sitcoms listed all have influenced our cultural vocabulary - I do have to say out of Seinfeld and Friends, Seinfeld was revolutionary. It has been completely re-absorbed into our lives. After ten years of being off air, many other shows have taken the Seinfeld template, it's 90-isms and conventions.

With The Golden Girls, the idea was "These people have to live together now, whether they like it or not". This was 66% true with Friends as well, with Joey and Chandler living together and Rachel and Monica living together. But with Seinfeld? They didn't FOLLOW THIS FORMULA. George and Jerry have always been friends. Elaine is Jerry's ex-girlfriend, but the thing is, no one lives together.

Also, no one has a consistent partner, Elaine and George keep on changing jobs, Kramer's schemes don't go anywhere. Seinfeld never makes anything permanent. Take a look at Newman for instance, he is kept as a minor character while successfully spinning his own theories.

With family sitcoms, The Simpsons is a great example pointing out the stupidities of humanity with a little Seinfeldness sprinkled into the mix. Though the difference between Jerry Seinfeld and Matt Groening is that Groening does not known when to quit (or does not care to) and the show has declined for no other reason than the writing no longer produces winning jokes. As far as with honorary mentions, Everybody Loves Raymond definitely follows a traditional comedy formula for the 90s.

So what are your Top 3 90s sitcoms?

Happy reading!
5ft0

4 comments:

Death Wears Diamond Jewellery said...

i am ignoring that you mentioned everybody loves raymond as a favourite... i did love friends for a while, but i cannot bring myself to re-watch episodes.

top would be The Simpsons for sure! still watch them now. classic.

not sure about others, i was more into the 90s beverly hills 90210 type dramas

Katie said...

Oh friends is very funny! STILL

I think my top 3 would be:
Friends
Two guys a girl and a pizza place. Is this 90s?
Simpsons

My memory fails me sorry haha x

Five Foot Nothing said...

Hey Katie,

Yep, 'Two Guys, A Girl and a Pizza Place' was from the 90s.

I totes forgot about that show, I remember having good laughs as well. Same with Dharma & Greg, though I think Friends and Seinfeld overshadowed these shows.

Emma xx said...

Friends
The Nanny
Just Shoot Me

The 90's had some great television...

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