Sitcoms Are An Endangered Species

It's becoming obvious to sitcom junkies like myself that the form is dwindling in appeal and influence. A New York Times article has a fascinating theory on the slow, plodding death of the sitcom.

Every new season brings more reality shows and dramas, while traditional half-hour comedies dwindle, an endangered species…

…Network sitcoms are still seeking broad appeal at a time when writers
can no longer rely on common values or widely shared forms of
inhibition…

…When sensitivities harden and taboos are so easily tumbled, it‚Äôs
tougher and tougher to find fresh forms of adults-only material. Comedy
reverts to a childlike mix of silliness and bathroom crudity — the
humor of bodily dysfunctions.

Despite resenting that last bit (poop! haha!), I agree with the article. As our taboos become depleted, sitcoms, like polar bears, grow endangered. Except, unlike polar bears, sitcoms actually matter.

We must cross political and cultural ties and unite to save the closest thing to art we have left in America. Don't worry, I'm not going to get all serious on you. But, on a serious note, here are a few things we can all do to save the sitcom.

• Don't laugh at anything in real life. Using up precious laughter on life's little joys instead of cleverly crafted sexual innuendos and rhythmically timed insults is downright wasteful of you.

• Don't fall asleep during late night syndicated sitcoms. Although they were originally a clean source of comedy, the dated jokes will seep into your subconscious and clog up your system.

• Become a Nielsen viewer. Nielsen viewers help decide which sitcoms survive (some of them mate and reproduce, creating spin-offs and rip-offs) and which ones become victims of cruel fate (this usually happens to spin-offs and rip-offs).

• Watch only shows I like. The shows I like are objectively better than the ones you like. For a full list of sitcoms I like, please email me at SaveOurSitcoms@gmail.com. 

Together, we can keep this graceful yet increasingly lumbersome creature alive for future generations to destroy.